1982 Toyota Tercel Reviews, Pricing & Specs

I liked everything about it for a 16-18 year old person. I miss it and that's why twenty years later I'm reviewing it. This was my first car back in 1991. It had 150,000 miles on it already. My mom surprised me and bought it ($1800) with my savings (from child support, technically her money anyway). I came home from school and was so angry I didn't drive it for two days. However, once I did I fell in love with it. It was a front-wheel drive, 4 speed wonder. I plowed through 24" snow drifts, drove it through mud, creeks, and sped down rough unpaved roads. I could change the oil while laying under the car (clearance was exceptional) with much room to work. It carried a keg of beer in the trunk with four of my friends (we weren't drinking and driving) as passengers. I'm from KY and drove that little car to FL and back on two different occasions and once to Buffalo, WY and back. It was a hoot to drive.Jun 27, 2012

If you are looking for a fun little DD that will turn heads and keep an excited to drive my car somewhere feeling. This car meets and exceeds those needs. It has front and rear anti sway bars. My eg hatch only had a front. It was intended to grab a sport compact slot. Dont know why they didnt. I removed the tupper ware bumpers. What were you thinking Toyoda great lines like these with those bumpers. Next performance mod is going to be a Schneider reground cam. Jun 20, 2012

The first generation (1979-1982) Toyota Tercel had exceptionally poor handling... The rear suspension camber changed as the wheel moved up and down.. This gave the car an unpleasant nervous/twitchy feel when cornering hard. When corning hard the carburetor would sometimes starve for fuel.. mostly on uphill right hand turns. Under braking the rears would lock-up way to easily.Dec 15, 2011