1992 Toyota Tercel from North America - Comments

For starters:

The engine (The clutch, too) went out at 117000.

Then the O2 sensor went out.

Soon, after that the right/rear bearing fouled out on me.

Then interior is tore up from the floor up.

Now, this engine (Which is at 127700) is crapping out on me.

I loved the car at first, but then the the piece of crap threw a rod, so I had to have a new engine (That I had to pay $3,500 to get) put in. Then I figured everything would be fine and dandy, then then O2 sensor went out on me. So, then I fixed that, and the bearing locks up on me one day, and again, I fixed that, and now, just five months later, I need a (Yet, one more) new engine. So I think I am going to salvage the piece of crap.

That's weird.

I had a 1992 Toyota Tercel for 5 years. I got it used and it had 70,000 miles or so on it, when I got rid of it it had 121,000 miles on it.

I hot rodded the car nearly every time I drove it for the whole 5 years I owned it and it was always a great car.

I got rid of it 'cause the interior was bad, which is common with their vinyl seats and the drivers side carpet had 2 holes in it and also it was just too small for me.

I guess sometimes you just get a lemon, no matter what brand or make the car is.

I replaced the water pump on my Tercel because of an old O-ring that cracked. It didn't need replacing, but I did anyway.

Oh, and I replaced the windshield 'cause I broke it by accident. Oops.

The 1.5L burn oil... owners that aren't in the habit of religiously checking the oil level tend to have more engine failures.

These cars aren't designed to be drag raced up and down the local strip. If you're burning out clutches and throwing rods, guess what? You're driving your car too hard.

I just toped 250000 miles on my '92 Tercel and it is still running like a champ. It squirt oil out a gasket that I have not had time to replace yet and my alternator is getting weak, but it is to be expected. I am fairly confident that I will hit 400k miles before it completely bites the dust...

I love my Tercel.

We have had this certain car for 16 years and have had minor problems.

My father, sister and I all have driven it. It is my first car and it has done wonderfully.

I give the Tercel 2 thumbs up.

Oh and my clutch has done just fine, so to those who burnt their clutches out where driving the car a little too hard.

I beat my Tercels hard and have 349000KMS on my 1992 manual and 286000KMS on my 1991 automatic. Apart from very regular maintenance nothing has gone terribly wrong. The 1991 was purchased for $600CND with a bad motor, clicking drivers side axel, but still ran it on 3 cylinders for a year and a half before I got fed up with how rough it ran, and the axel broke in stages from bad to worse until ultimately broken within a year of purchase. Changed the alternator twice ($35CND each scrap yard parts) because the plastic shroud under the engine tore off and water was getting into the alternator. I had to do some exhaust work due to abusive driving and low ground clearance (cheap). Changed rear drivers side wheel bearing, and brakes all around for under $400.00 parts and labor (disks, pads, shoes).Consumes oil like a Diesel motor, but compression is strong and even with no sign of valve chatter. Still starts and drives like clockwork after 3 years with a total investment of $2500.00 CND (price of the car, motor, repairs and labor. She isn't pretty, she isn't fast, but she's cheap and reliable.