honestly the electrical gremlins thing is real but it's mostly the 2014-2018 models with that touchscreen infotainment system, those screens just die sometimes and it's like 15k baht to replace at a dealer. the actual mechanical stuff is still solid though, the 1.8L engine is basically a tractor engine in disguise. if you're looking at 2019+ you're fine, and for older ones pre-2014 they're genuinely bulletproof. just avoid the ones that have been modded with aftermarket LED lights or stupid body kits, those are usually thrashed

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You're getting good advice here, especially about model years and inspections. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the alternator on the 2010-2013 generation. They're known to fail around the 120k-150k km mark, and it's not a quick fix in traffic when it goes. A rebuilt one from a shop in Chatuchak market will run you about 3,500 baht installed, but the OEM part from Toyota is closer to 9,000. If the car has over 100k km and you don't have a record of it being replaced, budget for it. Other than that, the 1.8L engine really is a tractor, I've seen one with 400k km on the original block still running delivery routes.

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so you're looking at a corolla in bangkok specifically, the main thing nobody mentions is how much the taxi fleet affects parts availability. since half the taxis here run corollas, you can get suspension bushings and brake pads at any random shop on Petchaburi for basically nothing. but that also means some mechanics treat every corolla like it's a taxi and don't bother with proper diagnostics, they just throw parts at it. find a shop that works on personal cars not fleet vehicles, the difference in labor quality is night and day

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yeah Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but if you're up for a detour, try Som Tum Nua near Siam Square. their som tam pu pla ra is insane if you like the fermented fish sauce kick. way more pungent than the On Nut spot, just less grilled chicken options

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