1987 Toyota Tercel 4x4 Hatchback review from North America
"Function without form - the most fun economy car I've driven!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rear brake lines.
Gas tank, filler neck.
The usual things - tires, brakes (including handbrake cables).
If you drive the car in any snowy areas where salt is used on the roads, YEARLY OILING IS A MUST! Or the car will rust out extremely fast (even if the bodywork isn't showing much rust, the underbody will be rapidly rusting).
General comments?
A truly amazing car!!
Tons of room, both for people and cargo (rear seats can be a little cramped if tall people are sitting in the front - but what can you expect from a economy car?).
The 4x4 is truly phenomenal. I live on the shores of Lake Huron (the snow belt of Ontario as it it known to some) and the car handles great. My dad is the only one who has got the car stuck - twice. I've pulled people out of the ditch in storms (including a big heavy BMW 528), raced down cross country ski trails in the winter, through 2-3 feet of snow across fields, pulled tractors, and even pulled out tree stumps. Mud, snow and ice are no problem.
The car is a little underpowered for my liking - but with the 5 speed it is certainly adequate - it can easily light up the tires in first and squawk them in second. With the three speed auto passing can be tricky at times.
On another note - engine swaps are a breeze (not that the engine will ever go if it is even casually looked after - by that I mean not run out of oil and the oil filter changed once in a while.
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  | 1987 - Tercel 2 Door Hatchback 1.2L 2 Door Hatchback |
| A reliable, comfortable and economical car well worth the money |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.5 Manual |
| Performance marks | 9/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 7/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 270000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 360000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Toyota Tercel |
| Date of Entry | 29th October, 2001 |