I just got the car last week.
So far I have put in an air filter, front end axles, repaired exhaust, oil change, new wires.
Seats are worn pretty bad.
Paint is horrible.
Trunk does not stay open.
Bad rust all over.
Shock towers are coming through the trunk.
Stalls out every time I stop or slow down to go around a turn.
Possible need a new carborator.
Picked up the car for $100 after my Cavalier caught on fire. Needed a car ASAP.
Overall it's a pretty good car.
Pretty quick.
Have dumped a lot of money into it so far, but from what I hear this car could last over 200,000 miles.
I bought a 1981 Tercel 5 speed about a year ago now and since I have fixed it up I won't sell it now. Mine has 248,200 miles on it and runs like it maybe has 60,000. Keep it tuned up and fluids changed and keep up with things that can and will go wrong and it will last forever.
I got mine in 1988 with 60K miles, which was my first car. I drove it till 1997 and added another 60K miles. Whether in San Diego or Chicago, this car never let me down. I drove from CA to IN, BTW. It always starts right up even at -30F! Over the 9 years I have owned it, I only experienced a bad horn (bad contact) and failing fuel gauge, not counting normal maintenance such as shocks, clutch, and timing belt. Toyota showed the world in 1981 how to make a sensible, reliable small car. I had nothing but fond memories with this vehicle.
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