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YACT: Are Toyota Tercels any good?

M

Martin

Lifer
Been thinking about getting a car and the most important things would be:
1) cheap (early 90s Tercels go for $1k)
2) very reliable (I hate things breaking down)
3) cheap on gas and insurance.

Wouldn't really care about looks, performance, feeling etc. It seems ther Tercel would fit the bill..if not, what would?
 
I used to have a 90 Tercel It ran great until the body began to rot on it. I had my uncle patch it up and then wrecked it a few days later....man i liked that car.

*edit*
oh yeah it pretty good on gas I thinki got like 30ish with it but I never really kept track.
Insurance for me wasn't that cheap but that's because I just got my license.
 
I think Acura Legends are sexy. I might pick one of those up for my new car. Still contemplating. Toyota Tercels IMO are decent. If u can get less then 150k for less then 1k. Go for it.
 
I test drove a 1994 one...very underpowered - I had 2 other passengers and and the A/C running - had no pickup at all. I wouldn't want to drive it on the highway.
 
Originally posted by: MasterAndCommander
I test drove a 1994 one...very underpowered - I had 2 other passengers and and the A/C running - had no pickup at all. I wouldn't want to drive it on the highway.
Click to expand...

buuut, theres a body kit that makes it look like a BMW

Text
 
The reliability of a car that is 5+ years old will depend more on the former owner then the cars maker most of the time. Just check out the major stuff and look for signs of abuse.

As for the car you listed it is ok but will be under powered for some but the trade off is better gas mileage.

Also look up parts at partsamerica.com or autozone.com to get a idea what a Alt, Starter, clutch, etc? goes for.
 
Originally posted by: Martin
Been thinking about getting a car and the most important things would be:
1) cheap (early 90s Tercels go for $1k)
2) very reliable (I hate things breaking down)
3) cheap on gas and insurance.

Wouldn't really care about looks, performance, feeling etc. It seems ther Tercel would fit the bill..if not, what would?
Click to expand...

Its Toyota. It'll bury you and look GREAT doing it.
 
I had a 92 Tercel. I sold it (to my brother) when I needed to go from 2 cars to 1. Then 6 months later I needed to have 2 cars again. I wish I never sold the thing.

Ran great. You couldn't hear the engine it was so quiet. Never had anything major break. Insurance is virtually free. Price is low. If I remember correctly I got ~42 mpg, but I drove almost exclusively highway miles at 60 mph.

I did have one problem though. The vinyl seats were completely distroyed by sun. I just put seat covers on and forgot about it. It looks like the other cheap plastic interior panels are about to crack now too from sun damage.
 
I had an 89 tercel. sold in 2002 for $1000. great car, total replacements since ~1995 when i got it was muffler/exhaust rusted and thermostat broke. yeah that's about all not including regular wearable parts like brakes, oil, filters, tires.
 
tercel is relatively reliable if you keep up with the maintance.. the stick version has more power than teh auto.. i loved my tercel.. but alas i threw a rod. The water pump is a weak poitn as wellas the injectors.. they will fail.

otherwise a reliable car.. i loved it.. got me around.
 
My dad drove one to 275,000 miles until the transmission failed and my Step-Brother has a 90 or 91 with 200,000 miles and no major repairs.

Quixfire
 
Originally posted by: mwmorph
I had an 89 tercel. sold in 2002 for $1000. great car, total replacements since ~1995 when i got it was muffler/exhaust rusted and thermostat broke. yeah that's about all not including regular wearable parts like brakes, oil, filters, tires.
Click to expand...

Wow, did you ever find a sucker.
 
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