$9K for an '02 Explorer that cost maybe, what, $22-$23K new? And Exploders aren't the most reliable vehicles used.
It does look nice tho, from the 1 pic. I'd probably ask on the RWTIV board what it's really worth, if you want it. Personally, I'd rather pay $9k for the best used Subie or Toyota I could find........PS, I'd like to know what the dealer paid for the used Exploder; I wonder if there isn't a huge markup there.......(???)
Hmmm, Here in Canada an 02 Exploder would sell for about $9k retail, but with higher mileage. But keep in mind our Canadian dollar is worth less and the cars are generally priced more here. So in US money/market we're talking about $6k-$7k.
A friend picked up an 02 Exploder with third row seats, decent shape, and about 90k miles for about $8k canadian.
I think the one you're looking at, the dealer probably paid.....$5k-$6k max. and that's me being generous. I think there's a lot of room to move if the dealer didn't overpay.
Heck, I remember looking at Exploders back when I just got out of college, and even back then, which was around 1993, they were stickering for around $22-23K. And that was just with a V-6. At that time, I remember thinking it was a good deal, compared to the $27K Pathfinder and $28K 4runner I also looked at.
On the surface, $9K for that loaded '02 Eddie Bauer V-8 seems like a decent deal, until I remember just how much time has gone by. That's an 8 year old car! I guess I just have trouble grasping the concept of paying good money for an 8 year old car, probably because my first car was a 7 year old 1980 Malibu that my Mom gave me...so in my mind, something that age is the type of car you get for free from a family member, or dirt cheap, but not something you pay good money for...unless it's so old that it's a desireable antique.
But, in its defense, it still probably has plenty of life left in it...probably more than my 1980 Malibu did when it was given to me. And the 4.6 V-8 is a good engine. I'm sure you can negotiate down from that $9K though.
Agreed. I bought a new Mountaineer in 2002, 2WD loaded with V-8, and MSRP was $36,400. And loaded Explorers were going for at least as much if not a grand more. Worst vehicle I ever owned, by the way. The first year Explorer/Mountaineer twins had a LOT of bugs to be worked out. I traded that car for a 2005 Avalanche, which is now my daily driver and hands down the best vehicle I've owned out of about 25 or so.
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Could be a lot to pay for a 17 y.o. economy car, but you know how crazed people get with low mileage Hondas. If the ext. boo-boos are the only thing wrong with it, & it doesn't have smushed bananas in the trans. or something, it might not be too insane to pay $5500....I wouldn't, but then I'm not jonesing for a 17 y.o. Accord.....
I would try to see records, some paper trail of the mileage.
I told him the same...walk in with a pile of bills, and that "firm" price would become a thing of the past. I don't know if people will shell out that kind of money for a 17 year old 4cyl commonplace sedan in this economy. Not many people have a fetish for 90-93 Accords.
It would warrant a lot of inspection, but it could be an interesting vehicle for the right money, and with some detailing.
It's the same color that my '93 DX was and the same trim level as my ex's '92.
Seems crazy to ask north of $5K, but if the documentation backs it up, it wouldn't be a bad deal - heck, I gotta believe that they'll run to over 100-150K with just normal maintenance.
The one my friend had was well over 200K when he got rid of it...he had maintained it, and it was in really decent condition, it looked like it had a fraction of those miles. Just do the maintenance - esp timing belts. I guess the bodies can rust in some areas, but out here it's not a real concern.
Agreed. My ex's '92 was in CA and I know she kept it up to around 100K or so before trading it in on a Ram pickup (with stick!).
I had my '93 DX, which I bought just after moving to Colorado, for 5.5 years and 60K without anything more than tires and routine maintenance. Wished it had A/C, however.
They were fairly nice cars for the time ... even with 125HP. Under 3000 lbs. curb weight, IIRC.
When I worked at Honda, everyone from the sales guys to mechanics said that those geneation Accords were the best car Honda ever built. And in sense they were correct. Perefect size, reliability, balance.
The most desireable would be a low mileage top of the line EXR, preferably manual transmission. That might warrant an asking price over $5k, if it has miles that low. Not sure about the lower basaic models.
That's indeed about the best generation of Accords but the price is silly and if I were going to do such a thing it would HAVE to be a stick.
Well, yeah, since we know that's pretty much what all your Accords have.
My DX was a stick, while the ex's '92 LX was an automatic. Hers was also a "one only at this price" special that we bought after she totaled her '91 Protege LX.
I don't think Honda sold the EX-R in the US. I think they did offer ABS and a driver's airbag in that generation, but it's definitely from the era of lightweight Japanese cars with thin door panels and not much impact protection.
In the US, the hierarchy was DX-LX-EX. DX was stripper - black bumpers etc. LX was the most common, with body color trim, and hubcaps. EX had wheels, sometimes leather and moonroof and spoiler etc. Manuals seem harder to find as the trim level increases.
The price as the ad stands is out of line, no doubt...but come down a little and it might sell.
My 1993 Honda Accord EX 4 dr 5 speed w/160k or so sold for $2500 in 15 minutes on craigslist. Sunroof, ABS, driver's side airbag, good maintenance, etc.
I agree that it was the height of Honda. My '07 Accord EX is nothing to write home about...Buick comes to mind. Also at that time the Civic SI and CRX SI were running around making a mockery of the Cavalier and Escort GT.
My friend who had another 92, an LX, sold it with something like 220K on the clock...maintained very well mechanically and cosmetically. He put it out on a corner wanting something like $2500 for it, and it sold in a few hours.
The styling of those cars is also pleasant enough.
My ex's '85 CRX sold for......$5600 I think? At 7 yrs. old, with 60K. But it was 7 yrs. old, not 17. Great little car tho, I drove it back & forth from the mid-west to NYC a bunch of times.
I guess I can't get past the 17 y.o. thing, unless the car were a true "classic" of some sort, & thinking about what kinds of decent used bmw's you could get for $5500.
Unless you go in there with your friend at some point, & pull out 35 $100 bills & wave it at them. If he can't live w/o it, take along a few hundred extra if they balk.....
Well, I found out the asking price for that '83 Celica I was talking about, which the dealership is referring to as a "collector's model", by the way.
$6950.
This is a dealership that takes a scalp with every sale it makes. I already knew that, and would never normally buy a car from them for that reason.
But I'm thinking if it runs perfectly, and the A/C works (a deal-breaker for me if not), maybe offer $3500 and see if they bite. It has already been there for two weeks (I was out of town unexpectedly for 10 days), and I can't imagine anyone making an offer on it, given its age. But then word is that that the used car market is tight right now, so maybe they will wait for a better offer? I dunno.
Yeah, offering half seems about right. I am sure it is a nice car, but 7 grand nice for a car from that era....tough sell. Must be a hell of a stealership.
I am sure my friend won't jump...he likes to talk, but when it comes to making a move, he's a chicken. I can't count the number of cars he's been "thinking about buying".
He might be bored this weekend, so we could end up taking a look at it.
I love the original paint in period-copper metalic and the lovered window shade. :shades:
From Wiki on the GTS model: In 1983, Toyota added the GT-S model to the Celica line to re-inject the sports image that Celica had lost as it grew larger and heavier with each subsequent model. The GT-S included larger wheels and tires, fender flares, independent rear suspension, a sports interior including special seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob. Most of these came from the Supra. This made sense as the Supra was based on the Celica. From the windshield back, both cars were nearly identical when in liftback form. There were also optional rear louvers for the coupe and liftback. The upgraded GT-S wheels are coveted as replacements by many people who own first generation Celicas as they remained four-lug and looked sportier than first generation wheels while still providing the "classic Celica" look and feel. The wheels were also polished aluminium as opposed to the flat finish of the lower models.
I had a major Jones for one of those when I got out of college (1984, yes I am old).
Too bad budgetary limitations (IOW, I was poor and cheap) led me to end up with a Colt instead (may have been a GTS actually). All the turbo stuff (seats, tires), just minus the turbo.
Best handling car I ever owned (but not in the snow) and also one of the slowest. What a dog.
For years and years I had an '83 GTS, what a fantastic car. Still top five in my mind among the dozens and dozens I have owned. Mine was a coupe, although I prefer the liftback style. Drove it out to 250K, finally sold it in '02. The chassis was showing its age - needed paint and a complete suspension rebuild - but the engine and trans were strong and never needed repair. What a great car. The GT doesn't have IRS, which is a nice thing to have.
The more I think about it, there is no way these guys are going to go for an offer of $3500 on the red one I have been looking at; from my past experience with them they are content to wait six months if need be to get the one sucker who will pay them asking price. Maybe if I hold off long enough, they will put it on sale, who knows.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
does anyone have any experience with the '79-83 era Corolla? I always thought that was a neat little car, and liked the fact they offered a wide variety of body styles...2- and 4-door sedan, 4-door wagon, a model that was kind of a cross between a 2-door hardtop wagon and a hatchback, and a hardtop coupe. I especially liked the hardtop coupe. But, while a neat little car to look at, I wonder if I could be comfortable driving something that small?
In a similar vein, I like those Mitsubishi-built '78-83 Plymouth Sapporo/Dodge Challengers, the Datsun 200SX notchback hardtop from that same era, and IIRC, Mazda had a 626 hardtop coupe around that timeframe, too.
I always thought it was interesting that the Japanese held onto true hardtops, with roll-down windows and no B-pillar, for about 5 years after the domestics gave them up. Kinda sad when you think about it, that some of priciest domestics, like the Eldorado and Mark V, had stationary windows, while a cheap little Corolla still gave you a roll-down.
I got my G6 back today. It's been at the transmission shop since Wednesday of last week. From what I can tell, this time, they replaced the entire torque converter. It's been working correctly for the 25 miles or so I've driven it.
The dealer has been wonderful to work with throughout all of this, providing valet/shuttle service, returning my calls quickly, etc., not to mention the fact that I got to see the cute girl who works for the car rental company.
That said, I think it will qualify for my state's lemon law if the problem recurs. :lemon:
Andre, I don't have direct experience with the Corolla from that era, though my folks almost bought a used one at one point.
IIRC, it was dark brown and was the 2 door hatch - not the tall one, but the lower hatch. Not sure why my dad didn't buy it.
My uncle owned one of the 200SX notchbacks for a while ... I don't remember what year it was, but he commuted in it back and forth to work for a number of years. His was white with a stick shift.
Yeah, I'm going to do my best to resist and let this one go by. The price is way too high, and the salespeople at this place have an ENORMOUS amount of attitude if you try to make an offer significantly lower than the asking price. Who needs the headache.
I would prefer a same-age Supra anyway.
As for this discussion of 79-83 Corollas, I had one for a little while, it was an '81, the 2-door fastback. Had rear window louvers and all. Those were the days when having 5 forward speeds in your manual transmission was still a big deal, and it had a little "5 speed" badge on the back. :-)
Good car, killed with reckless driving by a roommate.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Those were the days when having 5 forward speeds in your manual transmission was still a big deal...
I know that my uncle's 200SX (early 80's vintage) and my '85 Accord LX hatch both had 5 speeds, as did my cousin's '86 Ranger pickup and the ex's '87 Isuzu P'up. Exactly when did 5 speeds become more common?
Now, of course, the same could be said of 6 speed manuals.
Until the mid-80s the Corolla had a 4-speed manual with a 5-speed as the "step-up trans". As late as the early 90s they were still selling a 4-speed manual-trans Tercel. As for Honda, check out the Civics of the 80s, many were 4-speed manuals, certainly most were in 1981 when my Corolla 2-door was built.
I would say that by 1990, 4-speed manuals were rare, and a sign of a cost-cutter cheapo car model.
It would be funny to see "6 speed" badges on the backs of modern cars with 6-speed manuals. :-P Since manuals are the niche transmission nowadays, I doubt we will ever again see any manufacturer boast about the number of forward speeds in theirs with exterior badges.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
That Corolla is 10 minutes from my office if you want me to check it out for you. I would hurry though because it looks like it is becoming one with the Earth again. Glanzmann also has a Subaru dealership nearby, this must probably be their lot for non-frontline cars.
Had this car for about 9 years and it was a great car...very practical hauler and with 3 kids under 3 & under at that point, we sure loved the versatility. As they got older, had 2 car seats in the rear and 1 in the front so everyone was happy. The family hauler was a Olds Cutlass which was considered a mid-sizer, unlike what that definition is today. The FX was my daily commuter but whenever anyone in our family's needed a small hauler, I was called into service for it's versatility. Remember driving my sister's wedding cake home from the fancy baker and having a cousin in the back holding on to it in the turns. Minimal cake damage as I recall. Great little car though...lasted us thru 9 years until moving into a 4 door Corolla DX in '96. Other car was a Camry, as we were still in our Toyota period.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Looks like it has been sitting outside for about 30 years. Ridiculous price.
Yeah, usually my cars are in that kind of shape by the time I get rid of them...I'm not looking to buy them in that kind of condition, though! I might also be jaded because I only paid $500 for my last NYer and $900 for the 5th Ave, and even though my LeMans was an extravagance, it was only $3000....still less than what the seller wants for this little bucket of a Corolla. I mean, I know Toyotas hold their value, but c'mon, this is ridiculous! :P
Your $500 NYer looks 500 times better than that old Corolla. If it was really a pristine car, that old thing could be worth it...but cosmetics are worth something.
Yup, the new owner will have the luxury of choosing among three forward speeds.
I'm actually accustomed to only having 3 forward speeds...but with engines having roughly 3 times that Corolla's displacement. With a small engine though, I guess you'd really notice the lack of an extra gear or two nowadays. Now back in college, I occasionally drove a 1980 Accord and 1985 Cavalier that my friends had, and both of them just had 3-speeds. Somehow we survived that era, but I imagine if having to re-live that experience today, it would be a bit worse than what I remember.
Heck, I remember back then, we thought my Granddad's '85 Silverado was fast. Compared to those cars, and my 1980 Malibu V-6, it was. But that's the same truck that I still have today, and today I think it's a bit of a dog.
And, I guess it coulda been worse. IIRC, the 1979 Honda Accord only had a 2-speed semi-automatic. The Japanese did catch on fast, though. I think by 1985, you could get a 4-speed automatic in the Corolla, and in the Accord, the 4-speed was the only automatic available. Meanwhile, on the domestic front, I don't think they really started putting 4-speeds into smaller cars until the mid-1990's. And the Neon didn't get one until 2002, IIRC!
Had a '78 (did they change them in '79?). 1200 cc "stripper", rubber floor mats, 4 sp. manual. In 7 years we spent maybe $100-200 on maintenence. Very friendly little car, got 37 mpg. "Tinny" tho.
Personally, I'm so safety conscious now, having a bmw with 6 air bags, I don't think I'd take a little 20-30 y.o. Japanese car on the highway, esp. in the combat driving of metro-boston area. But maybe for occasional use, around town.....sure....
not to mention the fact that I got to see the cute girl who works for the car rental company
Are you sure it would take only one more problem to qualify for the lemon law? Is there a possibility you mis-read it, & might have to go back to the dealer several times?......Oh but then you'd have to see the cute girl who works for the car rental company several more times.......you probably don't want that......
Personally, I'm so safety conscious now, having a bmw with 6 air bags, I don't think I'd take a little 20-30 y.o. Japanese car on the highway, esp. in the combat driving of metro-boston area. But maybe for occasional use, around town.....sure....
Yeah, that's one thing I wonder about, too...if I'd feel safe driving something that small nowadays. Maybe I'm being a bit hypocritical because I drive around in 30-40 year old cars all the time, and they're not the safest things in the world by today's standards. But back in those days, I think having more mass around you really did help you, provided you weren't running full-tilt into a giant Oak tree!
I'm more worried about being hit than I am hitting someone. You can control, to a degree, what you hit, but you have much less control over what hits you. Plus, I've been the hittee more often than I've been the hitter! In fact, just this past Sunday, I almost got hit, head-on, by a mid-90's Corolla that crossed the double line. I was a passenger in a 2006 Xterra, so I'm sure in an impact like that, we would have been the "winner". And even one of my old 70's cars probably would've fared pretty well, taking a hit from something that small. My '67 Catalina, probably not so much, mainly because it only has lap belts, so I"m sure I would've kissed the steering wheel pretty easily. But I'm sure a 90's Corolla would smear a '79-83 in a head-on impact! Especially if it's one of those inherently weaker hardtop models that I prefer!
In fact, just this past Sunday, I almost got hit, head-on, by a mid-90's Corolla that crossed the double line. I was a passenger in a 2006 Xterra, so I'm sure in an impact like that, we would have been the "winner".
I think in a head-on like that, with a collision speed of more than 20 mph or so (which I'm sure it would have been), there are no "winners". :sick:
If I could find a Corolla GTS from that era (the famous AE86) that hadn't been race-prepped, I would make it my daily driver in a heartbeat. What with dealers now putting out all this really old stuff on their lots, I'm going to keep my eyes open for more of those early to mid-80s Celicas, Corollas, and Supras.....
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Riding in my dad's old Datsun 610 is pretty scary at 60-65mph. Luckily, that's about as fast as it could really go without the car really starting to roar. Doors that seemed to be about 1/4" thick, tinny sheetmetal, no signs of safety engineering...no thanks.
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It does look nice tho, from the 1 pic. I'd probably ask on the RWTIV board what it's really worth, if you want it. Personally, I'd rather pay $9k for the best used Subie or Toyota I could find........PS, I'd like to know what the dealer paid for the used Exploder; I wonder if there isn't a huge markup there.......(???)
A friend picked up an 02 Exploder with third row seats, decent shape, and about 90k miles for about $8k canadian.
I think the one you're looking at, the dealer probably paid.....$5k-$6k max. and that's me being generous. I think there's a lot of room to move if the dealer didn't overpay.
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And, since '02 was the first year of the redesign with the third row, there wasn't much in the way of incentives.
Probably a good idea to run it past the RWTIV folks and see what they have to say.
On the surface, $9K for that loaded '02 Eddie Bauer V-8 seems like a decent deal, until I remember just how much time has gone by. That's an 8 year old car! I guess I just have trouble grasping the concept of paying good money for an 8 year old car, probably because my first car was a 7 year old 1980 Malibu that my Mom gave me...so in my mind, something that age is the type of car you get for free from a family member, or dirt cheap, but not something you pay good money for...unless it's so old that it's a desireable antique.
But, in its defense, it still probably has plenty of life left in it...probably more than my 1980 Malibu did when it was given to me. And the 4.6 V-8 is a good engine. I'm sure you can negotiate down from that $9K though.
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I would try to see records, some paper trail of the mileage.
It would warrant a lot of inspection, but it could be an interesting vehicle for the right money, and with some detailing.
It's the same color that my '93 DX was and the same trim level as my ex's '92.
Seems crazy to ask north of $5K, but if the documentation backs it up, it wouldn't be a bad deal - heck, I gotta believe that they'll run to over 100-150K with just normal maintenance.
I had my '93 DX, which I bought just after moving to Colorado, for 5.5 years and 60K without anything more than tires and routine maintenance. Wished it had A/C, however.
They were fairly nice cars for the time ... even with 125HP. Under 3000 lbs. curb weight, IIRC.
The most desireable would be a low mileage top of the line EXR, preferably manual transmission. That might warrant an asking price over $5k, if it has miles that low. Not sure about the lower basaic models.
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Well, yeah, since we know that's pretty much what all your Accords have.
My DX was a stick, while the ex's '92 LX was an automatic. Hers was also a "one only at this price" special that we bought after she totaled her '91 Protege LX.
The price as the ad stands is out of line, no doubt...but come down a little and it might sell.
I agree that it was the height of Honda. My '07 Accord EX is nothing to write home about...Buick comes to mind. Also at that time the Civic SI and CRX SI were running around making a mockery of the Cavalier and Escort GT.
The styling of those cars is also pleasant enough.
I guess I can't get past the 17 y.o. thing, unless the car were a true "classic" of some sort, & thinking about what kinds of decent used bmw's you could get for $5500.
Unless you go in there with your friend at some point, & pull out 35 $100 bills & wave it at them. If he can't live w/o it, take along a few hundred extra if they balk.....
$6950.
This is a dealership that takes a scalp with every sale it makes. I already knew that, and would never normally buy a car from them for that reason.
But I'm thinking if it runs perfectly, and the A/C works (a deal-breaker for me if not), maybe offer $3500 and see if they bite. It has already been there for two weeks (I was out of town unexpectedly for 10 days), and I can't imagine anyone making an offer on it, given its age. But then word is that that the used car market is tight right now, so maybe they will wait for a better offer? I dunno.
This is it, BTW: http://novatotoyota.com/Vehicle.aspx?v=2379968
The ad says it is a 2.0 liter, but as was mentioned above, it is actually the famous 22RE under the hood, which is a chain-driven 2.4L with EFI.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
If I was going to go after a period Toyota, I think I would want one of these
He might be bored this weekend, so we could end up taking a look at it.
I get like that, too. Geeze, if I bought every car that happened to catch my eye at the moment, I'd be bankrupt by now!
Although, the pretty blue 1960 New Yorker beater in front of my mechanic's shop has been popping into my mind more often lately.
1983 Toyota Celica GTS - $4000 (Everett, WA)
I love the original paint in period-copper metalic and the lovered window shade. :shades:
From Wiki on the GTS model:
In 1983, Toyota added the GT-S model to the Celica line to re-inject the sports image that Celica had lost as it grew larger and heavier with each subsequent model. The GT-S included larger wheels and tires, fender flares, independent rear suspension, a sports interior including special seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob. Most of these came from the Supra. This made sense as the Supra was based on the Celica. From the windshield back, both cars were nearly identical when in liftback form. There were also optional rear louvers for the coupe and liftback. The upgraded GT-S wheels are coveted as replacements by many people who own first generation Celicas as they remained four-lug and looked sportier than first generation wheels while still providing the "classic Celica" look and feel. The wheels were also polished aluminium as opposed to the flat finish of the lower models.
I had a major Jones for one of those when I got out of college (1984, yes I am old).
Too bad budgetary limitations (IOW, I was poor and cheap) led me to end up with a Colt instead (may have been a GTS actually). All the turbo stuff (seats, tires), just minus the turbo.
Best handling car I ever owned (but not in the snow) and also one of the slowest. What a dog.
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The more I think about it, there is no way these guys are going to go for an offer of $3500 on the red one I have been looking at; from my past experience with them they are content to wait six months if need be to get the one sucker who will pay them asking price. Maybe if I hold off long enough, they will put it on sale, who knows.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
In a similar vein, I like those Mitsubishi-built '78-83 Plymouth Sapporo/Dodge Challengers, the Datsun 200SX notchback hardtop from that same era, and IIRC, Mazda had a 626 hardtop coupe around that timeframe, too.
I always thought it was interesting that the Japanese held onto true hardtops, with roll-down windows and no B-pillar, for about 5 years after the domestics gave them up. Kinda sad when you think about it, that some of priciest domestics, like the Eldorado and Mark V, had stationary windows, while a cheap little Corolla still gave you a roll-down.
The dealer has been wonderful to work with throughout all of this, providing valet/shuttle service, returning my calls quickly, etc., not to mention the fact that I got to see the cute girl who works for the car rental company.
That said, I think it will qualify for my state's lemon law if the problem recurs. :lemon:
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
IIRC, it was dark brown and was the 2 door hatch - not the tall one, but the lower hatch. Not sure why my dad didn't buy it.
My uncle owned one of the 200SX notchbacks for a while ... I don't remember what year it was, but he commuted in it back and forth to work for a number of years. His was white with a stick shift.
I would prefer a same-age Supra anyway.
As for this discussion of 79-83 Corollas, I had one for a little while, it was an '81, the 2-door fastback. Had rear window louvers and all. Those were the days when having 5 forward speeds in your manual transmission was still a big deal, and it had a little "5 speed" badge on the back. :-)
Good car, killed with reckless driving by a roommate.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I know that my uncle's 200SX (early 80's vintage) and my '85 Accord LX hatch both had 5 speeds, as did my cousin's '86 Ranger pickup and the ex's '87 Isuzu P'up. Exactly when did 5 speeds become more common?
Now, of course, the same could be said of 6 speed manuals.
'77 Cobra II V-8 had a 4-speed
'76 Jeep CJ 6-cylinder had a 3-speed
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I would say that by 1990, 4-speed manuals were rare, and a sign of a cost-cutter cheapo car model.
It would be funny to see "6 speed" badges on the backs of modern cars with 6-speed manuals. :-P
Since manuals are the niche transmission nowadays, I doubt we will ever again see any manufacturer boast about the number of forward speeds in theirs with exterior badges.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Here is there CL ad... http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ctd/1292211084.html
Great little car though...lasted us thru 9 years until moving into a 4 door Corolla DX in '96. Other car was a Camry, as we were still in our Toyota period.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Yeah, usually my cars are in that kind of shape by the time I get rid of them...I'm not looking to buy them in that kind of condition, though! I might also be jaded because I only paid $500 for my last NYer and $900 for the 5th Ave, and even though my LeMans was an extravagance, it was only $3000....still less than what the seller wants for this little bucket of a Corolla. I mean, I know Toyotas hold their value, but c'mon, this is ridiculous! :P
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I'm actually accustomed to only having 3 forward speeds...but with engines having roughly 3 times that Corolla's displacement. With a small engine though, I guess you'd really notice the lack of an extra gear or two nowadays. Now back in college, I occasionally drove a 1980 Accord and 1985 Cavalier that my friends had, and both of them just had 3-speeds. Somehow we survived that era, but I imagine if having to re-live that experience today, it would be a bit worse than what I remember.
Heck, I remember back then, we thought my Granddad's '85 Silverado was fast. Compared to those cars, and my 1980 Malibu V-6, it was. But that's the same truck that I still have today, and today I think it's a bit of a dog.
And, I guess it coulda been worse. IIRC, the 1979 Honda Accord only had a 2-speed semi-automatic. The Japanese did catch on fast, though. I think by 1985, you could get a 4-speed automatic in the Corolla, and in the Accord, the 4-speed was the only automatic available. Meanwhile, on the domestic front, I don't think they really started putting 4-speeds into smaller cars until the mid-1990's. And the Neon didn't get one until 2002, IIRC!
Had a '78 (did they change them in '79?). 1200 cc "stripper", rubber floor mats, 4 sp. manual. In 7 years we spent maybe $100-200 on maintenence. Very friendly little car, got 37 mpg. "Tinny" tho.
Personally, I'm so safety conscious now, having a bmw with 6 air bags, I don't think I'd take a little 20-30 y.o. Japanese car on the highway, esp. in the combat driving of metro-boston area. But maybe for occasional use, around town.....sure....
Are you sure it would take only one more problem to qualify for the lemon law? Is there a possibility you mis-read it, & might have to go back to the dealer several times?......Oh but then you'd have to see the cute girl who works for the car rental company several more times.......you probably don't want that......
:P
Yeah, that's one thing I wonder about, too...if I'd feel safe driving something that small nowadays. Maybe I'm being a bit hypocritical because I drive around in 30-40 year old cars all the time, and they're not the safest things in the world by today's standards. But back in those days, I think having more mass around you really did help you, provided you weren't running full-tilt into a giant Oak tree!
I'm more worried about being hit than I am hitting someone. You can control, to a degree, what you hit, but you have much less control over what hits you. Plus, I've been the hittee more often than I've been the hitter! In fact, just this past Sunday, I almost got hit, head-on, by a mid-90's Corolla that crossed the double line. I was a passenger in a 2006 Xterra, so I'm sure in an impact like that, we would have been the "winner". And even one of my old 70's cars probably would've fared pretty well, taking a hit from something that small. My '67 Catalina, probably not so much, mainly because it only has lap belts, so I"m sure I would've kissed the steering wheel pretty easily. But I'm sure a 90's Corolla would smear a '79-83 in a head-on impact! Especially if it's one of those inherently weaker hardtop models that I prefer!
I think in a head-on like that, with a collision speed of more than 20 mph or so (which I'm sure it would have been), there are no "winners". :sick:
If I could find a Corolla GTS from that era (the famous AE86) that hadn't been race-prepped, I would make it my daily driver in a heartbeat. What with dealers now putting out all this really old stuff on their lots, I'm going to keep my eyes open for more of those early to mid-80s Celicas, Corollas, and Supras.....
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)