1982 Toyota Tercel 2-door sedan. review from North America
"Super economical car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Brakes! New drums, shoes, cylinders, pads, and rotors. Muffler fell off.
General comments?
This was an excellent car. I regret having to get rid of it, but it was falling apart (though still perfectly reliable). If I could find another one for sale in decent shape, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
The CV joints were on their way out, they rumbled going around curves. The brakes needed major work. The muffler fell off. I reattached it and it was fine for a while.
This car was slow, but very economical, I got about 40-45mpg, I kid you not! Mine even had air conditioning, and it still worked after 20 years, though you could feel a decrease in performance when it was turned on.
The car also handled very well, this is probably the best handling compact of the entire 1980s! It has NO under steer, and it's front wheel drive!
I sold it to a friend, the muffler fell off again, and it runs a little lumpy, with almost 182,000 miles on the clock now.
Recommended reviews
| I'd own it again if I could.. tough little car |
|
| A great aging economy car! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1982 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.5 (actually 1.48) Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 160000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 179000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 11th July, 2004 |