MW 1982 Toyota Corolla Tercel Road Test | Retro Review

[@Doobie1975]

I actually saw a Toyota Tercel of this vintage driving around in Yakima, WA, I was surprised to see one around in good shape.

[@ThePatente]

I just saw one over here in Québec last week. Is it reliable? I think so. lol

[@williamegler8771]

This brings back memories! My older sister had an 82 4DR that my parents purchased new for her as a high school graduation gift. My sister graduated college in 86 and got a job in Seattle which she had to start immediately. It was my job to deliver her car as well as her two German Shepherds from Milwaukee to Seattle. Two thousand miles in a tiny car! Did the drive in 30 hours. Had to turn off the A/C and downshift into 3 or 4th on the steep grades and got blown around by crosswinds and passing semis but averaged 38mpg. The Tercel lasted 205K miles until it blew a head gasket and was deemed uneconomical to repair.

[@landyachtfan79]

My 6th grade math teacher had the Liftback version of this car in black. Fun Fact: This generation of the car was the only one to use the "Corolla" prefix. It would be shortened to just "Tercel" for the second generation model, which debuted in 1982 for the 1983 model year.

[@unitedcity_mc4421]

My grade nine math teacher had an '87 Tercel. Great car.

[@g-mang-man7924]

I had an 82 SR5 liftback. Dog slow, but got 35mpg for my 1 hour commute. Had A/C too. Sold it for an 84 Tercel Wagon.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Amazing! You still see a shiet load of those in Puerto Rico!👋😂even after over 40years! People love their classic Toyota’s over there!

[@dave1956]

I had a 1982 Tercel DX 4 door sedan. It was probably the best car that I ever owned. I drove mine 14 years until the tinworm of winter in Wisconsin took it’s life. When the junkman hauled it away I actually had a lump in my throat. It was hard parting with my best friend!

[@jessestout8646]

Cant beat a Toyota! 🙂

[@manthony225]

Love this. 80's Toyota/Honda: "You'll get bare steel wheels and black bumpers and you'll like it" 😅

[@fernandorocha8459]

I love Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Subaru 1980s

[@AngelHernandez-ls5wr]

​@@fernandorocha8459im not love suzuki.

[@MrHeem94]

Woah. Now here's a car that has truly disappeared from the road. I had forgotten how it even looked.

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

Tercel's spiritual predecessor is the Yaris, which is also known as Vios outside of North America. It uses the same formula as the Tercel: cheaper than Corolla, so affordable for anyone looking for their first-ever brand new cars.

[@new2000car]

Such a great car at such a low price. I think the car tested was distinctive and amazingly good looking for $4,998. This car let you enjoy your life if you didn’t have much money; great reliability, traction, gas mileage. Of course your life would be shortened quickly in a crash with a bigger car or truck.

[@fernandorocha-dx1wv]

Great and nice small car

[@DrscammerRacingrush2]

Love these cars

[@nlpnt]

There's a rumor I've seen in a few places that this car had been designed in the early '70s and Toyota management sat on it for almost a decade which would explain its' Fiat 128-like sedan body style (along with the shooting-brake hatchback) and Audiesque longituninal engine, appearing as everyone else was building Golf/Rabbit clones. The gen 2 Tercel a year later went to what was becoming the more conventional shape.

[@robthad151]

My parents bought an '82 Corolla Tercel 4 door and an '83 SR5 4WD wagon at the same time. Both manual. IIRC they had the same motor. Although the '83 had more options and was a better car, especially the interior, the 0-60 was about 20 seconds.

[@streetcat957]

Torque steer would try to pull the wheel out of your hands

[@DeLorean4]

Buying a new car to celebrate a first job... truly science fiction.

[@pl5624]

The body looks like an early 70s subaru and grille like a later geo spectrum.

[@maples328]

Honestly, with wider tires 🛞 & better brakes, it’d make a good car today, lol 😂 Fuel injection & modern exhaust would probably make the engine livable for modest adults.

[@sneakerfreak2002]

You’re essentially describing the 95 to 99 Tercel . That’s what I have in 5 speed. An absolute gem of a vehicle

[@ilanoliveira4237]

Good gas mileage!!!!