Hey guys,

I love my 4Runner, but I don't love 19mpg. Seems a shame to push that 4WD parachute through the atmosphere at 65 mph when I want to go places.

I'd like to pick up an older, like late 80's, Toyota compact car, corolla, tercel, even camry or cressida. I'd like to stick with fuel injection, 4-banger, and 5-speed if I can find it. Maybe even 4WD if the right Tercel comes along

Anyone have experience with these cars? Can you recommend me to any good forums? The searching I have done seems to indicate that the only thing these cars are good for is drifting.

 

my mom has a '90 corrola and while certainly no drift car, it can certainly get out of it's own way, and even after 17 years I can still coax 40mpg out of it on the highway. To top it off it hasn't needed more than routine maintenace EVER, hell it only needed new brakes at 200K(kms), and even at 357K(kms) it's still on the original clutch. You could probably pickup one of these for about $1000 tops

The "drift cars" toyota made and the regular boring cars toyota made were two very different animals. The Corrola GT-S(aka the AE-86) wasn't the same as the plain jane corrola sedan...not be a long shot.

 

I had an 89 Corolla about 7 years ago, it was carbed though. The only option it had was power steering, manual everything else. It never had a single problem, had just over 200k miles on it. It had 0 power, but it was an awsome commuter car. 39 MPG even at 200k miles. My only reason for getting rid of it was because it needed a new clutch. I could have put it in and I'm sure it'd go for another 100k at least, but at that time, donating a used car to charity still yielded blue book value for "great condition" on the car. So I donated it to Big Brother Big Sister and got a something like $2200 tax ride off. That's more than the car was honestly worth, so it was a good deal for me at the time. I now have a 99 Saturn SC, it gets 40 MPG, I loves it.

 

I had a 93 tercel with the 4 speed manual - I had it for 5 years from 2000 til 2005. I bought it with 100,000 miles on it, and sold it with 187,000 miles on it. The thing was awesome for gas mileage, never gave me any problems (other than routine maintenance) etc. I bought it for $4000 in 2000, and sold it for $2000 in 2005. The guy I sold it to had it for 1 year, and sold it for $2250!!!

 

Good Post the AE86 is no joke. You can always pick up a 89 MR2. Since your in Georgia you should take a look here for a fuel efficient DD
http://www.importatlanta.com/forums/...splay.php?f=20

 

It's going to be hard to go wrong (in general) if it is a Toyota, as long as it has been maintained. I have an 84 Camry that all I do is drive to work 4 miles away twice a week or so. It has 265K miles on it now and it runs great. Has the original clutch, alternator, and starter. CVs only replaced once. It's no race car, but it can still scoot.

Just look for one well cared for and you should do fine.

 

My buddy has a 1980 corolla driftToy...it gets about 50 miles to the gallon with the 3TC motor. just remember at around 250k the head gaskets will start seeping(sp) and need to be replaced. He has a 5 speed a/c and a welded diff runs great. And its really fun in the rain

 

My first car was an 89 two-door toyota corolla w/ 5 speed. That thing was great and I was able to get in the low 40's a few time and 20 once or twice . It was a great little car when I sold it I was still able to get about $2500 out of it with 198,xxx miles on the clock.
My old baby:


Look for a all-trac celica it still gets pretty good mileage for a turbo , awd car and it only came as a manual.

Try www.toyotanation.com they are mostly a car site and can probable help a bunch.