1984 Toyota Corolla Base review from North America
"Toyota engines from this time never die, it's the rust that gets you.."
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Nothing has really failed on the car since I've had it. I simply have added and fixed parts that were in disrepair. Nothing has outright failed though, and it's been great to me.
Changed spark plugs at 130500 miles.
Changed air and fuel filter at 130000 miles.
Rebuilt entire drum brake system at 141500 miles.
Fixed exhaust pipe rattling at 130500 miles.
Front left CV joint was ripped when the car was bought, so replaced at 133080 miles.
Front left strut was damaged on purchase, so replaced both front struts at 133080 miles.
Changed alternator belt, checked valve clearances at 137400 miles.
There was a hole in both rear wheel wells that was allowing water to enter the car. I filled them in with water proof expanding foam, sanded it down then laid a layer of silicone over the foam and then painted it. It is a temporary fix, but is working perfectly.
General comments?
Bought the car for $300.
Including insurance gas and all parts etc... the car has cost me a total of $2519.71 to date (6/2/09).
Its averaging 34.12 MPG. I'm sure it could be even better if the carb was rebuilt, vacuum lines replaced and cylinder compression replaced to spec.
The car is cheap and never fails on me. I wish it wasn't getting eaten alive by rust. When this one goes, I will try and find another one from Arizona or elsewhere where it has no rust damage.
They are excellent cars, and I suggest them to everyone.
Recommended reviews
| Most bang for your buck, EVER |
| 1984 - Corolla SR5 Two-door coupe 1.6 This car would not die |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1984 |
| Year of manufacture | 1983 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 Carb Automatic |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 130200 miles |
| Most recent distance | 1421883 miles |
| Previous car | Subaru Outback |
| Date of Entry | 2nd July, 2009 |