Cross Dresser
Want a sharp, fast looking GT coupe? Check the Paseo. It's a lite-price fashionable one that looks like $30 large and comes in about half that. Always cute, Toyota still took the '96 model in for a subtle facelift. Restyled it, fixed the nose, slimmed the roof pillars, crisped up the old look, sleeked it, darted it - and copped a mini-Ferrari style, really iced it, too. So we give it that, stylewise, it's the haps.
Like tight shoes, you do pay a price for beauty. El Paseo packs a very tiny trunk and an extremely tight back seat. Not enough head space back there for a petite Belgian miss. I missed the style wave once I dropped inside, too. Pretty plain and pretty gray in there, but not pretty. The new wave outside meets 1975 inside. A big sigh here, very tired heater vent controls, a cheap looking radio that sounded much better than it looked, and very breakable looking compartment of dubious utility beneath it. Upside; lovely seats, a nice glove box, special white/black-black/white mystery instrument lighting.
Enough, let's go! Decent pep for a 1500, It goes and flows well. Got a good chirp if I let Richard drive it, and the freeway fit was fine. Best for active, not frantic driving it won't please a true sports driver. This is not a sports car motor, so it gets wheezy on top, noisy too and quits around 6000. Designed for durability and good fuel; economy, you'll find it running out of breath as the tach wraps around toward the red line. Too bad. Would probably work well with an automatic, if you could wait some more. Then again, you may not be so happy with the motor now, but after 100,000 miles when every thing else is driving to the shop you'll feel better about it. Handling's OK, if a little jiggly. More of a chic's car.
Not bad, a cheap (relatively) GT coupe with really good style. Based closely on the Tercel, it will prove a reliable companion, with something to get excited about. A sharp, very sporty, if not true sports, car.
REXX TAYLOR
TOYOTA Paseo
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