Welcome back to another Shitbox Showdown! Today we’ve got a couple of economy-minded cars you probably haven’t thought about in a while. And the good news is, they’re not half bad deals for once! Both of them run, neither one of them is rusty, and the prices are more or less reasonable. I guess I’m just feeling magnanimous.
Yesterday’s choices weren’t half bad either, I thought, but you didn’t have much to say about them one way or the other. I expected the Valiant to tug at some more heartstrings – who doesn’t love a big chrome Hurst shifter? But in the end, the Thunderbird took an easy win.
As for me, I’m not sure which way I would go on that choice. I do love a good personal luxury coupe. but a Thunderbird would not be my first choice. I’d be looking for a Chrysler Cordoba, I think, if I wanted a car like that. Or a G-body Pontiac Grand Prix, though they’re getting really hard to find. So I think, between these two, I’d take the Valiant, but it’s a close call. If it were a two-door hardtop or a Duster, it would be a lot more clear-cut choice, of course.
Anyway, what do you say to a couple of old stickshift Toyotas? One of them says “Corolla” on the back but really isn’t one, and the other one actually is a Corolla but doesn’t even say “Toyota” on it. But what’s in a name? That which we call a shitbox, by any other name, would be as sweet of a deal. Or something like that. Here they are.
1982 Toyota Corolla Tercel – $3,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1,5 liter overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Salem, OR
Odometer reading: 181,000 miles
Runs/drives? Yep!
In the late 1970s, Toyota had already made a name for itself in the US as a maker of reliable, efficient little cars, largely on the success of the popular Corolla model. Maybe that’s why this car, Toyota’s first front-wheel-drive car, bore the name “Corolla Tercel” for the first couple of years, even though it had nothing in common with the rear-wheel-drive Corolla line. Toyota also briefly sold the Starlet here, an even smaller rear-wheel-drive hatchback that looked a lot like the Tercel; I guess it wanted to make its model lineup as confusing as possible.
The first couple generations of Tercel had a bizarre drivetrain layout, which Jason has discussed before. It has a longitudinally-mounted engine, unusual but not unheard-of for a front-driver. But the engine sits atop the differential and final drive, rather than in front of it, with the gearbox slung out behind both. Toyota apparently figured out early on that this setup would make a 4WD version easy, but this generation was never so equipped. You’ll also notice that the drivetrain is slightly to the left of the car’s centerline. No, the engine’s not canted-over like an Audi or a Saab – the whole thing is actually off-center.
However weird it may be, it worked great, and the Tercel became at least as well-known for reliability and durability as the Corolla. They’re a rare sight these days, owing to Toyota’s near-complete lack of rust prevention in the late 1970s and early ’80s, but this one seems to have survived the decades in fine form. There’s no sign of rust that I can see, and the seller says everything works just fine. It could use new tires, it sounds like, on those sharp-looking gold wheels, but apart from that it’s ready to rock.
You probably wouldn’t want to drive this car every day – sixty horsepower and a near-complete lack of creature comforts would get tiresome quickly – but unlike a lot of classics, you could, if you wanted to.
1995 Geo Prizm LSi – $2,200
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8 liter dual overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Hillsboro, OR
Odometer reading: 194,000 miles
Runs/drives? Indeed!
A decade or so later, in California, New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated was cranking out Toyota Corollas for the US market, only they didn’t call them Corollas. Okay, they weren’t quite Corollas; they were actually based on a Corolla variant called the Sprinter, but they weren’t called that either. They were Prizms, sold through Chevrolet’s short-lived Geo brand.
This is a second-generation Prizm, based on the seventh-generation Sprinter. It’s the fancy LSi model, powered by Toyota’s 7A-FE four-cylinder engine, driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual. I used to own a Corolla of this generation with the same powertrain; it’s as sturdy as they come, but it won’t exactly raise your pulse rate. The seller says it runs just fine, and that the engine was “serviced” in March. That could mean anything, but hopefully it includes the timing belt and water pump, due every 60,000 miles on these, if I recall.
As an LSi model, it also includes such niceties as a sunroof, power windows and locks, and – surprisingly for a Geo – leather seats. The photos show a popped seam on the driver’s side, but otherwise it looks pretty good for a twenty-eight-year-old car with nearly two hundred thousand miles.
This car would, obviously, make a brilliant daily driver, assuming you want something with a stick, and if not, why are you reading this site? Yeah, it’s a little dull, but at least it’s not the zero-options penalty box that my Corolla was. It’s funny; I used to love plain-Jane base models, now this is about the bare minimum of stuff I’m willing to tolerate on a daily driver.
I’m not sure there’s a bad choice here, which is unusual, I know. They’re not performance cars, but performance isn’t everything, and a well-built car just feels good to drive. Either one could be daily driven, and frankly, either one could be tidied up a bit and shown off at Cars & Coffee. I mean, when was the last time you saw a nice Geo Prizm or first-gen Tercel? All you have to do is choose.
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
Wow – two decent shitboxes at once! The cognitive dissonance is killin’ me! After some deep breathing exercises and a half hour of quiet meditation to get my head back in order, I’m going with the Geo. Both appear to be good solid runners, but the price difference makes the choice easy for me.
I voted wrong. I want the pretty two-door Tercel. It deserves to be preserved and loved, and it’s got the best ratio of dollars to cars-and-coffee points on the market.
Right? Imagine parking that thing next to some Lam-bro and watching him fume as everyone ignores his car to look at a Tercel.
Preo Gizm for me, please. Cheaper, able to be my only car, and in better shape than the same-generation five-speed Corolla my father had over 20 years ago.
I’ve been watching eBay for one of those first-generation Tercel badges for my Yaris, though. It’s either that or nicking a Corolla’s ‘C’ from a junkyard trunklid and badging the Blueberry as a Car.
Boy, this is a REALLY hard one, actually. My knee-jerk reaction was Tercel, but that’s only if I had enough space to have something around I only drive once a month or so…. otherwise, I’d go Prizm. They’re both really good cars, though. I just can’t shake the nostalgia factor of the Tercel.
I have always loved that generation of Prizm, particularly the decked out LSi.
Both fwd 5-speeds with under 200k miles. The Prizm is probably the better choice, but that Tercel is straight and clean. The under hood picture decided it for me: that is quite clean without looking like it was just slathered in ArmourAll. It’s been loved and cared for, and I would unironically drive it.
Maybe stock or period-correct wheels, but otherwise just get in & go.
That exact year Tercel was the first Japanese car I owned. Before that I thought of myself as a “VW-guy”, but the Tercel was so much more reliable and just as easy to work on. I was a pizza-delivery guy in college and 2 of this generation Tercel were my main vehicles. It was important to have a reliable and efficient car that was easy to fix.
I think there was only one year in the last 30 where I didn’t have a Toyota in my “fleet”, all based on my experiences with this car.
Yeah, the gold wheels and unintended radio delete option is going to make me Get to Know Geo
Insert meme of Pam from the Office going, they’re the same picture. 🙂
I picked Tercel(pronounced like Urkel), mainly for the cool retro-ness of it. Also my little sister’s first car was a Tercel and she’d probably get a kick out of it.
While I love the look of the Tercel, I had to vote Prizm.
When my lovely wife and I met nearly 30 years ago, she drove a ’94 Geo Prizm. It was her first new car, and she bought it as a treat for herself after escaping a terrible marriage. We drove that car everywhere, including on our honeymoon to Florida!
One especially memorable trip was from Savannah, GA, to Cleveland, OH for Christmas to see her dad and his family.
On the way home, driving through West Virginia, we were on a mountain road. I went to pass a Blazer and we hit a patch of black ice! I felt the car skid, and I knew not to brake because it would make it worse.
However, I forgot the cruise control was on. So when I tried to steer into the skid, the car just skidded the other way. More countersteer, more skid, until the car was violently whipping back and forth as I struggled to regain control.
It finally threw my wife into the console shifter and popped the car (an automatic) into neutral. The cruise disengaged, the car started slowing down, and I got it back under control. She stared at me. Her 7 year old son in the back seat stared at me. Both had been asleep when this happened, so I just said “Is everyone awake? Anyone need to use the bathroom?”
And we just drove on into the night.
The Prizm was a good car. Lots of good memories from early in our lives. Easy vote for me.
Had that exact same Prizm for about 10 years. Bought it new in Colorado, drove it out to Seattle when I got out of the army. It was impossible to kill it. Ended up selling it to the day care lady for her daughter. Last time I heard, she still had it with close on 250k miles. Great car!
I want the Tercel. Give me all of the Toyota nerd points. The first order of business will be sourcing some period-correct wheels of course.
The Prizm is a better car and for someone who needs a reliable commuter. But, for me…I’d have the Tercel
Both have accordion shifter boots! Tough choice, but I’ll go Geo.
I *want* to want the Corolla Tercel, but the Prizm is such a good transportation appliance, and significantly more livable, that I’d have to take it.
My dad had a Corolla from that generation, with a rare heckblende. I never understood why he went for the Corolla over the Prizm, when 1) the Prizm was slightly cheaper and 2) the Chevy dealer was around the corner but the Toyota dealer was an hour away.
These are both great choices. I chose the Tercel because I’d buy it and rustproof it regularly. I like the color combo too 🙂
That said, the Prizm is good too. Peak Toyota Quality. I’ve never seen an older Corolla in any form with leather. Nice to see a well-equipped small car with a manual transmission 🙂
You can’t go wrong with either.
When I opened this article, I thought for sure I’d vote for the Tercel… but I forgot how handsome the Prizm was. Kind of a junior-size XV10 Camry. So we’ll take the Geo.
I always thought the Prizm more belonged in the Toyota lineup at the time. Put the Toyota badge on the Prizm and the GM badge on the Corolla.
I always wanted a Geo.
Plus, at 194,000 miles, it honestly doesn’t look THAT bad.
Everyone always said I’d end up in Prizm one day. Guess this is that day.
Prizm is by far the better option for a daily, but I’m going Tercel just for the charm and rarity factor. Seriously, I can’t remember the last time I saw a Tercel of any generation or body style, much less and early 80’s coupe, and this one seems to be in shockingly great condition for its age.
While the tercel is cool I’d take the prism. Newer, far safer for daily use. Wouldn’t feel any regret about using up its final time on earth.
I think I would go with the Tercel, but if it had to be a daily, I would go with the Geo. The Tercel is old enough to be interesting.
That Prizm is a fine choice for a daily driver. They also had decent performance for their time period, 0-60 mph in a bit under 9 seconds.
My dad owned a 1991 Tercel with a slushbox once. While it could top 100 mph with a family of 5 weighing it down on Illinois State Highway 15, it could barely climb a 5% grade with the accelerator floored, and 0-60 mph time was closer to that of a Mercedes 240D than it was a Geo Prizm.
EFI, please.
https://tenor.com/view/theyre-the-same-picture-the-office-pam-the-office-us-gif-20757621
These are basically the same car 15ish years apart. I’d like the newer one.