 I commute 42 miles to work with a mix of traffic , interstate, four lane w/stop lights and two lane roads . Many people shy away from manual transmission , that's what makes this car come to life! I do a lot of driving in the NC mountains for my job, and this car responds beautifully. I got the most basic model possible as they shared most of the same features the more expensive models do engine/transmission. This car zips up and around curvy mountains with relative ease. The handling is very good . The brakes could be a little better. The quality of materials used in the car could be better . My bumper was tapped by another  car, as we were both backing up at a VERY slow speed ( it was like slow motion ).Put a nice size softball size dent in my bumper and caused the trunk to separate from the bumper . No estimate yet to be done in the next week. I enjoy driving my car , lots of fun with the manual transmission. *UPDATE* 3/18Car still operating  at peak performance. 71k still feels tight . Engine a little nosier. I am a aggressive driver , meaning I need to accelate quickly and move around slower cars . Still great acceleration /peppy . No maintenance except oil changes and tires/rotation. No need to change brakes yet plenty of pad left . REALLY LOVING MY COROLLA!