96 Tacoma - Keep Maintaining or Sell?

I’ve been fortunate to be able to do all of my repairs myself saving thousands in labor. Only thing I’ve paid for is the timing belt and all related parts like water pump etc. I sourced the parts but paid a Toyota dealer to do the work. Time was the issue for me there.

I’ve done:
radiator and hoses/thermostat
CV axles x3
Carrier bearing
UCA’s
LBJ’s x2
Alternator (in a parking lot at night in ABQ on my way to Moab. Wife was impressed)
New wiring harness for battery and charging system.
Valve cover gaskets
Plenum gaskets
Ignition Coils
All lube
Trans Filter

Not too bad.

If the maintenance I do is pricy, but allows for many 10’s of thousands of miles of future use. I’m good. Less expensive stuff I compare to monthly car payment. More often than not I still go many months between major repairs at all so I just reap the savings of no payments.

I don’t understand how people can afford to take their cars to the shop. I’ve saved thousands maybe 10s of thousands in labor costs by picking up a wrench.

 

Wife being impressed is the part of your post that stands out the most. LOL. I don't think I've ever fixed something that my wife seemed impressed by. It always just a "Oh cool."

 

If you buy a new one it's worth less than you've sank into it (on paper) the next day.

An we ain't talkin' 5K dollars.

 

Lol I packed tools and all the shit our wives chuckle at and when I noticed my scangauge (nerdgauge to her)reading 12.1 volts, I told her the alternator was toast or at least the voltage regulator in the alt.

We just happened to be in town eating dinner and got lucky with where we were at, because we were in the middle of nowhere taking the scenic route earlier. And on I40 just before dinner. Could have been seriously stranded for a long time.

So we locate an Auto Zone just before closing grab an alternator and swap it out. Vacation saved!

I looked like a genius.

But yeah she’s seen me fix everything too and doesn’t care either. But I felt like I saved her or something. She loves me...

 

What you have there is a unicorn. You need to hang on to this truck. When you make your will make sure what ever family member it goes to forbiden to sell it.

 

Check and see if it's actually selling for $5K in your area.

I have been looking for a 1st gen or 1990-1994 Toyota Pickup. The prices i have been seeing my area are Outrageous. Some well maintained 1990's toyota pickups are selling for $20K or more.

The 1st Gen Tacoma is not a "Classic" yet, but they are still selling at insane prices right now.

 

Yeah it's crazy what people are asking for em. In my area I'm seeing 1st gen's that are 2wd going for 5k or more, but they're always beat to hell. The biggest draw I think for my truck is that it's clean title and has never been wrecked or modded in any way. It's still got the original cassette player in it! Lol.

 

My '96 4x4 has 414,000 miles, purchased new and all I've replaced is the basic 'wear-out' stuff. Brakes multiple times, clutch once, 3 starters (only purchased one as others were free lifetime warranty), 1 alternator, 3 batteries, belts, hoses, ball joints once, exhaust system 3 times, several fuel pumps. All 2.7 engine components are original, even original u-joints, radiator, water pump. I did have the seat covers replaced recently.

Why sell, as it cost practically nothing to operate.

 

Wow, that's awesome! Definitely inspires me to want to keep trekking in mine.

 

If it suits your needs as a truck I'd keep it forever. Have you seen what new trucks go for these days? As mentioned above, you'd lose 5 grand just driving something new off the lot.

Just hang on for a while, the sting of the recent repairs will fade away.. and you'll be glad you don't have a car payment

 

I would keep it. Something about small pickups a lot of us love and no more is that a option. Yes their is maintaince like every truck, but most of the time once your done it’s good for a while. It comes down to how you take care of it keep up with it. You’d be surprised how much people will pay for 1st gens, but I would ever sell.

 

Wow. Very well maintained for its mileage and age. 25 years and still going strong!

 

sooo this truck is a special one.. its a 3.4L regular cab 4x4. with a manual.. this truck is worth WAY more than 5 grand to a tacoma nut... i would keep it and cherrish the unicorn you have.

 

@bigwill837 is looking for a 3.4L regular cab...

 

Let me know if you’re interested in selling. I’m looking for a 3.4 liter regular cab. What does the frame look like? Any rust? Thanks!

 

100% keep. Part of what I value so much about an older truck like this is that fact that it is really simple and easy to repair. Newer trucks have so many "features" that I want nothing to do with and have so much electronic complexity, that they are more likely to have glitches and vastly more difficult to repair.

If it makes anyone feel better, I have a 2000 Tacoma SR5 V6 3.4 L, manual, 4x4 extra cab. Purchased for $6,500. Immediately had to replace the radiator (in a parking lot with a blizzard rolling in), tires, and rear leaf springs. I have subsequently had to do a ball joint, lower intake manifold gasket, and timing belt. I am about to do the rest of the suspension: front springs and shock absorbers all around, and as of today it looks like I am going to need to do the alternator. I am probably $12,000 into this truck at this point. I could have purchased a much newer truck for that price. But, I love the simplicity of the older vehicles and knowing I can do pretty much any repair this truck ever needs. I definitely wish I had known a bit more about trucks and what to look for when purchased it, but not many available where I live and I didn't have time to wait around as I needed a vehicle immediately to get me through the winter, so there you go.

Anyhow, you know what car I still wish I had? My old Honda CRX. You know what car I don't wish I had? Anything built after about 2005!

Simple, solid, maintainable. That's a really good ticket to ride!

 

I might be biased but in my opinion no vehicle is worth what they ask right now. New especially. The dealer doesn't even make that much money on the new ones. I'll probably have older vehicles for life because they are a dime a dozen. Unless you can put 20K down on something new - not worth it. Keep the old trusty - even if you spend 10k on repairs your still up money.

 

I totally agree with this sentiment. Cars are stupid expensive now. I may have to spend some money on maintenance with a used car, but it will never come close to how much I would spend on a new car.

I got my Tacoma with 215K on it. By the time it hits 315K, I will likely have about $15,000-$20,000 into it. There is no new car on the market that will get you 100,000 miles for $20,000.

And mine is an expensive example because I am doing a full suspension upgrade.

My 2004 Acura RSX has cost me about $6,000 for 100,000 miles of incredibly fun and trouble free driving. That is serious return on investment!

 

Buying a new truck isn't about saving money, maybe it's about saving hasstle and time, but not money.

Even if you end up replacing the entire engine and drivetrain, it's still cheaper than buying a new truck, by a lot.

If you're not a DIY type of person the added labor costs add up, and it's easy to forget about your payments on a new truck when you have auto bill pay, lol.

Older vehicles take more work. If that's not something you're willing ot deal with, get a new truck with a warranty.

 

I totally agree with this as well. Labor is sooooo expensive on vehicle repairs. So yeah, the older vehicle thing works best if you can do at least some of the work yourself. That is definitely one thing I like about the 2000, I can do pretty much everything on it and I would rate myself only intermediate as a self/youtube taught mechanic.