1980 Toyota Corolla Station Wagon 1.8

Summary:

Most reliable cars built

Faults:

The brake calipers have gone bad after sitting in a barn for four years.

The muffler has fallen off from rust.

A lifter clicks when the car runs.

Body rust is taking over the driver door.

General Comments:

The car is a 1980 Toyota Corolla 1.8 station wagon with a 3t-c engine. We have had this car for 12 years, and it's the longest car we have owned, and it has proven it is one of the most reliable car made.

When we bought it we were living in Idaho, and every weekend we would drive it out to a lake and go fishing. Eventually we went fishing so much with it that we started calling it Fishy.

It sat in a barn due to caliper problems, but once that was fixed, it was back on the road.

Today Fishy is still running fine, and proving that 26 years haven't dulled its reliability.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th July, 2007

10th Oct 2009, 14:47

I have a 1980 Toyota Corolla station wagon, but mine is a 5 speed with A/C. It is the most reliable car I have ever seen. 29 years old and yet I pass new Mustangs and other sport cars that have V-8's I them with all stock and original parts and I get 40 miles to the gallon while doing it too. My grandfather bought it for $400 and restored its body and gave it to me. I am 18 and have heard many people say that it was one of their best cars and wished they had kept theirs. In fact one man said he tried to blow his up for 12 years and couldn't destroy it. I drive mine 100 miles a day back and forth from work. People who are not familiar with the car ask me why I drive it and I ask them, " does your car get 40 miles to the gallon?", and if they do I ask them who much did they pay for it and how long do they think it will last. That is all I have to say.

11th Oct 2009, 02:59

Are these 'Mustangs and other sport cars' that you are passing parked? Because there is no way any eighties Corolla will out-accelerate such a car.

I own an '82 Corolla very similar to yours - admittedly mine has the 1.3 liter engine (version sold here in Thailand), but even with the slightly larger motor offered in America it is a very slow car. A wonderful car, but a slow one.

1980 Toyota Corolla 1.8

Summary:

Great first car

Faults:

Brakes faded badly and repeatedly

Head gasket blew (why I sold it).

Leaked oil.

Plastic pieces started falling off.

Underpowered.

General Comments:

Generally a very simple and reliable car. Very good shift points for an automatic... but really needed a fourth gear.

I lent it to a friend who let it overheat and drove it that way doing the engine in at almost 200K.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th March, 2006

1980 Toyota Corolla Wagon 1.8 3-TC

Summary:

A Tank that gets 30 MPG!!!

Faults:

Plugs gone bad.

Steering wheel locked and had to go at it with a drill.

Head gasket leaking.

Exhaust doughnut gasket blown.

Exhaust gasket replaced.

Carburetor went wacky and floored itself, but didn't mess up.

Rust on car.

Seats torn when I got it.

Back seat belts permanently locked.

Front seat belt retractors going bad.

General Comments:

Runs like a dream.

When I got it the clutch was brand new and the car had not been ran for about a year and its like butter. you can put it in first and let go of the clutch and not even use any gas and it just cruises down the road... you can even shift it into 5th gear and it just cruises at 700 RPM putting along.

Runs no matter what you do to it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th January, 2004