1989 Toyota Camry Reviews

This car is nothing short of amazing. It's got over 250,000 miles on it, needs a valve adjustment (tock tock tock) and has Japanese take-out replacement transmission. One of these days I'll get the CV joints fixed....but the thing gets 37 mpg on the highway! And this is the Alaska type of road, two-lane, humpy-bumpy, up and down hill and over frost heaves no matter where you go.

It's not exactly perky after all those miles, but the heater and the air conditioning still work great, and the steering response is also just like new. It's fun to drive, quiet, and would be comfortable if the seats weren't so worn out.

The worst thing about it: 1) automatic seat belts. Sure, you get an extra break on your car insurance for having them, but try getting out out of the car! They slide and get caught on things. Now imagine you have to dogs on leashes you need to get out of the car along with yourself and there's this seat belt blocking their (and your) exit just like some ribbon across a finish line. The dogs tangle their leashes every time. It's maddening. PLUS you have to lever yourself out of the little hole the drive sits in. It's very difficult to get out of this car. And no, I don't weigh 300 lbs. I'm a normal-sized person.

Be that as it may, I'd buy another one of these babies in a heartbeat. They're cheap, around $1500, and they run forever.

89 camry...not a base model or popular model for modifying. But I plan to work it out. So far, i have a completely rebuilt 3-sfe 2.0L I-4 engine and auto transmission. Performance upgrades include K&N cold air intake, Megan racing upper strut tower bar. KYB shocks/springs, and my newest addition an APEX'i N1 (Fireball Tip) exhaust system. I've also worked on the interior adding a pair of 4-point TRD racing harnesses. Autometer (52mm) Tach. MOMO steering wheel with NRG quick release and boss hub kit.  As for sound, I put in a Clarion DXZ465MP head unit, 1200w Amp and 10' Infinity Kappa Perfect bass, and soon to be 2 5-way Pioneer 6X9 rear speakers.
As for dislikes, I don't really dislike anything but the fact that the exterior paint is starting to fade on the roof area and my wheels.  Hopefully, i can get it repainted the same grey color but everything including the bumpers. Getting a new set of wheels, maybe Rota Subzeroes with bolt pattern of 5X100, or at the most Volk LE or TE 37's with custom stagger between front and rear set since usual bolt patterns they make staggered are 5X114.3.
Besides that, I would like to just keep the normal JDM appeal and basically sleeper status. My dreams would include doing a full swap from my 3-SFE to maybe a 3-SGTE turbo engine fitted with a top mount intercooler and upgrade to a Garrett T3/T4 turbo with either an APEX'i, HKS, or Greddy BOV, and APEX'i turbo timers. Another would be custom order of Tein S-tech 5 way adjustables and custom rear up strut bar and a custom made interior harness bar for the 4-point seat belts.  And also wanting Sparco Fighter series seats(though i need custom bracket fabrication).
All of this could be a dream come true if only it werent for the issue of the large amount of money. That's why hopefully people could read this, maybe get some sponsorships.  And I'll be trying to get into an auto group and autocross a bit, go to shows..Whatever it takes, I want to put 2nd Generation Camrys on the map!

I am so excited to give a performance review of my 89
camry.
This car has been a main point of conflict for me. I
aquired it from a friend from Chicago. The car had been
sitting on the street unused for I don't know how long. It is
rusting from the bottom up. It only has 110K on it,
however, and we all know that for a Toyota, it is just
warming up. The engine plummed white smoke for a little
while after I got it to Michigan so i assumed that the block
was cracked and the car would last for only a little while. I
changed the oil, drove it regularly. The white smoke
stopped. the engine idled smooth and still does to this day.
Like new.No hic ups or chaters. It seems that the car was
maintained well. This will be a good time to explain my
ratings
Overall- I have a love hate relationship with this car. It is so
uncool to look at from my perspective (however i do have
respect for the styleing form the time, and given the overall
reliability of this car it is hard to dis it to hard) that i am
embarassed to say that i can be embarrased to drive it. (I
hate ego). its reliability is why i want to continue to drive it.
i want to see how far this tank can go. so overall i guess i
do love it
Performance-well, its a five speed so it can get up and go if
i crank on it but it is only the 4 cyl so it has no balls what so
ever.( I also own a 91 Mazda 626 GT with turbo intercool.
When i get behind that wheel- i hate my toyota. I will have
to review that car too. What a beaut that thing is.) The seats
are fairly uncomfortable and the handling is loose and
boring but travels strait and smooth down the road.I really
don't expect more from this car.
Alright i will try to be more brief. The only repair that it
needs so far is
the exhaust. Rusting away. in the process of replacing. The
driver side sway bar bolt
bushing gave out. I am told i need to replace the lower
controll arm because the bushing is not a replacable piece.
Other that that i have had to do nothing to
this car.
I have  found that i am geting 28 in the city and 30 or so on
the highway. For an 89 that is Great!
Appearance- already covered. Fine syling for the time,
reconizable, but not hot at all.
Fun factor?-No fun. the five speed adds a little conectivness
to the car but thats about it. I read another review of this
car on this forum and I had to laugh. "Japaness tank-
souless and boring" that is a perfect description.
Would i recommend this car to a friend? Absolutely! even
though this car is boing, i think it is a total value.
I wish I had a phot of my car to share so you can love/hate
it, like me, visually.

I love my car but it needs to many things fixed now so not sure if I am going to spend the money to get it all fixed. Leaking oil, needs new exhaust, no reverse. I would still buy another toyota camry. If I had the money I would have been able to keep this car up and running. More for sentemental, it was my grandmothers car.

Wish they had more power, but its hard to beat the reliablity