1991 Toyota Tercel DX from North America - Comments

Motor was bad when I got the car in 2005. No power, and would hardly run.

Efficiently designed transportation appliance with potential to be an enjoyable drive. It had a worn-out junkyard motor in it when I got it. I have no idea what a person has to do to ruin two Toyota motors in less than 150,000 miles, but the car was straight, the interior clean, and a well-equipped 4-door with A/C, power steering, and an automatic transmission. A sticker on the drivers door told that it had begun it's life as a Budget Rent-a-Car. I got the car for free in 2004, and it sat in the weeds until the end of 2005 when I got one of those used Japanese take-out motors for $975.00. I did all the labor on the engine swap myself, and have since replace all 4 struts, all 4 tires, added a front sway bar from a 1992 Toyota Paseo (bolts right in) and a front strut tower brace. The car drives out great. And while being slightly underpowered for my taste, it is a reasonable trade-off for the 32-34 mpg city and 35-38 highway gas mileage. Using the A/C accounts for the lower mpg numbers. After all the work it is everything I expect a Toyota to be. Although an entry-level model in 1991, and a bit dated in 2006, it is an economical, practical (with 4doors), dependable transportation appliance. With the suspension and chassis upgrades I have given it, the Tercel also has a bit of a fun factor to driving it. If you can find one that has been well-maintained, or are willing to put a little work into fixing one up, they remain an excellent value in the current market. Parts availability is still excellent, both from the dealer and the after-market. My Tercel has every indication of providing me with many more trouble-free and enjoyable miles. I can highly recommend the Toyota Tercel to anyone who asks.

Great story by someone who appreciates good cars. I like the authors insight and comments, obviously they are someone who has a good working knowledge of automotive mechanisms and is willing to share that knowledge. Thanks for the information and the enjoyable read.

I've just purchased a 1991 Tercel DX 5-speed. Long-term reliability seems good based on the stack of receipts provided by the previous owner dating back as far as 1996.

While this car's odometer indicates 263,000 kilometers the only other sign of it's high mileage seems to be the small puff of blue smoke at start-up. The spark plugs are not oil-fouling at all, so this smoke is most definitely due to aged valve stem seals.

Fuel economy has been excellent, as expected. My first tank yielded over 500 kilometers in the dead of winter under (very spirited) highway driving. If the economy of my '89 Corolla is any indication of what can be expected the Tercel should get around 650 kilometers per tank on the highway at normal highway speeds.

With only 87 horsepower it's not the quickest car available, but the power-to-weight ratio means it's no slug either. Dropping into fourth provides adequate power for passing on two-lane routes, and if the moron being passed decides to increase speed as you are almost past him to prevent you from doing so, third gear still provides enough punch to complete the maneuver safely.

The body has a little rust, but nothing particularly noticeable, and the car has the same airtight and rattle-free feel and handling as a new car. I've yet to drive a domestic of even half this vintage that I can say the same for. Toyota builds some of the best cars available at any price, bar none.

One snag that I discovered in the service records is cause for concern though. A number two cylinder valve "pocket" is worn and elongated. The dealer told a previous owner that this could only be fixed by replacing the head since the worn area was part of the head itself. Heli-coil repairs were not recommended. Instead of going this route the previous owner elected to have the worn area repaired using Loctite.

This repair has so far held up just fine, but just for insurance I've forked over a whopping $30 for a rebuildable head from the wreckers.