So here's where I'm going to write out my priorities list and also get input from you guys.
Here's my "dilemma": I have a 1991 (18 years old) 2wd Toyota Truck, extended cab, with 206K miles (picture link in sig line), netting around 23-25 mpg as a DD. I have done the head gasket and timing chain, though not at the same time and without doing other engine refresh things (like rings etc.), so as it drives now it's burning oil, which it NEVER did before and which I'm assuming is blowby past the rings due to the head being milled and increasing the compression slightly. That bothers me and though it's manageable I'm not sure how much of this time is borrowed until major engine work is going to be needed. I learned that although there are some things I can work on ok with vehicles, I am not a professional mechanic and now that I can afford it I am going to take vehicles to professionals for work like head gaskets etc. from now on.
In addition, the truck has over 200,000 and is 18 years old, and 2wd. There are only cosmetic flaws in it, I have tried to take good care of it, it has faded paint on the roof and the hood, and slight rust where the tailgate has a crease in it (under the topper liftgate, and only surface at this point, and slight bubbling at the top of the driver door, which I've addressed but could use some professional assistance as well. It needs new tires pretty soon too.
The 2wd bothers me because it's a great commuter truck but these last two snow storms have had me wishing for 4x4. I have a '77 FJ40 which mostly works fine (and I thought would be a great compliment to my DD truck), but now and again it has issues which keep it from being driven. Like now, I'm waiting for a new gas tank to come in from Toyota which kept me from driving it and having 4x4 in the last two snow storms. Luckily this latest one wasn't as bad as they were predicting, and I was able to manage, even with bad tires. In addition, I like to access trailheads and be able to travel off of paved roads in the summer and in the winter, so high clearance, 4x4, and low range are preferable, if not absolutely necessary for me to be happy with a new car purchase. Road trips to the Utah desert, or to California or beyond, are possible, and I don't want to be limited to paved roads when I do that or suffer (at certain times) the cruelty of horrible mpg attainments, or even being able to hold a conversation while traveling down the highway.
The other thing that bothers me is that my girlfriend and I often are going somewhere and there's a total of three or four people in the vehicle, and I end up having to ride with someone else, and I've always preferred to be independent.
But I like the utility of the pickup bed, often enough I have to carry wood, camping gear, or car parts around (axles, springs, dirty stuff) and like being able to just throw it in the back and go, and not worry about getting the nice interior of something dirty.
But here's the kicker: I would like to get something that gets AT LEAST as good fuel economy as my 18 year old pickup. I don't feel like it's too much to ask that in the last 20 years engine technology would have developed to the point that decent fuel economy is obtainable.
So my dad and I went looking at cars on Friday. We stopped at VW because one of their TDIs with 4-matic would cover a fair number of the above requirements. They build nice cars, but a TDI with 4-matic won't be available for some time, plus they don't have the clearance/low range I seek.
So we went to Toyota. Looked at an FJ Cruiser (never have before even though I've had plenty of opportunity
), there were just too many things I didn't like (windshield height, c pillar size, limited production run, general looks), so counted that out. We looked at some 4-door Tacomas, they are nice but pricey for what you get as far as creature comforts compared to VW, but they have decent leg space and they are familiar. I just don't like the newest body style all that much. The new 4runner is out of the question for me, if I was going with something completely new the Tacoma would win out hands down.
So we went next door to Burt to the Subaru dealership. Jumped in an STI wagon and an Outback and a Forester. I was appalled at their (lack of) fuel economy. Barely making better than my truck, pretty disappointing really. And though I could see myself in a WRX wagon or an Outback, I took some time to reflect on it some more.
So what I came up with is the following: a 2001-2004 Tacoma, Double Cab, (wish I could a long bed, but not available from what I can tell), V6, SR5, w/TRD locker etc. (since it's an option and available)
I figured a 4Runner from that generation was a close second, but with the bed that added that last little bit of, gotta have it.
So thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions? Here are mine.
-Jetta/Passat diesels - cool, but out due to no 4x4. Maybe a 4-matic when the time comes and the (future) wife needs a commuter car, but I'll need my 4x4 for now and the future.
-FJ Cruiser - out due to styling/interior comfort/feel dislikes. I like doing things a little bit different if I can, and to me they're the hot new 4x4 that a lot of people have to have, and that's not for me. When I see a huge group of them I don't stare at the picture like I do with a group of 40s or 80s, they turn me off.
-4Runner - almost, but no bed and if I'm going to lack the leg room I might as well have the bed.
-80 series - would like, but poor fuel economy, they're getting old (10-15 years old already), maybe if the right diesel came along.
-WRX wagon - very cool, but $$ for insurance, plus more power oriented than I really need, but man oh man it would be fun to have (especially after seeing the gymkhana guy).
-Outback - ok fuel economy, but not much better than the Tacoma, but the Tacoma comes with ground clearance and low range and a bed.
-Forester - bigger than Outback, but starting to nudge the line of minivan. I'd like to stay away from that.
-Diesel BJ70/BJ74/BJ60 etc. - a cable locked, PTO winch, 5 spd BJ74 (turbodiesel) is basically my dream truck, but they're getting old (especially if you want to have one in the states), parts are hard to get since they're overseas market, and they don't come in LHD, which makes it impractical for a DD. Plus all that driving depreciates the (big) investment required to get into it. Not a good choice for where I'm at in life, no matter how much I would like to dream. The BJ70 is really a little on the small side, and a BJ60/70 are getting pretty old (actually older than my red truck), so I'd have to deal with rust and engine issues.
So if I could find a 2001-2004 Tacoma, Double Cab, V6, SR5, w/TRD locker etc. I think that would pretty much do it until they come with a diesel version in the states and make a styling change that suits me better. I wish they would make it a little smaller, I just don't like how big it's gotten, people loved them before because they were small and nimble. If I could find a longbed version that would be great, because there is a topper/camper package called a "Flip-Pack" that would be ideal for me and it fits on the regular 6ft bed, but I don't think 2001-2004 came with a long bed version. If anyone knows different help.
Here's my "dilemma": I have a 1991 (18 years old) 2wd Toyota Truck, extended cab, with 206K miles (picture link in sig line), netting around 23-25 mpg as a DD. I have done the head gasket and timing chain, though not at the same time and without doing other engine refresh things (like rings etc.), so as it drives now it's burning oil, which it NEVER did before and which I'm assuming is blowby past the rings due to the head being milled and increasing the compression slightly. That bothers me and though it's manageable I'm not sure how much of this time is borrowed until major engine work is going to be needed. I learned that although there are some things I can work on ok with vehicles, I am not a professional mechanic and now that I can afford it I am going to take vehicles to professionals for work like head gaskets etc. from now on.
In addition, the truck has over 200,000 and is 18 years old, and 2wd. There are only cosmetic flaws in it, I have tried to take good care of it, it has faded paint on the roof and the hood, and slight rust where the tailgate has a crease in it (under the topper liftgate, and only surface at this point, and slight bubbling at the top of the driver door, which I've addressed but could use some professional assistance as well. It needs new tires pretty soon too.
The 2wd bothers me because it's a great commuter truck but these last two snow storms have had me wishing for 4x4. I have a '77 FJ40 which mostly works fine (and I thought would be a great compliment to my DD truck), but now and again it has issues which keep it from being driven. Like now, I'm waiting for a new gas tank to come in from Toyota which kept me from driving it and having 4x4 in the last two snow storms. Luckily this latest one wasn't as bad as they were predicting, and I was able to manage, even with bad tires. In addition, I like to access trailheads and be able to travel off of paved roads in the summer and in the winter, so high clearance, 4x4, and low range are preferable, if not absolutely necessary for me to be happy with a new car purchase. Road trips to the Utah desert, or to California or beyond, are possible, and I don't want to be limited to paved roads when I do that or suffer (at certain times) the cruelty of horrible mpg attainments, or even being able to hold a conversation while traveling down the highway.
The other thing that bothers me is that my girlfriend and I often are going somewhere and there's a total of three or four people in the vehicle, and I end up having to ride with someone else, and I've always preferred to be independent.
But I like the utility of the pickup bed, often enough I have to carry wood, camping gear, or car parts around (axles, springs, dirty stuff) and like being able to just throw it in the back and go, and not worry about getting the nice interior of something dirty.
But here's the kicker: I would like to get something that gets AT LEAST as good fuel economy as my 18 year old pickup. I don't feel like it's too much to ask that in the last 20 years engine technology would have developed to the point that decent fuel economy is obtainable.
So my dad and I went looking at cars on Friday. We stopped at VW because one of their TDIs with 4-matic would cover a fair number of the above requirements. They build nice cars, but a TDI with 4-matic won't be available for some time, plus they don't have the clearance/low range I seek.
So we went to Toyota. Looked at an FJ Cruiser (never have before even though I've had plenty of opportunity
), there were just too many things I didn't like (windshield height, c pillar size, limited production run, general looks), so counted that out. We looked at some 4-door Tacomas, they are nice but pricey for what you get as far as creature comforts compared to VW, but they have decent leg space and they are familiar. I just don't like the newest body style all that much. The new 4runner is out of the question for me, if I was going with something completely new the Tacoma would win out hands down.So we went next door to Burt to the Subaru dealership. Jumped in an STI wagon and an Outback and a Forester. I was appalled at their (lack of) fuel economy. Barely making better than my truck, pretty disappointing really. And though I could see myself in a WRX wagon or an Outback, I took some time to reflect on it some more.
So what I came up with is the following: a 2001-2004 Tacoma, Double Cab, (wish I could a long bed, but not available from what I can tell), V6, SR5, w/TRD locker etc. (since it's an option and available)
I figured a 4Runner from that generation was a close second, but with the bed that added that last little bit of, gotta have it.
So thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions? Here are mine.
-Jetta/Passat diesels - cool, but out due to no 4x4. Maybe a 4-matic when the time comes and the (future) wife needs a commuter car, but I'll need my 4x4 for now and the future.
-FJ Cruiser - out due to styling/interior comfort/feel dislikes. I like doing things a little bit different if I can, and to me they're the hot new 4x4 that a lot of people have to have, and that's not for me. When I see a huge group of them I don't stare at the picture like I do with a group of 40s or 80s, they turn me off.
-4Runner - almost, but no bed and if I'm going to lack the leg room I might as well have the bed.
-80 series - would like, but poor fuel economy, they're getting old (10-15 years old already), maybe if the right diesel came along.
-WRX wagon - very cool, but $$ for insurance, plus more power oriented than I really need, but man oh man it would be fun to have (especially after seeing the gymkhana guy).
-Outback - ok fuel economy, but not much better than the Tacoma, but the Tacoma comes with ground clearance and low range and a bed.
-Forester - bigger than Outback, but starting to nudge the line of minivan. I'd like to stay away from that.
-Diesel BJ70/BJ74/BJ60 etc. - a cable locked, PTO winch, 5 spd BJ74 (turbodiesel) is basically my dream truck, but they're getting old (especially if you want to have one in the states), parts are hard to get since they're overseas market, and they don't come in LHD, which makes it impractical for a DD. Plus all that driving depreciates the (big) investment required to get into it. Not a good choice for where I'm at in life, no matter how much I would like to dream. The BJ70 is really a little on the small side, and a BJ60/70 are getting pretty old (actually older than my red truck), so I'd have to deal with rust and engine issues.
So if I could find a 2001-2004 Tacoma, Double Cab, V6, SR5, w/TRD locker etc. I think that would pretty much do it until they come with a diesel version in the states and make a styling change that suits me better. I wish they would make it a little smaller, I just don't like how big it's gotten, people loved them before because they were small and nimble. If I could find a longbed version that would be great, because there is a topper/camper package called a "Flip-Pack" that would be ideal for me and it fits on the regular 6ft bed, but I don't think 2001-2004 came with a long bed version. If anyone knows different help.
Wrong gen though, plus its an auto.
