General Comments:
Very comfortable car to drive. Steering is super light and responsive. Easy to park. You can see to the very tip of the bonnet, so it is very easy to judge when parking close. The fact it's a wagon means visibility is very high.
There isn't a lot of power, but still enough to pull off quickly at lights or get you up a hill. The best thing is you barely need to touch the accelerator once up to speed. It will sit at 1500RPM at kph so fuel usage is low. The overall economy is far better than a Falcon or similar. Only fill the tank 1/2 way every week, and that gets us everywhere we need to go.
I do all the maintenance at home, and with a regular oil change and inspection, everything is kept at hand. Easy to work on when it comes to basic things like alternator, water pump, gaskets etc. I'm about to do the valve stem seals because they are tied and cause smoke on start up. Doesn't use a lot of oil, although it needs to be checked regularly.
It's always been garaged, and there is barely a spot of rust. The interior is absolutely perfect for its age, and it is very comfortable. Much prefer it to my mother's 2006 BA Ford Fairmont, that's the full luxury package.
Would recommend to anyone on a budget that is looking for something cheap. Just make sure you get the TP model, and make sure it's EFI. Needs to be looked after though, because as with any car, if it's abused, you will be stuck on the side of the road. Look for one with low Ks, and try to avoid ones with oil leaks or rough transmissions.
Much more comfortable than any Holden or Ford of the time.
27th May 2020, 20:59
Sounds like you got a bad one. A well maintained example (especially Japanese cars) from this time period are as reliable as it gets.