1989 Toyota Corolla Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Not much changed for the 1989 Toyota Corolla, since it had just been redesigned the year before. Toyota abandoned the hatchback FX and made the sedan available with All-Trac.
The 1989 Toyota Corolla came in many body styles with several trim levels. The sedan came as a base DX or better-equipped LE. The wagon was available as a DX or SR5. The coupe came as a SR5 or GT-S. All Corollas came equipped with a DOHC, 16-valve inline four-cylinder engine. The sedans, front-drive wagon and SR5 coupe had a carbureted 90-horsepower engine; the All-Trac wagon had a fuel-injected 100 horsepower engine, and the GT-S had the most powerful with a 115-horsepower EFI version. Fuel economy is about 25 to 35 mpg, depending on the engine.
Drivers of the 1989 Toyota Corolla all seem to have a story to prove its indestructibility, like the one about the Corolla that made it to Alaska from Atlanta and had no problem starting in either climate. Some drivers have had problems with alternator.
Published Aug 9, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 1989 Toyota Corolla
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by Anonymous
Dec 18, 2012
I bought my beaten up 1989 Corolla, a 5spd LE model sedan with a carbeurated 4-AF engine, for $300. The previous owner seemed to think it was on its last legs, and gave it until maybe the end of the summer. It had cooked front brakes, an exhaust leak, and would surge unexpectedly.
I figured for $300, it would be the perfect summer car. I took it home and started throwing parts at it. I got new brake pads for $35, changed the oil, and changed the fuel filter. I then realized that the surging was due to poor contact on the plug wires, so I installed new plugs ($20) and a new distributor cap & wire assembly ($110). A couple months later, I had the exhaust leak patched up at an exhaust shop for $80. My total cost at this point, including purchasing the vehicle, is about $550, which I figured would be acceptable for a car that was only to last the summer.
That was in May. It is now December, and that Corolla simply won't die. I have taken it with me up to northern BC, and when the weather started turning I installed a cheap battery heater and coolant heater. If it's been plugged in, it starts first crank in 30 below (although I left it unplugged for a week once and the battery froze - oops). After throwing a set of snow tires under it, it handles like a dream even in the rough unplowed roads here. Thursday, I'll be driving it back down to Vancouver. This thing is a testament to the indestructability Toyota is known for.Dec 18, 2012
by Roger D
Dec 11, 2012
I love this car so much, that after getting rid of the first one. I hunted for 10 years before finding another one. They are the best cars that i have ever owned. Trust me when I say this I started driving at the age of 18 and now 39, I have owned over 30 cars.Dec 11, 2012
by Bradley D
Nov 08, 2011
Acceleration is slow because its only a 1300 12valve with a 4 speed box
Handles like a dream on the road
its been in an accident where i Tboned another car...(wasnt my fault)
Can get about 900km to a tank of petrolNov 08, 2011
User rating:
by Anonymous
Dec 18, 2012
I bought my beaten up 1989 Corolla, a 5spd LE model sedan with a carbeurated 4-AF engine, for $300. The previous owner seemed to think it was on its last legs, and gave it until maybe the end of the summer. It had cooked front brakes, an exhaust leak, and would surge unexpectedly.
I figured for $300, it would be the perfect summer car. I took it home and started throwing parts at it. I got new brake pads for $35, changed the oil, and changed the fuel filter. I then realized that the surging was due to poor contact on the plug wires, so I installed new plugs ($20) and a new distributor cap & wire assembly ($110). A couple months later, I had the exhaust leak patched up at an exhaust shop for $80. My total cost at this point, including purchasing the vehicle, is about $550, which I figured would be acceptable for a car that was only to last the summer.
That was in May. It is now December, and that Corolla simply won't die. I have taken it with me up to northern BC, and when the weather started turning I installed a cheap battery heater and coolant heater. If it's been plugged in, it starts first crank in 30 below (although I left it unplugged for a week once and the battery froze - oops). After throwing a set of snow tires under it, it handles like a dream even in the rough unplowed roads here. Thursday, I'll be driving it back down to Vancouver. This thing is a testament to the indestructability Toyota is known for.Dec 18, 2012
by Roger D
Dec 11, 2012
I love this car so much, that after getting rid of the first one. I hunted for 10 years before finding another one. They are the best cars that i have ever owned. Trust me when I say this I started driving at the age of 18 and now 39, I have owned over 30 cars.Dec 11, 2012
by Bradley D
Nov 08, 2011
Acceleration is slow because its only a 1300 12valve with a 4 speed box
Handles like a dream on the road
its been in an accident where i Tboned another car...(wasnt my fault)
Can get about 900km to a tank of petrolNov 08, 2011
by Aaron M
Jan 18, 2011
It's a lot of fun to drive. You don't see them like this anymore. The engine loves to
rev and I love to rev it. It's not a rocketship by any means, but it sure is a fun little
car.Jan 18, 2011
by Josh M
Jul 30, 2010
I love the HIGH reving 4age engine, the sleek body lines, its pretty quick, but
lacks top end performance. It rarely ever needs fixing, but when stuff does
break, its really easy and cheap to fix, for the most part. Exterior styling is
awesome, the "body kit" trim the GTS model has really ties the body to gether,
the interior is eh, the driver seat is awesome, fully adjustable. The shifter is
vary easy to shift with, and the e-brake is easy to grab hold of. It also lacks in
how well it is for gas mileage, its actually terrible, but that could be my heavy
driving?... haha And the fun factor of this thing is a 15/10 star, its small, has a
5spd. and a decent engine.Jul 30, 2010
by Roger D
May 09, 2010
I owned my first 89 GTS for 6 years, now 10 years later I have another 89 GTS. Love them, great performance and fun to drive. Not had to have many repairs. Great on gas for the perfomance you get.May 09, 2010
by Nathan M
Feb 05, 2010
I have had my corolla for a year and drive it daily in NYC. It is the perfect size for parking in tight spots. I recently had the all the body work restored and car repainted to its original color. I always get smiles from the parking lot attendants and heads turn because the car looks so clean for a daily driver. It starts up fast in the winter and the heater blast so much heat. In the summer I get an "ice cream headache" because the air conditioner gets too cold! I have all the repairs done at the manhattan dealership and very reasonalble to maintain.Feb 05, 2010
by Anonymous
Nov 08, 2009
A great car, 4 out of 5 only because of
the boxy exterior and power. I bought
this used in 1999 and drove it until
2006, now I'm giving it to my son who
will soon have his license. Everything
about the car is still perfect, just
needs some exhaust system work (rust and
corrosion), a new battery and starter.
The interior is roomy and comfortable,
plus icy A/C and pretty good speakers. I
get high mileage, around 30 mpg city,
which is incredible considering the year
of the car. A bit of rust on the
outside, not very noticeable. Automatic
trans., has a bit of trouble going up
big hills but that isnt much of a
problem where I live. A perfect car for
someone who just needs to get around
town and take a long trip every now and
then. Handles very well, easy driving
but fun. Nov 08, 2009
by La E
Aug 23, 2009
great acceleration, hasn't needed repairs in two years
looksgood outside. complete interior and has a very strong
aircon. and is japan domestic. has modified exhaust. is color
blue has foglamps and a kick ass steroe. what more is there to
ask for it has everything.Aug 23, 2009
by Derek J
Jul 14, 2009
not the best performing car, but fun as hell to drive. Who doesnt like revving to 7600rpm and waking up the whole block? cause i know i do. Too bad i cant keep up with any of my friends cars, but i only paid $1600 so who cares.Jul 14, 2009
by Patrick S
Jul 03, 2009
It may not have good looks or a great appearance but it is going to last forever or at least until I can upgrade to something better. I'd suggest anyone go find a car like this because they aren't expensive anymore and it will get you around for an affordable price.Jul 03, 2009
by Henri V
Sep 01, 2008
Actually my Corolla was liftback 1,6 SE but it was not in options list. Chassis year model was like the one in the picture. It was in and out about average quite good performance thou. Again one cold car in the winter of Finland. But there were no problem if it was -30degrees, it always started like it was resting under a palm tree. Techique were in and out reliable. Never had any problems until I crashed it and found out that its not too vice to reach your phone from the cars flor while driving in the city ;) The phone were Nokia 1610, my first mobile :).Sep 01, 2008
by Tony L
Apr 09, 2008
this car is great and should last another 100k miles at least.
not a lot of power, but sweet rims and sound systemApr 09, 2008
by Corbin M
Mar 15, 2008
My car has great interior and the body is fairly straight. The only concerns are the engine is going out and the paint is oxidised because it was owned near the ocean.Mar 15, 2008
by Ershad C
Mar 14, 2008
The car is solid but horrible acceleration and mine smokes up if i go over 130Km/h but for a 20 year old car its still running well.Mar 14, 2008
by Anonymous
Feb 25, 2008
this car had the best air conditioning in the entire world! probably because it used the
dangerous freon :)Feb 25, 2008
by Anonymous
Feb 25, 2008
I've been driving my 89 Corolla DX for almost 2 years. This particular car was created to be a classic! It's fun to drive it, and a family oriented vehicle!Feb 25, 2008
by Martin N
Feb 14, 2008
This Toyota Corolla XL 1,3 from 1989 is a small, reliable and cheap-to-run car. When owning it, you have the possibility of arriving from pos. A to pos. B with wearing out your legs, getting your hair weat and being late. And nothing more than that. No fancy interiordesign, no fancy engine-prefomance or sound and certainly no fancy luxury.Feb 14, 2008
by Terry S
Feb 05, 2008
awsome car owned it for 19 years with no problems Feb 05, 2008
by Sami S
Jan 31, 2008
exterior is kept simple, nothing special about that, and the interior also.. of course its a 80's low-budget car so what can you expect. (btw my car was an SE but there was no SE in the list so i put LX) it didnt have no ABS or power steering but i dont like that fancy stuff anyways so i was happy with it. and it had 1.6 engine in it so it was just fine.Jan 31, 2008
by James L
Jan 12, 2008
This car is very surprising when it comes to handling, i followed a 2002 Celica on the highway onramp at about 120km/hr without any problem, it has a higher level of handling compaired to its power. It basically has the same engine as the Corolla GTS King Drifter.Jan 12, 2008
by Matt E
Jan 09, 2008
Handling was great, but the clutch kept going out. I think I replaced the clutch 4 times in less than 3 years, while owning my other car for 5 years, never touching the clutch in that car. Was sleek looking and clean, but ...THAT DARN CLUTCH!!!!Jan 09, 2008
by Anonymous
Dec 01, 2007
I have owned this Car for 8 years...bought it from a trader for €350. It has not cost be a cent apart from oil changes (Synthetic) and general service items..brakes...discs etc. I also own a 3 yr old 523i BMW which is more work based..but my trusty old Corolla Diesel Estate 1989 will never be sold..in actual fact I am going to give it a face lift in 2008...total respray..new wheels..and a few more little mods..you cant beat 55mpg with fuel prices hitting €1.25/ltr on the pumps...Dec 01, 2007
by Anonymous
May 03, 2007
I purchased this car from a family member for $100. It had 144,219 miles on it, and the usual things (shocks, tires, brakes, belts, exhaust) were worn out. So I fixed those and replaced the audio system/speakers, and transformed it into a great little car. I had some parts fail in the differential portion of the transmission (FWD), so had the whole thing overhauled. Also replaced the a leaky distributor. It has been very reliable and smooth running. I put serious money in it, but I got it cheap. It's at 180K+ miles now, and I expect it to run well for many more years. It's also great for a young driver.May 03, 2007
1989 Toyota Corolla Pricing
Original MSRP
$9,510 to $13,400Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-only
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Roof
Sunroof: power glass
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
