This review is for two separate vehicles that had the same exact issues. Both vehicles were purchased for less than $300 and were expected not to run for very long, but they did.
Maroon Tercel ($175) had a bullet through the radiator and low compression when I bought it.
Replaced radiator at 145000 miles upon arriving home.
Replaced thermostat and radiator hoses at 148000 miles when overheating condition got worse.
Continued to add water several times daily while driving 100-200 miles per day for a courier delivery service.
Sold vehicle at 151000 miles to a guy who used the transmission in another Tercel whose engine he had already rebuilt twice by that point.
Silver Tercel ($300) was missing passenger side window and had low compression when I bought it.
Replaced window immediately at 150000 miles.
Replaced timing belt at 150500 miles.
Replaced carburetor with another used one at 152000 miles.
Replaced and rerouted every vacuum hose under the hood shortly thereafter (maybe 152300 miles).
Had extreme difficulty starting and keeping running during this vehicle's whole ownership period.
Engine finally refused to start at 156000 miles and I had to walk 22 miles home from work. Vehicle abandoned.
I think the Tercel was a great design and the car was very comfortable to drive for a small car. I'm 5'10" and the car couldn't be a more perfect fit. The trunk is very small, but it held what I needed it to.
The biggest problem I had with these two little cars is the low compression in the engine. From all the hype I've heard about Toyota products, I expected to get a lot more than I did out of these cars. But for what I paid, I think I did VERY well.
I would recommend buying a manual transmission model because the automatic transmission robs a lot of the very limited power available. If I remember correctly, these cars have about 70hp to begin with and the automatic transmission loses a lot of that. In fact, I think the cars with automatic transmissions are more likely to wear out the engine like these two I had, because you have to drive it that much harder to keep up with traffic.
In comparison, the 1989 Nissan Sentra I had in between these two Tercels was a 5-speed and a $700 car and was WAY better. Had I purchased a 5-speed Tercel I'd probably be glowing about it instead of moping about these two I had.
That's usually the way it works, a 700 dollar car is better than 2 cars for 300.
I paid 500 for a 89 Tercel I found sitting in a field with best offer on windshield. 98K on car after a while of fixing this and that including struts, I drove it for over 2 yrs. The car now has 254k on it. Engine is out replacing head due to crack in valve port. Toughest little car I have owned. Even drove it 70 miles with a missing spark plug that blew out due to stripped hole. Will keep the car till it falls apart...
I agree with the OP. A four-cylinder car is always better with a manual transmission.
No argument possible. Laws of physics never change.
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