1986 Toyota Corolla Reviews

Nothing really, just normal wear and tear:

Tyres.

Brake pads.

Shocks.

Brake bulbs.

Engine oil/filter.

For its age, it's bloody good.

The motor loves to rev, constantly to 7200rpm!

This was the series 2 model, so it had the C52 updated gearbox, it seemed to handle the power pretty well.

Had shorter ratio gearboxes make them rev quick.

Compared to 1600cc of the past and even today, this thing goes. Will put 6cyl cars to shame of the same era, maybe even V8's.

The standard alloys had to go, would lock up pretty easy, so upgraded to 15x7 wheels and Bridgestone Grid3 tyres. Came with 4 wheel disk brakes, and stopped on a dime.

Inside the car was small, hard to get into and the rear was even worse. Rear folding seats came in handy, but not like a wagon.

Stock handling was OK, had a lot of roll. Ended up putting on lowered springs, wider/low profile tyres and stiffer rear sway bar; she handled excellent.

Outside they are common to rust, standard they look like any other Corolla, but lowered and with wide wheels, she looked mean.

This racer boy car makes everyone look like a rice boy car.

Blown head, may be porous, common with age.

Start motor.

Waterpump.

Radiator.

Battery.

Bootlid springs.

Rear struts.

Drivers seat sagging.

Most of the faults I encountered gave plenty of warning, and when serviced as per instructed these Ae82 offer exemplary reliability and economy.

For its size, a manual performs well, has faultless air conditioning that worked in 55 degrees.

If the cooling system is not maintained it will get hot, but have yet to boil after I replaced the head gasket/waterpump/rad. The sender switch in the thermostat housing is a common cause.

This car at nearly 300000 drove in 50 celcius+ temperaturess fully loaded through the outback, through mud and bonnet deep water and never once failed.

I have faith in this to drive it across the country. For a car that is 23 years old and 300000, it blows no smoke, every thing works like new, and it starts every time.

Cheap, good parts are getting hard to find, and eventually the bodywork gives way to rust, especially leaky boot and rear seat.

The paint is as good as many cars half its age, and it routinely gets 600 km on the open road, 380 in the city per tank.

The weak points are safety, braking heavily sustained or under load and sound insulation.

Overall highly recommended for do it yourself, easy to repair, and rewarding to drive, as bugger all goes wrong.

Totaled 3 times by other drivers, even though it's painted bright yellow. I've fixed it myself each time.

New clutch and throw-out bearing once.

New timing belt twice.

New blower motor once, new blower relay once.

New water pump twice.

New starter once.

New power steering pump once.

New struts and shocks twice.

New shoes and pads and wheel cylinders twice.

Getting new rear wheel bearings soon.

This car is just fun. Bought for 500 bucks ten years ago, I have to put about 3 or 4 hundred in it per year. I reviewed it back when I got it on this site. I'm reviewing it again to let you all know, this car is still running 10 years later.

It's love now, and if and when something finally goes wrong with this car that I can't fix, or I finally can't scrounge or make parts for it, or it just finally burns to the ground, I'll just flop down on the street and cry my head off.

Coming up on 300000 miles soon, but I'm not worried. If Toyota still made cars like this, sticking accelerators would be mentioned only along with the phrase, "but I still think that car's great!"