1992 Toyota Tercel 1.5L

Summary:

This car is great for a first car or anyone wanting a small, economic vehicle

Faults:

The engine began using oil the second year I owned it, no major problem. The transmission started making noises in second and third gear at high speed. A seal behind the water pump needed replacing because it got old and cracked after 4 years of driving. The interior tore like crazy. It wasn't in the best condition when I got it, but it is very bad now. Of course it is vinyl. And a light on the dash panel where the heat and fan speed adjustment is, the light worked only when it wanted to, and the dash light where the speedometer is would flicker every once in a great while after 5 years of owning this car and the third tail light stopped working, it worked only when it wanted to as well.

General Comments:

This has been a great car to me. It is my first car ever owned.

The transmission noises haven't caused any problems of any kind, can't really explain how they sound, but it has been doing this for 2 or 3 years.

I always surprised others who rode in my car with the power it had. It only had a 1.5L engine, but it does go when you want it to.

One thing I can complain about is the design of the trunk opening. It is a weird design. This car has a large trunk for being such a small car, but you cannot fit a large cooler in it very easily if you want to go on a picnic or something. It is simply awkward to put it in there.

As for steering, this car is excellent, if I may say so myself. It sticks to the curves very well and the turning radius is great. I can make a U-turn on a dime.

Oh, and another thing is this car is light on brakes. The whole 5 years I have owned this car I have never had to replace the brakes, though they're getting near needing replacing, I haven't had to replace them yet.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd February, 2003

1992 Toyota Tercel 1.5L

Summary:

It throws rods like a pitcher throws baseballs

Faults:

For starters:

The engine (The clutch, too) went out at 117000.

Then the O2 sensor went out.

Soon, after that the right/rear bearing fouled out on me.

Then interior is tore up from the floor up.

Now, this engine (Which is at 127700) is crapping out on me.

General Comments:

I loved the car at first, but then the the piece of crap threw a rod, so I had to have a new engine (That I had to pay $3,500 to get) put in. Then I figured everything would be fine and dandy, then then O2 sensor went out on me. So, then I fixed that, and the bearing locks up on me one day, and again, I fixed that, and now, just five months later, I need a (Yet, one more) new engine. So I think I am going to salvage the piece of crap.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th October, 2002

14th Feb 2003, 23:26

That's weird.

I had a 1992 Toyota Tercel for 5 years. I got it used and it had 70,000 miles or so on it, when I got rid of it it had 121,000 miles on it.

I hot rodded the car nearly every time I drove it for the whole 5 years I owned it and it was always a great car.

I got rid of it 'cause the interior was bad, which is common with their vinyl seats and the drivers side carpet had 2 holes in it and also it was just too small for me.

I guess sometimes you just get a lemon, no matter what brand or make the car is.

I replaced the water pump on my Tercel because of an old O-ring that cracked. It didn't need replacing, but I did anyway.

Oh, and I replaced the windshield 'cause I broke it by accident. Oops.