1983 Toyota Corolla Deluxe SR5 1.6 Liter from North America

Summary:

This car is pretty reliable, but is very slow and an embarrassment to be seen in.

Faults:

Air condition failed before I had bought it.

Oil started to leak at 82,000 miles.

Transmission seals went bad at 85,000 miles. ($675.00 to repair)

Stalls frequently and loss of power since 80,000 miles.

Emergency brake light stays on.

Shakes rapidly on highway and rides very bumpy.

Bottom of doors rust badly.

General Comments:

Other than all the problems above the car is pretty reliable. It has never broke down on me while driving.

Other than it being a really small and ugly looking car the inside isn't too bad.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 19th February, 2005

1983 Toyota Corolla cs 1.6 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Cheap fun

Faults:

Just a fuel pump.

Rush on the rear quarters.

General Comments:

Doesn't handle well.

But I was shocked when I dropped the clutch and jumped on the brakes to find it still spinning with heaps of smoke pouring from the drivers side back tyre!!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th February, 2005

1983 Toyota Corolla LX 1.7 turbo diesel from North America

Summary:

Awesome little car

Faults:

Not much wrong.

The body could use some work, but mostly because the car was neglected when I bought it.

Plastic dashboard is sort of easy to destroy if you're temper isn't in check.

Clutch handle falls off with relative easy; pretty easy to fix, though.

General Comments:

Not a very fast car, but the handling is smooth and doesn't let you down on the road.

The cabin is actually pretty nice and roomier than you'd have expected.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd May, 2004

1983 Toyota Corolla GL 1.3 from Philippines

Summary:

The 1983 Corolla is like a good pair of old shoes.

Faults:

In 2003, the engine had to be rebuilt and overhauled for the first time since the car was bought brand-new in 1983.

In the twenty-one years of its existence, it rarely gave this owner major problems.

Only the radiator and factory air conditioner failed a couple of times.

General Comments:

The Corolla is a very reliable car. The 1.3-liter engine proves to be a durable workhorse.

Suspension parts are still factory-original except for the tie rods and of course, the routine replacement of shock absorbers.

Despite not being equipped with power steering, the Corolla steers well on curves, and can be parked with ease in tight spaces.

The Corolla has been driven on several occasions on trips where the car was kept running for 14 hours straight at variable speeds and subjected to extreme road conditions. In all these long trips, the car never broke down.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th March, 2004

1983 Toyota Corolla from North America

Summary:

Extremely unreliable expensive junker

Faults:

I've had to replace the tires over 24 times since owning this car.

I've had to replace the alternator going on 4 times since owning this car.

I've had to replace 2 tailights that burned out.

There are holes rusting in my doors.

The paint is bubbling everywhere.

The car stalls.

The car revs inexplicably.

The car shifts from neutral to drive repeatedly until the engine is warm.

I get about 10 miles to the gallon.

The dashboard is beginning to rot.

Alignment is a consistent problem (about once every other week)

General Comments:

This was a great car when I first bought it used. It ran fine for about 6 months and then everything started to fall apart. I'm in college so do not currently have the time or money to look for a more reliable mode of transport. I spend an average of $3000 on this car yearly. I bought this on the assumption that Toyota's are reliable. My girlfriend has a 1996 Toyota and she is already starting to experience similar problems.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 3rd November, 2003

7th Aug 2008, 01:29

Toyotas are good cars. This one needs a little bit of attention. If your tires are wearing out that fast, get your alignment checked. $90 can save you a lot more money. If you are noticing engine problems, get it tuned by a shop. $70 can change the way you pay for gas in this car. You have the timing to thank for rough running, or a carburettor problem. Rust on a 1983 is not unexpected, especially a car from the Land of the Rising Sun, where undercoating and rust protection aren't necessary. If you think your taillights are burning out too fast, check for exposed wires that may be short-circuiting. These are all common things that you have to do on older vehicles, and regularly. Basic maintenance is cheap, and as you've found out, owners' neglect (previous and current) is expensive.