max speed on the 2wd hatchback?

[applewew]

Hi,

I've had this car for two years but just recently got the speedometer working. I've found it hardly goes over 62- 74 mph.

So I'm wondering, what's the max speed these cars can get?

[irowiki]

Automatic or manual?

[applewew]

I have the 5 speed manual

[irowiki]

https://tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2321

"86 mph in 5th, could go past that in 4th"

Others reported higher!

What gear are you in when you can't get past 74 mph? What sort of road and incline?

My first gen almost hit 85 on a mostly downhill but I wasn't going to try and take it higher

[applewew]

Exactly, only way to achieve faster is going downhill!

I'm wondering how further the engine and trans can be pushed without exploding

[irowiki]

See how fast you can go in 4th before shifting to 5th.

[dlb]

i have a better idea: don't try it, unless you want to risk wrecking something. call me crazy but i personally like my stuff to keep working for as long as possible.

[Petros]

sounds like your speed is low, you should have the same 62 hp engine as the T4wd, and you are lighter and smaller. I have had an '84 T4wd with over 200k very hard miles on the engine max out at about 84 mph when crossing the Texas desert in 104 deg heat (the speed limit there is 80 mph, and if you drive at that speed most will be passing you). My fuel economy dropped off quite a bit at that speed. But cursing as 75 mph is no problem at all, even with a little extra power for hills, in most Tercel4wd. If you can hardly reach 70 mph, either you are way down on power or your speedo is off, unless you have the auto trans, than you are about where I would expect.

Freeway cruising at full throttle would not deliver very good economy, and would be hard on all the components. The skinny stock tires are not likely to last very long, nor be safe, at much over 75 mph anyway. they will get hot and start breaking down internally.

[LittleRed4wd]

For sure sounds like you have some sort of problem if you're only hitting 75 with the manual trans. I hit 88 in my old wagon driving across Utah-- It was lifted with oversize studded tires, 3 people plus gear inside and some stuff on the roof as well. The engine was totally stock.

[toughtercel]

My 83 4WD ( 5 spd ) travel 70 MPH at 3,000 RPM , I had it over 80 MPH around 3,600 RPM many time as easy does and smooth ride , BUT it burn or loose 1/2 liter of motor oil in 300 km drive . So 70 + mph does not loose oil .
As for 1985-87 4Wd and any age Tercel with Auto has very high RPM .

[walkersimpson]

I have the 2wd wagon and I have gotten it past 85 probably got it up to 90 but not sure due to the speedometor only going up to 85 but you should be able to do 85 easy in that car check out the carb and make sure everything is nice and clean but I know my car can do pretty dam good a high speeds and still get good gas mileage this is not even with my foot to the floor find I get best acceleration with my foot just off the floor but good luck and hope you get it all figured out

[ARCHINSTL]

https://tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtopic.php? ... ed+#p14738
This was NEW, with the "highway" gearing...
Tom M.