this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2023
26 points (93.3% liked)

Cars - For Car Enthusiasts

3916 readers
40 users here now

About Community

c/Cars is the largest automotive enthusiast community on Lemmy and the fediverse. We're your central hub for vehicle-related discussion, industry news, reviews, projects, DIY guides, advice, stories, and more.


Rules





founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

I have a coworker who's looking to sell his car, a 1989 Toyota Corolla. I know the basics of looking after a car, but a car that old is almost foreign to me, because I'm from a state where cars rust out.

I figure Toyotas are pretty reliable and so is the 4AG engine, but I don't want to end up with another money pit. What should I look out for, or should I just avoid it altogether?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago

What are your options? For example, I would rather daily an '89 Corolla over a '01 Kia.

What is your budget for maintenance? There will be nuisance items go like seals and gaskets due to age, even if the engine runs strong.

What is the price? For a car that's almost 35 years old, it better be low.

If you have a low budget, don't have a crazy commute, and can get a couple years out of this car for a couple grand, it could be exceptionally wise decision compared to a $600/mo car payment.