So after a struggle to find the parts to fix my 82 Prelude,* I started thinking that perhaps I should look for a replacement for my Blazer since it is over 20 years old. I've always admired the 4Runners but then on FB Marketplace this evening I saw a 2011 one being offered for $25,000! Yikes!
Seeing how much it would cost to replace my Blazer has scared me straight!

(*) BTW I'm now an expert on rebuilding the Tec vacuum advances and know more than I ever wanted but "air-suction diaphragm valves." LOL

 

I like new or newer vehicles as much as anyone else. But I hate car payments. My 2 daily drivers are my 2000 GMC Jimmy Diamond Edition and my wife's 04 Volvo S60 R. The book values on both do not add up to much. Any major repair could be more than the blue book value. Both vehicles are well maintained and run great. I am able to most of the repairs and maintenance myself. For me the cost of replacing the vehicles is more important than the book value of my existing vehicles. We just took the Volvo on a 3 week trip to the east coast with no problems at all. If I end up having a major repair done at a shop, to me it is a once in a while cost compared to a car payment that is due every month for multiple years. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

I had an opportunity to rent a Tacoma 4 door w /4WD for an extended trip in May. The 2021--22 Tacoma's are now all V6, auto trans, 4 doors and all 4WD now. It drove and handled well on the interstate and around town. The V6 had this one fault. From idle to 3,000 RPM it was sluggish, but quiet and smooth. Very little torque. Above 3k, it was very powerful, but also very loud ! ? When I got back from the trip, I read up on the V6 and found out it has two fuel pumps. From idle to 3k, it was on a 'normal' fuel pump and normal fuel injectors. Over 3k, the Direct Gas Injection system cut in. This D.G. I. system had a much higher pressure fuel pump and different DGI fuel injectors. This DGI explained the extra power, the loud noise, and the extra expense of the new 2021-22 Tacoma's. They are in the $50's for certain models.
The Tacoma pick up is the basis for the Toyota 4Runner SUV. Both are body on frame and share the same V6 engine and trans. Look on You Tube for 'The Car Nut' who is a Toyota dealer mechanic who covers a lot on all Toyota models and covers the Tacoma and the 4Runner present and new ones just out. He covers not just the engines, trans, but all features offered.
There is a lot on You Tube about the popular Tacoma and 4Runner, and the all new redesigned 2022 TUNDRA coming out soon. It will have a version of the Toyota V6 but with twin turbo's. They are also coming out with a hybrid version with the V6, twin turbo's and to give you torque off idle , electric motors. They are saying with this triple threat hybrid Tundra, they will have the torque of a diesel with a gasoline engine. The best You Tube feature on the new Tundra is from a vid by TFL Truck show. TFL Andre interviewed the chief engineer in charge of designing the new Tundra.

 

A few years back my dad, who was still driving his 96 GMC Sierra 5speed, also had a geo prism (aka toyota camry). Well he had an accident with the prism (the other person's fault) And he got a rental while the front end was fixed. He got a new (at the time) Chevy Cruze. He looked down the spec sheet from Hertz, then called me up. he asked "Why in the world does a car NEED a 40 gig hard drive?"

 

Luckily for us the S-series trucks are still fairly common, and it's not too hard to find parts. I fully expect to drive my Sonoma for another 5 years at least. I've been considering an LS swap for a few years and doing some casual research, but the stupid 4.3 in my truck just keeps chugging along, happy and healthy. Also, with driving an older truck I don't worry at all taking it off road into places where I wouldn't dream of taking a newer and more expensive truck.

 

Tell me about it. The prices are absolutely nuts. Especially on anything with a Toyota badge. It's crazy to see newer mid size pickups listed for $40,000 plus.

 

Exactly

 

I keep them all running as long as I can. My blazer is at about 210,000 miles in my Toyota RAV4 is at 285,000 miles. The Malibu is the baby at about 110,000 miles. The only car I’m going to get rid of is the Mercedes because it’s been the least reliable vehicle I have ever owned, a total pain in my ****.

George