2012 V6 250,000 miles; Keep it or move on?

I’d keep it but if you do sell it, buy a new 3rd gen and be done with it. Atleast you know the vehicles history.

 

1GR-FE 4.0L V6 is a probably a better motor in most ways than the 3rd gen 3.5L V6.

 

I don't know that I would agree with that. That engine in our 07 Lexus ES350 is at 300K and still feels strong. The transmission is shot but that is a different issue. We also have it in our 18 RX350. I don't know why it has nearly 20HP over the Taco, but it likes to move. I will agree the engine may not be a perfect fit for a truck, but the engine itself, I will argue, is better overall than the 4.0.

 

HAHA! I said that when I went from a second gen to a third gen!

 

Two coworkers have Gen 2 Tacomas with 300K plus. Both are experiencing auto trans problems, not sure if that’s normal mileage for failure. Engines are going strong on both. No smoke or leaks.

If you have the new truck itch and the funds, I would say buy one and enjoy.

 

300K on an auto trans (assuming no rebuilds) is DAMN good

 

No rebuilds. Neither one tows much and one guy is obsessive with maintenance.

 

I’d start saving some duckets where you can, set it aside into a bank account and consider it monthly payment avoidance. When the truck goes down, you’ll have the money set aside.

Personally, if you like the truck but you feel it is starting to fail, consider saving enough for another motor / trans combo and get another 10 years out of it.

I’m preferable to access cabs as well, mine is my dream truck and I’m hoping to keep it awhile too.

 

I feel like a trans rebuild would still be cheaper than a new truck monthly payment. It’s so hard to justify it.

 

Transmission on my Town & Country (my first and last Chrysler) failed at a hair over 100K and 9 years (with fluid and filter changes every 40K miles, last was plain f-ed by the local Chrysler dealer. My mechanic said it was 1.5 qrts low and I drove on it).
The rest of the van is in the great shape. I paid $5K to put in a rebuilt transmission. It cost me 1 year worth of car payments, and I will get 5-10 more years out of the van. New van tempted me for a bit, but I had savings to pay for the transmission.
And it left me with cash flow to finance the truck.

 

Toyota probably engineered the transmissions for a 250k mile service life. Anything over that is going to count on regular maintenance and use. Most auto manufactures engineer for 150k service life, planned obsolescence is a thing.

 

Get an MSRP price on a new truck. Call your bank and ask for a payment estimate on the amount of that you'd need to finance. Call your insurance and ask for a quote on the new truck.

Take the loan and insurance increase and figure out the monthly. Put that amount in the bank each month. It will make your repair reserve fund and have you saving for a future replacement vehicle at the same time.

PS. Don't forget all the mods youd have to repeat on the new one.

 

Great idea. Here is a simple loan calculator to do the estimate.
https://www.fncalculator.com/financialcalculator?type=autoLoanCalculator
35K truck at 5% interest rate and 5 years comes out to $660.49 a month.
No sales tax added. You can add doc fees, sales tax, trade in value, down pmt, etc and re-calculate.

 

Keep it! the 3rd gen is a joke.

 

Keep it and repair the transmission for 250,000 more.

 

Just repair whatever fails. There is absolutely no guarantee that a new truck (of any brand) won't have it's issues and gremlins. Sometimes it's nice to think a new item will be better than the old simply b/c it's new but in the end, it's not worth the aggravation considering the reduced quality of parts and workmanship these days.

 

2nd gen elitists