pushing 300k, keep it or sell it...

[snowninja]

in the next day or two the odometer on my '98 will hit 296k miles. after the sparkplug blew out last week i am starting to pay a lot more attention (yeah i know) to things and have noticed the following:

1) passenger side inner cv boot is torn completely in half, no idea how long it's been like that, these need to be replaced
2) after poking around find a thread on the pink milkshake, i have owned the vehicle since 45k miles and have never touched the radiator, now i think it should be replaced
3) after more poking around see some threads on lower ball joint failure, now with 296k miles and having never been replaced (that i recall) think this should be done.
4) what else? i have done very little to this with the exception of fuel injectors and brakes and regular oil changes)
5) fluid changes? ie differential, coolant, tranny, etc..

i really want to keep this on the road for another couple years (i average 20k per year, almost no offroading) and want to see it reach 350k but i also do not want to end up with a blown motor and no value. if i decide to sell will anyone really want a vehicle with close to 300k on it? am starting to think i should drive it until the motor goes and then part it out.

does anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[awpsome]

If you owned it from 45k and seems like you haven't had any major issues so if say keep it. It'll be more worth it for you to keep then to sell. With that much mileage I doubt you'll make that much money off of it and it'll probably be worth more to you with the miles you'll get out of it then to sell it.

Idk if that made any sense I had to retype this a few times as it's a little hard to explain. But you got such good mileage out of it it'll be worth more to you to keep and drive till it won't go any further. Also all those things you pointed out that worry you are very cheap easy to fix maintanence items.

You should have nothing to worry about. If anything unless you want a newer truck then buy one and keep this on the side. It'll be worth more to keep then to sell.

 

[UnderFire]

Your resale value is already gone at 300K, I'd say keep it, drive it till it blows up, and then part it out.

 

[vipergrhd]

Keep it

I would drive it till it quits,i agree with what underfire said.

 

[Kurtis]

You're not going to get much out of your 4Runner with that many miles. That's a lot of maintenance that needs to be caught up on if someone buys it. If I were you, I'd take a good hard look at the main components (engine, transmission, etc). If they seem strong then I'd get the maintenance done and keep it driving it. 2 main items are your money makers in a part out. The engine and the transmission. They will both be a difficult sell with that many miles. Don't let me discourage you though. There's guys on here that wheel their 4Runner with 400K on the clock.

Also, if you haven't done the timing belt yet, I would recommend that.

 

[Christiantdoug]

KEEP ON!!!

But seriously I agree with the above replies. Radiator and balljoints being the biggest things you mentioned, you'll probably pay, what? Close to 450$ if you go Oem. If you do it yourself and you just payed 450$ for thousands and thousands of more miles. No need in buying anything new yet.

 

[.bg.]

Do the Timing Belt and Water Pump and then just drive it till it goes.

 

[white_n_slow]

I agree with everyone else so far. The truck is pretty much worthless anyway, might as well keep it. That and I personally would feel obligated to disclose all the maintenance items to any prospective buyer. Meaning they would have more than just the mileage to scare them off.

Do the LBJ's like *right now.* That's a pretty good truck you got there to take all that deferred maintenance and keep on trucking.

:edit: I don't know much about automatics, but I have heard this about some domestics: if you haven't changed the ATF in a really long time, like way longer than the recommended service interval, you're better off just leaving the old fluid in there as changing it can cause leaks and other issues. No idea if that's just one of those old-timers myths.

 

[snowninja]

thanks for the replies, I kinda figured most value was already gone with that mileage but must still be worth something. aside from mileage and the issues I mentioned (which would either be fixed or disclosed) here are some positives: It runs really well. starts right up every time. holds steady idle. tracks straight at highway speed. transmission shifts smoothly. very little if any undercarriage corrosion, in fact looking at my LBJ bolts they aren't even corroded. paint is clean absolutely no rust anywhere on the body and no dents aside from a couple very small door dings. I forgot to mention some other work i did on it - timing belt, water pump, and valve cover gaskets 20k back. also just put brand new cooper ATP's on it and some coverking seat covers.

so what do you say is there any value in any of these "good" things that would negate some of the mileage or do i continue to milk it until the motor goes and turn it into a chicken coop.

 

[packweco]

thanks for the replies, I kinda figured most value was already gone with that mileage but must still be worth something. aside from mileage and the issues I mentioned (which would either be fixed or disclosed) here are some positives: It runs really well. starts right up every time. holds steady idle. tracks straight at highway speed. transmission shifts smoothly. very little if any undercarriage corrosion, in fact looking at my LBJ bolts they aren't even corroded. paint is clean absolutely no rust anywhere on the body and no dents aside from a couple very small door dings. I forgot to mention some other work i did on it - timing belt, water pump, and valve cover gaskets 20k back. also just put brand new cooper ATP's on it and some coverking seat covers.

so what do you say is there any value in any of these "good" things that would negate some of the mileage or do i continue to milk it until the motor goes and turn it into a chicken coop.

There's people that would kill to have a car with the qualities you described above. I would put $500 into a new radiator, LBJs, and the front axle (torn CV boot), and drive it into the ground. I'd get on that radiator if you have never replaced it. If you protect that tranny, who knows how long it will go! You could be one of the guys that gets 500k out of it.

My friends dad got a free hat from toyota when his t100 hit 500k. Don't you want a free hat?

 

[BrandonF]

@OP
This is a toyota you're talking about... At 300k miles she's just getting broken in!

 

[T4R2014]

OP, how long have you had the truck? Sounds like a while. I would change out the radiator, LBJ's, and axle and keep it and possibly retire it from daily driver duties. From what you've posted, it sounds like a pretty clean truck for it's age which is good considering most people let these things go aesthetically by 150k.

 

[amalik]

KEEP IT! - I would hate to see that truck go for $2-3k.

If you get all the items taken care of that you know you need to take care of, I can see you spending $1,000 or less (Depends on how much you do yourself VS pay for).

For $1k or less, you're looking at maybe another 100,000 miles assuming nothing crazy happens in the future to the truck. (small example -- hitting a deer and destroying much of the engine -- common thing depending on where you drive at in CO).

 

[snowninja]

OP, how long have you had the truck? Sounds like a while. I would change out the radiator, LBJ's, and axle and keep it and possibly retire it from daily driver duties. From what you've posted, it sounds like a pretty clean truck for it's age which is good considering most people let these things go aesthetically by 150k.

i have had it since 2004 (with 65k, misquoted 45k earlier)and it's been my DD (and then some) ever since. i have been playing with the idea of retiring it from DD for a couple years but it just keeps going and i'm putting very little into it(in the long run). i always look at other options - a civic, corolla, jetta that i could get for commuter but then it's a payment and more time to break even (on fuel savings) so i put it off.. next year my F350 will be paid off so i think at that point i will actually get a commuter and save the 4runner for ski trips to the pass.. seems to make the most sense to me at this time..

not gonna lie, i have never been concerned about the reliability of this thing because it has never given me a reason to worry. it just keeps going..

 

[awthorn]

Sounds like you have about $500 worth in parts to get then add another $50 in beer for the help needed to "pay" the guys on the forum who help you install it all. So $550 to fix the major potential issues.

I find having a vehicle you have some history with and know of any issues or potential issues is more valuable than buying another used vehicle without any of that history.

Just out of curiosity what would you do if you DID sell the vehicle, even though I know you are going to drive the beast for another decade? Buy brand new? "Upgrade" to a little newer?


Keep the beast, drive it well and get some dirt on it already :wow:

 

[snowninja]

Sounds like you have about $500 worth in parts to get then add another $50 in beer for the help needed to "pay" the guys on the forum who help you install it all. So $550 to fix the major potential issues.

I find having a vehicle you have some history with and know of any issues or potential issues is more valuable than buying another used vehicle without any of that history.

Just out of curiosity what would you do if you DID sell the vehicle, even though I know you are going to drive the beast for another decade? Buy brand new? "Upgrade" to a little newer?


Keep the beast, drive it well and get some dirt on it already :wow:

I agree on the history part kinda like a longterm girlfriend. I would probably not buy new but a couple years old, let someone else take the hit on initial depreciation. Not even close to new but I do see a 2004 with 150k on a lot along my commute. Thought about a test drive to see how it feels but stopped there.

 

[nevada]

as said above, with that many miles, the resale value would be very low.
buy a replacement daily driver, and keep this one,




and turn it into a dedicated wheeler.

 

[downpour11]

as said above, with that many miles, the resale value would be very low.
buy a replacement daily driver, and keep this one,




and turn it into a dedicated wheeler.

I read the first post, and nevada's post. lol

Sounds like you have minimal issues. I'd just keep up on maintenance and drive it til it dies. No offense, but the truck isn't worth anything anyways. Mine blue books at around $1700. You could sell it now and get yourself a nice old honda accord? Keep it.

 

[snowninja]

hit 296,000 on my commute, had to pull over to snap a picture..

snapped this morning on my way out..

 

[5vzT4R]

Replace the parts that need replacing. Save up money for a new daily driver. Drive it till it quits. Replace the motor. Keep driving.