1984 Toyota Van 2.0

Summary:

Loved it and it loved me back

Faults:

Broke an oil pump when I hit a rock in Honduras. Temporary fix by rubbing soap in the cut oil pan. It ran on one half oil pressure for 9,000 miles until I could get a new oil pump flown in from the US. When I lowered the oil pan the pump came out in pieces. Solution to problem: Bought taller tires.

General Comments:

I pulled a Datsun pickup bed trailer with a topper on it filled with scuba gear and compressor all through central Mexico and Central America fording rivers and filling in road beds to get through. I camped in the van for many months. The rear heater was used as a water heater by putting a gal jug of water in front of the vent and turning the fan on high. When I returned to the US, I used it as a delivery van in my new business for two years. When I sold the business I drove it to Alaska (with taller tires) and camped out for 4 months in the Yukon and Northern Alaska. It got 27 miles per gallon on the highway and 21 when pulling the trailer on US gas. Less mileage on South of the border fuel. Those years were some of the best and carefree times of my life and that van played an important role in that I always had faith that it would get to where I wanted to go. Also very comfortable. I am 6'2" and 190 lbs. at the time. Heavier now. Great time and fantastic vehicle, but I don't recommend breaking rocks with it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th November, 2021

1984 Toyota Van LE 2.0 liter

Summary:

I look for excuses to drive this car

Faults:

Had a bad alternator when I bought it - not unusual for these.

I was told the transmission had been rebuilt or replaced by a former owner.

Power door lock switch broken.

Little too much play in the steering.

General Comments:

My wife calls it the "terrorist van" due to its appearance in Back to the Future. I call it the Golden Turtle and love it beyond reason.

I haven't owned it long and paid $650 for it when I bought it. It's in amazing condition for being 23 years old - everything works and there are only small dings and scrapes on the outside, and slight fading inside. I spent another few hundred on it, new tires and a new alternator, will probably engineer a fix for the power door lock switch, but beyond that I don't plan to do much except keep it running and drive it for the next 200k miles.

I've owned lots of quirky vehicles and I don't know what attracts me to them, but it's hard at work here. There's just something about the van's moon-buggy-like appearance and ride, it's wonderful layout and design that just makes me giddy.

It IS severely underpowered as far as off the line acceleration goes, this is no hotrod, but it has more than enough power for normal driving and for sustained speeds of 70mph on the highway.

I originally bought it as a dump runner, to haul trash or pick up yard supplies with, but now I find I can't bear the thought of taking the seats out of it or messing up the interior. As a result I am buying a small 4' x 4' utility trailer to haul behind it, for those times when I wish I had bought a pick up.. it has a tow hitch and trailer harness, though I think it would be ill advised to tow anything very heavy with this particular vehicle.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th September, 2007

8th Dec 2010, 09:48

Looking for an excuse to drive my 1984 Toyota Van. That is so true. Also, I bought mine to do work with it also, but can't get used to the idea of getting the inside dirty. Love this Van. Just amazing vehicles.

29th Sep 2016, 01:16

What do you mean? The van in Back to the Future was a VW bus.

15th Oct 2016, 21:45

Have seen BTTF 1, 2, 3 and 4. Had all 4 (quadriology) in video format. The van in BTTF is a 1984/85 Toyota van driven by the men (terrorists) shooting; the same as in the 'advert' there was never a VW van. You must be mistaken.

17th Oct 2016, 13:03

What "BTTF" are you watching?

The van driven by "the Libyans" in the first "BTTF" when Doc Brown gets shot is a mid to late 70's blue and white VOLKSWAGEN van, not a Toyota! The mistake is yours!

18th Oct 2016, 02:01

Pay a little more attention to the big VW logo on the front of the van.

18th Oct 2016, 09:05

I also remember it being the aforementioned Toyota van. Have called them terrorist vans since I was a small child. The van I remember was white or cream colored. However if you watch the movie now it always was a VW bus. Seriously though, look up the Mandela effect. Something strange is going on.

18th Oct 2016, 17:10

Back To The Future 4, Huh?

Never seen or heard of it. Was it produced in "very limited quantities"?

19th Oct 2016, 12:01

Yeah.

In #4, Marty McFly drives around in a 2005 Chevy S-10 after his 1999 Buick Lucerne blew up. (θ¿Ω)

9th Mar 2017, 01:19

I am aware of the Mandela effect and was trying to make people see it on their own... Worked.

22nd Nov 2021, 09:13

Yes! In BTTF it was a large white van… not a little blue VW. Mandela Effect is nuts.

22nd Nov 2021, 23:18

Think you need to watch the movie again and carefully observe what kind of vehicle is actually used in that scene.