1984 Toyota Cressida DX review from Australia and New Zealand

Rust was starting to get away on the body, which forced me to sell it (Warrant Of Fitness compliance costs).

Electric aerial motor failed. Replaced entire unit with flexible aerial.

Various interior/boot leaks due to perishing rubber seals (age).

Absolutely no engine problems.

This was my first car, and it was well suited as a first car.

This Cressida was not one of the fancy 2.5 models with all electrics, it was a basic, pedestrian model with manual windows, no air conditioning, and an AM radio (!) - later replaced with a cheap AM/FM cassette deck.

It was well suited as a first car though because despite its age, I had absolutely no problems with it for the first 4 years of ownership. For me, this was the car that proved Toyota's reputation for reliability.

The only complaints I have relate to the car's performance - for a 2 litre engine, it was quite gutless and went around corners like a brick. This was a contributing factor of my one and only traffic ticket (failure to keep left!).

But this car was spacious, reliable, and didn't start costing me money until 1998-99 when I sold it and bought a Corona EXIV (also reviewed on this site). But even now I still see it being driven around town from time to time.