1988 Toyota Tercel DX Hatchback review from North America

Exhaust system needed replacing.

Clutch went out.

Burns oil.

Has carbon build-up problem (I'm told this is typical of this engine).

Hates to start when it's cold.

I use this car as a second car to haul kids and groceries in. For that purpose, my little "toy" is efficient, if not comfortable. I warn anyone not to buy a Tercel if you plan on using a baby car-seat in it, because the back seat is too small for a parent to climb back there to strap the baby in.

It doesn't like to start up on cold mornings, but once it starts, the engine is peppy and runs fine. I have had few problems with break-downs. The car is reliable, and with it's low gas-milage, it's cheap to keep on the road.

If you are considering buying this model, I would suggest you take it to a mechanic and have the carbon checked on the engine. My mechanic has told me that this is a typical problem with these cars, and it is very expensive to have the carbon cleaned out. I was told that it was terminal to the car, and that I would be better off to trade it in. Well, that was 2 years ago, and the car still runs, no better and no worse that it did when the problem was diagnosed. I would love to hear from others experiencing this same problem.