1993 Toyota Tercel LX review from North America
"My Tercel is a stone reliable car, which is what I want"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The exhaust manifold to catalytic converter pipe cracked.
Cam belt roller and tensioner needed replacing.
Water pump needed replacing.
Each summer I drive 7,000 - 10,000 miles around the country. This includes in Utah and Nevada in the daytime. Because of this I consider the oil capacity of 3.4 quarts to be inadequate. To address this I use Mobil One synthetic oil. I also added a by-pass oil filter and engine preluber, increasing the total oil capacity to over 6 quarts.
General comments?
I have owned five Tercels since they came out in 1982. (Makes me sound dull, but I also owned a supercharged and intercooled VW Corrado.) Altogether they had over 700,000 miles, with only routine maintenance on items like mufflers, brake pads/shoes, belts, batteries, tires and the occasional alternator. My current Tercel, 1993, continues this performance.
A comfortable car for long trips. I'm a teacher, so I drive between 7,000 to 10,000 miles each summer. This includes across Utah and Nevada in the daylight heat.
I do all my own maintenance.
Good gas mileage, 30+, but I'd like better.
Recommended reviews
| Reliable, economical, and well constructed |
|
| This car is great for a first car or anyone wanting a small, economic vehicle |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1993 |
| Year of manufacture | 1993 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.5 3valve Manual |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 37000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 76000 miles |
| Previous car | Toyota Tercel |
| Date of Entry | 16th March, 2005 |