“Toyota Starlet 1988 With Only 86,000 kms On the Clock” – Owner Review
Today we’re back with a walkaround review of the 1988 Toyota Starlet P70. The starlet was first launched in 1973, this particular car is the third generation which was launched in October 1984 and remained in production till 1989. It was offered as a 3 door and 5 door hatchback and came with 3 engine options.
A 1.0 liter, 1.3 liter and a 1.5 liter diesel engine was also offered. This particular car has the 1.0 liter engine which produces 54 hp and 75 nm of torque mated with a 4-speed manual transmission. The owner has kept this car with extreme care which can be seen by the car’s condition.
Salient Features
This particular car is the base variant so it misses out on some features but all the basic frills are present which include a power steering, air conditioner, height adjustable driver seat, a digital clock, analogue instrument cluster with rpm dial, front speakers, vanity mirrors etc. It misses out on some features which were offered in higher variants.
Drive
This Starlet has a 1.0 liter 4 cylinder engine, as per the owner, this engine is way better than newer 3 cylinder engines as it is soundless while 3 cylinders are very noisy. Moreover, it is refined and does not vibrate at idling and has decent fuel consumption. The drive is very comfortable and even after 34 years, it runs perfectly fine.
Fuel Average
As per the owner, the Starlet’s 4 cylinder engine is pretty efficient in terms of drive and fuel economy. The owner gets 11 to 12 km/l easily within city with AC and the average increases if driven on a long stretch at constant speeds.
Space
One thing that the Starlet gains an edge over other hatchbacks is its interior space. The cabin has loads of headroom and legroom and seats are very comfortable. Storage spaces are not sufficient with just a glove box to store items in the interior, otherwise boot space is decent.
Maintenance
This car is maintained throughout and has not been restored. As per the owner, the car is still in its original paint and driven only 86,000 kms. Basic maintenance is very cheap and the engine is also very straightforward which enables any roadside mechanic to diagnose any problem with ease. The car has had no major problems as oil and filters are changed timely and it’s been driven very carefully.
Spare Parts
According to the owner, spare parts are readily available in local markets and not very hard to source. Prices are also nominal as parts are simple with no complicated mechanisms. However some trims and interior parts can be hard to find.
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