1987 vs 1988 Toyota Corolla

vs

Each year's own entries sit side by side, then what both share. Warnings of different generations are listed apart even under the same name, because what to check can differ.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

1987

Nothing that 1988 lacks.

1988

  • Rust underneath, All-Trac All years One source so far

    What to check: Put the car on a lift and look at the floor, rear suspension mounts and rockers for rust.

    Two of the seven All-Trac owners commenting on Curbside Classic's article, an unofficial source, report rust underneath.

    Owners' reports (unofficial)

What changed between

After 1987, up to and including 1988.

  1. 19886th gen begins.
  2. 1988New generation: sedan, wagon, Sport coupe and All-Trac wagon, all with 16-valve twin-cam engines. Toyota, a published reference

What it came with

1987

Engines
1.6L twin-cam four-cylinder (1985–1988) Toyota, a published reference
Transmissions
3-speed automatic Curbside Classic, 4-speed automatic A published reference
Drivetrains
Rear-wheel drive Toyota, a published reference
Body styles
Liftback, five-door (1984–1987) A published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial), Sport coupe, rear-drive A published reference, FX hatchback, three-door (1987–1988) Toyota, a published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial)
Trims
LE Limited A published reference, SR-5 A published reference, FX16 GT-S Toyota, a published reference
Packages
Limited-slip differential A published reference

1988

Engines
1.6L four-cylinder, carbureted (1988–1989) A published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial), 1.6L twin-cam four-cylinder, GT-S (1988–1991) Toyota, a published reference
Transmissions
Automatic Edmunds
Drivetrains
All-Trac four-wheel drive Toyota, Curbside Classic, a published reference
Body styles
Wagon A published reference, Sport coupe (1988–1991) Edmunds, a published reference, All-Trac wagon Curbside Classic, a published reference
Trims
SR5 A published reference

Both years

Engines
1.6L four-cylinder Edmunds, a published reference
Transmissions
5-speed manual Edmunds
Drivetrains
Front-wheel drive Toyota, a published reference
Body styles
Sedan A published reference
Trims
Standard Edmunds, a published reference, DX Edmunds, a published reference, LE Edmunds, a published reference, GT-S A published reference

Colors

1987

  • White 041, 1985–1987 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Silver on Gray Metallic 21D, 1987 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Rose Gray Metallic 3C7, 1985–1987 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Brown Metallic 4G5, 1987 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Wine Metallic 3G9, 1987 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Light Blue on Medium Blue Metallic 2X5, 1986–1987 An owners' registry (unofficial)

1988

  • Super White 040, 1988–1992 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Gray on Silver Metallic 23E, 1988 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Black Metallic 204, 1988–1991 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Black on Gray Metallic 29E, 1988–1989 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Ivory 4H8, 1988–1989 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Medium Red Pearl 3H4, 1988–1991 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Super Red 3E5, 1988–1992 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Silver on Dark Blue Metallic 22G, 1988–1989 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Blue Metallic 8D7, 1988 An owners' registry (unofficial)

Both years

  • Silver Metallic 164, 1988–1991 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Gray Metallic 168, 1988–1991 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Beige Metallic 4H6, 1988–1989 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Light Blue Metallic 8D8, 1988 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Medium Blue Metallic 8D4, 1988 An owners' registry (unofficial)

What owners and buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

1987

  • Sought after: The rear-drive AE86 coupes All years

    SlashGear ranks the 5th gen first of twelve, for the rear-drive AE86 with the twin-cam engine and the FX16 hot hatch. Road & Track called the AE86 a cult icon of the earliest days of drifting, a published reference reports. SlashGear, a published reference

  • Sought after: Long-lived front-drive cars All years One source so far

    Two readers commenting on a Curbside Classic owner's story, an unofficial source, say their families' 1984 Corollas lasted, one until it was 27 years old. Owners' reports (unofficial)

1988

  • Sought after: The Sport coupe and All-Trac All years One source so far

    SlashGear ranks the 6th gen fifth of twelve, picking out the GT-S coupe's pop-up lights and twin-cam engine and the All-Trac wagon's full-time all-wheel drive. SlashGear

  • Sought after: All-Trac durability All years One source so far

    Of seven All-Trac owners commenting on Curbside Classic's article, an unofficial source, five praise their wagons' durability, two of them past 345,000 miles. Owners' reports (unofficial)