HELP!!!! Do I want this car?????

Carguylen · Post by **Carguylen** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 9:59 pm

Help,
I have a chance to get a 1987 Tercel wagon 4wd this weekend. It is Very clean, has only 125,000 miles, and overall excellent shape. I will be putting alot of miles on it, and the thing I need help with is that it is an automatic. Does anyone have an opinion on the automatics? I would really appreicate any opinions.
Thanks!!!!!!!!

clbolt · Post by **clbolt** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 10:11 pm

The best transmission I had in any of my 6 Tercel wagons was the one automatic. It was quiet and always shifted perfectly. I put 53k miles on that car in a year. That said, it also got the lowest gas mileage of any Tercel I've owned, with an absolute high of 28 on the highway. Those automatics turn a lot of revs at highway speeds.

takza · Post by **takza** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:11 am

If it's low mileage and low rust...I'd be tempted. Put big tires on it to lower the revs?

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 8:35 am

If it's clean, don't turn it down because of the automatics. One of my wagons is an automatic and it works well at the high mileage it has, but this is a slow car to begin with and the automatic is gutless. It's a 3 speed which gives you half as many gears and that does affect the acceleration. With the auto you don't have to worry about the clutch and syncrhomesh problems that affect manuals, but in the event that it does fail, you're looking at a new transmission.

20vtercel · Post by **20vtercel** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:09 pm

my car was an auto when i bought it and it is very easy to convert. You have to drill 3 holes in divots in the firewall to mount the clutch pedal and cable. all other parts mount in the same holes that the auto does!

I would buy it, drive it and when you are ready, convert!