Tercel SR5 4WD - Any other owners?
 

I just put up a down payment on an 83 SR5 that's in fairly decent shape for it's age. It has 199,000 miles on it, but as far as I can tell it is mechanically in terrific shape with virtually no obvious body rust. I pick it up on friday. Enough about that though . .

I'm just curious if there are any other owners of these unique cars on here and what kind of economy you have been able to achieve? Average owners claim 30 mpg is pretty easy to get with these cars. I say with the stock carbureted 1.5L and a nice tall 5th gear, 40mpg should be cake. It's unlikely this car will see much time on the highway except for snow skiing trips, so it will spend over 90% it's time at 40 mph or less.

Comments?

I think a 1N-T will bolt up.

A what?

My first car was an '88 Tercel. I remember it getting well upwards of 30 mpg without any hypermiling techniques. It was a great car. I wish that I still had it.

I had an '84 SR5 4WD wagon about 12-13 years ago. Absolutely one of the best vehicles I've ever owned, plus one of my favorites.

I can't say much for mileage as back then I didn't care much for mileage PLUS the only reason I got it was my POS Mercedes crapped out. I had a neighbor that owned it and it died on him, as long as it wasn't German I was game so I offered him $100 for it. He said he was quoted from a "mechanic" that it would be $500 minimum to fix it. Ten minutes and a $10 air filter later I was on the road with it.

If you have no history I would swap the timing belt. About a 2-3 hour job less if you don't get as picky as me. I got a U-Pickit junk yard radiator that I swapped out at the same time plus fuel filter, dist cap/wires (one piece), rotor & plugs. Essentially I had about $400 total in the car (including CD player) and sold it for $2500 after I put around 15k miles on it. It was in great shape, gold/tan w/ a brown bottom and brown plaid interior.

I think you need to post pics of the interior once you get it. I know a few people will be VERY jealous of that little EOC helper on top of the dash ;) Show people what I'm talking about Friday. YOU ARE SO LUCKY!! I've actually done quite a few nationwide searches for one of those in nice condition - no luck.

The '88 Tercel is Apples and Oranges. I've had an '87, two '88's, an '89 and a '90 - the SR5/4WD is a different animal.

Yeah, I know that it's a completely different animal, but as reliable and versatile as the SR5's. I loved that old Tercel.

Are you talking about this?

https://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...linomtr_04.jpg

Alas, it is missing from this car. I don't think I'll really miss it though.

Oh, and the timing belt was literally just changed before it went on the dealer's lot. He said the only reason the woman gave it up was because she didn't want to pay somebody to fix it right after the 'friend' she enlisted to do it screwed it up by apparently mistiming it by 2 teeth. The dealer just had his guy fix it and it runs perfectly aside from a little smoke at startup from apparently leaky valve guides (which as you know can leak for a very long time without causing any serious problem).

As an aside, today I also just committed to purchasing a 94 Escort Wagon with the 5sp and only 65,000 miles on it for $2500. It's as nice and solid as any 2004 and gets mid-30 mpg without even trying. It even has ice-cold AC. (My SR5 does not.) Now I just need to decide if I really want to give it to the daughter-in-law as planned. ;)

Yep, that's it. I thought that was real cool. I still am envious......that would be one car I'd give up my Maxima for if I could find a decent 4WD Tercel. The wife has been prodding about me getting rid of it, but that ain't gonna happen.

I bought a one year old Escort wagon in 2000 (99 model if you're not good at math :) ) . It had 20k miles on it when I got it. It's now nearing 100k and seems to be decent. The transmission is finicky (auto) but other than that it's doing OK and that's good since I gave it to my kid it hasn't had the same MX done on it like I did though it has had synthetics since day one (I know thats a debatable subject though). Only problem I really ever had with it was at 36,500 miles the computer for A/C went out. It took much talking but I finally got Ford to foot the $350 bill to replace it. Also the car has been through many accidents, it was banged up when I got it and has had 2 since (none by my hands). One my wife got sideswiped and it bent a rear strut and the other my kid hit a car. Both minor so the car still looks decent.

BACK ON SUBJECT.....On and off over the last year I've searched autotrader.com as well as ebay for a nice '84 SR5/4WD wagon, no luck. :mad:

I've been looking in the junk yards for one of these. No luck yet. I'll give you a hint where it will be mounted.

Also someone last year was working with a tercel 4wd on this site. It seems he peaked around 33mpg.

found it! its zugyna about 10 post down

https://www.gassavers.org/showthread....ght=tercel+4wd