1984 vs 1985 Toyota Corolla

vs

Both years are the same generation, so most of what they offer is shared.

Watch out for

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

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

1985

Nothing that 1984 lacks.

Recalls

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

1985

Nothing that 1984 lacks.

What changed between

After 1984, up to and including 1985.

  1. 1985The rear-drive GT-S arrives with the twin-cam 4A-GEC, added in August 1984. NUMMI begins building Corolla sedans in California during 1985. A published reference

What it came with

1984

Nothing that 1985 lacks.

1985

Engines
1.6L twin-cam four-cylinder (1985–1988) Toyota, a published reference

Both years

Engines
1.8L diesel (1984–1985) A published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial), 1.6L four-cylinder A published reference
Transmissions
5-speed manual A published reference, 3-speed automatic Curbside Classic, 4-speed automatic A published reference
Drivetrains
Front-wheel drive Toyota, a published reference, Rear-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
Standard A published reference, 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

Colors

1984

  • Creme 557, 1984 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Shell Metallic 3C3, 1984 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Dark Orange Metallic 3D6, 1984 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Wine 3B2, 1984 An owners' registry (unofficial)

1985

  • Ivory 4E7, 1985–1986 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Rose Gray Metallic 3C7, 1985–1987 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Light Beige on Deep Brown Metallic 2T8, 1985 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Dark Red 3F1, 1985 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Light Blue on Blue Metallic 2V8, 1985 An owners' registry (unofficial)

Both years

  • White 041, 1985–1987 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Silver Metallic 147, 1984–1987 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Light Topaz Metallic 4E1, 1984–1985 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Light Blue Metallic 8A8, 1984–1985 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Blue Metallic 8A9, 1984–1985 An owners' registry (unofficial)

What owners and buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

1984

Nothing that 1985 lacks.

1985

Nothing that 1984 lacks.

Both years

  • 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)