₦airaland Forum

Court is in session!! Order!!


“Car dealers call it a fast market — they adore it.
Mechanics say it’s easy to work on — so they push their customers to buy it.
Bolt and Uber drivers say it’s the king of fuel economy. They have turned it into a shrine — they believe the fuel will never finish. — they worship it.
And the average Nigerian? They love it because it’s rugged, fuel-efficient, and somehow… it appreciates in value.
They believe it’s the best thing after slightly burnt jollof rice.
So… what car are we talking about?
(Drumroll, please…)
It is none other than the almighty, the indestructible, the ‘Federal Republic of Nigeria approved Japanese superstar, the ever-present 4-cylinder saloon — the Toyota Corolla! (echoes of people chanting corolla)
You can’t count 10 cars on a Nigerian street without spotting one.
In fact, I have it on good authority that this car is now a full citizen of Nigeria — by ‘uberlization.’
But hold up!
Before you rush to go and buy it, we have a small issue to settle here.
Because as fine and packaged the Corolla is, today at Car Court — we will open its case file.
This is not just a review…
Today is JUDGEMENT DAY.
Stay tuned. Gavel go drop soon.”

My name is Adekola Taiwo and I want to specially welcome you to Car court. This is the only courtroom in the world where cars stand trial, and the jury is YOU! Here, we judge cars based on their looks, reliability, performance, road manners, overall driving experience and public perception. Carcourt also gives eulogies to cars that have made positive marks. We currently offer a 100% discount car consultancy services to help you make the right choices when buying your next car. Email me on taiwoadekola256@gmail.com.


Standing trial today is the guilty looking corolla, a proud descendant of the Toyota family. This car is charged with serious automotive crimes like Overpricing, high theft rates, public stigma, extreme boredom behind the wheel and so on. Forget the hype. We have already stripped the Corolla of all bias and baby-gloving so that you will be able to see the 1.8L legend for what it really is. But, first, let us get to know the defendant.

Who is the corolla? The corolla is a four-door compact sedan made by the popular Japanese automaker, Toyota. This particular model was birthed in 2003 and ran till 2007 before production was stopped. It also comes as a hatch back (Obama) and both are fitted with the popular ever-reliable 1ZZ-FE 1.8L 4-cylinder engine that is very hard to kill. It is officially rated at 125 horse power and 50 pounds feet of torque. It competes directly with the Honda civic, the Peugeot 206-307, Nissan Almera, Volkswagen golf, Toyota matrix, and even its American twin, the Pontiac Vibe. The corolla has a predecessor and a senior, but this version is the most popular in Nigeria currently because of its fuel efficiency, reliability, third hand and even fifth hand resale value. The corolla is a king in its lane and Nigerians believe it will give them peace of mind. But, if you're thinking of buying one in 2025, and you want honest reasons NOT to follow the crowd, car court is here for you and trust me — by the end of this trial, you just might see this legend in a different light.

Here are the charges:



1. Overpricing: This is 2025. Do you know how much the Nigerian used corolla is worth now, talk less of the foreign used? We are talking about the price of foreign used cars in ranges of 8-10 million naira and a 2005 corolla is in the conversation? How? Why? A car that once sold for 1.2 million Nigerian naira? A 20-year-old car? That’s Madness! Do you know the range of non-corolla cars you can get with that price? I know about the issue of import duty but it will not be this worse if Nigerians do not worship this car like its beans and dodo.


2. Theft/vandalism: Do you have a gun? Do you have a sharp cutlass that is accessible at all time? Do you have strong and potent juju that never fails? Is the fence of your house as high as that of a prison yard? If your answer to these questions is no, then, you are not ready to use this robber magnet in Nigeria. Go to google and search for the most stolen car in Nigeria and you will see your “peace of mind” there. There are numerous cases of uber/bolt drivers and even normal citizens losing their lives over this boring car. The corolla is one of the most sought-after cars in Nigeria and one of the most stolen, thanks to the ineffective and poor security system it came with. It is also vandalized for its parts. It is not a new thing to hear that the brainbox, mirrors and some components get stolen on a daily basis. In fact, driving a corolla makes you somewhat unsafe. If your corolla develops a mechanical fault at a place far from home and you leave it there overnight, I can assure you that the original owners would pick it up before dawn!


3. Stigma: let’s say someone bought a brand new 2025 Toyota corolla and another person bought a 2005 C class Mercedes Benz; how would you report the news to another person? In the first case, you would just report that the person bought a ‘corolla’ and everyone will assume it’s a regular corolla. Even if you mention the year, it will not matter because a corolla is still a corolla regardless of the model and price. But, for the Mercedes Benz, people will respect you regardless of the class and age as long as it’s a Mercedes. Why? The corolla is popularly branded as a poor man’s car in this part of the world thanks to uber/bolt drivers who made it their signature vehicle. This is regardless of its price. Presently, it is not a surprise if poverty and corolla are mentioned together in the same sentence. Your corolla might even be more expensive than your friend’s Lexus, but, as long as it is a corolla, nobody cares. You are automatically seen as a lowlife civil servant doing uber/bolt to augment little change. You will be disallowed from parking your car at some social places and you will not even be granted access to some. Also, there is a high possibility that people will randomly jump in your car and claim it was the uber/bolt they ordered and you dare not get angry. If you are a business person, I can assure you that, this car will directly and instantly reduce your value in front of prospective clients and associates. Some people do not even want their friends to know that they now drive a corolla. Tell me I’m lying.


4. Availability of options: Nigerians love and adore the corolla because of certain characteristics which includes excellent fuel economy, ‘ruggedity’, good resale value, cheap maintenance, etc. I agree. But there are other cars that are good with these characteristics and resale value happens to be THE ONLY edge the corolla still has over them thanks to Nigerians. The Honda civic, Peugeot 206-307, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Elantra, kia Rio, etc. are even better cars in fuel economy than the corolla because they have lower capacity engines. The corolla is not “cheap” to maintain. Listen to me!! There are a lot of people using the corolla, so, the demand has driven up the price of some of the spare parts and “cheap” is now relative. So, why don’t you stand out and try other brands? Why must it be this particular corolla? Ehn?


5. Boring and unengaging driving experience: There is a Yoruba adage that says “until you go to another person’s farmland, you will think your fathers own is the biggest”. If you have driven the Toyota corolla before, you will agree with me that, It is one of the most unengaging, bland, cheap feeling and boring cars to drive. It has no class, no grace, zero elegance, bad road manners uninspiring interior and slowwwww. Drive the same year Honda civic/accord, Peugeot 307, Mazda 3 and compare. You will realize you bought an expensive rubbish. Go and drive other car brands before you buy the corolla.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would have loved to continue frying and exposing the corolla but, I have been notified that there are other cars outside the Car court and we must attend to their cases too. I will leave the frying and final judgement to you. Remember, you are the jury and what you decide is what stands. But meanwhile, chew on these questions.

1. Why must you spend over 6-8 million naira on that car? Did corolla use juju on all of you? Ehn?

2. Why must you follow the crowd? Why can’t you just stand out and be different?

3. Are you ready to inherit all the stigma and baggage the corolla comes with? Are you?

4. Lastly, do you think this car is worth losing your peace of mind or even your life for?


🔨 Verdict? The Corolla might not be the peace of mind you think.

Let’s judge this car together. ⚖️


We remain Car court! On to the other car cases.


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Carcourt:
Here are the charges:



1. Overpricing: This is 2025. Do you know how much the Nigerian used corolla is worth now, talk less of the foreign used? We are talking about the price of foreign used cars in ranges of 8-10 million naira and a 2005 corolla is in the conversation? How? Why? A car that once sold for 1.2 million Nigerian naira? A 20-year-old car? That’s Madness! Do you know the range of non-corolla cars you can get with that price? I know about the issue of import duty but it will not be this worse if Nigerians do not worship this car like its beans and dodo.


2. Theft/vandalism: Do you have a gun? Do you have a sharp cutlass that is accessible at all time? Do you have strong and potent juju that never fails? Is the fence of your house as high as that of a prison yard? If your answer to these questions is no, then, you are not ready to use this robber magnet in Nigeria. Go to google and search for the most stolen car in Nigeria and you will see your “peace of mind” there. There are numerous cases of uber/bolt drivers and even normal citizens losing their lives over this boring car. The corolla is one of the most sought-after cars in Nigeria and one of the most stolen, thanks to the ineffective and poor security system it came with. It is also vandalized for its parts. It is not a new thing to hear that the brainbox, mirrors and some components get stolen on a daily basis. In fact, driving a corolla makes you somewhat unsafe. If your corolla develops a mechanical fault at a place far from home and you leave it there overnight, I can assure you that the original owners would pick it up before dawn!


3. Stigma: let’s say someone bought a brand new 2025 Toyota corolla and another person bought a 2005 C class Mercedes Benz; how would you report the news to another person? In the first case, you would just report that the person bought a ‘corolla’ and everyone will assume it’s a regular corolla. Even if you mention the year, it will not matter because a corolla is still a corolla regardless of the model and price. But, for the Mercedes Benz, people will respect you regardless of the class and age as long as it’s a Mercedes. Why? The corolla is popularly branded as a poor man’s car in this part of the world thanks to uber/bolt drivers who made it their signature vehicle. This is regardless of its price. Presently, it is not a surprise if poverty and corolla are mentioned together in the same sentence. Your corolla might even be more expensive than your friend’s Lexus, but, as long as it is a corolla, nobody cares. You are automatically seen as a lowlife civil servant doing uber/bolt to augment little change. You will be disallowed from parking your car at some social places and you will not even be granted access to some. Also, there is a high possibility that people will randomly jump in your car and claim it was the uber/bolt they ordered and you dare not get angry. If you are a business person, I can assure you that, this car will directly and instantly reduce your value in front of prospective clients and associates. Some people do not even want their friends to know that they now drive a corolla. Tell me I’m lying.


4. Availability of options: Nigerians love and adore the corolla because of certain characteristics which includes excellent fuel economy, ‘ruggedity’, good resale value, cheap maintenance, etc. I agree. But there are other cars that are good with these characteristics and resale value happens to be THE ONLY edge the corolla still has over them thanks to Nigerians. The Honda civic, Peugeot 206-307, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Elantra, kia Rio, etc. are even better cars in fuel economy than the corolla because they have lower capacity engines. The corolla is not “cheap” to maintain. Listen to me!! There are a lot of people using the corolla, so, the demand has driven up the price of some of the spare parts and “cheap” is now relative. So, why don’t you stand out and try other brands? Why must it be this particular corolla? Ehn?


5. Boring and unengaging driving experience: There is a Yoruba adage that says “until you go to another person’s farmland, you will think your fathers own is the biggest”. If you have driven the Toyota corolla before, you will agree with me that, It is one of the most unengaging, bland, cheap feeling and boring cars to drive. It has no class, no grace, zero elegance, bad road manners uninspiring interior and slowwwww. Drive the same year Honda civic/accord, Peugeot 307, Mazda 3 and compare. You will realize you bought an expensive rubbish. Go and drive other car brands before you buy the corolla.

Mazda 3 2010 too good. After driving Mazda 3 you go knowsay Corolla dey dull for road.

What are you really talking about

Wannabenz:
Mazda 3 2010 too good. After driving Mazda 3 you go knowsay Corolla dey dull for road.

Thanks for this. A lot of people don’t know anything asides Corolla.

1delivery:
What are you really talking about

Kindly check the title and read the thread again. Cheers..

Wannabenz:
Mazda 3 2010 too good. After driving Mazda 3 you go knowsay Corolla dey dull for road.

Corolla is one of the most boring cars I have ever driven. It has no soul. I still dont know why people worship it.

Interesting read. Your articles are really engaging

maddman:
Interesting read. Your articles are really engaging

Thank you so much…

Op, you try. I don laff taya. I love the way you write, it's entertaining. I have driven the Corolla. I really don't like it. Though I like the acceleration, and that's all. I prefer other cheaper, a bit luxurious cars I use. But I hear the Corolla doesn't give issues.

matrix looks more sportier than corolla, people like me that love smaller cars it a good choice i love it but matrix is better, but you fit park both of them and come back to meet only the car shell

Wannabenz:
Mazda 3 2010 too good. After driving Mazda 3 you go knowsay Corolla dey dull for road.

i love that mazda 3, very sweet look inside and outside and fast as well but no second hand value, the car cant withstand the rigor of places like lagos, you barely see neat used ones

Alive2018:
Op, you try. I don laff taya. I love the way you write, it's entertaining. I have driven the Corolla. I really don't like it. Though I like the acceleration, and that's all. I prefer other cheaper, a bit luxurious cars I use. But I hear the Corolla doesn't give issues.

Thanks so much bro. I'm glad you love it.

My next car is is350 and I saw It with shipping and every clearing.6m. Clean title,bumper damage.
I go buy am. Im tired of non turbo 240 horsepower.i need raw speed compact sedan 305 horsepower. I go match am

I have driven a 2007 and 2018 Toyota corolla (CVT), I honestly think they're the same, no difference as far as the experience is concerned.
It felt super sluggish, it didn't even have the normal forward torque when leg was off acceleration pedal, it was still while in drive.
The screaming when accelerating is embarrassing, especially when you compare that to the increase in speed.
These are just cars to get one from A to B, not for those who enjoy a bit of speed or power, they're not designed for that, the CVT is also another factor, a friend who has one just changed his drive shaft last week and now the car will not shift through gears, they're still on it for about two days now.

2cribz:
My next car is is350 and I saw It with shipping and every clearing.6m. Clean title,bumper damage.
I go buy am. Im tired of non turbo 240 horsepower.i need raw speed compact sedan 305 horsepower. I go match am

That is a good choice.

Babatundehy:
I have driven a 2007 and 2018 Toyota corolla (CVT), I honestly think they're the same, no difference as far as the experience is concerned.
It felt super sluggish, it didn't even have the normal forward torque when leg was off acceleration pedal, it was still while in drive.
The screaming when accelerating is embarrassing, especially when you compare that to the increase in speed.
These are just cars to get one from A to B, not for those who enjoy a bit of speed or power, they're not designed for that, the CVT is also another factor, a friend who has one just changed his drive shaft last week and now the car will not shift through gears, they're still on it for about two days now.

That is the corolla for you!