"Egg shaped design" God these guys probably shat themselves when the third gen Taurus came out.

The fact that 26 years later they are still all over the roads says a lot about Toyota quality!

I bought my first Toyota, a 97' tercel for $700. Drove it from 180k miles to 240k, sold it to my brother for a thousand bucks, he drove it to 290k miles and sold it for 1500 bucks. Best car money could buy! My 2011 Camry is now about to cross over 220k miles, and it runs just as good as the day I bought it! I love Toyotas to death, but they just don't die! ha

20 something years later I still see these things rolling around and even it's predecessor from 1984 and the 1987, I love those old Toyota's because they simply work.

My very first car that I bought with my own money was a 1991 Toyota Tercel. It was a dark red, 2 door. I loved that car so much. I get so sad watching this video because I ended up totaling that car a little over a year later. I ended up buying a 1992 Toyota Tercel 4 door in white. That car took me many places and I had it for years! But I still remember that little dark red car and how hard I worked to buy it. The interior was really ahead of its time. I loved the air vents and the seats! I own two Mercedes now and the interior of my Mercedes, like the air vents, reminds me a lot of my Tercel. Times have certainly changed but I'll always hold a soft spot for my beloved 1991 Toyota Tercel.

In Bangladesh, a country in South Asia( where I come from), this car along with Corollas (EE90) were exported from Japan reconditioned. Believe it or not this car was a luxury for most of us then. Felt nostalgic after seeing this.

A car that looks like a box apparently looked like an egg in 1991.

Motorweek must have adored the late 80s Mitsubishis with altimeter, inclinometer, barometer, humidity gauge and so on!

Too few gauges? What else was missing, an inclinometer? A gauge for g-forces? Weapons Load out? Or just oil pressure?

Bring back simple, reliable cars!

Back when 1 could buy basic transportation that lasted! The only thing that will kill these cars, is rust.

An unstoppable econobox. These things almost never die. Probably the best commuter car ever. Super easy to work on and cheap parts, too.

Their obsession with a "full" gauge cluster is like consumer reports obsession with forward collision warning

Leather driving gloves + Toyota Tercel = laughs

This was my first car. In fact we owned 2 of these. We had the base models with no features. Both had nearly 300k miles when we sold them and they ran perfect other than the interior falling apart

Bought mine with 7 miles on the odometer. Still driving it today after 25 years. Still drives smoothly like new (but I keep up with preventative maintenance)

I got the 1992 version of this. 2 door coupe, manual 4 speed, no AC, no power anything. I loved it. That thing could out maneuver anything.

90's Japanese cars are the best.

Brings back memories. My parents had a 1994 Tercel in teal color. I learned how to drive in that car.

I saw a 1984 Tercel wagon that looked like it had been garaged all its life a few months ago. It caught my eye because it is such a rare sight now.

Wow. This car's fuel economy and performance is very similar to my 2013 Chevy Spark! For a '91 economy car, it definitely holds its own in the styling department.

2035lbs!!! this would be a rocket ship with 200bhp

You could tell me that car came out in 2004 and I wouldn't question it at all. Bravo Toyota!

About 10 years ago my boss bought one of these with a blown motor, we were going to fix it up & resell it. A customer stopped by to ask if we had anything for sale around the same time I started working on it. He bought right then & there. Turned out to be a nice car with the used engine I put in it. I wish they were all that easy.

you dont see any ford escorts from that year still rolling. thats for sure.

My dad owned a maroon one. Sold it 8 years back. Breaks a tear everytime i see one.

I've got a 94' Tercel sitting in my yard right now. 4 speed manual with no overdrive makes the highway painful but past that it does get groceries easily.

I had a 1988 Tercel in High School. It sure as heck didn't win me any popularity rewards but it got me around no problem. I loved that stupid car!!

My son just lost his 1997 Tercel to a semi truck. Well over 250k, original engine, original trans, original clutch. No issues. Ever. Absolutely the most reliable car the family has ever owned. Wanted that one back before the accident. Sad to see it go that way. What a great car.

These were just honest and reliable, !

These cars lasts forever. I had a 1989 Tercel EZ with 4sp manual. Nothing exciting. Lasted 240k Miles. It warranted $3k investment, clutch, timing belt, water pump, and new belts. I sold it for $900, and bought a Civic. I wish I still have it. Slow as she was, she never stranded me anywhere. What a car. Who could ask for anything more. Toyota! What a memory.

A two-door with some snappy wheels or caps and more importantly a 5-speed manual, and these were surprisingly sporty and fun to drive. Add in a trillion mpg and rock-solid Toyota feel, and it was much more than a typical econobox.

the dash is suprisingly modern in that time

Every Toyota and Honda that I've ever owned was the most reliable vehicle I've ever had. In fact, a friend of mine is still driving around my old 1991 Honda Accord 5spd manual to this day with only an oxygen sensor malfunction being it's biggest issue. I owned a couple of Nissan Maxima's, I loved their V6 engines, they're just so smooth, but they really did have a lot more issues and malfunctions than my Honda and Toyota cars. On a whim, I bought a 1989 Dodge Daytona for dirt cheap, just for the hell of it, and it was constantly plagued with fuel pump, radiator problems, and even had a cracked head gasket appear out of nowhere. My current car is a 2012 Honda Civic Si, it's not a rocket ship by any means, but it has a slick, fun 6spd stick that revs over 7,000 RPM and is just plain fun to drive. It's been my daily driver car for years now and I love it, haven't had a single problem except for a broken driver's side fog light due to a flying rock that flew off of a dump truck one early morning on the highway.

The 1994 Toyota Tercel is the car I grew up with. My mom abused the hell out of the car in it's early life often neglecting to change the oil in it. That car still ran strong until 2007 when the engine finally gave out. If my mom didn't neglect it in it's early life it might have still been rolling today!

I was 12 years old when I went with my friend's Mom and Dad to the Toyota Dealer in San Jose to get a light green 4 door. They STILL have it. All of the kids have used it for college at one point or another.

I love watching these retro reviews.

This Tercel started the golden eras of sedans for Toyota I hear other people saying. It was followed by the great 92 Camry, and 93 Corolla. The latter two looked like they adopted the back light with the model name in it from the Tercel

I had a 1995. Best car ever. It was hit and killed with 149,000 miles and was in perfect condition. The 4 speed manual got over 40mpg. I loved it

For the younger viewers. Up through the '80s, a white car usually meant it was a base or fleet/rental spec car. There were exceptions with some luxury vehicles. But even they were some sort of off white.

Toyota IMO shouldn't never axe the Tercel name plate.

Over here in Jersey, you'll periodically see one of those Tercel's still rolling around. Can't say the same for the Sentra or the Escort!

I have owned three of these. These cars are AWESOME !

They were pretty good little cars, the previous gen AWD model was the best by far. The 7th gen Corolla was way more reliable but I often see these at 200000+ miles that are still rumbling along

I a 1993 Toyota tercel 2dr 5spd white I really loved it and miss it !! from Orange county California to sun valley va I still had a full tank

My first brand new car was a 91 Tercel. 5999 with no options. Lol

Loved my 82 Toyota puck up. It had the 22R engine with a 5spd Manuel trans. It looked great! I miss it.

My uncle had one of this gen, I remember all the joyrides we took in this econobox. But it sure was special

I still see those Tercels around. Many more old Corollas though.

had a green 2 door, with the 4speed. absolutely the best little car I ever owned. it had 276,000 Miles on it before I sold it. that car never let me down

My buddy got a new 1996 Tercel (his dad had the on in the video), total bottom of the line with ice skate wide tires for $10k with 5 speed manual when I was in high school. The frigging thing only had 93HP and did 0-60 in 9 seconds all day cuz it was so light. Really fun car especially because it was faster then nearly all the sporty, heavy and boaty V8s that the other kids had back then like the monte carlos and cutlasses ..

There are two of this gen here in the parking lot at work. 25 year old "daily drivers". Paint (clear coat) need help but whatever. It gets my co-workers around.

Almost to the Toyota Echo review. A 41mpg, 0-60 in 8.5 seconds (though not sure what Motor Week had), and a roomy interior. Just feels tippy, and sorta cheap/goofy looking-- underrated, at that. I love my Echo, and was thrilled to try a basic manual Tercel for work. The amazing thing is how Toyota had so many soft-touch materials in the Tercel, even for its price point. Sure it had cheapness in other ways compared to the Echo, but Toyota had taken steps to a different direction in the 2000's and they're still trying to make up for it.

I look at the design of this car now and think it's actually a really clean, attractive design. So many cars nowadays have overwrought styling that's quite ugly.

my cousin has one of these, same year, 268,000 km with the 3 speed slushbox. Engine was clattering like mad when she came to visit us, a quick check confirmed no oil on the dipstick. When asked, she said it had been sounding like that for a few weeks now. Topped it up with gas station synthetic blend (on sale!) and dumped some seafoam in the tank for good measure, and 6 months later that thing's still putting around, happy as a clam. She's pissed it hasn't died yet, I told her to wait another 100,000 or so kilometers ;) For an econo-box, these things are pretty indestructible mechanically-wise.

Still see these around on a daily basis.

Nice little car, I still see some rolling around.

1.5L 90hp engine gets you 39mpg. Times have sure changed...

I wish they can make simple design automobiles like this today.

love the retro!!!!!!!!!!!! keep it coming !!!!!!!!!!

Just bought one of these today...DX model, white, same car but with black bumpers. Only 11000 kms (6200 miles)! Thing is near showroom, i might just have to post a video.

Those driving gloves were on point

The Tercel... a grey 1994 Tercel DX was my first car and was one of the greats that to this day I still see running around

Man if they thought this didn't have enough gauges, it's a good thing they didn't review the base model, which didn't even have a tachometer with the 4 speed manual.

These cars were impossible to kill.

I'm thinking of buying a Tercel. Yeah, that's a Toyota.

Car was so good, I would buy one today

I miss this John Davis. Speaks like a normal human unlike the current version, sounds like he does a few lines before filming the show. Also like the hits and misses. Doesn't seem like any car they review these days there is ever a complaint.

Please Toyota!You should never give up of making reliable small cars!

Bought a used 91 for my HS kid in 2005 in Chicago. She kept it 6 more yrs. I think it is still doing circles around Dallas

I still see these things running

You still see them around once in a while in 2021.

82 horsepower may not seem like much, but with a 5-speed manual this Tercel did 0-60 mph in 11.1 seconds, and it got 39 mpg. That's not bad for a price around $10,000.

I LOVED my Tercel. 1994 two door w/ four speed.

rock solid reliability

Still that loaded up Tercel they tested was oh so fancy compared to the cheapest thing on the Toyota dealer lot for 1991. Think base pickup truck, reg cab, short box 2wd. Things like non reclining vinyl clad bench seats were standard. Passenger side mirror, extra cost option. Rubber floors standard, carpet cost more, extra sound deadening with your carpet meant moving up a trim level to deluxe. Carburetor and 4 speed manual transmission standard. Fuel injection and 5 speed manual were options. And a lot of these stripper trucks had manual steering racks. In my area A/C was one of the few options always selected on base Toyota pickups in the 80's/90's

Stop it Motorweek, I kinda want to own one now!

The numbers of these still on the road, they're like the cockroach of cars.

Any chance of a 92 S-class (W140) review anytime soon? Would love to see all your old Merc vids! Thanks

This car is underrated 😢

seeing that car take off at the drag strip, now thats a cool machine.

Just bought one of these little guys for 1500. 127k miles on the clock, only needing the muffler replaced

I have a special place in my heart for the Tercel... I drove one during my time in the driving school, and that car was one of the best car I have ever driven... What a great car! Best part, I still can see some of them still running... Outlasting many of its competition back in the 90s.

For some reason I thought you guys had a 87-91 cutlass calais review up.

Great car and still looks good!

Said it last Tercel video but I love my Tercel even though it’s been a hassle to maintain for me

My mom bought a 91 Tercel new and it was our family's main car until 2015

Had an 84 Tercel, simple, reliable, and took a beating that would have killed many other cars at any price point. In 84 it had a 2v 1500 that made a whopping 62hp, by far the slowest car I ever had, dangerous even in a merge, but it would take too long to type what I liked about it. It would be nice if manufacturers today would stick money into the mechanicals and leave out the t infotainment and electronic nanny bullshit that make bad drivers worse.

John Davis is so awesome I love him in these videos

Looks better than the Toyota Corolla made in the same year.

my mom had a little maroon sedan she adored and drove it for quite a few years till the local dealerahip mechanic killed it by not putting in any oil with the oil change in about 1996 but overall motorweek was very fair and informative as always :)

Question about Motorweek test protocol; does your observed MPG include the acceleration runs/other performace tests?

My first car was the last year of the Tercel in 1999 🔥🔥🔥✌🏼💪🏼

We bought out yourself brand new in 1994. Still got it till this day. We had a few problems far as two valves. Have to do a valve job at least twice since we had it but same transmission same engine. And when it was brand new the radio cassette player kept burning out! So we end up putting an after-market CD player. Not today it's at 593,000 miles and ice roller my 18 year old cousin is driving it it went through five of us already!

The indestructible Nokia of sub compact of cars.

I owned a 94 , bought it for $1700 , drove it for 1 year , sold it for $300 , since it had an engine problem.The car then had 140,000 miles , but the previous owner did not take proper care of it. Even though it still lasted 140K with no issues of any kind for that whole year I drove it.

These were sold in Japan as the Toyota Corsa and Corolla II. I saw those imported in India. Even the 3-door hatchback version, which never came out in the U.S.

I remember when they first came out---indeed, the styling was quite polarizing. You could get a really stripped-down one with 4 speed manual, no a/c, and wind-up windows. Am/fm radio without cassette was standard. I'm pretty sure even power steering was optional on the base model, but I could be wrong.

Those armrests for the rear doors look identical to the ones I have in my '91 Toyota pickup, which is not a good thing because they are rock hard and the most uncomfortable armrests I've ever encountered. They're even the same pale blue color.

these things were bullet proof.