Piston Slap: Beaucoup Patience for a Worthy Corolla?

Jeff writes:

Hi Sajeev:

I enjoy your articles advising people on what cars to buy or avoid. I have a bit of a different problem.

My mother recently passed away, and I inherited her 1989 Corolla down in Florida. She bought it used down there, it has a little over 100,000 miles on it. The car is absolutely mint, as you could imagine for a Florida car. It runs great, the AC works well, and the body and paint are in excellent condition, as is the interior – it has been kept out of the sun. Even the engine is in great condition – all the anodized parts still look as new. Plus, it doesn’t even leak. It has had regular maintenance, belts, hoses and fluids changed.

My wife and I are both taller people, and don’t fit well into the car. Plus, it doesn’t have any safety equipment to speak of, besides seat belts. I always get nervous driving on US 19 with all those Panthers and old people. At some point we would like to sell it.

I really don’t want the car to go to a kid who won’t take care of it. I would rather see it go to someone who would preserve the car, maybe a collector of Japanese cars. It isn’t costing us much to hang onto the car, so it is not an urgent issue, but I would like it to go to a good home.

I’d appreciate your thoughts and comments.

Sajeev answers:

Oh my, that’s a sweet little runner! And if you think my exuberance for a time capsule grade Toyota Corolla is unfounded, you haven’t spent much time back-to-back between one of these and one of the new Tupperware nightmares sold at Toyota dealerships.

And we all should love mundane, respectable yet ultimately desirable vehicles. If this was a 1986 Mercury Sable LS, I’d beg for the keys!

If a Lincoln-Mercury fan like myself exists, I am sure a Toyota nerd does too. Fingers crossed on that one. But I digress…

I understand the car needs to go, and I am sorry for your loss. I am touched that you won’t let the Corolla just go to anyone, because it’s true: they will ruin it. Even if they don’t mean to, because that’s how it works when a car this old/pristine/unloved enters the used car market. It isn’t a new car and it sure as heck isn’t a Pontiac Trans Am with T-tops, a big block and a 4-speed.

My advice? Hit the forums and ask for advice, starting with Japanese Nostalgic Car. Any and all Toyota forum is a good idea too. Place classified ads in all these forums too, they are usually free and you might meet some nice people to boot.

Put an advertisement in Hemmings or any other classic car publication you like. Be prepared to spend a ton of time and money (relatively speaking) for not much reward in the end. But, you know the drill, it takes beaucoup patience to sell something as worthy as a honest and clean 1989 Toyota Corolla.

Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com . Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry.