Hello all, I'm in a bit of a situation. I have a 94 rodeo LS auto 4x4, with 179,000 miles on it. ItÆs my daily driver and with the 50+ miles I drive too and from work everyday, gas is starting to make a good dent in my wallet. HereÆs my dilemma.... the rodeo needs work. A LOT of work. Im not mechanically inclined, so all or most of the work would have to be done at a shop... I was thinking with all the work the girl needs I should just let her go and go the "economic" route and get a new Toyota Yaris or something similar, I figure I would be saving on gas but at the same time would have to go thru making monthly payments and higher insurance rates...or I can maintain/repair the hell out of the rodeo and just bear the brunt of gas. Repairing her wouldnÆt be as expensive as getting a new car, so thatÆs a plus...hereÆs the list of things I need done:
1. 4 new shocks (ranchos or similar)
2. Timing belt (preventative maintenance)
3. Water pump (preventive)
4. Left caliper
5. cv joints worn ( some shops say I should replace the front axles entirely)
6. Serpentine belt
7. Starter
8. Fuel pump
9. Fuel filter
10. Tranny check up (the truck smells of tranny fluid after long trips, 4wd light doesnÆt light up, truck does engage into 4wd though)
11. Replace auto hubs with manual hubs
12. full tune up...I'd probably be able to do the tune up myself, other then that, the rest would have to be done at a shop, or several shops...I'm figuring this ought to get her running like new (or almost new) and should save me a couple of MPG's along the way...Im not too sure how much all of these repairs would end up costing me, ive only gotten a quote for the replacement of the front axles, 600, which seemed like a lot to me.
I really like the ruggedness of the rodeo and I love the cargo space and the 4x4 is great...im not much of a wheeler, I have only gone offroading about 4 times and I love how the rodeo performed, I would like to eventually a lift, lockers, roof rack, but once again its my daily driver so it sees pavement 99.5% of the time....what do you guys think, should I give up on my rodeo and get the economy car, or should I get the repairs done and stick thru the gas prices? BTW what do you guys think the repairs would roughly come out too?

Look at it this way: If you pour all that money into it, you will have guarantees the compression will stay good (major engine work), or tranny won't go.

If money is an object for you, trade it in on a 3-year old used (major depreciation is over, but lots of life left in it), 4-cyl boring sedan with high gas mileage and low insurance rates.

It's a tough choice.
Consider that your truck is hardly worth anything now, it might net you 1-2k toward a new car.
Consider that with the mods you have in mind gas mileage will go down.
Consider doing some of that work (CV's, shocks, etc) yourself will save you a bundle, and is really not hard for inexperienced mechanics with a little patience and some friends that know what they are doing (us).
Consider that a 90's or so civic will cost you less than 5k and get darn good gas mileage. Might want to keep the rodeo to mod later, and get the old civic to put miles on.
Again, tough choice but try and outline all the points of what you want both short and long term, the pros and cons of each, then make a good decision. Good luck! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />