Toyota Repair: 1994 Tercel valve seals, toyota hybrids, piston ring

Question
My sister is soon to give me her 1994 Tercel 2 door with an automatic transmission. It now has 69,000 miles on it. She bought it new and the dealer has always serviced it from day one. The engine sounds and runs just like the day she bought it. She says she has to add a qt. of 5W-30 oil every 900 to 1000 miles. From what I have read on your site, that would be about normal. There is a small bit of smoke on start-ups.---Would replacing the valve seals help lower the use of oil at this point or is it too soon to worry about it? Also, what would be the average cost of having the seals replaced if the need to do so is there? Just for my own info, what should the average cost of a ring job be? I was just thinking that maybe doing both at the same time might be an idea to consider. I don't beleive the car has needed any repairs done to it from the day she bought it. The reason I am being given the car is because she is buying one of the Toyota hybrids. Thanks for your time.
                    John  

Answer
I doubt very much that at this mileage there is a piston ring problem especially if it was well maintained, the blue smoke on start ups is because the valve seals are starting to leak, the usual cost for parts and labor is around $1,000 at the toyota dealer.