Corolla XRS test drive

Could it be possible that they used the same transmission but all they changed was the gear ratios and everything else is the same?

Yeah, exactly. The gear box is exactly the same, but they have changed the ratios. Another thing is that Corolla XRS has much broader and stronger mid range torque as compared to the Celica GTS. The Celica GT-S hits peak torque at 7600 RPM, whereas, Corolla XRS hits peak torque at 4400 RPM. That is why XRS does not rev as quickly as the GT-S because of the thicker mid range. Although, still you will get the same racing car like sound. My idea on this would be that if you have not driven the Celica GT-S, you will be floored by the VVTL-i otherwise, you will always compare it to GT-S and would not be as much impressed if you have driven it GT-S before. I have never driven the GT-S so I got a heck of a lot of fun driving that great car. I have driven Lexus IS300, Acura TSX and Nissan Altima. I would say that car has the quality and refinement of a car worth 4K more.

Corolla XRS test drive

Strengths: Very sweet and melodic high reving engine sound even at slow speeds( can't get enough of the sound), excellent short throw 6 speed shifter and soft clutch, best handling stock Corolla I have driven, responsiveness and acceleration, refinement.

Weakensses: 195 Michellins do not cut it, needs wider P205 or 215 tires, needs to be further lowered by an inch( already lower an inch compared to Corolla S), not meant for stock racing against Celica GT-S etc, but definitely much better than the bulky and heavy Matrix XRS.

While passing by one of the Toyota dealership, I glanced at a shiny moonshadow metallic new Corolla XRS. Immediately, my car started turning towards that dealership like gravity . Once I got into the dealership and inquired about the XRS parked outside. As it turns out, it was not a demo. It was owned by a very young fine Chinese salesman called Robin. I talked to Robin. He immediately grabbed his keys and asked me to come outside to the car. I sat inside the car and the interior was superb. The optitron gauges looked really nice. The short throw 6 speed shifter with chrome finishing was one of the best I have ever seen. The brushed aluminum accents on the dash, the door handle and door sills looked very class. He gave me a brief description of the difference between the standard S and XR, which was not brainer. I asked him if we could go for a test drive.

As soon as he turned on the engine, I felt a significance difference as compared to my 04 Corolla S. In the 03/04 you can still a feeble vibration in the cabin, but in the XRS there was no such thing. The engine sounded very different and the interior was very isolated from the engine sound at idle. The ignition was very short and barely audible. I drove off the lot in first. The engine was a lot more high revving and revved fairly quickly( started out at 3000 RPM as opposed to approx. 2600 rpm). The steering was a lot more communicative with the driver. The exhaust system has been changed as well since the exhaust note did not sound anything like my Corolla S. The clutch pedal was a lot more softer and very easy to use. One of the things I loved the most was the short throw 6 speed shifter. I could not get enough of the shifting The salesman had only 90 KM on his car so he was kept the revs below 4000 RPM. I took the car on the inner roads at around 65 KM/H and did fairly quick turns left and right, the car kept firmly on the ground with very little body roll. The connecting rod damper, tower strut bars did make it feel a lot better. Robbin said he had not revved his car above 4000 rpm more than once since he got it and he asked me to do it just as a favor to me. I obliged (doh). I did a kick down to first and went pedal to the metal and the engine revved very quickly and at 6000 RPM the tone of engine sound changed. The sound of the engine was more like a luxury sport sedan. I acceleration came very smoothly and quickly. Although, it did not sound as aggressive as the Celica GT-S does.

In a nutshell, my impressions about the XRS were very positive. It is more of a car that blends high performance with luxurious feel. Everything in the car screams out luxury to you. Yet, you can turn the quiet and smooth engine and smooth driving feel into a furious angry engine once you hit pedal to the metal. I loved how you could have best of both worlds. The torque was a lot more improved as compared to my Corolla S, but not really throw you in the back of your seat. In short, Corolla XRS is for people who are looking for an excellent balance between higher level of performance, best quality and refinement you can find in a compact car and comfort. It will definitely be a step behind Celica GT-S, and RSX Type S etc. in terms of a rough tough racing car, but it is not meant to be a racer boy car. It is for people who like high performance with the practicality of an every day car. If you are one then XRS will always keep you entertained. The salesman Robin actually had traded in his RSX Type S for a Corolla XRS and he admitted the Corolla XRS is not as fast or not as good at handling as the RSX Type S, but is far superior in every other way and that he is going to put mods on the car in the next few months.

Another thing the salesguy told me is that the 6 speed manual on the Corolla XRS is NOT the same the Celica GT-S 6 speed manual. The Corolla XRS 6 speed manual ratios are not as close as the Celica GT-S. The reason is that Toyota wanted to not mess around much with the legendary fuel economy of the Corolla. In order to keep the people happy who are also looking for good fuel economy, the ratios were made taller. The result is that you might not find Corolla XRS racing to the redline as quickly as the Celica GT-S, but it will give a much better fuel economy.