1984 Toyota Van LE review from North America
"Practical enough to kill your thirst for life"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Needed a new clutch at 260,000 kilometers.
Alternator wore out at 250,000.
Blown both universal joints twice since I owned it.
Exhaust rusted out.
Interior is substandard quality. Parts (like the gear shift and door handles) have fallen off. Carpet has a mind of its own. Bad sealing - LOTS of dust got in on gravel loads.
Safety belts don't feel very safe.
Very prone to rust.
General comments?
A tough and multi purpose little van. I beat the crap out of it on back country logging roads in northern British Columbia and it kept going. It never left me stranded. The 7 passenger seat configuration converts nicely into a bed for one person.
It got me from Vancouver to Halifax and back, no problems.
Don't buy one of these things with an automatic transmission. It's gutless enough with a 5 speed.
Anybody thinking of buying a VW microbus should give up their fantasies of hippydom and buy one of these things.
Recommended reviews
| For the money it's a mystery van |
| I look for excuses to drive this car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1984 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 4 cylinder Manual |
| Performance marks | 4 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 225000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 290000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Ford Mustang |
| Date of Entry | 10th February, 2002 |