1990 Toyota Carina LX Estate review from UK and Ireland

Starter motor failed at 164000.

Water pump failed at 167000.

Drivers seat collapsing when acquired, now down to frame on RHS.

Wiper screws corroded, making blade replacement impossible.

Low speed fan setting failed.

Utterly reliable old cart, could always start with a push-and-jump-in when the starter motor died. Has never failed to get me to my destination, or troubled the RAC.

Performance is gradually failing, it used to 'come on the cam' at 4000, now it just wheezes a bit. Still OK, given the age and mileage though.

Fuel consumption is not as good as it should be (7.0 mile per litre), although it does spend most of its life at high motorway speeds.

This car has absolutely no grip at all, and will understeer at the very thought of a roundabout. It's so bad that it's quite good fun, you can send it sideways just to lighten a boring trip up.

Apart from the drivers seat, the interior is virtually as new, everything works, no knobs have fallen off.

I had to drill holes in the rear quarters to let accumulated water out, but there's no rust even now.

The paint caught the 'old red paint disease', but some T-cut work brought it up beautifully.

What parts I've bought (starter, water pump) were quite cheap, although both were virtually an engine out job that I eventually had done at the garage.