1986 Toyota Tercel Liftback from North America - Comments

Oil would get into the air filter.

Oil leaks everywhere.

Carb. needed to be rebuilt at 137,000.

Motor died at the end.

Good car if you like Toyota and Japanese cars, bad if you want a car that will past 140,000 miles. our Neon's have had less problems than this Toyota.

What do you expect with that mileage and age, especially being a cheap car to begin with?!

You bought this vehicle at 120,000 miles. Even for a Toyota, that's pretty far along in its life. If the previous owner didn't maintain it well, the motor is going to breakdown, Toyota or not. So don't criticize the car for something that can most likely be attributed to poor maintenance on behalf of the prior owner. And if it's such a case that you knew who owned it before and how they maintained it, then you should mention that in your review to minimize confusion.

Toyotas are superior cars. Neon shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence!

I'm afraid nothing lasts forever, not even Toyotas. Your car was 20 years old!

Neons they are referring to must be Matchbox cars.

I had a 1980 Tercel and it was one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned. My sister had a 1995 Neon and it fell apart weekly, absolute junk.

And if several posters on this site have mentioned how Toyota took apart a Neon and were shocked at how shoddily built it was, and that they could never build at car using such low standards.

The head gasket is well known to blow on Neons even at low miles.

Even a Toyota with high mileage will encounter problems if it isn't properly maintained. Just don't mention this particular model in the same breath with a Neon. There's simply no comparison.

120,000 miles high for a Toyota? come on.. that's pretty darn low. and as to the person with the Neon. the Neon would be a better buy I think over a Toyota, but that's just me.

I'm sorry you had such bad luck getting such a badly maintained vehicle. My hubby is driving a 1984 tercel wagon

and has more than 750,000 miles on it. He's pretty bad about not maintaining it and it has taken 3 years for anything to go wrong! (his only car and we are in a rural area so it gets tons of use) He finally blew the head-gasket! try again these little things just never really die!

Proud owner of an '86 Toyota Tercel 4X4 wagon.

I have been driving a 1986 Tercel since 1989. The thing just won't stop running. I do everything I can to abuse it. It has never seen a garage. I have used it to carry tons of firewood from the mountains, to my house. I have hauled 16-ft lumber on top of the car (using a bike rack). My neighbor backed into the side of it once, creating a moment of optimism. But, alas, the damage was only cosmetic. I still get over 30 MPG in the city. The car has required almost no major repairs over it's 20 year life. If anyone has any suggestions on how I might be able to do this car in, please let me know!

17:28 I can't help you. I tried to kill my '93 Tercel the whole time I had it, and I almost killed myself instead. The car wouldn't break.

I drove it for years on whatever kind and amount of oil was in it when I got it. I never even checked it; to the day I sold it (worst mistake I ever made). I actually had it so far back into a limestone quarry that a guy asked me how it got there, and was I going to abandon it? The rocker panels and rims were dented and chewed up from sledding through said quarry, and it wouldn't die.

I think the people at Toyota decided not to put a tachometer in it because they didn't want you to look at it when you grab third gear at 70 mph trying to get up a mountain road. I'm guessing I drove this car at about 60,000 rpm's most of the time. Sorry if I couldn't help you destroy your car; mine was invincible. I did manage to melt two front tires right off of the rims, but beyond that, I did no real damage.

I have a 1983 Toyota Tercel that is still running happy at 245,000 miles. I believe that the Toyota Tercel is an excellent car. If you take good care of it. It will take care of you.

My 95 tercel is the best car ever 200k!!! too bad not made anymore from japan.

I have a 1986 tercel sedan deluxe great little car bought car in 2001 still going strong in 2007 no complaints not enough money to buy it from me. If you beat your daily driver then you get what you got my car is always babed.

Here's a good Tercel story; my neighbor bought one in '93 and gave it to his son for college some years back. They are finally selling it. They don't even have a garage, driveway kept for 14 years. It has more than 350,000 miles on it and has had absolutely nothing replaced other than brakes, tires, and motor oil and antifreeze. Never replaced any of the gear oil, believe it or not, not even a belt or hose. Incredible cars. Oh, and it's still running fine. They bought him a new Corolla. The Tercel is still on the road.