When is enough maintenance to warrant keeping your Taco

I bet the "Millionaire Next Door" drives a Tacoma.

 

they probably would if they saw the range of current NADA values between 1st gen tacomas and the other compact trucks of similar age and condition

 

I'd be curious how much of the original list actually needed to be replaced and how much was internet paranoia...Especially when somebody suggests at some point that the u-joint could need replacing and OP goes out and finds the OEM p/n before showing any symptoms of actually needing a new u-joint.

The 80 guys on IH8mud are notorious for wanting to "baseline" their new (used) 80 that was in perfectly good working condition including replacing the head gasket that could go out eventually possibly. According to them you have to spend $10k immediately when you buy an 80.

Same with my 7.3 F250...according to the internet, I should be on my third transmission, have leaky up-pipes, multiple oil leaks from all over the engine, injectors at the end of their life, a turbo that needs replacement, and I need a fuel rail crossover/regulated return or else. In reality I just keep the fluids changed and enjoy my 20 year old daily driver that works great and requires very little maintenance.

 

I don't understand how people create long term cash flow without incurring any debt. Sounds boring.

 

Many parts were due or would have been in 1-2 years probably. Some were a must

Some I just did for peace of mind too

 

How do you spend $3k per year for 8 years on just parts?

 

Some people don't like the new stuff. I prefer the older tech myself. You can put a ton of money in an older pickup and unless you have straight up cash for todays 30-40K pickups/cars then you are still ahead money. They've already had the depreciation hit and you don't have many problems "if" they were taken care of.

If my wife gave 2 shits about what others were driving and wanted to keep up with the "Jones's" I know I'd found the wrong wife. I can have the Taco and drive my kids around to because without spending ridiculous amounts of money on a new kid hauler I can have a 4 door sedan or hatchback that can do the same thing for about 1/5th of the price.

 

Does not take much tires and complete Brakes once a year other odds and ends things add up fast

My truck is used hard

 

At least it's not 50k for a 3rd gen

And you'd still wind up having to do maintenance either way

 

Even used hard, that seems excessive. I'm not doubting you, or discounting what you are saying, that just seems like a LOT!

 

If I made a decision to buy a vehicle its going to be used in ways that will require me to do maintenance. its not for resale value.

 

and waiting on the NEXT recall to pop its ugly head

 

If you want your truck to last for many many miles to come, these maintenance items are needed and more.
It does get a little expensive if you can’t do the repairs yourself but a new truck needs maintenance too.

If you don’t keep up on the maintenance like any car it will be short lived.
If you want to have a new truck that every mile drops in value and 400-500 a month payment with insurance that’s an option,
But that new truck will need maintenance too.

Every 100,000-150,000 I do all those same maintenance items,
And at almost 600,000 miles 21 years later my truck is running better than ever.
18 years of no truck payments is a lot of money saved

 

And not to mention a vehicle that looks great, drives great, unique etc... I mean that's a lot of pros to not many cons....

 

$12k is a pretty big con...I paid about that for my F250 that hasn’t cost more than $2k in maintenance in the last 4 years.

 

Over 23 years of ownership? Thanks for sharing your opinion.
That's less than your f250 and I guarantee you he was much more proactive in what he had replaced than you. But still that's taco to F250 comparison. And it's still just an opinion.
Do what you want with your Ferd 250 and allow others the same with their vehicles.

 

cosmetic maintenance... how much is too much
this is basically one of the main reasons i let my late '70s Toyota cars go in '95 and 'o4 ... the latter had lost power brakes,
no heat and was also 25yrs old so i probably kept that one until the wheels fell off but it was not pretty to look at
i really have no clue so far what kind of price tag its gonna be to keep my truck looking as sharp as its seeming to run & handle
... had a few local estimates but not so totally thrilled with whatever 'work' they think is best for my situation & satisfaction going foward

has anybody else had to deal with this situation

 

$12k not bad for 3/4 ton pickup

Pops just got a 04 cummins 2500 with 100k for 12k which is a great deal

But yea $12k for a tacoma with 200,000 does seem a little high

 

Just got a call from my mechanic (he is doing my 15 piece timing kit) and he told me in order to replace the HYDRAULIC TENSIONER ASSY, he would have to drop the AC compressor. Another $125 charge I believe to do so