1984 Camry Deluxe - 112.000 miles

[Idrivetoyota]

Hi all. May I ask for feedback about a 1984 Camry Deluxe, 4d, Hatchback, Auto, 112,000 original miles? I have found one for sale, $1,500. Carfax report is clean. I hope to look at the car 5/16/11. Are there problems finding parts for this car? Will I find upkeep on a car this old will kill my budget? My 1993 Corolla with 312,000 miles has given up the ghost. Have owned it since 1996 when it had 40,000 miles. Appreciate any thoughts, or ideas. Thanks again – I Drive Toyota

[Mike Gerber]

We owned an 86 Camry DX 5 speed purchased new. It was the best car my wife and I ever owned. The body rusted out (Chicao area; lot's of salt in the winter); and the paint faded over the years. Mechanically it was the most reliable car we ever owned. There was only 1 engine for this car. It was a 2 liter 2SE engine. It was one of the msot reliable, IMHO. (Well, Toyota actually sold a diesel engine for this model, but I have never seen one.) As far as parts, I would call around to a few local parts stores in your area and check on the availability of the common parts. That would be tune up parts (plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, and an O2 sensor), a complete distributor, a distributor coil, an alternator and a starter. Also check with a dealer for a cold start time switch; they seem to need replacing every 100,000 miles or so, and is a dealer only part.

Mike

[Idrivetoyota]

Thanks Mike, appreciate your thoughts.