What would you get?

OK... I just came across $6,000. I want a 4x4 of some kind. I've been
looking at older trucks in that price range. I've also been thinking
about getting an older truck (for about 1,000 - 2,000 dollars) and
putting about $4,000 into it. I'm not a Toyota expert and I'm not a
mechanic either. I'm fairly sure that I could handle most bolt on
upgrades. I was thinking suspension, tires, and probably some gear
modifications...

In all of your past experience, what would you guys do in my situation?

Thanks a ton,
Dante

"Dante" <dante@xmission.com> wrote in message
news:e4t44d$5vi$1@news.xmission.com...[color=blue]
> OK... I just came across $6,000. I want a 4x4 of some kind. I've been
> looking at older trucks in that price range. I've also been thinking
> about getting an older truck (for about 1,000 - 2,000 dollars) and putting
> about $4,000 into it. I'm not a Toyota expert and I'm not a mechanic
> either. I'm fairly sure that I could handle most bolt on upgrades. I was
> thinking suspension, tires, and probably some gear modifications...
>
> In all of your past experience, what would you guys do in my situation?
>
> Thanks a ton,
> Dante[/color]

I'd buy a used Camry, unless I had a REAL reason for buying a 4x4, like
off-road use or constant visits to ski areas where I'd run into trouble
without traction. I'd never buy a 4x4 "just because".

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=blue]
> "Dante" <dante@xmission.com> wrote in message
> news:e4t44d$5vi$1@news.xmission.com...[color=green]
>> OK... I just came across $6,000. I want a 4x4 of some kind. I've been
>> looking at older trucks in that price range. I've also been thinking
>> about getting an older truck (for about 1,000 - 2,000 dollars) and putting
>> about $4,000 into it. I'm not a Toyota expert and I'm not a mechanic
>> either. I'm fairly sure that I could handle most bolt on upgrades. I was
>> thinking suspension, tires, and probably some gear modifications...
>>
>> In all of your past experience, what would you guys do in my situation?
>>
>> Thanks a ton,
>> Dante[/color]
>
> I'd buy a used Camry, unless I had a REAL reason for buying a 4x4, like
> off-road use or constant visits to ski areas where I'd run into trouble
> without traction. I'd never buy a 4x4 "just because".
>
>[/color]

Thanks Joe... You do realize that you responded to a post in a group
called alt.autos.toyota.TRUCKS, right?

Anyway, I have plenty of reason to by a 4x4. I'm sorry you don't.

"Dante" <dante@xmission.com> wrote in message
news:e4tdno$ckn$1@news.xmission.com...[color=blue]
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=green]
>> "Dante" <dante@xmission.com> wrote in message
>> news:e4t44d$5vi$1@news.xmission.com...[color=darkred]
>>> OK... I just came across $6,000. I want a 4x4 of some kind. I've been
>>> looking at older trucks in that price range. I've also been thinking
>>> about getting an older truck (for about 1,000 - 2,000 dollars) and
>>> putting about $4,000 into it. I'm not a Toyota expert and I'm not a
>>> mechanic either. I'm fairly sure that I could handle most bolt on
>>> upgrades. I was thinking suspension, tires, and probably some gear
>>> modifications...
>>>
>>> In all of your past experience, what would you guys do in my situation?
>>>
>>> Thanks a ton,
>>> Dante[/color]
>>
>> I'd buy a used Camry, unless I had a REAL reason for buying a 4x4, like
>> off-road use or constant visits to ski areas where I'd run into trouble
>> without traction. I'd never buy a 4x4 "just because".[/color]
>
> Thanks Joe... You do realize that you responded to a post in a group
> called alt.autos.toyota.TRUCKS, right?
>
> Anyway, I have plenty of reason to by a 4x4. I'm sorry you don't.[/color]

I own one because I tow a boat about 100 times a year. I know the
disadvantages and the advantages. But, there are too many people in this
country driving around in 4x4s "just because". So, I thought I'd raise the
possibility.

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=blue]
> "Dante" <dante@xmission.com> wrote in message
> news:e4tdno$ckn$1@news.xmission.com...[color=green]
>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> "Dante" <dante@xmission.com> wrote in message
>>> news:e4t44d$5vi$1@news.xmission.com...
>>>> OK... I just came across $6,000. I want a 4x4 of some kind. I've been
>>>> looking at older trucks in that price range. I've also been thinking
>>>> about getting an older truck (for about 1,000 - 2,000 dollars) and
>>>> putting about $4,000 into it. I'm not a Toyota expert and I'm not a
>>>> mechanic either. I'm fairly sure that I could handle most bolt on
>>>> upgrades. I was thinking suspension, tires, and probably some gear
>>>> modifications...
>>>>
>>>> In all of your past experience, what would you guys do in my situation?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks a ton,
>>>> Dante
>>> I'd buy a used Camry, unless I had a REAL reason for buying a 4x4, like
>>> off-road use or constant visits to ski areas where I'd run into trouble
>>> without traction. I'd never buy a 4x4 "just because".[/color]
>> Thanks Joe... You do realize that you responded to a post in a group
>> called alt.autos.toyota.TRUCKS, right?
>>
>> Anyway, I have plenty of reason to by a 4x4. I'm sorry you don't.[/color]
>
> I own one because I tow a boat about 100 times a year. I know the
> disadvantages and the advantages. But, there are too many people in this
> country driving around in 4x4s "just because". So, I thought I'd raise the
> possibility.
>
>[/color]
I agree... There's too many people that get them because they're "in" or
something. I can't disagree that they are cool, but that's because of
what it allows me to do.
I hate it when people get 50 inch lifts and the truck never even sees
dirt. It's ridiculous.

$1-2K buys a lot of Toyota rust (unless you live in AZ). You'd be better
off putting the $6k into a new rust free model.

"Dante" <dante@xmission.com> wrote in message
news:e4t44d$5vi$1@news.xmission.com...[color=blue]
> OK... I just came across $6,000. I want a 4x4 of some kind. I've been
> looking at older trucks in that price range. I've also been thinking
> about getting an older truck (for about 1,000 - 2,000 dollars) and putting
> about $4,000 into it. I'm not a Toyota expert and I'm not a mechanic
> either. I'm fairly sure that I could handle most bolt on upgrades. I was
> thinking suspension, tires, and probably some gear modifications...
>
> In all of your past experience, what would you guys do in my situation?
>
> Thanks a ton,
> Dante[/color]

On Mon, 22 May 2006 13:40:56 -0600, Dante <dante@xmission.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>OK... I just came across $6,000. I want a 4x4 of some kind. I've been
>looking at older trucks in that price range. I've also been thinking
>about getting an older truck (for about 1,000 - 2,000 dollars) and
>putting about $4,000 into it. I'm not a Toyota expert and I'm not a
>mechanic either. I'm fairly sure that I could handle most bolt on
>upgrades. I was thinking suspension, tires, and probably some gear
>modifications...
>
>In all of your past experience, what would you guys do in my situation?
>
>Thanks a ton,
>Dante[/color]

Save up more $$$.

If you're not a mechanic or don't have a HIGH degree of mechanical
ability, you're foolish for even considering doing gear mods yourself.
Don't waste your money unless someone else is doing it for you.

I'd use the $6k on a down-payment on a new truck...
or even a good used truck.

1k-2k isn't going to buy much of nothing, and putting
another 4k fixing it up isn't going to make it much better,
especially if you don't have the knowledge/tools/resources.
Don't waste your money.

studio wrote:[color=blue]
> I'd use the $6k on a down-payment on a new truck...
> or even a good used truck.
>
> 1k-2k isn't going to buy much of nothing, and putting
> another 4k fixing it up isn't going to make it much better,
> especially if you don't have the knowledge/tools/resources.
> Don't waste your money.
>[/color]
Thanks studio,

I appreciate all of your input. I'm now leaning more towards buying a
better used truck. What would I be able to get in the 5,000 to 6,000
dollar price range?

"Dante" <dante@xmission.com> wrote in message
news:e51r12$c3h$1@news.xmission.com...[color=blue]
> studio wrote:[color=green]
>> I'd use the $6k on a down-payment on a new truck...
>> or even a good used truck.
>>
>> 1k-2k isn't going to buy much of nothing, and putting
>> another 4k fixing it up isn't going to make it much better,
>> especially if you don't have the knowledge/tools/resources.
>> Don't waste your money.
>>[/color]
> Thanks studio,
>
> I appreciate all of your input. I'm now leaning more towards buying a
> better used truck. What would I be able to get in the 5,000 to 6,000
> dollar price range?[/color]

Part of the problem is these silly Toyotas last forever, and their owners
tend to be madly in love with them (as I am with mine). I tried to find a
used one back in 2002. The dealer said "Maybe someone will die and you'll
find one in an estate sale".

-I appreciate all of your input. *I'm now leaning more towards buying a

-better used truck. *What would I be able to get in the 5,000 to 6,000
-dollar price range?

I'd go along with what some of the other guys have said, and spend a
little more money if at all possible. The reason being, $6k puts you
right on the edge of being able to buy something pretty nice, like a
good T-100 which are out there for $8000-$10000. $6k will most likely
get you something with a ton of miles and just on the cusp of being a
"beater", if it isn't already. For say $9k if you shopped carefully
you could get a T-100 or Taco that had service records etc and had a
solid 10 years left in it... so it seems to me that your choice is a
pretty nice truck for $8k-10k or probably a bunch of someone else's
problems for $6k.

Now, you certainly COULD get a good truck for $6k, and actually I
should give you props for not wanting to borrow money. Payments really
are slavery and the USA is full of people who have voluntarily borrowed
to within an inch of their lives and have to do nothing but work all
the time to service the debt. OTOH, a $3000 loan (to bring it up to
$9000) would be under $100 a month. If you really can only afford
$6k, which believe me "I've been there", or just don't want to spend
more you might be able to do like my buddy did and find a T-100 with
some cosmetic body damage and get a good deal on it. He paid $7500 for
one with about 95,000 miles on it (would have been about $12k at the
time otherwise) and it'd been layed in a ditch so the passenger side
was a little wrinkly- it's been a good truck for him for the last
couple years.

-jeff