I did a thing. 29 year old AE96. Couldn’t resist.
With my wife finally narrowing down her van choices to a VW Caddy, Peugeot Expert or Renault Kangoo. I felt it was time to relieve a couple months long itch I got, after watching some AE92 Corolla videos from the Phillipines. Couple that with missing my old ‘83 Corona, the recent chat of the new GR Corolla and watching Super Touring JTCC/BTCC/ATCC videos(hence my avatar), some kind of purchase was inevitable.
A young co-worker at my previous job, drives a white automatic AE92 with the popular wagon headlight conversion, lowered suspension and polished 3-piece Watanabe type wheels. Looked really nice in the work parking lot. Pretty much sealed the deal to what my next car would be. That’s if I could find one.… with a manual transmission.
My hate for Australian car pricing, continued to reaffirm why I dislike car shopping. Plus, the fact automatics are the norm. It becomes slim pickings when trying to find “the one”.
Most potential AE92 choices seem to be south of me(New South Wales), in Victoria. That wasn’t going to happen. The choices in a 100km radius of me, were automatics. The car I bought, was in a photo thumbnail as an AE96. Firstly, me and blue cars have a long bad history. Something always goes wrong, somehow.
Anyway, sight unseen, I was buying it(while at work). My wife would be in Sydney, for an opening of a famous contemporary artist, I asked her to have a look at it(again, I was set on buying it regardless). I sent the seller a message that my wife would be coming down.
I then get a call from the seller, saying someone was coming to see it again and the car will be held until my wife arrives.
My wife calls when she arrives and immediately tells me the car is cool. Looks perfect. New tyres, needed a wash and vacuum. Drove it and said it’s all good. Needed nothing extra. However, no owners manual, service books or history or details about previous ownership.
After I buy it, car was sold as is and was unable to get the brush guard and tow bar removed.
My wife drives the car up from Sydney, makes a stop halfway and says it’s real good. Continues the trip back home and gets stuck in traffic for 40 minutes. Car was fine.
I arrive home after a late shift. As I garage door is going up, I had that scene from Better Off Dead, when John Cusack‘s Camaro emerges after being restored.
First thing I thought, “Those plates will be switched out in the morning.”(which was carried out, much better plates on it now). I park the Mazda2 and have a quick walk around. Couldn’t believe my eyes how clean the body looked. I did the cartoon blink blink sound with how straight it looked. Especially after 29 years 4 months and 241,500kms!
Next morning, spent all my time with it. Two blemishes:
a couple dents on the rear hatch
rust in the right rear passenger door jamb:
Thats it. For the age and being a coastal car(even moreso that I live across the street from the foreshore), I was impressed by the care of the previous owner(s). No doubt the owners love accessories. All this stuff on the car. Stuff that adds weight and that I’ll have no use for. Some stuff just out of place for this car. Like, what the hell with the mirror guards:
My first impressions, is why Toyota have that reputation for build quality. Other than a few loose plastic trims on the rear hatch(look like the tint fitters broke the holding clips on the right side of that trim when removing) and the front grill(I removed it, only held by one central screw) with one of four clips broken(Refitted and clipped back in place. Tight, like when built), that reputation Carrie’s on.
This car is solid. Seats are tight. Cushions feel damn near new. The dash mat did its job. Pristine finish, bar a bit miscolouring on some armrest trim, that I’ll clean properly.
Well, next thing was cleaning it up and removing/attempting to remove bits and pieces. Removed those for show Hellas(They were just screwed on the front bumper). Gave it wash and vac to check for leaks.
Thought a trim on the front passenger door was loose, due to potential rust. Inspected and found it Just needed to be refitted.
Removed the rear wind spoiler. It’s was cool, but the adhesive was worn. Removed and cleaned that up. Looks much better now. Removed the mirror wind things and the awful magnified mirror stick ons.
Other than those minor things, if all goes well, the old sound system will be getting replaced. Inevitable suspension, wheels & tyres and a possible exhaust upgrade(nothing loud, but with a nice note). That’ll be it.