I have a question for all of you...

Hi, yeah Im a new to this Toyota trucks forum, unfortunately on COX cable so
I cannot go back in history too far...

So, question you Toyota owners, I am looking at the t100 pickups with the v6
(also considering the pre Tacoma's with v6) Im looking then of course, of
year range 93-97 only) with about 150-200 thou miles on them already, I
really would like to know what I should know to watch for, ask (if private
seller), or to expect if dealer bought. The truck is going to have to be
somewhat dependable for a few years. So Im wondering:

MPG? real world, you guys all getting over 20 at least on hwy?

Is there a ritual service that I better know about or make sure has been
done on a higher mileage PU?

clutches easy to burn out (too small or anything) are the Auto tranny's good
and long lived?

See I have owned Chevy's & fords for the last 13 years, all pretty well
used/high mileage specimens and I know Chevy's puke the trannys it seems,
fords get hot or have leaking manifolds and such when they get older more
used. What does the Toyota do?

Why I ask, Im dumping my 99 blazer with more than 100k, I really think I am
wanting to get a Toyota t100 with 140k, and starting to worry that maybe the
Toys aren't much better than the big3, and that I would be really making big
mistake getting high mileage Toyota, I mean they seem artificially high
priced used? Where I could buy a Dakota cheaper?

Thanks in advance for any input.

"Plowboy" <DoNotreply@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:K8gwe.33939$%Z2.3299@lakeread08...
[color=blue]
> and starting to worry that maybe the Toys aren't much better than the big3[/color]

Comparing apples to apples (meaning, a new Toyota to a new "big 3" vehicle:
Toyotas GENERALLY do not beat you over the head with endless STUPID problems
that the big 3 knew full well were issues when they designed their cars.

Used: I had a 1982 Tercel - Toyota's cheapest car at the time. It went
almost 150,000 miles and needed nothing but routine stuff. Big items died
between 100k and 120k (alternator, water pump). Lived in upstate NY, so the
car was bathed in salt for 6 months per year. There wasn't a speck of rust
on it, except for where I drilled an antenna hole and didn't treat the area
properly. The car was NOT rustproofed. The engine ran perfectly. Matter of
fact, my mechanic thought it would be good to do a compression check around
120k miles. Numbers were perfectly even across all 4 cylinders. And, the
clutch was the original. The only thing that ended its life was some drunk
asshole who thought it would be a good idea drive into the back of the car
while I was going 30 and he was going 70.

Thanks Doug,

I could agree with your info easy... you kind of agree (if i read right)
that the big 3 seem to have problems, right?

So Im gonna pick at the brain a bit more, do you think it would be STOOPID
to sell a 125 k mile 99 blazer (the ONLY reason I consider selling BTW is to
get a pickup) and find a nice used 96 or so, T100 (specimins I can afford)
with the vicinity of 130-150 kmiles on it, in the hopes that I would gain a
little gas milage, and I get a decent no major problems pickup? Right now I
get 17 mpg like clockwork, on my 65-80 mile round trip to work (80 if I go
anywhere in this town). I can handle alts, belts, hoses etc, but I sure as
heck dont want to make the mistake of getting any vehicle, that you find out
via mechanic, "yeah pretty common to have engine failure at xxxk miles"
because I owned a 81 Pontiac Grand Prix that grandad had, got it with 50k on
it, it blew up at 70. Mine was not the only one, and I honestly thought I
would be OK for at least 50k more miles...

I mean I could buy a not bad cycle trailer for less than 1000 for sure, but
I dont see me pulling anything like a 20ft camptrailer with this blazer (has
4.3 v6). Yet I doubt I will the truck, but I want to think I could. BTW, I
am nervouse about one thing on the Chevy, is all that the Automatic with 4x4
is a killer expense if (some people with maybe informed or not, opinions
would argue to more of WHEN) it gives out. Hell I took it to a mechanic
and he said there are several $100 updates to do to it, plus the cost of
getting the maintenance done. add to that, the dealer even said when I had
front end check that these s-10 blazers eat balljoints & Idler arms like
wahing machines eat socks.

So I say to you, mechanics and Toy PU owners, is there history of tranny
problems, warping head, getting hot, rearend problems? I read somewhere
that many are having trouble with vlve cover gaskets, I fell I could
probably handle that mechanical duty. Least I know what I am up against I
guess where I am at...

Doug Kanter enlightened us with:[color=blue]
> "Plowboy" <DoNotreply@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:K8gwe.33939$%Z2.3299@lakeread08...
>[color=green]
>> and starting to worry that maybe the Toys aren't much better than
>> the big3[/color]
>
> Comparing apples to apples (meaning, a new Toyota to a new "big 3"
> vehicle: Toyotas GENERALLY do not beat you over the head with endless
> STUPID problems that the big 3 knew full well were issues when they
> designed their cars.
> Used: I had a 1982 Tercel - Toyota's cheapest car at the time. It went
> almost 150,000 miles and needed nothing but routine stuff. Big items
> died between 100k and 120k (alternator, water pump). Lived in upstate
> NY, so the car was bathed in salt for 6 months per year. There wasn't
> a speck of rust on it, except for where I drilled an antenna hole and
> didn't treat the area properly. The car was NOT rustproofed. The
> engine ran perfectly. Matter of fact, my mechanic thought it would be
> good to do a compression check around 120k miles. Numbers were
> perfectly even across all 4 cylinders. And, the clutch was the
> original. The only thing that ended its life was some drunk asshole
> who thought it would be a good idea drive into the back of the car
> while I was going 30 and he was going 70.[/color]

"Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:loiwe.80$j21.75@news01.roc.ny...[color=blue]
>I can't offer history on the models you're looking at. And, if you look at
>discussions here like the "head gasket recall" question from yesterday,
>there *have* been a few issues, but Toyota handles them. Keep watching this
>conversation and see what others come up with.
>
> As far as buying a vehicle that old, I wouldn't do it unless I already had
> a mechanic I could trust, who could look the vehicle over completely. My
> wife & I did this when she was shopping for used cars a few years back. It
> cost us $50 per car, for 4 cars, and it was worth every penny. The
> mechanic found some NASTY non-routine problems, so she ended up buying
> something new. But, that won't always be the case. You just might find a
> bargain. However, I'd want to see service records. In my opinion, people
> who don't keep track of repairs don't care much about their cars.
>
> What you want to know is whether the normal big stuff has been done
> already, like water pump, alternator, etc. If not, assume the vehicle will
> need one of those things about 3 days after you buy it.
>
>[/color]
I don't think I'd ever sell a vehicle with 90,000 to get one with 150,000
even if you are going from ford to yota. regardless of miles, both are
going to have to break some day. Dump the blazer or whatever it is and get
a Toyota with 60 or 70,000 and your good for a while to come


That said, if I'm buying a used vehicle I'd pick a Toyota or Honda 9 times
out of 10 over a big 3 model

anecdotal evidence to support this: my neighbor has a ford exploder. Last
summer he went on a trip to Mass. from here in TN he took a rental car
cause with the 90,000 he had on the explorer he didn't trust it to get that
far and back without problems. He was right to do so, since coming back,
he has dropped 2 grand into a new tranny for it.
on the other hand, my 96 4runner has 150,000 and I'd drive it there and
back in a heartbeat with no worries. I've had to replace the starter and
waterpump (all done at the same time as timming belt) and that's it. we've
never had any trouble with the Toyota and have absolute faith in its
reliability. I'm going to be disappointed if the runner doesn't make 300,000
miles.

Dave

I can't offer history on the models you're looking at. And, if you look at
discussions here like the "head gasket recall" question from yesterday,
there *have* been a few issues, but Toyota handles them. Keep watching this
conversation and see what others come up with.

As far as buying a vehicle that old, I wouldn't do it unless I already had a
mechanic I could trust, who could look the vehicle over completely. My wife
& I did this when she was shopping for used cars a few years back. It cost
us $50 per car, for 4 cars, and it was worth every penny. The mechanic found
some NASTY non-routine problems, so she ended up buying something new. But,
that won't always be the case. You just might find a bargain. However, I'd
want to see service records. In my opinion, people who don't keep track of
repairs don't care much about their cars.

What you want to know is whether the normal big stuff has been done already,
like water pump, alternator, etc. If not, assume the vehicle will need one
of those things about 3 days after you buy it.


"Plowboy" <DoNotreply@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:myhwe.33947$%Z2.10381@lakeread08...[color=blue]
> Thanks Doug,
>
> I could agree with your info easy... you kind of agree (if i read right)
> that the big 3 seem to have problems, right?
>
> So Im gonna pick at the brain a bit more, do you think it would be STOOPID
> to sell a 125 k mile 99 blazer (the ONLY reason I consider selling BTW is
> to get a pickup) and find a nice used 96 or so, T100 (specimins I can
> afford) with the vicinity of 130-150 kmiles on it, in the hopes that I
> would gain a little gas milage, and I get a decent no major problems
> pickup? Right now I get 17 mpg like clockwork, on my 65-80 mile round
> trip to work (80 if I go anywhere in this town). I can handle alts,
> belts, hoses etc, but I sure as heck dont want to make the mistake of
> getting any vehicle, that you find out via mechanic, "yeah pretty common
> to have engine failure at xxxk miles" because I owned a 81 Pontiac Grand
> Prix that grandad had, got it with 50k on it, it blew up at 70. Mine was
> not the only one, and I honestly thought I would be OK for at least 50k
> more miles...
>
> I mean I could buy a not bad cycle trailer for less than 1000 for sure,
> but I dont see me pulling anything like a 20ft camptrailer with this
> blazer (has 4.3 v6). Yet I doubt I will the truck, but I want to think I
> could. BTW, I am nervouse about one thing on the Chevy, is all that the
> Automatic with 4x4 is a killer expense if (some people with maybe informed
> or not, opinions would argue to more of WHEN) it gives out. Hell I took
> it to a mechanic and he said there are several $100 updates to do to it,
> plus the cost of getting the maintenance done. add to that, the dealer
> even said when I had front end check that these s-10 blazers eat
> balljoints & Idler arms like wahing machines eat socks.
>
> So I say to you, mechanics and Toy PU owners, is there history of tranny
> problems, warping head, getting hot, rearend problems? I read somewhere
> that many are having trouble with vlve cover gaskets, I fell I could
> probably handle that mechanical duty. Least I know what I am up against I
> guess where I am at...
>
> Doug Kanter enlightened us with:[color=green]
>> "Plowboy" <DoNotreply@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>> news:K8gwe.33939$%Z2.3299@lakeread08...
>>[color=darkred]
>>> and starting to worry that maybe the Toys aren't much better than
>>> the big3[/color]
>>
>> Comparing apples to apples (meaning, a new Toyota to a new "big 3"
>> vehicle: Toyotas GENERALLY do not beat you over the head with endless
>> STUPID problems that the big 3 knew full well were issues when they
>> designed their cars.
>> Used: I had a 1982 Tercel - Toyota's cheapest car at the time. It went
>> almost 150,000 miles and needed nothing but routine stuff. Big items
>> died between 100k and 120k (alternator, water pump). Lived in upstate
>> NY, so the car was bathed in salt for 6 months per year. There wasn't
>> a speck of rust on it, except for where I drilled an antenna hole and
>> didn't treat the area properly. The car was NOT rustproofed. The
>> engine ran perfectly. Matter of fact, my mechanic thought it would be
>> good to do a compression check around 120k miles. Numbers were
>> perfectly even across all 4 cylinders. And, the clutch was the
>> original. The only thing that ended its life was some drunk asshole
>> who thought it would be a good idea drive into the back of the car
>> while I was going 30 and he was going 70.[/color]
>
>[/color]

Well, MPG depends on what truck you get and the options. On my '93 with
3L manual, 4x4, I get around 18MPG. But it hulls a bed full of tools all
the time and I tend to run the AC on full blast most of the time.


That is the one thing I really like about Toyotas. They don't suffer from
chronic problems. I have had quite a few Chevy and other of the big 3. It
seems to me, once they get up in milage, they get chronic problems.
Overheating, gasket leaks, etc.

My '93 just topped 317k and has not such problems. I just went through my
first alternator at 310k. And unlike 2 Chevys, it didn't burst into
flames as I was driving down the freeway. :) That was fun. It set
other stuff on fire too and I ended up driving into a lake to put it out.


140k is a bit high. I would look for a new truck around 100k. At 140k,
most if not all the stuff under the hood will be original. Most of the
time, you are looking at a new/rebuilt PS pump, Alt, or AC Compressor in the
200-250k range. If you are handy with tools, it's not hard to fix.
Depends on how many miles you plan to put on it.

Make sure with anything you pick has had the normal maint done on it.
Toyotas do not like it when you don't change the oil.


I know I am preching a bit, but I love my Toyota truck and even with 317k
on it, I would drive it anywhere today. My friends Chevy SUV with 170k,
well, lest just say last month we had to drive 3 hours, one way, in 110 degree heat
into the middle of the Desert. We took my truck. And I am still here.






On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 10:53:48 -0700, Plowboy wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hi, yeah Im a new to this Toyota trucks forum, unfortunately on COX
> cable so I cannot go back in history too far...
>
> So, question you Toyota owners, I am looking at the t100 pickups with
> the v6 (also considering the pre Tacoma's with v6) Im looking then of
> course, of year range 93-97 only) with about 150-200 thou miles on them
> already, I really would like to know what I should know to watch for,
> ask (if private seller), or to expect if dealer bought. The truck is
> going to have to be somewhat dependable for a few years. So Im
> wondering:
>
> MPG? real world, you guys all getting over 20 at least on hwy?
>
> Is there a ritual service that I better know about or make sure has been
> done on a higher mileage PU?
>
> clutches easy to burn out (too small or anything) are the Auto tranny's
> good and long lived?
>
> See I have owned Chevy's & fords for the last 13 years, all pretty well
> used/high mileage specimens and I know Chevy's puke the trannys it
> seems, fords get hot or have leaking manifolds and such when they get
> older more used. What does the Toyota do?
>
> Why I ask, Im dumping my 99 blazer with more than 100k, I really think I
> am wanting to get a Toyota t100 with 140k, and starting to worry that
> maybe the Toys aren't much better than the big3, and that I would be
> really making big mistake getting high mileage Toyota, I mean they seem
> artificially high priced used? Where I could buy a Dakota cheaper?
>
> Thanks in advance for any input.[/color]

I bought a 1995 T100 in Dec. of 2000. 3.4 V6/automatic. I paid $5K for
it. It had 219,000 on it when I bought it. Had it been any brand other
than Toyota, I wouldn't have even looked at it with that kind of
mileage.
At 242,000 it blew a head gasket. It was fixed at no charge to me under
the Toyota recall. Also, the short block was replaced at no charge to
me at the same time because the coolant leaking into the cylinders had
pitted them.
It currently has 311,000 miles on it and still runs strong. I've
replaced the park/neutral position switch, plugs twice, plug wires
once, along with numerous oil changes (mobile 1 5w30). Consistent
21mpg. city/hwy average.
One thing I would recommend is that the auto transmission be flushed,
not just the fluid drained and refilled. That's easily accomplished
too. Did it myself.
My truck is the nearest thing I know to bulletproof. If you have any
additional questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
Charlie

I have a 1998 T100 Xtra-cab, 3.4L V6, auto trans, 2wd, 104,000 miles (so
far).
[color=blue]
>MPG? real world, you guys all getting over 20 at least on hwy?<[/color]

I'm getting an average of 18. Typically high 19's and low 20's on the
highway.
[color=blue]
>So I say to you, mechanics and Toy PU owners, is there history of tranny[/color]
problems, warping head, getting hot, rearend problems? I read somewhere
that many are having trouble with vlve cover gaskets.<

Toyota vehicles with the 3.0L V6 had a head gasket problem and recall.
Nothing inherently wrong with the 3.0, just the gasket. If you buy a truck
with that engine, ask if the head gasket has been replaced. If it has not,
replace it with the new style gasket and forget about it. Then enjoy years
of driving.
A better thing to do is find a truck with the 3.4L V6. More power and no
head gasket issues. A 1995-1998 T100 is a good choice for a few reasons:
Xtra-cab, 3.4L engine, a bit more room than the Tacoma, and all Japanese
parts and construction. The only other *Toyota* issue I can think of to warn
you of are the Denso 10PA15 air conditioner compressors. Just expect to
rebuild it,replace it, or have it fail if you live in a heavy use
environment.
[color=blue]
>I don't think I'd ever sell a vehicle with 90,000 to get one with 150,000[/color]
even if you are going from ford to yota. regardless of miles, both are
going to have to break some day<

Depends on the vehicle and the individual driving and caring for it. I'll
take a Toyota of any vintage and mileage over a comparable American vehicle.
I'll even take an older and higher mileage Toyota over the American
counterpart. True that thay are all going to break someday, but I'll always
hedge my bets with Toyota or Nissan. I do not mind having to deal with
expected repairs and maintenance. However, it's the unexpected (and more
frequent) repairs and fit-and-finish issues of American vehicles that I
would rather avoid.
It is still a baffling practice of these folks that continue to show honor
and brand loyalty to inferior products. The die hard Chevfordodge owners.
Sort of like knowing that eating shellfish makes you sick, but continuing to
order shrimp at every meal.Reminds me of that definition of insanity...doing
the same thing again and agin expecting diferent results.
I bought my '98 T100 with 90,000 miles replace a '93 Toyota Xtra-cab 4cyl
with 240,000 miles. The '93 could have gone for many thousands of more
miles, but I needed/wanted something a little bigger with a little more
power. I expect the T100 to give me many years and miles of dependable
service. If it had not been for penny pinching, I would have gone for a
Tundra or Titan. I found a good deal on the T100, so that will do for now.
[color=blue]
>That said, if I'm buying a used vehicle I'd pick a Toyota or Honda 9 times[/color]
out of 10 over a big 3 model.<

Neat market information that can be gathered (from too numerous sources
for me to mention here) suggests that people have brand loyalty when it
comes to their vehicles over any other purchase. Chevy to Chevy, Ford to
Ford, Toyota to Toyota, and so on. The crossover buyers go from American
trucks to Japanese, but not the inverse. A Toyota buyer is likely to cross
over to a Nissan or other import, but not choose a Ford, Chevy, or Dodge.
Actually, that buyer typically does not even consider a truck from the big
three.
The only time that is not the case is when a buyer needs a new vehicle to
tow the new 27' boat or fifth-wheel trailer. Truck for truck, the
*grocery-getters* are pretty much equivalent:
[url]http://www.carsdirect.com/research/compareresults?cat=6&acodes=USB50TOT102B0[/url]
,USB50CHT273B0,USB50FOT119A0,USB50DDT113B0
The need for something more heavy duty separates the herd a bit:
[url]http://www.carsdirect.com/research/compareresults?cat=6&acodes=USB50TOT102B0[/url]
,USB50CHT311A0,USB50FOT123B0,USB50DDT122B0
This is the faction that keeps Toyota and Nissan from becoming more of a
runaway success. The day that The imports introduce heavy duty versions with
options like dually rear ends and diesel engines will be the day that the
big three fall off the charts in sales and buyer loyalty.

Hey,

You and Lhead really helped me with this, now the problem is that the couple
of dealers tried to help me expect to get more like 25 mpg, to which I seem
to be finding out is almost out of the question... Well one of the T100's
(sr5) was 2wd, 5sp version with a nice fiberglass topper on it. So now Im
starting to pull my hair out, need good milage, so probably have to find me
a tacoma sized something. but last Toy i rode in of that stature, seemed to
ride like a lumberwagon.

I see (others are saying it too) gas up to 3 by xmas, or least next summer,
at that rate no matter what I buy I wont be able to change my mind. It
usually takes me 5 years to save up for a vehicle, but I havent had that
luxury for quite a while, and 50 bucks worth of gas a week (2.15 gallon
here) just to make it to work aint helpin none.

I hate to have 2 beaters, but I think that is going to be the route I take
thou, one to haul stuff, and one of those 30mpg puddle jumpers to drive to
work in. so I will be hunting one of them 80'-90's toys I think



Mikey Darden enlightened us with:[color=blue]
> I have a 1998 T100 Xtra-cab, 3.4L V6, auto trans, 2wd, 104,000 miles
> (so far).
>[color=green]
>> MPG? real world, you guys all getting over 20 at least on hwy?<[/color]
>
> I'm getting an average of 18. Typically high 19's and low 20's on the
> highway.
>[color=green]
>> So I say to you, mechanics and Toy PU owners, is there history of
>> tranny[/color]
> problems, warping head, getting hot, rearend problems? I read
> somewhere that many are having trouble with vlve cover gaskets.<
>
> Toyota vehicles with the 3.0L V6 had a head gasket problem and
> recall. Nothing inherently wrong with the 3.0, just the gasket. If
> you buy a truck with that engine, ask if the head gasket has been
> replaced. If it has not, replace it with the new style gasket and
> forget about it. Then enjoy years of driving.
> A better thing to do is find a truck with the 3.4L V6. More power
> and no head gasket issues. A 1995-1998 T100 is a good choice for a
> few reasons: Xtra-cab, 3.4L engine, a bit more room than the Tacoma,
> and all Japanese parts and construction. The only other *Toyota*
> issue I can think of to warn you of are the Denso 10PA15 air
> conditioner compressors. Just expect to rebuild it,replace it, or
> have it fail if you live in a heavy use environment.
>[color=green]
>> I don't think I'd ever sell a vehicle with 90,000 to get one with
>> 150,000[/color]
> even if you are going from ford to yota. regardless of miles, both
> are going to have to break some day<
>
> Depends on the vehicle and the individual driving and caring for
> it. I'll take a Toyota of any vintage and mileage over a comparable
> American vehicle. I'll even take an older and higher mileage Toyota
> over the American counterpart. True that thay are all going to break
> someday, but I'll always hedge my bets with Toyota or Nissan. I do
> not mind having to deal with expected repairs and maintenance.
> However, it's the unexpected (and more frequent) repairs and
> fit-and-finish issues of American vehicles that I would rather avoid.
> It is still a baffling practice of these folks that continue to show
> honor and brand loyalty to inferior products. The die hard
> Chevfordodge owners. Sort of like knowing that eating shellfish makes
> you sick, but continuing to order shrimp at every meal.Reminds me of
> that definition of insanity...doing the same thing again and agin
> expecting diferent results. I bought my '98 T100 with 90,000 miles
> replace a '93 Toyota Xtra-cab 4cyl with 240,000 miles. The '93 could
> have gone for many thousands of more miles, but I needed/wanted
> something a little bigger with a little more power. I expect the T100
> to give me many years and miles of dependable service. If it had not
> been for penny pinching, I would have gone for a Tundra or Titan. I
> found a good deal on the T100, so that will do for now.
>[color=green]
>> That said, if I'm buying a used vehicle I'd pick a Toyota or Honda
>> 9 times out of 10 over a big 3 model.<[/color]
>
> Neat market information that can be gathered (from too numerous
> sources for me to mention here) suggests that people have brand
> loyalty when it comes to their vehicles over any other purchase.
> Chevy to Chevy, Ford to Ford, Toyota to Toyota, and so on. The
> crossover buyers go from American trucks to Japanese, but not the
> inverse. A Toyota buyer is likely to cross over to a Nissan or other
> import, but not choose a Ford, Chevy, or Dodge. Actually, that buyer
> typically does not even consider a truck from the big three.
> The only time that is not the case is when a buyer needs a new
> vehicle to tow the new 27' boat or fifth-wheel trailer. Truck for
> truck, the *grocery-getters* are pretty much equivalent:
> [url]http://www.carsdirect.com/research/compareresults?cat=6&acodes=USB50TOT102B0[/url]
> ,USB50CHT273B0,USB50FOT119A0,USB50DDT113B0
> The need for something more heavy duty separates the herd a bit:
> [url]http://www.carsdirect.com/research/compareresults?cat=6&acodes=USB50TOT102B0[/url]
> ,USB50CHT311A0,USB50FOT123B0,USB50DDT122B0
> This is the faction that keeps Toyota and Nissan from becoming more
> of a runaway success. The day that The imports introduce heavy duty
> versions with options like dually rear ends and diesel engines will
> be the day that the big three fall off the charts in sales and buyer
> loyalty.[/color]

Are you sure you need a pickup truck? What will be its purpose?

Well,

No, (sigh) I wont *need* a pickup much longer, if I spend every extra penny
just owning/driving it to work, but I do "occasionally" like to borrow dad's
boat and goto the lake (60 miles), and each month we take 3 motorcycles to a
competition that is 120 miles from the house. my problem is the daily
spending is cutting into the play time money, you know? I drive 65 miles
round trip to work, blazer s10 gets 17 per 200 miles I travel, filler up at
35 bucks about every 2.5 trips, *IF* I dont do anything when I get home.

Well last night I made the mistake I pretty much made one fellow really
happy, I almost gave my 99 blazer away. I am seriously looking for a decent
xcab, 2wd 5sp toy t100 if possible, live in Kansas. But now, I had my mind
set to buy one (with harvest money that isnt there) for this 95 t100 xcab
2wd, 5spd, sr5, 114K miles, with topper that matches, but not sure I can get
it bought for 7thou. that figure is almost 1000 more than I have, but could
borrow for a few months from parents if I need to. they are asking 8900,
they have had it a while though, not even sure they still have it, I have
the recent add though. Going to call as soon as I hit send.

I Pray that if I do do this, I am not faced with similiar problems I was
facing with my 'known' condition Blazer, needing a very little front end
work, 2 new tires, and ya know things that help you think you want something
else after a while...





Doug Kanter enlightened us with:[color=blue]
> Are you sure you need a pickup truck? What will be its purpose?[/color]

It's a tough choice. I was in the same situation 2 years ago. For half the
year, I tow a small boat about 3 times a week. Its weight fell within the
towing limits for quite a few cars, like Corollas & Camrys, but at the
advice of my mechanic, I took those cars (during test drives) to a place
that specializes in trailers & hitches. In both cases, they said a hitch
would have to be bolted through holes drilled in the trunk pan, and that's
an immediate invitation to rust. So, after exploring about a million other
cars, I almost bought a Crown Victoria. Real wheel drive, better for towing,
and 25-28 mpg on the highway - not great by today's standards, but better
than my truck. Then, I began reading news articles about the special feature
Ford built into those cars: Exploding gas tank. :-) I went with the pickup
truck. I'm keeping costs under control my combining more trips, and crushing
any ideas my teenage son has about being driven to 183 different places each
weekend. I showed him the gas receipts recently - he was shocked.

I think most 2wd with the 5 speed and 2.4L get around 24MPG.Some say 26,
others have said around 20MPG. A lot of it has to do with how you drive.

I don't know what is going on with the ride quality on newer Toyotas. My
friend has a Taco Prerunner with TRD package. The ride is quite stiff
compaired to my '93. Maybe it's the TRD with stiffer springs and shocks.
I don't know.

Get the 3.4L engine. It has more HP (150HP V 190HP) then the 3.0L and
gets better MPG. If you are worred about MPG, I think they still offer
the inline 4 R22.


On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 08:11:02 -0700, Plowboy wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hey,
>
> You and Lhead really helped me with this, now the problem is that the
> couple of dealers tried to help me expect to get more like 25 mpg, to
> which I seem to be finding out is almost out of the question... Well
> one of the T100's (sr5) was 2wd, 5sp version with a nice fiberglass
> topper on it. So now Im starting to pull my hair out, need good milage,
> so probably have to find me a tacoma sized something. but last Toy i
> rode in of that stature, seemed to ride like a lumberwagon.
>
> I see (others are saying it too) gas up to 3 by xmas, or least next
> summer, at that rate no matter what I buy I wont be able to change my
> mind. It usually takes me 5 years to save up for a vehicle, but I
> havent had that luxury for quite a while, and 50 bucks worth of gas a
> week (2.15 gallon here) just to make it to work aint helpin none.
>
> I hate to have 2 beaters, but I think that is going to be the route I
> take thou, one to haul stuff, and one of those 30mpg puddle jumpers to
> drive to work in. so I will be hunting one of them 80'-90's toys I
> think
>
>
>
> Mikey Darden enlightened us with:[color=green]
>> I have a 1998 T100 Xtra-cab, 3.4L V6, auto trans, 2wd, 104,000 miles
>> (so far).
>>[color=darkred]
>>> MPG? real world, you guys all getting over 20 at least on hwy?<[/color]
>>
>> I'm getting an average of 18. Typically high 19's and low 20's on the
>> highway.
>>[color=darkred]
>>> So I say to you, mechanics and Toy PU owners, is there history of
>>> tranny[/color]
>> problems, warping head, getting hot, rearend problems? I read
>> somewhere that many are having trouble with vlve cover gaskets.<
>>
>> Toyota vehicles with the 3.0L V6 had a head gasket problem and
>> recall. Nothing inherently wrong with the 3.0, just the gasket. If you
>> buy a truck with that engine, ask if the head gasket has been replaced.
>> If it has not, replace it with the new style gasket and forget about
>> it. Then enjoy years of driving.
>> A better thing to do is find a truck with the 3.4L V6. More power
>> and no head gasket issues. A 1995-1998 T100 is a good choice for a few
>> reasons: Xtra-cab, 3.4L engine, a bit more room than the Tacoma, and
>> all Japanese parts and construction. The only other *Toyota* issue I
>> can think of to warn you of are the Denso 10PA15 air conditioner
>> compressors. Just expect to rebuild it,replace it, or have it fail if
>> you live in a heavy use environment.
>>[color=darkred]
>>> I don't think I'd ever sell a vehicle with 90,000 to get one with
>>> 150,000[/color]
>> even if you are going from ford to yota. regardless of miles, both are
>> going to have to break some day<
>>
>> Depends on the vehicle and the individual driving and caring for
>> it. I'll take a Toyota of any vintage and mileage over a comparable
>> American vehicle. I'll even take an older and higher mileage Toyota
>> over the American counterpart. True that thay are all going to break
>> someday, but I'll always hedge my bets with Toyota or Nissan. I do not
>> mind having to deal with expected repairs and maintenance. However,
>> it's the unexpected (and more frequent) repairs and fit-and-finish
>> issues of American vehicles that I would rather avoid.
>> It is still a baffling practice of these folks that continue to show
>> honor and brand loyalty to inferior products. The die hard Chevfordodge
>> owners. Sort of like knowing that eating shellfish makes you sick, but
>> continuing to order shrimp at every meal.Reminds me of that definition
>> of insanity...doing the same thing again and agin
>> expecting diferent results. I bought my '98 T100 with 90,000 miles
>> replace a '93 Toyota Xtra-cab 4cyl with 240,000 miles. The '93 could
>> have gone for many thousands of more miles, but I needed/wanted
>> something a little bigger with a little more power. I expect the T100
>> to give me many years and miles of dependable service. If it had not
>> been for penny pinching, I would have gone for a Tundra or Titan. I
>> found a good deal on the T100, so that will do for now.
>>[color=darkred]
>>> That said, if I'm buying a used vehicle I'd pick a Toyota or Honda 9
>>> times out of 10 over a big 3 model.<[/color]
>>
>> Neat market information that can be gathered (from too numerous
>> sources for me to mention here) suggests that people have brand loyalty
>> when it comes to their vehicles over any other purchase. Chevy to
>> Chevy, Ford to Ford, Toyota to Toyota, and so on. The crossover buyers
>> go from American trucks to Japanese, but not the inverse. A Toyota
>> buyer is likely to cross over to a Nissan or other import, but not
>> choose a Ford, Chevy, or Dodge. Actually, that buyer typically does not
>> even consider a truck from the big three.
>> The only time that is not the case is when a buyer needs a new
>> vehicle to tow the new 27' boat or fifth-wheel trailer. Truck for
>> truck, the *grocery-getters* are pretty much equivalent:
>> [url]http://www.carsdirect.com/research/compareresults?cat=6&acodes=USB50TOT102B0[/url]
>> ,USB50CHT273B0,USB50FOT119A0,USB50DDT113B0
>> The need for something more heavy duty separates the herd a bit:
>> [url]http://www.carsdirect.com/research/compareresults?cat=6&acodes=USB50TOT102B0[/url]
>> ,USB50CHT311A0,USB50FOT123B0,USB50DDT122B0
>> This is the faction that keeps Toyota and Nissan from becoming more
>> of a runaway success. The day that The imports introduce heavy duty
>> versions with options like dually rear ends and diesel engines will be
>> the day that the big three fall off the charts in sales and buyer
>> loyalty.[/color][/color]

Plowboy wrote:[color=blue]
> Well,
>
> No, (sigh) I wont *need* a pickup much longer, if I spend every extra penny
> just owning/driving it to work, but I do "occasionally" like to borrow dad's
> boat and goto the lake (60 miles), and each month we take 3 motorcycles to a
> competition that is 120 miles from the house. my problem is the daily
> spending is cutting into the play time money, you know? I drive 65 miles
> round trip to work, blazer s10 gets 17 per 200 miles I travel, filler up at
> 35 bucks about every 2.5 trips, *IF* I dont do anything when I get home.[/color]

Have you considered a small to medium sized street bike? There are a
lot of bikes that will do better than 45MPG.

Tony

Anthony W wrote:[color=blue]
> Plowboy wrote:[color=green]
>> Well,
>>
>> No, (sigh) I wont *need* a pickup much longer, if I spend every
>> extra penny just owning/driving it to work, but I do "occasionally"
>> like to borrow dad's boat and goto the lake (60 miles), and each
>> month we take 3 motorcycles to a competition that is 120 miles from
>> the house. my problem is the daily spending is cutting into the
>> play time money, you know? I drive 65 miles round trip to work,
>> blazer s10 gets 17 per 200 miles I travel, filler up at 35 bucks
>> about every 2.5 trips, *IF* I dont do anything when I get home.[/color]
>
> Have you considered a small to medium sized street bike? There are a
> lot of bikes that will do better than 45MPG.
>
> Tony[/color]

I bought a Harley Superglide for this very reason. Get 40 MPG compared to 19
MPG on my Tundra. If just wanted a bike to ride back and forth to work I'd
do like you suggested and get a small street bike for over 50 MPG in city.
davidj92