All good things, eh?

So are you moving the 'extra' lighting over the Sub? Would look Cool!

 

Unfortunately those were custom made and fully attached ti the bumper and hood, you can't removed because is fuse together.

 

Looks cool - like a Rally car!

 

Sorry your baby is no longer on the road. What is the plan to do with the chassis? Any of the kids will take on the project to someday revive it?

 

Unfortunately my kids are in different states, my daughter she's a computer engineer working with Google in San Diego and my son is faculty at Stanford, so fixing an old car is not on their priorities, I got my car trade in at the Subaru dealer already, I just hope, whoever will get it can squeeze more time.

 

We used to have a pickup (another brand) bought new in 1987. I drove it for nearly 20 years before my son took it over. I still did all the work. It finally gave up (or I should say I gave up), and we sent it off to a Veterans charity. Have many memories both happy and sad. Whenever I recall those memories, for whatever reason, I always remember our little truck.

FWIW, I still go over to that forum even though it's been 8 years since we lost the truck. I still get notifications on occasion of someone responding to an old post.


"Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
I'll never look into your eyes again"

 

Wow, what a journey. What all did AMD do as part of the 200,000 mile service?

Also, you said you were in residency when you bought the Corolla - what kind of doctor are you now? My oldest daughter is a third year med student, going through her rotations now. Her goals have bounced around from becoming a neurosurgeon (I think she’d be a great one), or cardio-thoracic surgeon, to oncologist, to PM&R (physical medicine and rehabilitation, a relatively new specialty), but after finishing her emergency medicine rotation, she’s decided she wants to be an ER doctor, because of defined shifts, no rounds, less paperwork, and the variety of patients they see.

But, she starts an eight-week surgical rotation the week after next, so that could change again.

 

Wow, what a journey. What all did AMD do as part of the 200,000 mile service?

Also, you said you were in residency when you bought the Corolla - what kind of doctor are you now? My oldest daughter is a third year med student, going through her rotations now. Her goals have bounced around from becoming a neurosurgeon (I think she’d be a great one), or cardio-thoracic surgeon, to oncologist, to PM&R (physical medicine and rehabilitation, a relatively new specialty), but after finishing her emergency medicine rotation, she’s decided she wants to be an ER doctor, because of defined shifts, no rounds, less paperwork, and the variety of patients they see.

But, she starts an eight-week surgical rotation the week after next, so that could change again.

I'm a fake Doctor I'm just a dentist with a specialty in Prosthodontics but I did one year as an MD before switching pats, my recommendation for your daughter will be to pursue the specialty as a Cardiothoracic surgeon, I still have been in contact with my former colleagues and 4 of them hit that pathway, my youngest daughter graduated from college with a forensic lab technician title from Lynn and forensic hacker investigator from Albania, this August she will start her MD program to have it as a strong background for forensics. Congratulations to your daughter because, we healthcare providers we deal with a lot of load every day and we spend our youtfull years studying.

 

I am literally crying. Wow.

 

Reading “bought brand new” and “trying to survive” in the same sentence is not a very relatable statement for many of us. Even if it was an economy car in 2010.

Otherwise, what a great journey and a wonderful tribute to the Corolla you have loved and enjoyed. WRXs are also generally wonderful so your next chapter should be a good one!

 

2009 matrix S with 210,000 miles had the fuel dilution issue at 70K. Toyota replaced the piston and rings. Although at 200k had to replace the rear subframe for 2500$. Yeah that hurt . I hear that is a problem with these cars at least in snow belt like Boston.

2010 Corolla with on 75,000 mint.

2001 Camry with 140k .iles, also mint.

 

Grab a coffee and take your time with this one.

This wasn’t just a car. This was a chapter of my life.

I bought my 2010 Corolla brand new while I was in residency, trying to survive in a student budget income. That car carried me through some of the hardest and most important years of my life. It was there when I had almost nothing, and it never once let me down. Later, it became the car my kids learned to drive in. I still remember the mix of pride and fear watching them pull out of the driveway for the first time.

Over the years, we built memories together. I took it to my first AutoX, where people couldn’t believe a Corolla could actually be competitive and make first place. I slowly made it my own, sway bars, wheels, sound system, and even converting the rear drums to discs. It was never a show car, but it was mine. Every little modification was a labor of love.

One of my greatest memories was driving it from Key West all the way to Alaska, then down to Washington state. Before that trip, I took it to Ahmed, The Car Care Nut in Chicago for the big 200k service. During that journey, we had some overheating issues, but that car never left me stranded. It was just me and that Corolla against thousands of miles. We made it.

Even after the trip, it remained my daily driver. Then last February, I had to park it. Seeing it sitting in the garage, covered in dust, with boxes piled on top of, it broke something in me. I decided to rebuild the engine and ordered a new short block. After waiting almost two months, it arrived damaged. I was told finding another one would take even longer. At 237,000 miles, with a transmission already replaced at 120k, multiple alternators, timing chain, water pump, and everything else. I just couldn’t keep going.

The truth is, this car spent more than a quarter of my life with me. It took me everywhere. It never got into an accident. It never left me stranded. And now, after everything we went through together, I had to let it go.

It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made.

I want to thank this forum from the bottom of my heart. For over 13 years, so many of you helped me keep this car alive. Special thanks to @SuperchargedMR2, @75aces, @got-rice, @Cuban Legend, and everyone else who took the time to answer my questions over the years. You were part of this journey too.

After accepting that it was time to move on, I asked myself what could possibly replace it. Another Corolla? Another Toyota? That would’ve made the most sense. But deep down, I kept seeing the same image in my head, that big wing, those gold wheels, and that metallic blue. The Subaru WRX felt like the only car that could carry forward what my Corolla meant to me.

So I said goodbye to Blue Thunder.

Thank you for the memories, the miles, and the loyalty. You were more than just a car.

I still have my GR Corolla, so I hope it’s okay if I still stop by from time to time. After 16 years, I’d like to think I’ve learned a few things worth sharing.

Thank you, Toyota Nation.
Take care of your cars and each other.

View attachment 513314 View attachment 513315 View attachment 513316

 

Great choice of next vehicle, considering what you did/used the Corolla for. it's too bad and a shame especially since you just finished those rally lights. But considering all of the other vehicles shown in the pictures, it looks like you're moving in the right better direction.

What did you end up doing with the Corolla? Selling it whole as is, taking it apart to part out, de-mod back to stock and sell the car separate from mods, etc?