1997 Toyota Tercel GL review from Dominican Republic
"A great deal in reliability and economy"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
It has had no problems at all, just maintenance routine.
Front struts have to be replaced at 50,000 km due to an enormous pothole I fell into.
Sometimes the engine stalls, mostly on morning and when engine hasn't warmed up utterly.
The front door handles have to be replaced on both sides (they broke up so easily..)
General comments?
It's a very reliable car, very economical and a really good choice for the ones who have a tight budget and don't want to be messing around with mechanics and all that stuff. Sometimes it lacks of power, specially when you have to overtake another car; and for example when you run fast, then brake hard and afterwards you accelerate, the loss of initial power is significant. The engine is very willing (impressive power for a little 1.3 gasoline) but the 3-speed automatic transmission simply drops all possibilities to enjoy a bit of real driving excitement. The Tercel is the best option for the ones who want reliable and economic transportation with a moderate sacrifice in the comfort side; Toyota reliability is simply bullet-proof.
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| 1996 - Tercel Base 1.5L 5EFE Gasoline Basic, but Solid and Reliable |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.3 gasoline Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 5/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 46000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 90000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Toyota Tercel |
| Date of Entry | 29th April, 2002 |