Maintenance costs per year or per mile

In all seriousness, I know the cost of the tools can add up for sure, but honestly the experience can be gained by just jumping in. I had almost zero mechanical experience before I bought my truck in 2021. And in the 3 years since I've done: valve adjustments, replaced every suspension component, done brake work, changed a clutch, done rear wheel bearings and axle seals, rebooted CV axles, got 4wd working, swapped out a rear diff, and much more (not all on my Tacoma - helped some friends and restored a 4runner I sold).

Almost anything you can think of needing done has been done by members on here countless times, and most people here are happy to help. In today's world with YouTube and sites like this, it's so easy to get the information needed quickly to learn how to work on older, simple vehicles like these early Tacomas.

Fixing your own vehicle (at least for me), is a very rewarding and satisfying endeavor. And not to mention a great excuse to day drink on the weekends

 

That's almost $15,000 in 6 years. If it were costing me that much, I'd buy a new one. I'm not kidding, you'd spend less money paying the bank interest. I haven't spent more than $3000 in interest over a 5-year loan. EVER. That's about $600/year. Drive it 10 years and not spend a dime on anything but gas, oil tires, brakes and a battery then sell it for 60% of what you paid. Let the next guy pay for the repairs.

I haven't kept detailed records of the costs, but I've not spent near that much in the 17 years I've owned mine. Other than normal stuff like tires, batteries, brakes, etc the only parts I've replaced are:

Shocks/struts twice. Cost me about $600 the 1st time, $1000 the 2nd time. Replaced the alternator @ about $200 IIRC. I didn't have to, but I did replace the faded headlight assembly for $550 a few years ago.

I do my own oil changes at 10K. That's 24 oil changes at about $25 each so about $600 in oil. It costs me closer to $40 today, but 17 years ago oil was a lot cheaper so an average of about $25 is about right.

It cost me about $150 to replace gear oil in the diff's and transfer case at about 200,000 miles.

I've bought 4 sets of replacement tires. The last ones were $1000 installed, but the other 3 sets were under $500. Call it $2500 for tires.

Rear brakes have been done once. About $75.

I'm on my 4th set of front pads. No more than $150 each time. Rotors are still factory. Call it $600.

Transmission hasn't been touched and won't be until it needs to be rebuilt. That will cost me about $2500. I fully expect at least 300,000 miles before that is needed. If it makes it that far it works out costing less to just drive it and never change the fluid.

Not detailed records but let's call it about $6500 in 17 years/245,000 miles.

 

I'm speechless -- Skeezix this is awesome record keeping. I commend you. I feel simultaneously inspired and inadequate....

 

I'm going to be contrarian. That looks like extremely low spending to me, and that truck must have basically had no significant problems for its age. I don't think people have noticed that you're including gas, registration, and insurance in the total. People always vastly underestimate their own monthly living expenses in general if they aren't keeping track of it.

You're paying shops like $500 a year. That's basically a small routine job or two each time. Heck, I spent $2000 a year the last few years in shop bills alone, and I DIY as much as I can, and I don't put a lot of miles on it.

 

On a basic RWD, if you replace everything but the rack, tranny, and A/C...

your looking at about $7K ~ $8K in parts.....90% oem....

thats new everything ....global bushings, balls, ties, UJ, global bearings/seals, injectors, fuel reg, head, block, radiator, flex plate, new timing, all engine sensors, pump, fan clutch, vac lines, water lines, master and wheel cylinders, all hydraulic hoses, headers, cat, pipe/muffler, .....

IF you dont do the engine, you can cut about $3k out of that.



If you pay someone to do all that, figure another $4K~$5K.



And all this is not difficult....couple years of you tubing each project one by one...
usually, only retirees or high school students can invest such time.




The advantage of doing it yourself.....if your going down the road and something happens.....you'll probably figure it out PDQ.....


So if you get the right base /right price.....you can quit literally build a new truck for under 10K....
....that'll do circles around any other new option...




If you got 4X4......you might as well get a big jar of Vaseline.
thats not gonna be a cheap ride in the long run...
pretty expensive just to get a second look if its just mostly a commuter..

 

Those are accurate with fair labor prices, but the last few days I've seen post after post of people getting absolutely insane quotes for repairs. People must be paying these rates or the shops couldn't try them.. Like the guy that got quoted $2100 for a carrier bearing and $2900 for wheel bearings. Or the OPs $600 spark plugs. At those prices, you'll be at $30k in labor for all that work.

 

Found this forum thread searching for some second opinions on an estimate I just got for a 2008 4Runner with about 160k miles.

The boots on the CV axles are cracking and they suggested replacing both axles completely. Parts and labor $1200

Don't know how old the timing belt is, so they suggested replacing it plus the water pump, drive belts, etc. parts and labor $1600

Replace transfer case output seal, $400
Replace rear brake pads and rotors, $600

Plus some other odds and ends and I’m looking at a few thousand bucks for a 16 year old truck. It was certainly some sticker shock as I haven’t had to drop that much on it in one year in the few years I’ve owned it.

I suppose some of this is expected with the mileage of the vehicle. The numbers posted here have been intriguing. Sounds like I need to start doing more of my own maintenance.

 

If you have a 2008 and they quoted you a timing belt it's time to run. All second-generation Tacoma have chains that don't ever need to be replaced. Also, your Tacoma doesn't have rear pads and rotors they have drums. Axles can be rebooted for a couple of hundred bucks. Time to look somewhere else. You're essentially looking for the hourly guy who's willing to spend the time to do it right and not rip you off for a quick buck. Older trucks take more finesse and patience to get all good and not cost an arm and a leg.

 

Sorry, I’m an idiot and forgot to specify it’s a 4runner. Posted here hoping the differences between the vehicles wouldn’t be significant. I’ll edit the original post. Thanks for your reply