Goodbye ‘93 Tercel - Thanks for your service!

[Sedin26]

A sad day here…the end of an era! I bought my 93 Tercel for $3k in January 2007, knowing it had been neglected.
The following month, I rebuilt the engine myself and had a local shop rebuild the transmission. I suspect I could have just done the valve stem seals and some drain and fills on the trans but I wanted to start fresh.

I drove it full time until 2016, using it as our only personal vehicle and for my work as a mobile PC service tech. Did tons of preventative maintenance over the years. Very well maintained. In 2017 I bought a different vehicle so the Tercel took on secondary status. I drove it as a 2nd vehicle and it also had stints of being driven by my SIL and dad. It hasn’t been on the road much the last couple of years so I reluctantly put it up for sale. It went yesterday for $650.

A young guy bought it and is excited to fix it up a bit. I included valve stem seals and all associated parts, timing belt kit, water pump, various new cooling system components, and other parts. I hope the new owner can get it to 400,000km!!

 

[97prizm]

I haven't seen a tercel in years. That's great that someone is getting it to continue driving.

 

[Oillover]

The fact it has all four original hubcaps is impressive in itself.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Old Toyotas FTW.

 

[eljefino]

What a well-proportioned car! Too many coupes these days are on stupidly long wheelbases.

 

[andrew_j]

Nice.

Rented a 2001 in Costa Rica and took up roads that most CUVs would hesitate on. Worst car choice however it crossed river beds of 6”- rocks, running streams 4” deep and mud.

 

[HemiBenny]

That’s awesome! Good on you for keeping her going! And good on the young guy that bought it with the same plan that you had, keep her going!

 

[Kira]

You forded a rocky stream in a rental car?

The Tercel I passed on (good pedigree, charming seller, situation dripping with love) haunts me to this day.
Seriously, I was thinking about the car yesterday.

I knew a smart and headstrong gal who wanted an original Tercel with a trunk. She thought the hatchbacks were inviting.

 

[THORROMIG]

Thanks for sharing your story, wishing the young man many many miles of happiness moving forward.

 

[daves87rs]

They are great cars!

 

[vavavroom]

You forded a rocky stream in a rental car?

The Tercel I passed on (good pedigree, charming seller, situation dripping with love) haunts me to this day.
Seriously, I was thinking about the car yesterday.

I knew a smart and headstrong gal who wanted an original Tercel with a trunk. She thought the hatchbacks were inviting.

On Costa Rica you don't have much choice duringbthd rainh season. Roads get flooded, washed out, and driving gets messy. I always use a 4WD pickup truck there, even during the nice seasons.

 

[Sedin26]

On Costa Rica you don't have much choice duringbthd rainh season. Roads get flooded, washed out, and driving gets messy. I always use a 4WD pickup truck there, even during the nice seasons.

4WD Tercel would have been a good choice!

I used to see lots of those in my area but they seem to be gone now. It’s been a few years since I spotted a 4WD on the road.

 

[vavavroom]

4WD Tercel would have been a good choice!

I used to see lots of those in my area but they seem to be gone now. It’s been a few years since I spotted a 4WD on the road.

I forgot they made a 4WD Tercel. I do remember the AWD Justy.

 

[dishdude]

I can't believe that thing is still on the road, haven't seen one in ages. I had a friend in high school with a salvage title one that looked identical to that, the car was a complete piece of junk. We were at the mall hanging out in the parking lot and he comes screaming around the circle that went around the mall at WOT, the thing sounded terrible with the belts squealing the whole nine yards. He drives into a huge pile of snow thinking he was going to drive right through it in a blaze of glory, well it was hard as a rock he might as well of hit a brick wall. Steam flying out the front of it, coolant everywhere...it was hilarious. The only thing that got hurt was the Tercel and no real loss there. Funniest thing I've ever seen.

 

[JHZR2]

What a well-proportioned car! Too many coupes these days are on stupidly long wheelbases.

Old Toyotas were handsome. As simple and raucous as that Tercel would be, it was nicely proportioned and had good lines. Modern Toyota has gone from that to gaudy styling with fake openings and weird angles.

 

[addyguy]

We had an ‘89 hatchback as a family car for years. It survived being driven all day with no oil in it!
Tough as nails cars - seen soooo many horribly abused that just kept going and going!

 

[Sedin26]

We had an ‘89 hatchback as a family car for years. It survived being driven all day with no oil in it!
Tough as nails cars - seen soooo many horribly abused that just kept going and going!

My friend’s family car when we turned 16 was an 87 Tercel hatchback. We drove it everywhere and it received much abuse but kept going forever.

We managed to pile 16 people into it at school and drive it around the block

 

[macarose]

I mean this in a very good way.

Your post is most bitog post I've ever read!

The only way it would be better is if you helped him reconstruct this vehicle... again. I love the fact that we make cars that are seen as consumables into durable products that endure the ages.

 

[Sedin26]

I mean this in a very good way.

Your post is most bitog post I've ever read!

The only way it would be better is if you helped him reconstruct this vehicle... again. I love the fact that we make cars that are seen as consumables into durable products that endure the ages.

I did tell him I’d be happy to help with oil changes and repairs if he ever need it. Perhaps I’ll see it again some day

Also, this thing could make it to 400k with no fixes. It’s a tough car!

 

[grampi]

I had one the same year and color! 4 speed manual. The engine started smoking like a mosquito fogger at about 130K miles...the 1.5 was notorious for bad valve guides...