1985 Toyota Tercel SR5 from North America - Comments

The seats are wearing out.

A rubber seal that lead to the driver's side kick panel sprung a leak in 1999. Rain would seep down through gap near the windshield wipers and run down the electrical cables, through the seal, and into the car. The car could get several inches of water during a rainy day. I fixed it by using some silicone sealant on the seal, and it hasn't leaked since.

The hatch door is rusting out, but that started around 1997 and is from being driven on beaches a lot.

This car is a great little off road machine. Everything on it is stock, and its been able to handle beach sand, mud, snow, rocks, and 1.75 ft of water with almost no problems (going through the water came close to drowning the engine).

It gets great gas mileage, 24-27mpg on the highways and cities, and about 20mpg in the dirt and mud.

The engine is underpowered, 62 horse power, and with having 200000+ miles on the engine, its acceleration isn't the best.

I'm 6'3" and I still have a few inches of space before my head hits the ceiling, its got plenty of leg room in the front and rear (if you don't sit behind me). The back seat though, feels like you are sitting on a trampoline, it bounces you around if you hit some big bumps.

Hey! That's my car! I would have never thought to see my car being praised as much as that. Don't get me wrong, it truly is a great little car. My parents bought it when it first came out in late 1985 (about 11 months after I was born) and since then it has worked beautifully.

There have been some little problems with it, fan chewed up the radiator, it's been through 2 water pumps, I had a similar problem with water leaking into the interior but it was because my dad unknowingly knocked out a rubber seal into the inner-fender when he was installing fog lights or fixing, I don't remember. But little things like that will happen when you have over 270,000 miles on it.

It still has the stock 1500cc 4 cylinder and manual 5-speed transmission. I don't get as good gas mileage as you do though, I'm guessing about 17 to 20 mpg town and 25 highway driving. Being a teenager's first car though has taken its toll on the body, one wreck that almost totaled it (did absolutely nothing to the Chevy Blazer) and a fair sized dent in the hatch. Windshield has a crack in it, nothing big.

The only things that are wrong with it: body made of tinfoil (why it gets great gas mileage), stock speaker holes are too small, and some of the speaker wiring is bad. That's pretty much it.

Good car for hauling around friends, 4 wheel drive helps a lot for steep gravel driveways and getting through deep mud.

Me, being a teenager, felt it necessary to install a sound system to fit my personality (wiring is really easy if you know what to do), I have a 12" subwoofer in the hatch, a pair of 6x9 speakers in boxes, two pairs of JL audio speakers (in stock holes), and a nice Kenwood deck.

I have a 1985 Tercel 4wd wagon, too. My wife and I purchased off the showroom floor in '85 with 5 miles on the odometer. It now has 120,000 miles on it and I'm proud to say that the only engine part I have replaced is the starter. I delivered pizzas in it and have raced through the forest with it against a Toyota truck and generally abused it over the years. All the while, commuting to work and taking summer road trips in it. I love this car!!! I am now planning on giving it to my son for his transportation needs. It has two rust spots behind the rear wheels, I wore out the heater blower motor, and the rubber on the brake pedal is worn out. That's the worst of it. I think I'll change out the original fan belts next summer. Did I say I love this car?

I also have a 1985 Toyota Tercel Wagon... 4WD. I purchased it about two years ago when my 93 Geo Metro died (at about 100,000 miles). The Tercel, in addition to being 8 years older, also had 150,000 miles on it, AND cost me more than I paid for the Metro when IT was only two years old!!! I come from Alaska, where these old 4WD Toyotas are in high demand. Up there where it is so cold for much of the year, it really separates the well-made cars from the cheap ones. You should see how many ancient Toyotas and Subarus (4WD wagons and small pickups) are running around with hundreds of thousands of miles on them!

I love my Tercel, and I hope it does last forever. I can honestly say it has never let me down. Whoever had it before me took really good care of it (it had no dents, no cracks in the windshield, no rust, the paint job is still beautiful and shiny, and the seats have no rips or worn spots- it even had the original 1985 manual!) I got it at the Toyota dealer- I think it says a lot for a car when the dealer will still sell one that is almost 20 years old!

A nice thing about this car is that if you have half a brain, you can maintain it yourself... it is so simple. I did a tune-up on it myself when it started hiccuping up hills, and that fixed the problem completely. I now live in New Orleans, and it was broken into one night- it only took about ten minutes to remove the broken window and install a new one. Oh, yeah, I drove it all the way down here loaded with all my stuff (a rack on top, too), and it did GREAT! It doesn't have A/C (didn't come with it), and the heater core is clogged so the heater only really works down to about fifteen below... which I don't have to worry about now. It is a manual, the four wheel drive is in great working order, and I think it is the most beautiful car ever. I only wish they would make them again, I would get a brand-new one! We have a '98 Camry also, but I just can't see getting rid of this car, it is so reliable and from what I hear, it has many more miles in store!

I rolled this car while taking a sharp turn on an icy road. Not a speck of damage (I think it was due to the huge rubber bumpers, which I wish all new cars had- and the snow I landed in). I walked away without a scrape.

I have replaced the shocks, the brakes, and the exhaust pipe. I had to put a little stop leak in the radiator. I had a small oil leak, but it is pretty much nonexistent now after a nut was replaced.

If you find one of these cars, cherish it! It will last you for I-don't-know-how-long!

I own a 1983 Tercel 4x4 wagon with a sunroof and aluminum wheels. It has 215,000 miles on it and has so far been a good little car. I've put struts, a clutch, and CV joints on it and use it to commute about 50 miles every day. It's a little under powered and has a few rust spots and dents, but this is to be expected. My grandpa has 4 of these and has had nothing but good luck and fun in them. I recently went up a steep dirt road up a mountain in it and it did as well or better than my friends Landrover! It goes great in snow and I plan to drive it until it can no longer be repaired. Every one at school knows it as the Red Rocket. It's a legend!

My car is 1995 Tercel SR5 in great body shape, no rust, alloy wheels etc. It's my fishing car and, as all these folk say, will go anywhere even though it has 270,000k on the clock. Does anyone know if I can retrofit power steering from a wrecked corolla? Why all the desire for more power? Just be patient, relax and enjoy the car for what it is, cheap efficient transport. Neil NZ.

Boy, am I glad to hear that our 85 SR5 4x4 is from such a great stock!

We bought ours in January of 2000 with 160000+ miles, an assortment of mix-matched worn out tires, bad brakes, shocks, an upper engine oil leak, a leaking gas tank, a smashed and corroded right front turn signal and a cracked windshield. The cooling fan was on its last wind and rust had started to chew on the fenders around the wheels and at the bottom of the lift gate. With a $2000 expenditure, we purchased the car and had the tires, shocks/struts, and brakes repaired.

The "winter beater" served us so well that we have kept it for our family car ever since repairing everything, but the windshield. We have had to repair the starter twice (not our fault), installed a new alternator, replaced the same head light twice and a broken strut from a pothole around our son's school.

With 196000 miles, It has gotten us through many blizzards here in western Michigan. It has hauled us to several campsites, carried various loads of "stuff", and constantly gets over 30mpg!!! It still loses some oil, and the front passenger door handle snapped off during one of our deep freeze cold snaps (double digits below zero with wind chill added in for discomfort).

It will be a sad day when I lose my Tercel! I wish Toyota would have kept up production of this mini-SUV! I prefer the shift on the fly system to the AWD offered today. If anyone has the chance to even drive one of these wonderful ugly ducklings, please treat yourself to a thrill ride through any terrain! The 6 Speed manual will get you through just about any situation! Enjoy!

My 1986 Toyota Tercel Wagon SR5 4x4 is the greatist car I have ever driven. It is the most remarkable machine, the way it can climb and drive through anything. I have not have many problems with me Tercel except for a leaky radiator and a head light I have replaced. The lady that owned the car before me took perfect care and maintinence on it. I have rallied the car as hard as I could, and it's out lasted everything, except for a broken turn signal that my buddy hit with a rock. My Tercel has over a 455000 miles on it. And hopefully a lot more to come. I live in Salt lake City Utah and it hasn't failed me yet in the winter or heat. Everyone at my School knows it as the Armadillo because of it tan yellowish color and its durability. I did get it high centered on a snow path, but it was pretty deep. Because of its lack of hight stance I'm going to put a 3'' lift on it soon. I love this little car even with its 1.6L 3A-C engine, which is kind of doggy, but it makes up for it with its climbing abillities of its EL gear. I went up a 45 or 50 degree angle dirt road with it, and climbed it with no problem. I love this little tercel and hope to keep it till it dies for good.

We need all the Tercel 4x4 owners at www.tercel4wd.com. That way you people can become part of the largest Tercel 4WD community in the world. You can also comment on the legacy and durability of the Toyota Tercel 4WD! The link to the forums is on the main page.

I have a 1985 toyota tercel 4x4 wagon it has almost 300,000 miles and still runs beautiful.

We've had our 1985 Toyota Ter. for 9 years and it has been a great reliable car since we purchased it. It's not the prettiest of cars but it starts in the winter; not to mention the 4 wheel-drive. In the snow I can go anywhere during the winter months. Presently, we are experiencing the temp light and oil light coming on. Although, the engine is cool, we have difficulty keeping the car running when its stopped at a stop sign; it's necessary to compress the gas pedal to keep the car running. Has anyone had this problem with their Toyota? Can't seem to find out what the problem is and would like our Toyota to pass emissions for this year.

Thanks for your help.

A 1985 Toyota driver.

When we need to pass air care our mechanic hooks it to a tester and tweaks it to pass, then we return and he re-tweaks it to run properly. Just find a guy who likes/knows old Toyotas.

I have a 1986 Tercel Wagon SR5 "6-speed". It rocks! Just like previous comments I can go anywhere with this little car. I live in Colorado and in the snow I usually pass many cars by with the on the fly 4WD. I have around 156,000 on it so far am looking forward to another 100,000 out of it, if not more.

I have not had many problems. I have had to have the valves adjusted, 2 small rust spots, need to get some struts all around as I believe they have never been replaced. If you can get one of these cars you should.

Thanks for the website and other comments.

James Howell.