Choose A Clean California Car: 1987 Honda Accord Vs 1994 Toyota Tercel

Good morning! Today, I’m pulling out one of my oldest tricks and showing you a couple of clean examples of cars that folks in northern climates probably haven’t seen in years. Even better, they’re reasonably-priced, unlike so many ’80s and ’90s “survivors” these days.

Yesterday we looked at work vans, one big, and one small. A lot of you liked the idea of the big Chevy Express, but the comparatively gutless V6 engine and lack of air conditioning put you off. The little Ford Transit Connect made a lot more sense to the majority of you, no matter what business you were thinking of starting.

The business I now want to start involves parking a van next to haughty Camaro drivers and making them pay me to move, and for that, I don’t actually need any cargo in the back at all. So I might as well save as much gas as I can. Put me down for the Transit, too.

There’s a good reason to look at a couple of ’80s-90s cars for sale in the Bay Area this week, too: in just two days, RADwood descends upon the area. I won’t be there, but if you want to go, don’t have a suitable car, and want to represent the Shitbox Showdown spirit at the event, I’ve got just the car. Or cars, rather. Your choice. Fly in, buy a car, join the Autopian convoy already in progress… and get turned away, because apparently RADwood now has standards, and just any old car won’t do. But hey, the car-spotting in the parking lot should be epic.

1987 Honda Accord LX – $3,500

Engine/drivetrain: 2.0-liter OHC inline-4, four-speed automatic, FWD

Location: San Jose, CA

Odometer reading: 194,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

The Honda Accord is now in its eleventh generation, and I imagine it’s still a fine car. But it’s big and heavy now, like all cars, and I doubt it still has the same easygoing charm of these older ones. This third-generation model is what I think of when somebody says “Honda Accord.” I mean, it has pop-up headlights! On a sedan! No hybrid drivetrain or infotainment screen can compete with that.

Not that the drivetrain in this Accord is anything to write home about: it’s just a simple 2.0-liter four-cylinder, fed by an unusual three-barrel carburetor. It sends its power to the front wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission. It’s closing in on 200,000 miles, but that’s not a big deal for an Accord. It’s a one-owner car, according to the seller, but I don’t think the seller is that owner. I think this is one of those dealers masquerading as a private seller. As such, make sure you check it out carefully.

The best part of these old Hondas has got to be the interiors. They’re just so logical and so well-made. All the switches and buttons feel good to operate. The seats are comfy, too. This one is in great shape inside, but it looks like the glovebox might have a broken hinge. That’s a minor fix, though.

It looks good outside, give or take a parking lot ding or two. The back bumper cover might be a little off-kilter, too. It must have been kept in a garage, because there’s no way the paint could stay that shiny being parked outside. It’s not a fancy model; I’m guessing it’s an LX at best, but that makes it sort of an unsung hero. Anybody can take care of a collectible classic. I like seeing these everyday models in nice shape.

1994 Toyota Tercel DX – $2,500

Engine/drivetrain: 1.5-liter OHC inline-4, three-speed automatic, FWD

Location: Cupertino, CA

Odometer reading: 198,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives well

And speaking of unsung heroes, here we have what might be the greatest simple little car of all time: the Toyota Tercel. Economical, dead-nuts reliable, and about as exciting as plain oatmeal, the Tercel is exactly the car most people need, even if it’s not what they want. They used to be everywhere, but they’re getting pretty rare these days. This third-generation Tercel is an uncommon sight, even in California where cars last for ages.

In keeping with the Tercel’s mission, its engine is just what it needs, and nothing more: a 1.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 82 horsepower. Earlier versions were carbureted, but by 1994 electronic fuel injection was standard. This one was recently overhauled, and it runs well. It’s equipped with an automatic transmission, and I’m sorry to say that overdrive wasn’t available; this is strictly a three-speed affair.

Believe it or not, this is kind of a fancy Tercel. You could get one a lot more stripped-down than this. I mean, it has cloth seat fabric and air conditioning! And the air even works! It looks really good for almost 200,000 miles, too. The driver’s seat shows a little wear, but the rest of the seats don’t look like they’ve been sat in at all. That’s typical of economy cars used for commuting, though. I’ve had four-door cars that hardly ever had the rear doors opened.

It looks decent outside, except for some faded paint, but the seller says it has a salvage title. They don’t say what happened to cause it, though. Maybe they don’t know. I guess for this price, it doesn’t matter much, as long as it drives straight. It has aftermarket alloy wheels that actually look pretty good on there, and are probably easier to find tires for than the tiny stock wheels.

These two probably aren’t very exciting to drive, but they’re both simple, honest rides that have served their owners well for years, and are ready for more. They don’t use much fuel, and they’re easy to fix if something goes wrong. If you’re a cheapskate and a do-it-yourselfer, and you’re not concerned with 0-60 times, either one could be a cool near-classic to run around in. Which one would you prefer?

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