1986 Toyota Corolla SR5 4AC from North America

Summary:

I've had this for 10 years, and it's still sweet

Faults:

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.

General Comments:

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!"

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th March, 2010

1986 Toyota Corolla FX GT 1.6 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

I would definitely get another one

Faults:

Blew the head in Rotorua coming from Tauranga.

There was no A/C in it.

The hinges for the doors rusted out.

Wheel alignment was out.

The engine had a major oil leak.

The intake pipe had been split.

The seat springs had no bounce in them.

The exhaust system was well over the legal limit (102db).

General Comments:

Even though this car had so many problems, I managed to fix it on the cheap.

I had the same model car with spare parts, which was quite handy. After fixing the Rolla, it went like a sand storm; so much fun, picked up speed well. It was light, so it definitely had a bit of power to weight ratio.

Fun car to drive, good for first car, and not for nanna's either.

But now that I've crashed it, I've got to start again.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th December, 2009

14th Dec 2009, 19:49

Good ol Toyota 4age. I had a Toyota FX GT, but the later model ones. Nice car to drive, good power to weight, brakes good, and goes hard all the way to 9000rpm. I gave it so much abuse that nothing broke on it. I was going through front tyres faster than anything else.

1986 Toyota Corolla Sun 1.3 from Norway

Summary:

Happy to have it as my student car!

Faults:

The starter went dead when I almost slipped off the road. Had to get a new one. The sudden stop might have caused that.

There is some problem with the coolant. I think the reservoir might be broken.

The left front light has a loose contact.

When driving log distances, the battery warning light may start to shine. Some contact spray on the cable connections from the dynamo work for another 100 km or something like that. Never happens on short drives.

General Comments:

Cheap and does the job.

In addition, one learns how a car works and how to fix minor issues.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st December, 2009

1986 Toyota Corolla Seca from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Very reliable car, bullet proof

Faults:

Cracked radiator from hitting a bin.

Overheated because of no water in the radiator.

General Comments:

I bought this car for $200 to take to my farm and thrash. I drove it nearly every weekend flat out, only ever needed to top up the oil once.

Very good on petrol.

Cracked the radiator by hitting a garbage bin at 120km/h, but put in another radiator from a Ford Falcon Ute and it ran the same.

Only time it overheated is when there was no water in the radiator.

It finally stopped driving when I jumped it and the front spring snapped, but it still ran so we but a rock on the accelerator and put it in neutral, and that's how it finally died.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th October, 2008