All of your issues are easy fixes, as long as you have some mechanical ability. Check out the FSM at the top of this forum.

If the new car bug is getting to you, give your Toy a makeover, it is cheaper then buying new, I have done this about every 2-3 to my '90I have basically ran out of things to change.

There is a reason why you don't see many Fords, Chevy's, or anything else's small trucks on the trail but Toy's. It isn't because Toy's are cheap, it is because they are better built for the trail stock then anything else, stonger frames, trans, t-cases, diffs and axles, etc. If you use your Toy primarily as a street rig, then a new Ford might be better for you, though if you like to wheel it or plan to, keep the Toy and fix it, in the long run you will be money ahead.

Could'nt have said it any better.

Somtimes I wonder if Im money ahead.....

I suppose it depends on
- do you like doing woprk/maintence yourself
- do you want ot modify the truck?
- how crazy are ya about mods and maintence

(I have a 1989 Gen1 4Runner that I bought NEW and which now has 355K - Its only been driven about 5K in the last 4 years tho)

For some people - that $300 (or whatever) monthly car/truck payment is a "transporation" fee.

Ive found that I average aroudn $100 a month for maintence items (includes $ things like new tires every 30-40K, new battery every 5 years or so etc). So that leaves $200 a month for mods huh? (not according to the CFO tho).

I have a Toyota 1992 3.0 v6 4x4 and a Ford 2004 f250 super duty service truck(provided by my employer). I baby both of these trucks. The Ford has been in the shop numerous times, twice for check engine lights, a few other pidly little electrical problems and even left me stranded twice<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />
. Despite my kindness, the Ford has been quite the pain in the behind. Youd think a 2 year old truck wouldnt have these problems so soon.
Between the FSM and the posts and links on this site, Ive gone from practicaly no knowledge to doing fairly advanced stuff to my Toyota in no time! Its always turned out easier that I imagined.
My point is, Id never consider buying a Ford!

Brian894x4, just wondering what is EB?

What is EB?

A combination of knowledge, excellent parts and a dang fun guy all rolled into one. Helluva friend, fisherman and ...lots of things. EB is short for Engnbldr that comes from his website Engnbldr.com located out near Portland, Or. When you need parts and dont feel like getting hosed by the seller trying to get rich...you go to EB.

~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

PS- Make sure you spell the F word properly on the Toyota boards...FERD, FURD etc. Anything else is sacraligous.

much thanks Darin. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

FORD....AHHHHHHH!

I would say your are money ahead, seeing how it only runs you $100/month to run your 355k mile Runner. I don't know of many non Toys with that kind of mileage, that haven't been rebuilt 3-4 times. I always laugh when watching the mechanic shows on tv when they roll a domestic 1/100k+ on the odometer and they say it is time for a rebuild, when Toys are just getting started at 100k.

You can mod the vehicle cheaper if you buy the tools and learn to do it yourself. Buying a new bumper for $600 might be hard getting it by your CFO, though buying a welder for $500 and a $100 worth of steel might be easier since a welder has many uses other than building a bumper. Same for a tube bender, grinders, saws, etc. This is how one friend of mine gets things past his CFO. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Ah memories....

I was so proud back in high school when my '73 Buick made it just over 90K miles with only one engine rebuild and one transmission rebuild. My friend had a cherry '79 Toyota 2WD. I gave him so much crap for driving a Japanese putt-putt foreign truck, compared to my big American V-8 monster. How things have changed almost two decades later. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ended up selling my Buick for a few hundred bucks where it shortly thereafter required a 2nd rebuild just after 100K miles.

That's when I was first introduced to Toyota by getting my Uncle's '76 Toyota Corola with 160K miles. It hadn't ran in several years and was sitting under a tree covered in dirt where it was last abandoned. Not because it didn't run but because they got a newer car and pretty much just threw that one away. The engine oil was changed maybe 3 or times in its entire life. That car defined the word abused since the day he bought it. Didn't believe in maintainence. It was a throw away car, you see. Purchased brand new in 1976 with the intent to just drive it until the wheels fell off.

After pulling the spark plugs and cleaning them up and firing up the motor I drove it home. Top speed was intially about 40 mph, but gradually increased until it could hit about 70 by the time I pulled into my driveway an hour later.

I gave it a quick tune up, replaced the valve cover gasket that had caused the engine compartment to turn black with oil, cleaned the moss off the exterior and the inch of dirt off the interior and drove that car another 50-60K miles.

Going from 8 mpg to 25 mpg was a welcome change since gas had gone north of a buck a gallon by then. No more daily gas station visits like with the Buick.

Being just out of high school, I only knew two engine rpms, idle and redline. All the emissions came off and exhaust was cut short. No serious mods. Just the hack job that a poor post high school graduate could afford. I drove that car like it was a rally racer every single day for several years. I did eventually have to replace the alternator and did a quick headgasket change in the driveway after driving it for about month with water in the oil. I wondered why it blew white smoke all the time. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/drunk.gif" alt="" /> Sold the car with well over 200K miles on it and spotted it several years later, still on the road near my hometown. I knew then and there, there was something very special about those Toyotas.

I have no doubt with just normal care and maintainence since new, that car would have gone 400K miles and not needed a new headgasket.

It was the most bulletproof car I ever owned. I was sold on Toyota from then on. Next car was an '83 Celica GT-S that I put over 100K miles on and sold it with over 210K miles. Then got my cherry '91 Supra Turbo......but sadly sold it a few years later.

I got a Honda CRX in between which also proved reliable, but when it came time to buy a 4x4 truck, there wasn't even a question which brand it was going to be.