Should I Keep Putting Money Into My 2001?

[RumHam26]

Thank you all for the feedback - while I knew the opinions here would probably lean towards "keep her," it was nice to hear it, and you guys made some great points.

The idea that a newer used car wouldn't necessarily be more reliable is a great point. Also, thinking about the cost of repairs seems like a lot because it's all at once. But, it's way cheaper than the car payment when you add it up. I also really like the idea of keeping a rainy day fund for the next expensive repair - because it is bound to happen eventually, but if I expect it and prepare, then I'll just eat the cost and get back to driving my favorite car.

The real tragedy here is the rust. I wish I had done prevention much earlier. I was too oblivious to realize what a gem I had early on. I do worry it will eventually eat my car beyond repair, but I have tried to catch up and stay ahead of it to slow that process way down. The frame is solid, and most of the body is as well, but the rust makes every simple repair so much tougher.

Anyway, I think I'll get the new rack, suspension, and muffler and continue to enjoy. Thanks for the input everyone!

 

[RumHam26]

Just as an update - I decided to try to keep her going! I just installed a new OEM steering rack, KYB gas a justs all around, and OME 880/906s. It's riding soo much better, and my confidence in it is coming back. Next up is the muffler and trying to fix my over active VSC/TRAC and ABS.

Here's a before and after of the suspension.

 

[NJ-4Runner]

Funny how relevant this thread is. I'm in a similar boat, and I'm sure all of us 3rd gen owners have these conversations with ourselves dealing with 20+ year old vehicles. I love mine, it does everything I want it to without costing me a car payment, so its a pretty simple decision.

State inspection time, the guys at the garage are being especially picky this year it seems, but oh well. I knew most of these were on the horizon, thought I'd skate through another year. Tie rods, leaking rear axle seal, brakes, leaking valve cover gaskets, and now a starter that is recently acting up. They want $2000+ to fix it all.

I'll do some myself, use it as a chance to do a few other things I've been putting off, mainly LBJ's. So throw in LBJ's and UBJ's, all inner and outer tie rods, a starter rebuild kit - do half the work myself and let the shop handle a few things for time sake. I'll still cost run me between $1200 and $1500 but well worth it.

i too am in a non inspeection state, so if I do indeed have a bad cat....its just gonna get roto out and put back in,
however the cops can pull you over if things are not working correct, and you have x # of days to fix, and honestly I have seen cars on the road that should not be and have to be dangerous and some putting out so much smoke its hard to beleive they are not throwing a quart of oil in every few miles. So at times I do wish we had inspections.

Thank you all for the feedback - while I knew the opinions here would probably lean towards "keep her," it was nice to hear it, and you guys made some great points.

The idea that a newer used car wouldn't necessarily be more reliable is a great point. Also, thinking about the cost of repairs seems like a lot because it's all at once. But, it's way cheaper than the car payment when you add it up. I also really like the idea of keeping a rainy day fund for the next expensive repair - because it is bound to happen eventually, but if I expect it and prepare, then I'll just eat the cost and get back to driving my favorite car.

The real tragedy here is the rust. I wish I had done prevention much earlier. I was too oblivious to realize what a gem I had early on. I do worry it will eventually eat my car beyond repair, but I have tried to catch up and stay ahead of it to slow that process way down. The frame is solid, and most of the body is as well, but the rust makes every simple repair so much tougher.

Anyway, I think I'll get the new rack, suspension, and muffler and continue to enjoy. Thanks for the input everyone!

I don't know how the specific laws are written in your state but is it an option to just not fix anything and take the ticket you may get. I drove a first generation 1987 4Runner for a long time without a valid inspection sticker here in NJ. I mean I drove that thing around with a 10 year old sticker and never got pulled over. Even if I did get a ticket it was only going to be $130. I don't even think the police care about that anymore. 15-20 years ago it was a different story, I felt like they did pull you over for a bad sticker, not so much nowadays. The truck was not dangerous or anything like that it just wouldn't pass emissions for one reason or another. I gave up trying to get it through. My current 3rd gen won't pass because of an EVAP leak, I have no intention on trying to fix that either.

All they do at the inspection station here is plug a reader in to the OBD port and look for codes. You could roll into the station with a rolling death trap, bald tires, gaping rust holes, and as long as it doesn't throw a code you get your sticker.

 

[alphyn]

Rust is going to be a prob

The real tragedy here is the rust. I wish I had done prevention much earlier. I was too oblivious to realize what a gem I had early on. I do worry it will eventually eat my car beyond repair, but I have tried to catch up and stay ahead of it to slow that process way down. The frame is solid, and most of the body is as well, but the rust makes every simple repair so much tougher.

When I saw your 4Runner was in the Chicagoland area, PTSD from working on my wife's 4Runner came rushing back. She had an upper midwest special from Chicago. Cosmetically perfect from the outside and low miles. Looked nicer than my West Coast 4Runner that was more abused. However, every nut/bolt on her 4Runner was a huge PITA to get off. Her rust issues weren't even super terrible for the year/mileage, too. She had her 4Runner serviced by a few local area mechanics in Portland, OR. None of them really wanted to work on it and upcharged based on rust. TBH, West Coast mechanics rarely have to deal with rust buckets compared to their Midwest counterparts.

It sounds like you are moving ahead with repairs. I'd maybe think about selling yours and buying a cleaner, rust-free 4Runner if you want to invest time and money building up a 'new-to-you' 3rd gen. Might as well repair a tired rust-free 4Runner than a tired rusted 4Runner. You'll save yourself innumerable headaches moving forward, as well as money and time.

 

[spartacus]

I have gone through the comments, and it seems like most of you prefer investing and spending your money on the car you already know, arguing that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't. I don't really agree with that. The older the car gets, the more money you have to spend on maintenance. A car is often a liability (as long as you don't use it to earn money), and when its maintenance becomes too expensive, you have to sell it. Wealth Pursuits - Earning, Saving, and Investing taught me that these kinds of liabilities are ruining your money management.

All of what you wrote might be correct but it all goes out the window when you are driving a 3rd Gen 4runner. These vehicle are inexpensive to maintain and keep. They are in a class of their own.

 

[Endlessblockades]

I have gone through the comments, and it seems like most of you prefer investing and spending your money on the car you already know, arguing that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't. I don't really agree with that. The older the car gets, the more money you have to spend on maintenance. A car is often a liability (as long as you don't use it to earn money), and when its maintenance becomes too expensive, you have to sell it. Wealth Pursuits - Earning, Saving, and Investing taught me that these kinds of liabilities are ruining your money management.

(what's left of) My life is not about pursuing wealth and avoiding liability! Fvck that! Nothing is guaranteed and you might die tomorrow. I also boycott spreadsheets, budgets, and risk analysis.

 

[brillo_76]

I can get classic plates for mine 4 runners (15 years old )and after 25 years I can get antique plates for it.. ( but they cant be driven at night with the antique plates)

On several of mine, I am passed the point of or no return. Good thing it's my hobby and I like to improve my welding skills along with auto body skills.

Granted, I can always sale a few of them off if I wish as well.

So with the costs of everything. Probably best to repair and run what you got. Is my theory anyhow

 

[Boreas]

If you like it and it does everything you want it to do, and it isn't rusting to pieces, keep it. A used replacement could need the same repairs.

 

[TheSaturnV]

That's a beaut. Around here you'd get stopped in parking lots and asked if it's FOR SALE? Consider getting new front seat foams and covers if they look ratty. I guarantee your seats are broken down if they're original. I couldn't believe how much higher I sat in mine after I rebuilt the seats. Good time to toss in some heaters as well.

 

[jsnppp]

Nice truck! I made the decision to keep mine and am enjoying having mostly new parts on it.

Question - what muffler are you thinking of? I really want OEM but don't want to spend $2k for the header back...

Jason

 

[blairracd]

I say yes. I’m extremely emotionally attached and invested into my 99. It’s the replacement for my dad’s 96 that I grew up in and saved my life.

I’ll keep it until one of us dies.

 

[CarrollLargena]

I think you have to estimate and find out if it's still worth investing in your truck. I have a 4runner by myself, and I understand that you become attached to these beauties as time passes. You have to predict the point when it's time to stop pumping money into it when the truck becomes rather a burden. I consider that we have to make an appraisal of our liquid net worth because it's the basic pile of money that would insure us in unpredictable situations. I dare you to research reasonable financial behavior; hence, you'll find out if it's still worth investing in your 4runner.