I have a coworker who’s looking to sell his car, a 1989 Toyota Corolla. I know the basics of looking after a car, but a car that old is almost foreign to me, because I’m from a state where cars rust out.
I figure Toyotas are pretty reliable and so is the 4AG engine, but I don’t want to end up with another money pit. What should I look out for, or should I just avoid it altogether?
You should only consider driving an old car as a daily driver if you also want to make a hobby out of keeping it on the road. If you are not prepared to do the vast majority of your own mechanic work then you should stick to a newer car. Old cars break… alot, and sometimes in weird ways. As a person who grew up working on cars with my dad I have always done my own work and personally prefer the older cars which have relatively simple systems that are easier to troubleshoot and maintain. If you are comfortable getting dirty and are mechanically inclined and have or are willing to get the basic tools needed then by all means drive an old car.