1990 Toyota Tercel EZ Liftback review from North America
"Fun for about a day"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The engine blew a gasket and began to leak oil under the hood. All of this oil was shooting onto the starter.
The starter blew out at 111,000 miles due to the oil leak.
The driver side door cable snapped and the door ceases to open.
The exhaust manifold gasket continues to blow out after having it repaired twice.
A strange rattling can be heard when the engine is revving high or when shifting.
The horn is consistently problematic.
No RPM gauge makes shifting confusing at times.
Carpets get wet when it rains.
Windshield leaks.
Windows are hard to roll up.
Defrosters, both front and rear, take at least fifteen minutes to start working.
Dome light keeps burning out.
When the wind blows on the highway, I am sometimes pushed into the neighboring lanes.
Extremely small and uncomfortable.
The clutch blew out at 112,000 miles and it will cost more than the car is worth to get it fixed.
General comments?
The car is very reliable, but it requires constant maintenance.
It is a fun car to drive, but not to own.
Too many problems to warranty a purchase.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1990 |
| Year of manufacture | 1990 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6L 1BBL Manual |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 3 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 108000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 118000 miles |
| Previous car | Mazda 626 |
| Date of Entry | 11th November, 2005 |