General Comments:

I'm looking into buying a 1989 Toyota All-Trac here in Southern California. This forum is about the most info I've found.

To the previous poster: You said you put 17 inch wheels/tires on it and your fuel economy went down the tubes...? I've read that with AWD vehicles you MUST use the factory specified wheels and tires or you can ruin your transmission. I've read this about Subaru AWD's and the Volkswagon Westfalia Vanagon Syncro's (AWD). So I would suggest you go back to OEM specified wheels and tires. Ask Toyota.

Does anyone know if the Toyota All-trac uses a viscous coupling for it's AWD system like the Subaru's and VW"s?

Thanks.

Trestlehed@msn.com.

Faults:

Transmission went out 259000 miles.

2 alternators 1 at about 150000 and 1 at 200000.

General Comments:

Car isn't anything fancy, but it never done me wrong. I got this car as a newly licensed teenager and drove extremely hard and I still drive it hard with only tree gears left in the transmission. This car has been through hell and back and it still starts ever morning and runs hard all day. I never wondered if I was going to get to my destination when I pulled out of my driveway whether it was 2 miles or 2000 miles. I will only buy Toyota from here on out.

Faults:

Other than the old rusty body, I have not allowed anything to break. Being a mechanic, I knew that a 200K automobile would need some work. I have replaced the alternator, distributor, starter, and rebuilt the carburetor. Once I rebuilt all of the high wear items, I relegated the car to street duty. 200,000 plus miles and it doesn't smoke! Excellent car, I love it, it isn't as fast as my other car, but somehow it gets 52 mpg! I have no idea, other than how lean I run the fuel mixture, but its great!

General Comments:

I love this car. I bought it as a daily driver, and that is exactly what it does, every day! The interior is immaculate for a car of this era. However, Toyota could have added a little more rust preventive efforts to their cars. Most Toyotas my family has owned, the engines seemingly outlast the body. Not that that is a bad thing! Buy it, tune it up, run it forever!

Faults:

Our problem has been the brake lights staying on. Solved this by changing the brake peddle switch. And it seems to get a little hot even after changing the thermostat.

General Comments:

Really enjoy the car. We only paid 100.

00 plus tax title which was 93.00. Got it from a very nice lady that had kept it in her garage after getting a new car. She had always' kept up with the services that were needed and we have 4inches of all service receipts. Car runs great.

Faults:

Not very much at all just some minor rust, but it is an old car.

General Comments:

I really like the way this car performs, but still gives you reasonable fuel economy.

The ride is a little harsh, but the gt-s model is more towards a sporty feel. The tires grip the road very well and high speed maneuvers are very easy.

Faults:

My rear passenger side floor pan rusted through.

My emergency brake cable broke.

My power steering pump doesn't work.

The alternator was seized.

Rust on the fenders, roof, and in the trunk.

The seals in the trunk and sunroof leak.

Torn cv boot.

General Comments:

Well to begin with most of the problems with this car are age related, but other than that it's a pretty solid car mechanically.

It was in rough, but runnable shape when I bought it, but with a bit of work I managed to get it back on the road for a year without too serious of problems.

Basically its not on the road now due to it needing a new floor pan, Emergency brake cable, tire and mirror before it can pass Motor vehicle inspection, but those should be fixed soon without too much problems and it still runs like a top.

It handles pretty tight, gets torque around 3500 RPM and up and even with the non working power steering pump it still corners great.

I find that it's a great car despite the fact that its showing its age on the outside, but around here cars have shortened life spans due to potholes and road salt, but this car has held up pretty well and is still on the go.