1985 Toyota Camry Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Overview
The Toyota Camry was still relatively new to the market in 1985. Its styling was typical of Japanese imports of the time: small and boxy,...
The Toyota Camry was still relatively new to the market in 1985. Its styling was typical of Japanese imports of the time: small and boxy, but sturdy. The 1985 Toyota Camry did receive a few updates for the model year, including flush-mounted headlights and new color choices. It was available as a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback.
The 1985 Toyota Camry came with a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter, 95-horsepower engine (a small increase in output from the previous version) and was available in either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual. Fuel economy is about 31 mpg. Both the 1985 Toyota Camry sedan and the hatchback were available in LE and DLX trim levels.
Drivers of the 1985 Toyota Camry complain about some rust issues, which could be chalked up to old age. It is notable, however, that there still drivers of the 1985 Toyota Camry out there, more than 20 years after the car's introduction, which speaks to Toyota's performance and reliability.
What owners say
"Overall, owners of the 1985 Toyota Camry greatly appreciate its reliability, fuel efficiency, and ease of maintenance. Many drivers shared their positive experiences with its smooth performance and comfortable ride, often noting how long the vehicle lasted with basic upkeep. However, some mentioned that acceleration could be better and that the interior could feel dated. The car's appearance was described as boxy, which some found unappealing. Overall, it’s seen as a solid choice for those wanting a dependable vehicle."
When I got the car it was used well, and although it had been maintained meticulously, the work was done by bad mechanics who did bad work. So the car was in bad shape when I got it. I knew the car as a child, as it was my mother's car. I drove it when I was a teenager when it was still a youthful car. Performance: acceleration great - braking great - handling okay Build Quality: Great, just really needs to be maintained better than it had been. Then it would have lasted longer than it did. Appearance: These are boring cars. Comfortable inside, not a lot of room in the trunk though. Cost of Ownership: When it was young and spritely, it was good. But even though the mileage was still very low (25K), after it was 15 years old this car acted like an old man. Falling apart. Needed a new A/C unit, new everything. It was atrocious. For that low mileage, it should have still been speeding around town like a young teenager. After all, it is a Toyota! I had to put it down. Sold it. Fun Factor: When I was a teenager, or borrowing the car as an adult, when the car was still in good shape, it was fun. When I owned the car, it was awful to drive. I hated it and sold it as quickly as possible. *I would only recommend a NEW Camry to someone. And they would need to maintain it well AT THE DEALERSHIP... not at some corner shop.
July 20, 2009My mother purchased the car new in '85 for approx $12K, drove the car for 18 years until her death. Then she willed the car to her youngest grandson, who was 16 at the time and is now 23, and still driving the same car. It took him through 4 years of college in Champaign, ILL, and another 2 years of grad school in Lubbock, TX. 2 timing belts, 3 batteries, 1 clutch, 1 alternator, 4 sets of new tires, 1 motor mount, 3 sets of brakes and 157,000 miles later, the car is still running great and is about to move on to Dallas for post-graduate study!!! I was very fortunate to get the car in the first place, and it has been a real blessing to me. (my friends called it the pimp-mobile in high school, because of its conservative styling and color (brown!!!!). Probably in 2 to 3 years, I'll be ready to trade it in on another Toyota.
February 6, 2007This is the first car I've owned myself, having driven my parent's Subaru for a year while I worked to save for it. I picked a Toyota having heard so many sing the praises of the company for reliability and fuel economy. I have to say that the Camry can deliver both. Unfortunately my particular car had a rocky start. She had been abused in a prior life, and the head gasket went almost immediately after I bought it. My first gasket job down, she's now ticking like clockwork. She isn't fast or sporty by any means, she chugs up long hills and idles a little rough, and occasionally shows her age in the completely analog dashboard and lack of any sort of safety features many people expect in a modern car. But if you want something simple, lovable, plucky, and fun with a whole lot of character and reliable if not abused, then this is definitely a car to check out. On top of that the minimalist interior is spacious and comfortable to match the absolutely gigantic trunk. She's old, slow, simple, a little rough around the edges and painted a drab shade of old Volvo blue, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
December 27, 2011What owners say
When I got the car it was used well, and although it had been maintained meticulously, the work was done by bad mechanics who did bad work. So the car was in bad shape when I got it. I knew the car as a child, as it was my mother's car. I drove it when I was a teenager when it was still a youthful car. Performance: acceleration great - braking great - handling okay Build Quality: Great, just really needs to be maintained better than it had been. Then it would have lasted longer than it did. Appearance: These are boring cars. Comfortable inside, not a lot of room in the trunk though. Cost of Ownership: When it was young and spritely, it was good. But even though the mileage was still very low (25K), after it was 15 years old this car acted like an old man. Falling apart. Needed a new A/C unit, new everything. It was atrocious. For that low mileage, it should have still been speeding around town like a young teenager. After all, it is a Toyota! I had to put it down. Sold it. Fun Factor: When I was a teenager, or borrowing the car as an adult, when the car was still in good shape, it was fun. When I owned the car, it was awful to drive. I hated it and sold it as quickly as possible. *I would only recommend a NEW Camry to someone. And they would need to maintain it well AT THE DEALERSHIP... not at some corner shop.
July 20, 2009My mother purchased the car new in '85 for approx $12K, drove the car for 18 years until her death. Then she willed the car to her youngest grandson, who was 16 at the time and is now 23, and still driving the same car. It took him through 4 years of college in Champaign, ILL, and another 2 years of grad school in Lubbock, TX. 2 timing belts, 3 batteries, 1 clutch, 1 alternator, 4 sets of new tires, 1 motor mount, 3 sets of brakes and 157,000 miles later, the car is still running great and is about to move on to Dallas for post-graduate study!!! I was very fortunate to get the car in the first place, and it has been a real blessing to me. (my friends called it the pimp-mobile in high school, because of its conservative styling and color (brown!!!!). Probably in 2 to 3 years, I'll be ready to trade it in on another Toyota.
February 6, 2007This is the first car I've owned myself, having driven my parent's Subaru for a year while I worked to save for it. I picked a Toyota having heard so many sing the praises of the company for reliability and fuel economy. I have to say that the Camry can deliver both. Unfortunately my particular car had a rocky start. She had been abused in a prior life, and the head gasket went almost immediately after I bought it. My first gasket job down, she's now ticking like clockwork. She isn't fast or sporty by any means, she chugs up long hills and idles a little rough, and occasionally shows her age in the completely analog dashboard and lack of any sort of safety features many people expect in a modern car. But if you want something simple, lovable, plucky, and fun with a whole lot of character and reliable if not abused, then this is definitely a car to check out. On top of that the minimalist interior is spacious and comfortable to match the absolutely gigantic trunk. She's old, slow, simple, a little rough around the edges and painted a drab shade of old Volvo blue, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
December 27, 2011Epic. Totally epic. The best car in the world. 290,000 miles and counting. If you own one you already know, if not you couldn't believe better. Ferrari? Lamborghini? Child's play. Enough wasted breath. The impossible perfection of the 1985 Toyota Camry Sedan defies description.
October 20, 2009Reliable, fuel efficient,comfortable, and smooth to drive. Braking, excellent,handling:smooth,acceleration,could be improved but its 24 years old.great purchase price, basic wear and tear maintenance is all you really have to pay, rarely breaks down.Neat appearance.Works great for us.
June 18, 2009# Performance – The car handles great, shifting/accelerating/braking is great, never had a problem. # Build Quality – Regular maintenance made the car lst 287,000 miles before it started knocking. # Appearance – Cliche boxy look standard on nearly all 1980's sedans. # Cost of Ownership – 25-30 mpg, low maintenance # Fun Factor – Basic car, easy on gas, easy to drive, dont expect a racecar.
September 14, 2008I inherited this car in 1999 from my father who kept up with it like a swiss watch. It never gave the family any issues, ever.. It was never beat on, had no rust to speak of, and survived two accidents with only minimal damage. (other cars were wrecked) When i got this car it already had 225K miles on it. The interior never wore, the quality of everything mechanical worked, was original, and never needed to be fixed or replaced. Oil changes done every 3k miles my my father, and later by myself. The exterior color was a silver color that never faded, and with a coat of wax shined like it was brand new. The wheel coating chipped off, and the dull alloy wheels looked almost like polished aluminum by the time i got it. When i got the car, first car, i replaced the CAT coupler which was a known issue on these cars for rusting out, figure that needs to be done about once every 60k miles. New rear struts, and front struts, new CVJoints, which also seem to go about every 125K miles, and a new timing belt every 100K miles. Other than these things, it had a bad fuel filter that i replaced as well, but i would call this basic maintenance. At 367K miles the radio decided it only wanted to play AM and only at full volume, so i pulled the fuse, the power antenna had also decided yet again to stop functioning, which i assumed was due to the radio issue, so i lowered it, and used a diskman through the tape deck, which was it's own seperate unit in these cars, and made due with that. At 386K miles the CVJoint started clicking again, it would have been the third one i replaced on the car myself, and probably about the 9th that was done on the car. I sold my 85 Camry LE to a friend who needed a car to go back and forth to school. He still owns it and uses it as a commuter car to go back and forth to work. It has over 500K miles, still on the original Engine, Transmission, and probably about the 19th set of CVJoints. If you find one of these, high mileage, or not, i would pick one up, because even if it needs work, it will last you a real long time.
December 20, 2013Its an old car, but its built solid. Its a Toyota 4 cylinder that only needs basic maintenance. And as my mechanic said, "It's a Toyota, just needs oil." Compared to all the other cars out there, the Camry might need some tlc, but if you love cars and like to work on them, then its a great car with many possibilities.
July 22, 2009Forty more words of the same on this 1985 Toyota Camry LE for sure. The only thing I can think of that needs to be done, and maybe this Idea will dawn on Toyota some day too. Is that Toyota should honor the early year Toyota's by making a 1 Year Limited Edition Run on this 1985. Because everyone world wide remembers how these early year Toyota's just ran and ran and ran. That is what made the name of Toyota Motors Famous. Maybe some year in the future, Toyota will Realize this Fact too. Just like the 1965 Ford Mustang Classic. The 1985 Toyota Camry's where the Same Type of a Classic Trend Setter for those years too! - TOYOTA !
October 25, 2014I love the crushed, dark blue velvet interior for the seats and the doors. I love that when every body elses new cars are broke down, my 85 camry is the only one still running. Its also very easy to keep up the maintanance on.
December 25, 2010
