The first was a silver SR5 given us by my in-laws as a wedding present in 1989. It was an automatic but otherwise perfect. For three years we drove it all over Texas, then when I was out of the Army, up to New York City, where I eventually got a job. Parking and city life in general dissuaded us from keeping it, and we sold it in 1991.
(This was the single greatest automotive mistake of my life. Well, aside maybe from buying the '71 Mustang Coupe. Anyway.)
Fast forward ten years and we're in upstate New York, Ithaca to be exact, looking for something to get our new daughter to day care and me to grad school on time and amidst Ithaca's notably crappy winters. The second was an '86 model, stick, not an SR5, some color I could never determine. Was it sea foam green? Metallic greenish silver? Faded grayish swamp? Who knew. An unwise purchase from a fellow student, this car almost immediately needed hundreds of dollars of work on its CV joints. Nevertheless it survived to travel to Virginia with us and carry said daughter to kindergarten and first grade. It expired undramatically sometime in 2000 and was hauled away.
Fast forward again, if you don't mind. The marriage is gone, slipped away like a fine linen torn out of my hands, and now there are two daughters--though only every other week. I have to turn over my Subaru to the ex. So, at last, you've arrived at the meat of this want ad.
Wanted To Buy: SR5 4WD Tercel, high miles ok if well-documented care. Prefer manual but automatic's ok. Interior condition important, exterior should be rust-free. Willing to pay. Will take meticulous care. of it. Car will be driven/shipped/whatever to me, I think. Reach me via PM.
Here are some cars I'm thinking about:
#--Car/seller--Year--Price--Miles--2WD/4WD--Manual--SR5--Other
1--Bob, private, CA--1986--$2,500--165000--4--Y--Y--Apparently towed behind an RV, with only half actual miles.
2--Mort's Imports, OH--1987--$2,495--132000--4--Y--?--Has CD player
3--Broward Cty, FL--1987--$1,799--120000--2--N--N
So, if you or someone you know has one of these great little cars to sell, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks--!
--ridin
