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So the Chevy Prism is a Toyota imported from Japan?

Z

Zach

Diamond Member
Hmm, sounds like a good route to go when buying a used car? Toyota quality at a Chevy price?

We are also condering Honda Civic's from the Mid 90's, and are going to look at Toyota's and Nissans when we bother going to that side of town.
 
I have a Chevy Prizm, and yeah, it's identical to the Toyota Corolla...very good car, very reliable.
They're not imported though, they're made in CA...but so are the Corollas, they're made side by side.

Also, for the type of car that it is (good gas mileage, grocery getter), it actually handles really well and has good acceleration - especially if you go with a stick.
 
What engines are there? I've been looking around for info and see a 1.6L in 1997 (Geo) and a 1.8L in 1998 (Chevy). Gotta look for prices, the 98 was $800 too much according to epinions.com, but I doubt their pricing is accurate.
 
I don't remember what the engines are off the top of my head. I wouldn't get anything earlier than a 98 anyway; the prizms before that did not include stabilizer bars, and consumer reports said that caused for sloppy handling in emergency situations.
 
Chevy Prisim is essentially a slightly decontented Corolla, both built side by side in Fremont, CA, typically the Prisim has a less sophisticated engine. Industry nickname is Toyolet😉
 
A senior GM mechanic I know said the Chevy Prism is the most reliable car Chevy ever made, that's scary.

Like others have said the Chevy Prizm/Toyota Corolla are essentially the same car but they are manufacturered in CA not Japan.

I would definitely get the 1998, I think I read somewhere on Edmunds.com that the 1998 has substantial improvements over the 1997 model.
 


<< A senior GM mechanic I know said the Chevy Prism is the most reliable car Chevy ever made, that's scary. >>



But isn't it Toyota's initial design then? So doesn't that mean Toyotas are more reliable than Chevys?
 
News flash for you all. Toyota doesn't mean Japanesse anymore, most of their manufacturing is US now, as much as the "American" manufacturers anyway.

Name means nothing....
 
The 3 candidates are equally good cars. Just buy the one the makes you smile behind the wheel. It's a personal preference decision.
 


<< Chevy Prisim is essentially a slightly decontented Corolla, both built side by side in Fremont, CA, typically the Prisim has a less sophisticated engine. Industry nickname is Toyolet😉 >>



Less sophisticated how? Everything I have read says the engines are identical.

Boyracer: Toyotas are generally more reliable than Chevys.
 
I have a 1995 Geo Prizm LSI. I bought it used, the previous owner had a 3 year lease and just turned it in. I bought it in 1998 it had 35K miles on it.

as of today it has 123K miles on it and there isnt a damn thing wrong with it. the only work i have done is just tune up stuff out in the driveway.

It is the exact car as the Toyota carolla. infact the Hayes book i have on it is titled "toyoyta Carolla & Geo Prizm"

I get about 34MPG and im very happy i bought it.
 


<< News flash for you all. Toyota doesn't mean Japanesse anymore, most of their manufacturing is US now, as much as the "American" manufacturers anyway. [/W]

Well I don't think anyone still believes Toyotas are still imported form Japan. But i'm sure the parts are still mostly made in japan, but that is slowly changing, and assembled in the US.
 
Even though most Japanese cars sold here are made here, they are STILL of better quality than American cars made here. While Japanese cars may be built here, the factories STILL run under Japanese ownership and workmanship/employee/quality guidelines.
 
<<Well I don't think anyone still believes Toyotas are still imported form Japan. But i'm sure the parts are still mostly made in japan, but that is slowly changing, and assembled in the US.>>

Not any more than any other car. Go look at new car stickers, they all are required to list their domestic/foreign content. Most cars are 60/40 domestic/foreign and Toyota is no exception. (that isn't just final assembly, it includes parts) Toyota has huge manufacturing capacity in Kentucky and Cali. Honda is in Kentucky as so are half a dozen other "foreign" manufacturers.

Saturn is/was GM's pilot project on using Japanesse management techniques in a car assembly plant. The cars are pretty reliable, albeight the Saturn line needs a few more developers with more style.
 
Even though most Japanese cars sold here are made here, they are STILL of better quality than American cars made here. While Japanese cars may be built here, the factories STILL run under Japanese ownership and workmanship/employee/quality guidelines.

I totally agree. The proof is in the pudding.

Most Toyota Camry's are made in Georgetown, KY
Most Honda Accord's are made in Marysville, OH

I think BMW has a plant in SC?
Merdeces Benz is opening a plant in AL?
 
I think the Meredes Benz one in AL is already open.



<< Even though most Japanese cars sold here are made here, they are STILL of better quality than American cars made here. While Japanese cars may be built here, the factories STILL run under Japanese ownership and workmanship/employee/quality guidelines.

I totally agree. The proof is in the pudding.

Most Toyota Camry's are made in Georgetown, KY
Most Honda Accord's are made in Marysville, OH

I think BMW has a plant in SC?
Merdeces Benz is opening a plant in AL? >>

 
hahaha, I shouldn't be putzing around here too much, but you guys are talking about my car 😉

'00 prizm



<< typically the Prisim has a less sophisticated engine >>



FYI, not true. Same exact engine as the corolla. The prizm engine even has VVT-i, toyota's variable valve timing. The engine even uses Toyota oil filters.

engine

Notice the VVT-i badging above the chevy hood emblem, kind of a strange thing to see. 😉

It's a pretty fast car for it's class, certainly faster than the non SI civics. I've smoked so many cars at stoplights its not even funny, blazers, s10s, mirages, etc. A month ago I went to the street races and made a run against a completely riced out accord, against my bone stock prizm. Guess who won 😀

 
OuterSquare - I've had the same experience. When I told my friends about smoking this one guy with my car, they just laughed...one thought his minivan could beat my 2000 Prizm. Ha.

Vladmir - I drove from Springfield, MA to Lansing, MI straight through, stopping to nap in the car. It wasn't too bad. The front seats are plenty comfy in my opinion, but the backseat *is* small and uncomfortable. But the car has loads of trunk space, which really came in handy when I moved halfway across the country.
 
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