1984 Toyota Tercel SR5 4WD Wagon - $1200 (Bellingham, WA)

[GLet71]

WOW! Somebody snatch this up!

http://bellingham.craigslist.org/cto/2966063051.html

[ARCHINSTL]

Is that an '80s Civic wagon lurking in the background? Were the 2WDs of this car identical to the 4WDs, save for the obvious? Didn't Petros have experience with these?
Tom M.

[dlb]

wow, that looks really nice. i like it.

[Petros]

Nice, well worth it for someone looking for a stock runner.

Yes, that Civic wagon came in both fwd and 4wd, I owned one and I have rebuilt two engines from CRX that are the same as this model. compared to our T4wd it has more power and better fuel economy from a good performing all aluminum engine (but it is a carb engine with a ton of emissions and vac lines, more than ours!), and it handles much better too. Visibility is also good, better brakes than T4wd. BUT, it has much less room in back than T4wd, and the 4wd parts are even more rare and costly than for T4wd, plus working on that transverse engine is a major PIA. So major and minor maintenance is both more costly and more time consuming. Also, although the engines are reliable and durable, will not tolerate a lot of abuse, if you over heat it both head and block are likely scrap, not salvageable (unlike our 3ac engines). I considered a major rebuild on the one I had to replace the underpowered T4wd, but decided I like the features of the Tercel, and I could up grade the engine, brakes and suspension on the Tercel to compensate for its short comings.

Besides, much better support, network and forum for the Tercel4wd right here than for the Civic 4wd "Wagovan" (which is almost an orphan). All of the youngsters over on the Civic forums are bent on building lowered "ricers", and have no good ideas for their 4wd cousins. Unlike Toyota, Honda never made any 4x4s until recently. the name "civic" even implies a "peoples city car", so there is/was no 4x4 culture for the older Hondas, even if they had a very nice little 4x4 civic wagon.

[Kurt]

Ha, I registered just to reply to this. That's my Tercel and yes that's a Honda Wagon (2WD) in the background. I put the ad up yesterday and have been slammed with interested buyers. I've even been offered over the asking price but it's already sold pending the first people to respond getting OKed by the local Japanese ace mechanic. I'm almost hoping the mechanic finds something wrong at this point! I don't think he will though, it runs great and has never given any trouble.

[Kurt]

The Civic 4WD wagon vs. the 4WD: These of course were competitors even when new. I remember my dad agonizing over which to buy in the early '80s. He went with the Tercel and it was a great car. I've now owned and/or regularly driven multiple examples of both. The Honda has some real advantages: much peppier and significantly better gas mileage, crisper handling, better visibility, better shifting feel, flatter cargo space with the back seats down. The seems much sturdier and more bulletproof (though the Honda isn't an unreliable car by any means), more off-road capable, the engine is far easier to access for work and I think has a significantly bigger cargo area as well. The Honda is more fun to drive, but the has its own semi-agricultural charm like a really finely engineered tractor. My example has plaid seats and a paisley pattern headliner which you will either love or hate as well as a funky tiltmeter pod atop the dash like it was an off-roader. The Hondas have no such interior quirks.

[Petros]

Kurt,

Welcome to the list. Why you selling the Tercel4wd? Everyone on this very active list loves them, and they are getting more valuable every month it seems. Rare to find any capable 4x4 car get such good fuel economy, and NOTHING new with AWD/4wd gets anywhere near the fuel economy of the rugged little Tercel4wd.

[Kurt]

OK, the first buyer in line flaked out on me (gotta love the CL huh?) so if anyone here is interested the car is currently available again for now. I can be reached through the contact info in the ad.

Kurt

[dlb]

if i were near you, i would jump on it. why are you selling it, btw?