How Many Miles is Too Much?

I'm looking to buy a Gen 1 and use it as an everyday driver for the next 10-15 years.

How many miles is too much when looking to buy? I know condition has everything to do with how well it was maintained but what should be a realistic cut-off point considering my long-term goal?

I'm looking at a 2004 with 185K on it currently.

I enjoy doing my own work and maintenance so I don't mind replacing/upgrading parts here and there...I just don't want to have to do a transmission/engine rebuild one year into owning.

 

As far as transmissions I never had a problem with the one I have at 237000 miles on it, EVER! Or the one I used to have for that matter, only reason I got rid of it was the frame rusted

 

depends on the mileage. 100k highway miles are generally way easier on an engine than 100k city miles. Highway miles mean adequate warm ups, good circulation of fluids (so less sludge buildup), no fouling of the plugs, generally a happier vehicle.

 

It's a Toyota. Need I say more?!?!

[Mic dropped]

 

999999. The odometer is about to fail. And then you will have to turn it in to Toyota and drive turd gen they'll give you.

 

Mileage really means what the Odometer says.

You can have a truck someone maintained perfect .

The next went to the quicky Mart oil change once a year driving 24 ,000 miles a year then after 200,000 miles has the truck detailed so it looks perfect for selling .

Then some are really so clueless to think changing valve cover gaskets is rebuilding the engine

 

I actually had some smuck try to upsell an engine based on how he changed the valve cover and intake manifold gaskets...

Because that's so hard to do...

 

For me I'm pretty strict on the mileage, and do pay attention where the vehicle is located to estimate it being more city driven or highway (also if it was ever a salt belt vehicle). For me I aim for under 150k personally for any vehicle I purchase Toyota or not. Anything higher I aim price wise far lower especially if its past 200k. Though for myself I would never buy a vehicle past 200k, haha not so much because of its reliability alone but because theres still enough out there that are lower which I rather ding to 200k myself.. And I don't mind traveling half way across the country to find a exact model to bring back home.

Speaking more practically though given its maintained as routinely as possible a good number of tacos under 250k likely will serve you well for a long long time since it is a Toyota, especially a 1st gen with less electronics. Haha honestly its more likely you'll wreck it or rust kills the truck before actual age and mileage does given its been properly taken care of prior and you do preventative maintenance once you get it. Also be weary of trucks thats been off roaded a lot and lifted/modified as that tosses a big wrench in any variable inducing more stress/wear. Extra features like 4wd, abs, and electronic controls also factor into more cause for error.

For your situation 185k is higher than I would like, but not bad if the price/condition is alright. Hard to say without any information or images though. I'd aim lower, but given it had all the bells and whistles you wanted, and isn't half-dead its not out of the question.

 

In your planned tenure, how many miles do you see driving it?

What kind of miles/mix?

My '13 is my 20 year truck at 5k yr. Ive had it 4 yrs. Came with 8k, now at 24k.

I'm behind schedule.

 

Quite similar to mine . At 3k miles a year (that's my driving here) in 20 years it will have 380k miles which is way below expectation.

 

Geez, I put between 150-200 miles a week on mine and it now has 173,000 on it. I got it with 119,000 easy miles on it from my dad. It's a 1st Gen with the 2.7. I'll be buying a second truck at the end of next year precisely for this reason. I don't want to wear out the Taco. It is 90% highway miles and has been since my dad bought it new. I run it about 30 miles of very mild off road every month to keep the hubs lubed and then there are some weekend errands around town so maybe 200 miles a week and many times less than that but just going to work is 150 miles per week all high way except for around 5 or 6 miles of it. I run it anywhere from 65mph to 85 mph depending on traffic. We have a 75-80 mph speed limit here. I also take around a 2000 mile trip every year.

 

252k on my Corolla, nothing major yet. I'm not particularly nice to it either. As far as my taco, we've only made it to about 91k so far, nothings happened there yet either but it's toyota, there's no mileage limit as long as you're preforming preventative maintenance. Or not... I don't really do that with my car we baby the truck though haha

 

Let's be realistic here. You're wanting to buy a 15 yr. old truck and get another 15 out of it?
As well as they were made, how many '88s do you see running around?

 

I agree with this ^^.

However I did DD my old 85 4Runner for 4 years while I lived in Iowa, and it had 236k on it. But, I put a ton of time and money into it so it would.

More on topic... I recently picked up a 1st gen dbl cab. I wanted a rust free clean one with low miles, but couldn’t spend the 12-15k for one.
So I ended up going with a sort of fixer upper 04 with 185k. Frame was replaced but the Pa weather still put rust on the outside. I have been getting that removed and coated as well As coat the inside of the frame. Needs suspension also. But for 6k and no rust or rot on the cab forward. I can’t complain.

Sorry for the rant......185k wouldn’t bother me at all. Especially if it’s been maintained.

 

Counting number of 95-98 Tacomas running around, it is not unreasonable to expect from 2003 at least 8 years more of trouble free ride. I got my truck in 1998 used with 70k miles on the clock for 12k (plus tax). Not including normal wear items (oil, fuel, tires, battery etc) it cost me around 2-3k in last 20 years and 250k miles in all repairs and parts. That is the reality.

By the way that is the reason why I hauled this 22 years old truck across Atlantic Ocean and made my friends thinking if I'm stupid or what? I would never do it to other 20 years old car.

 

If you’re planning on keeping something that long, I would just buy something new. Not suggesting a 3rd gen, just really anything new in general

 

Before I traded it in for my tacoma I bought a Highlander with 340k on it. Original engine/trans. No major issues either. biggest replacement I had to do was a new alternator, brakes, tires. Granted I knew who the truck was coming from and trusted to buy it with over 300k on it. I actually miss it but it was a place holder til I saved up for a pickup. Toyotas are built to last with minimal effort if they're well maintained.

 

There's not much that will kill a first gen, rust and neglect followed by maybe a stick of dynamite. If your buying from a private party make sure to look at any maintenance records before you buy it. A dealership usually will not have any records unless the truck was serviced by them. If they don't have any records then walkaway. Any one who cares enough about the truck to do regular maintenance will have all the records. I have buddy who is convinced you only need to change your oil ever 20,000 to 25,000 miles (yes you read that correct). Consequently he can't figure out why he is in the market for a new to him car every few years, even though I've tried to explain that HE is the common denominator. On the other hand my neighbor is almost to the point of being anal about maintenance. Her car is 97 Honda and runs perfect. 185K on a daily driver is high, but not a deal breaker depending on how many miles you drive a day and/or year. If you go by an average if 12,000 miles a year over a ten year span the truck will have just over 300,000 miles on it in 2028.

 

Generally, it really depends on the usage of the car and how it was maintained.

IMO, it's better to find a truck with lower miles if you can. The reason (in my mind), is that EVERYTHING has less wear. All of the bushings, the seats, the alternator, etc.. Finding a well maintained vehicle will always be #1, but finding one with lower miles is the icing on the cake.

Having said that, 1st gen tacos are unique. Other trucks like rangers or s-10s of similar vintage don't command the high price that 1st gens do. There is a reason for that. 1st gens, for the most part, are built right. Yes, the frame is weak point but other than that they are pretty stout and go the distance.

Good luck!

 

I BOUGHT IT!

It really is the perfect truck for me. Minimal electronics ( has cruise control though!) and no unnecessary fancy bells and whistles that will eventually break and need to be replaced. I absolutely love the simplicity of it. It is a straightforward truck and it suits my personality perfectly.

I love working on things myself and can't wait to get my hands dirty and make it mine!