Road Trippin'

[gerviswaddell]

Hey folks, finally got My Terc back on the road, a somewhat frustrating exhaust repair (now with 90% new exhaust components!) and she sounds great ! will soon be driving from here (Toronto) to Edmonton Alberta, going through Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, and North Dakota (Fargo!) before hopping back over the border.

Ive been getting a little spooked about getting into an accident in this car, as it is older (and rusty) , not sure how she would handle a serious hit, the fact that these wonderful cars are quite obsolete in terms of safety features is really the only conceivable drawback to owning one. I have been contemplating reinforcing the drivers compartment, adding roll bars etc...am I going nuts here? I can recall one member posting photos of his wrecked Terc, claiming that even with rust, it held up really well in a 45mph head on crash.

Really Im just confused about the safety that these cars provide, as compared to newer more 'high tech' (likely more poorly built) vehicles.

Any comments on the overall safety of the Tercel, and things to look out for prior to a road trip would be greatly appreciated.

thanks again homees!

Dave

[Petros]

I have owned smaller cars all my driving life (about 35 years), and other than my '65 Volvo, the Tercel is a pretty stout structure. It has a very strong primary structure, tough roll-over protection, and a stiff frame. Modern frames are actually lighter and weaker, they make up for it with airbags and more padding. Most of the newer "safety features" I think are BS costly accessories lobbied by the insurance companies, no real benefit to the driver or passenger, if they wear seat belts. These are things like airbags, more padding, anti-lock brakes (which I hate), big plastic bumpers, etc. These all add cost, weight and more maintenance headaches to the car as it ages.

For example, our Ford van has anti-lock brakes, they have never worked properly, and after a number of costly diagnostics (after I gave up on it) they could find no reason it was not working, after replacing a lot of parts. It works like normal brakes without the A/L brakes, but when it does occasionally work (unpredictably) the driver is taken by surprise, who usually backs off the brakes when the pedal vibrates as if something is wrong with them. I hate them so much I have considered disabling this unreliable system on our Ford. I have helped design and built very costly, fully sponsored race cars, none had anti-lock brakes, all stopped far faster than road cars with them. The Tercel brakes do need an up-grading to vented front disks ('92 or newer Tercel front brakes bolt right on), and installing a smaller dia piston master cyl. (MR2 master with the booster will bolt right in to the Tercel). Which is what I am doing to mine when I do my next brake job. But I have NOT found the a/l brakes a substitute for proper brake application by the driver. No anti-lock brakes from me, thank you. Put on bigger brakes on the Tercel and than learn how to properly modulate your brakes, install better tires and better shocks (to improve tire contact with the ground) and you will have good braking performance.

Airbags I think were a mistake in cars from the beginning, I can not see how having an explosive device in your face enhancing safety. The inventor and the industry has been suppressing data about how many people, adults and especially children, that are KILLED by airbags (we do not want people to think they are not safe do we?). They can go off accidentally, or with minor fender benders and kill or injure drivers and passengers. For example, a child was killed by an airbag in Idaho a few years ago (decapitated right next to her mother who was driving), after a minor fender bender, and the company paid "undisclosed" (millions) to keep it out of the courts. They were designed for people who would not use their seat belts, and they do not protect you in multiple collision type accidents, roll-overs, etc. As they age they can go off accidentally, or after hitting a bump (off-road?), or for no reason at all. You have to buy new ones to replace them, installed by "certified" techs, making the older cars obsolete since they cost more than most used cars are worth. The best way to deal with this issue in your Tercel (if you really want the BEST safety) is to install the good 4 or 5 point racing type seat belt set, and USE IT. sure a bit more hassle, but way safer than, costly, heavy, and dangerous airbags. I say NO THANKS to airbags. I have determined I am never going to own an airbag equipped car. They are NOT a substitute for keeping the driver and passengers securely in their seats with a fixed seat belt system. All that extra padding will do nothing either, if you wear your seat belts. If the car is crushed, the padding will do nothing. The extra padding is to reduce injuries to the foolish people who do not wear seat belts.

The large, heavy padded and costly bumpers are actually for pedestrian safety, they do nothing for the safety of the driver. If you are not in the habit of hitting pedestrians with your Tercel there is no benefit to have this.

Most modern cars also have larger rear view mirrors (mostly because they visibitly out the back and sides suck on most new cars), these can be added to the tercel, it appears Corolla door mirrors will bolt on to the Tercel (I might do this with mine). And a "wink" type center mirror (or just a larger one) combined with the Tecel excellent visiblity will make the Tercel a much safefer car to drive.

So the best way to enhance safety on the Tercel is to up-grade the brakes, tires and shocks (I like the modern gas filled KYBs), install better seat belts, and use them, perhaps upgrade the mirrors (and use them!). Proper maintenance is also critical too, and good defensive driving habits will make you way more safe in your Tercel than costly and unreliable "safety devices" of the more modern cars, in my experienced and professional opinion. All these changes are inexpensive and easy to do yourself, and far less costly than getting a newer car.

I would not hesitate to allow my teenage daughters to drive in a well maintained Tercel 4wd wagon. They just think they are too ugly, so I got them Honda cars (also very safe). Consider that Honda and Toyota sedans are some of the safest cars on US roads, more so than the many much larger and heavier cars.

As far as a road trip goes, watch your temp, keep it topped up with oil, and other than keeping it in good repair, it should go well. On a long trip I might take an extra distributor with wires (includes the coil pack), alternator, and my tools. Most other things you might need along the way you can buy from a local auto parts store.

[SynthDesign]

I say NO THANKS to airbags. I have determined I am never going to own an airbag equipped car. They are NOT a substitute for keeping the driver and passengers securely in their seats with a fixed seat belt system. All that extra padding will do nothing either, if you wear your seat belts. If the car is crushed, the padding will do nothing. The extra padding is to reduce injuries to the foolish people who do not wear seat belts.

Petros, I concur 100%

The rest is quite good too!

[jetswim]

Excellent write up Petros! I've always believed the things you write about above but could never articulate it as well as you did.
K U D O S!

[gerviswaddell]

Well I do say that I am shocked at the completeness of this essay sized response, I certainly didn't mean to have you spend half an hour of your day (at least) writing this..thanks very much, you instill confidence in my trip and my beloved Turtle.

Dave.

[Petros]

I did not mean to carry on that long, it has been a tirade I have been carrying around inside me for a long time. There are several auto type radio talk shows on saterday I listen to and I often hear these "experts" expound on how much safer the newer cars are than the older ones. They swallow the marketing propaganda of companies that want to sell you new cars. If you are talking a car from the 40's or '50's that would be true, not so with our cars.

One time I even heard a guy call in and ask about buying a Tercel 4wd! The host, who is also a mechanic discouraged him from buying it. He told him few mechanics know how to work on that old of a car any more, parts can be a problem and not to buy a car that old because they can have major issues as they age, he had nothing good to say about it. I wanted to call him up and tell him he is an ignorant idiot, and that was not what the caller wanted to know. I would have told him if he can do his own maintenance he should be fine if the trans is in good shape, otherwise it would cost him too much in minor repairs if he always would have to take it to a mechanic for every little issue that comes up, which is true of driving any older car.