"Cherry" 2003 vs "Ordinary" 2000 Diliemma

Haha . . . I didn't pay that much for mine, but almost, and I would have if it was on the table. I know the feeling, in spite of all logic and reason this was the truck I'd been looking for and nothing could change my mind. When you know, you know, and a price is just a worldly challenge.

IMO you should keep it that way. Outside of the ball joint design and putting the #@%^@#$@# clock behind the steering wheel, there are reasons they designed them this way and I for one don't know better than these engineers. It always seems once you start futzing around withe the stock configurations other things come up and the vision of what you wanted looks a lot like a toddler watching his balloon fade into the big blue yonder. But that's just me, I have an appreciation for the stock configuration.

 

Sounds like a fun weekend! I am fortunate enough to have a large garage and driveway for truck stuff. If only I had more friends that I could trust their mechanical skills... (hope my friends aren't reading this ) But in all seriousness this is probably what will end up happening. I'm just waiting on a free weekend, most of my free time this summer has been taken up wrestling with a leaky roof.

Couldn't agree more on the drive by wire... all the added electronics on the 00+ was a big part of my hesitation with my 03. I'm hoping that the good condition of the rest of the truck will leave me time to address any electronic problems that might pop up. But I would always rather deal with mechanical fixes than electronic fixes...

I think my mind is made up for now and I'm gonna keep the 03. It's not my dream configuration but I'm ready to stop searching and start enjoying the truck already sitting in my driveway. I buy toyotas because I like to drive them, not shop for them

 

Money comes and goes right?? Sometimes it just hurts a little more than others haha. This crazy market isn't enough to kill my love for these trucks. Seeing them go for 45k on BaT definitely feels like a bad dream though...

Being in my mid 30s I have two voices in my head... the 20 year old that wants to modify everything on the truck and the 40 year old that loves how stock it is. Considering every part I've bought that isn't a OEM replacement is collecting dust on my bench, it seems that one camp is currently winning. The main criteria to all the mods I'm planning is that they have to be 100% reversable... I'm sure one day I will definitely want the stock truck back. I am lucky that heavy wheeling is not my goal, I just want the truck to be able to get down all the unmaintained "roads" that lead to the wilderness in my area. Also your toddler analogy made me smile! Wise words..

 

I had been known to drive a few hundred miles to help out a friend.

Have you explored your local or regional forum at all.

 

I wish I had more friends like you! It seems that I am that friend in my group... but I can't complain too much... I genuinely enjoy helping with other peoples projects, I've learned tons helping fix stuff I wouldn't see otherwise.

Good idea on the local forum, I've been putting off making TW friends in real life until my schedule settles down a little bit. Don't want to kick off any friendships by being busy and flakey!