1986 Toyota Tercel 4WD Wagon review from North America
"The little SUV that could!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
All of the below were done at 140,000 miles:
Head gasket.
Exhaust valves and guides.
Timing belt.
Water pump and thermostat.
Radiator.
Accessory belts and hoses.
Alternator.
Battery.
Starter motor.
Spark plugs, cap, rotor and wires.
Tires (Cooper Trendsetter SE 185/75R13)
General comments?
I traded my old roommate from college a can of Dr. Pepper for this car, as it had been sitting in my driveway for a number of weeks waiting for a new battery!
My old roommate and I plan on rally racing the car, hence the $1,000 worth of parts we threw at it. The car is in remarkably good shape, considering it's hardly seen regular maintenance in it's 17 years here on earth.
It's more comfortable than it looks, with plenty of head room and decent seats. The 4WD system is amazing for a small econobox, it's hard to lose control even on dirt when in 4WD mode. Of course, with 62 HP, it's hard to even break the wheels loose in the rain!
Recommended reviews
| 1986 - Tercel SR5 4WD Wagon 2.0L 4 cylinder. As far as station wagons go, these old tercels are all guts! |
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| I love my Tercel, If you see one Buy it!! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1986 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.5L 3A-C Automatic |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 139500 miles |
| Most recent distance | 140050 miles |
| Previous car | Buick Park Avenue |
| Date of Entry | 27th November, 2003 |