1985 Toyota Corona 2.4 CS from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Alternator has blown once.

Diff has gone 2 times (my fault...)

Fan belt replaced.

Water pump replaced.

Tail lights blow when it rains.

Tail shaft going...

I was very surprised to find out how quick the car was.

I have a bad habit of spinning the wheels which includes burn outs, sideways around corners and when its wet I spin 4th gear. It can be quite expensive due to replacing 2 diffs.

The car can go off the clock in 4th gear, still with 5th up its sleeve.

The interior is neat and everything works.

The back seats could have a bit more leg room.

The car drives very smooth and quiet.

Fuel economy is good unless you give it a hard time.

I don't have power steering, but it doesn't need it.

The car goes through a heap of oil (1L per 1000kms)

There is no rust in the body, but the boot has a water problem. Whenever it rains my boot carpet gets really wet, the taillights go blue and blow up and rust is starting to form.

I have tried to stop the problem by getting new boot seals, sealing the tail lights with silicon and installing rear mud flaps, but nothing has worked.

I have a high powered stereo which puts a lot of strain on the alternator.

CS Model? I thought CS models were only 2L with the 2S engine? Maybe this is a CS-X?? Are they 2.4L??

I've got the same car (except Avante model), I'm wondering - driving it like that, have you had any problems with your gearbox yet? or does it feel like any are developing?? I'm starting to worry that I'm gonna tear my gearbox up (occasionally in races I crunch the gears a little from 1st - 2nd to get the fastest change time).

Yeah they're pretty quick for an old 4cyl, add extractors and a bigger exhaust and you get better performance out of them at the higher range of the revs BTW. You should do this if you wanna do the car up.

I have a CSi Auto and have modified it a little. I have installed a 2.0 litre diff and speedo drive from a 2.0 auto car which has lowered the gearing by about 10per cent. Just remember that 2 types of gearboxes are used in Aussie. Japanese gearboxes in 2.4 Coronas and all Celicas. Aussie gearboxes in the 2.0 cars and Japanese gearboxes in the CSX Auto. My friends manual car is too high geared as well with much better pick up from using an Aussie 2.0 litre manual diff. You will need the speedo drive from a 2.0 Celica manual as well. This makes driving of the car fantastic plus all these bits are available from a wrecker for peanuts. Just make sure the diff is good as these diffs are probably the only slight weakness in the whole car. Don't forget that some last model 2.4 Coronas used the IRS which is shared by the Celica.

You can contact me at phillip_clark@optusnet.com.au if yo are interested in knowing more.