Atlanta GA - 1987 Tercel - $500

[thetercedes]

We are moving out of the country so our most beloved 1987 Tercel Wagon (the Tercedes to us) needs to find a new home.

She has about 283,000 on the clock, but there were about 20,000 miles where the speedo cable was broken so that's a bit low.

This is my wife's car and I think her love for it is perhaps greater than her love for me. She has had it about 7 years and in that time it has served her well, from the snowy winters in Utah to the hot summers of Atlanta.

The Tercedes has been very reliable, engine runs like a top, doesn't eat or leak much oil and starts every time. The steering is pretty stiff, I think any power steering is now gone, but the brakes were rebuilt last summer and she stops well. There's a good shimmy at 65 mph on the highway that will needs attention, but as a daily driver it has been utterly reliable as expected.

Tires are pretty worn and one has a slow leak, but battery is new. She is missing some moulding and the paint is tired but she has very little rust, just a hint on the bottom of the doors.

Happy to answer any questions. We are moving in a week, so want to find a new home for her by then: a loving home that will keep her alive and well.

Send me a direct message and I'll shoot you our email.

Pics here:
http://imgur.com/a/xweBS

[Petros]

welcome to the forum,

if someone was to come buy your car, what do you think should be done to it before it makes a cross country trip several states away to a new home? how old is the clutch?

What is your timeline to have to sell the Tercel?

[thetercedes]

Hi there,

Hrmm.. Good question. The only real gotcha I would foresee is the shimmy at highway speeds. We don't know what this is but it would be unpleasant for a long distance drive. That said I drive this car daily and it has been super reliable, I wouldn't have any real concerns in driving it across a few states, I would just do it at 55, not 65.

Clutch was changed 2009, it seems to have plenty of life in it. Syncros are starting to get tired though, first can take a few tries to get in on occasion.

AC doesnt work (belt was removed) and the heat is pretty tepid.

Getting the leak in the left rear repaired is probably worth it. (we refill it every few weeks, so maybe not even required)

We leave a week from today, so needs to go by then.

[Petros]

If I bought it I would buy 4 new tires for it before we hit the road at a local tire shop, they should balance them. if the shimmy is still there I would have it aligned, though likely 4 balanced tires would take care of it.

I would consider this car, my wife and i were planning a fall road trip. We have done this a lot of times, buy a car at our destination and drive it back. Clean up the car and do any necessary repairs we discover on our "road test", than sell it after we return. The Tercel4wd is very popular around the Pacific northwest and will bring a good enough price to pay for most of the trip. I would find a good home for it here, where they are very much loved.

The problem is one week is too short a notice. Soonest would be first week in November, but second week would be better. Unless you can leave it with someone until we arrive, and pick it up from them, we can not buy your car. The only requirement if we can pick it up in November is that I can spend a day going over it there, fixing any thing I want to take care of before we go. change the oil, trans lube, etc. I always bring my tool kit and spar parts on trips like this, and expect to have to do some repairs along the way (particularly when we are buying a 30 year old car). Not much I can not fix on these cars, but I would prefer not to have to change a clutch, that is a big job to do on the road side in November.

[4wdEconoBox]

Dang, I really would love to have this, especially since I'm not that far from Atl, but I may not be able to get $500 in a week...That being said, I might could swing it if you aren't able to hold it for Petros. Do you happen to have any interior pics?

[Petros]

be my guest 4wdeconobox, if you can do it before me you are welcome to it. you are local to the car and can go see it before you have to commit to buying it.

[4wdEconoBox]

Alright, thanks petros! The last thing I wanted to do was step on anyone's toes!

[thetercedes]

Hi guys,

WIll take some pics of the inside and sent them on this evening. Dash and all is in good shape, front seats aren't the best but have covers on them. Oh and the gas gauge is mostly non-working though the reserve light works.

We might be able to have a friend hold it, though that would require payment in advance and totally understand if that is too sketchy.

More in a bit..

-Nic

[thetercedes]

Hi guys...

Ok some more pics here:
https://goo.gl/photos/ebHkQS2GS98JAkKd6

Took some pictures of the rust on the driver's side door and rear quarter-panel. Passenger side doesn't seem to have much at all.

Cheers,

-Nic

[irowiki]

Oh NICE, the updated steering wheel!

[4wdEconoBox]

I'm digging it! I just put a steering wheel like that in mine last week, haha!