1983 vs 1984 Toyota Corolla

vs

Each year's own entries sit side by side, then what both share. Warnings of different generations are listed apart even under the same name, because what to check can differ.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

1983

  • Rear wheel bearings All years One source so far

    What to check: Listen for a growl from the rear that changes with speed, and feel for play in the rear wheels.

    Three owners commenting on Curbside Classic's 1980–83 article, an unofficial source, report rear wheel or axle bearings failing.

    Owners' reports (unofficial)

  • Rust All years One source so far

    What to check: Look at the rear quarter panels, the lower body and the fuel tank for rust.

    Two owners commenting on the same article, an unofficial source, report rust, one in the rear quarters and one in the body and fuel tank.

    Owners' reports (unofficial)

1984

  • Overcharging, 1984 One source so far

    What to check: Check the charging voltage, and ask whether recall 83V133000 was done.

    Toyota recalled 1984 Corollas because a fault in the voltage regulator's chip could overcharge the battery.

    NHTSA

  • Cruise control computer, 1984 One source so far

    What to check: On a car with cruise control, ask whether recall 90V040000 was done.

    Toyota recalled 1984 Corollas with cruise control because the computer could fail after long use followed by cold weather, and the engine could race on restart.

    NHTSA

Recalls

1983

Nothing that 1984 lacks.

1984

  • 83V133000 1984

    The voltage regulator may overcharge the battery. NHTSA

  • 90V040000 1984

    The cruise control computer can malfunction when switched off after long use followed by cold weather, and the engine could race on restart. NHTSA

What changed between

After 1983, up to and including 1984.

  1. 19845th gen begins.
  2. 1984New front-drive sedan and five-door liftback with a 1.6L four or a 1.8L diesel, beside rear-drive coupes and liftbacks in DX and SR-5 trim. A published reference

What it came with

1983

Transmissions
4-speed manual Owners' reports (unofficial)
Body styles
Sedan, two-door Curbside Classic, a published reference, Sedan, four-door Curbside Classic, a published reference, Wagon, five-door Curbside Classic, a published reference, Sport coupe Curbside Classic, a published reference, Liftback, three-door Curbside Classic, a published reference, Hardtop coupe A published reference
Trims
Deluxe A published reference, SR5 A published reference

1984

Engines
1.8L diesel (1984–1985) A published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial)
Transmissions
4-speed automatic A published reference
Drivetrains
Front-wheel drive Toyota, a published reference
Body styles
Sedan A published reference, Liftback, five-door (1984–1987) A published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial), Sport coupe, rear-drive A published reference, Liftback, three-door, rear-drive (1984–1986) A published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial)
Trims
LE A published reference, LE Limited A published reference, DX A published reference, SR-5 A published reference, GT-S A published reference, FX16 GT-S Toyota, a published reference
Packages
Limited-slip differential A published reference

Both years

Engines
1.6L four-cylinder A published reference
Transmissions
5-speed manual A published reference, 3-speed automatic Curbside Classic
Drivetrains
Rear-wheel drive Toyota, a published reference
Trims
Standard A published reference

Colors

1983

  • Gloss Black 202, 1982–1983 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Gray Metallic on Gloss Black 2D3, 1983 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Beige Metallic on Brown Metallic 2D4, 1983 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Light Yellow 558, 1983 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Orange Metallic 4C8, 1983 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Copper Metallic 4C7, 1983 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Red 391, 1981–1983 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Dark Blue Metallic 884, 1983 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Silver Metallic on Dark Blue Metallic 2H3, 1983 An owners' registry (unofficial)

1984

  • Light Topaz Metallic 4E1, 1984–1985 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Dark Orange Metallic 3D6, 1984 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Blue Metallic 8A9, 1984–1985 An owners' registry (unofficial)

Both years

  • White 038, 1984 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Silver Metallic 147, 1984–1987 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Creme 557, 1984 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Shell Metallic 3C3, 1984 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Wine 3B2, 1984 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Light Blue Metallic 8A8, 1984–1985 An owners' registry (unofficial)

What owners and buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

1983

  • Sought after: Long-lived, to its owners All years One source so far

    Of about 23 owners commenting on Curbside Classic's 1980–83 article, an unofficial source, about eight praise their cars' durability, one a 4A-C engine that reached 390,000 miles. Owners' reports (unofficial)

1984

  • Sought after: The rear-drive AE86 coupes All years

    SlashGear ranks the 5th gen first of twelve, for the rear-drive AE86 with the twin-cam engine and the FX16 hot hatch. Road & Track called the AE86 a cult icon of the earliest days of drifting, a published reference reports. SlashGear, a published reference

  • Sought after: Long-lived front-drive cars All years One source so far

    Two readers commenting on a Curbside Classic owner's story, an unofficial source, say their families' 1984 Corollas lasted, one until it was 27 years old. Owners' reports (unofficial)