verman84
New member
My 2008 Sr5 V6 (bought in 2014 w112k) was starting to give me more issues than I wanted to keep up with.
At 220k miles, 100k of which were in the Midwest, rust was becoming a frequent foe. I learned a Dremel and cutoff wheel were part of almost any repair requiring fasteners.
I've replaced the entire brake system twice (all 4 calipers), basically every 100k miles. That design just loves to develop a seized piston. Shops will tell you it's warped rotors but it's almost always a piston.
I replaced the radiator last year after realizing it was leaking pretty bad. Transmission cooler line that was rusted wide open and leaking. The power steering hard-line was next. My steering rack needed replacement but I never got around to it. Same with my A arm bushings, it was pretty floaty on the highway. My AC went out and developed a leak. The rear hatch actuator rusted and I replaced that. Sway bar end links and bushings when I redid the suspension. I bought cv axles to replace the originals that had ripped boots. I said whenever they gave me a problem I would tackle it. 80k miles later the new cv axles are still in my garage, never replaced because I never noticed an issue with the ripped ones. At 220 I assumed the water pump and alternator were probably right around the corner. The Bilsteins I put in 100k ago were close to needing another set. Until this year, I never once doubted getting in that vehicle and driving across the country. It was a fantastic vehicle and I don't blame it for it's aging, that's all Midwest corrosions doing. But now with a 1 year old, and less free time and money, it was time to move on.
I always kept up with maintenance and for a Midwest car, I managed to keep it in great shape after moving to the northwest. It's taken me up into the mountains, places I didn't think it could go. I've pulled out many vehicles that were in a ditch or stuck in snow. I've passed by vehicles much more capable than mine with drivers who had no idea what they were doing. It has lots of character on the sides from branch scrapes on tight, overgrown trails. My dog and I, who I lost last October, spent many days in that car in the mountains. I brought my son home from the hospital in that car. It's the first vehicle I bought as an adult. At the time, it was a lot of money for me. It was 6 years old with 112k and I negotiated a thousand lower plus a brand new set of KO2s installed for $14k.
Last month we just bought a 2023 4Runner TRD Off-road premium with 30k miles in lunar rock.
No Midwest or Northeast rust shenanigans. Toyota gold certified pre-owned. It feels familiar, but so much more modern. I almost shed a tear of joy when I saw the underside and it's new looking fasteners. Some things I like, others make zero sense (useless open cubbies in the center console, doors, and rear cargo area). I liked my hidden compartments that kept things tidy. I loved the hidden glove box door on my 4th but overall this feels like a spaceship compared. Camera, heated leatherish seats, a manual 4WD lever, Android Auto. The dealer offered us $5k for it which knowing the issues that were coming up, I took the deal without a second thought. I didn't feel like dealing with a private sale. I just wanted to move on.
I look forward to the adventures that await this new one and I imagine it will be in the family for a very long time.
At 220k miles, 100k of which were in the Midwest, rust was becoming a frequent foe. I learned a Dremel and cutoff wheel were part of almost any repair requiring fasteners.
I've replaced the entire brake system twice (all 4 calipers), basically every 100k miles. That design just loves to develop a seized piston. Shops will tell you it's warped rotors but it's almost always a piston.
I replaced the radiator last year after realizing it was leaking pretty bad. Transmission cooler line that was rusted wide open and leaking. The power steering hard-line was next. My steering rack needed replacement but I never got around to it. Same with my A arm bushings, it was pretty floaty on the highway. My AC went out and developed a leak. The rear hatch actuator rusted and I replaced that. Sway bar end links and bushings when I redid the suspension. I bought cv axles to replace the originals that had ripped boots. I said whenever they gave me a problem I would tackle it. 80k miles later the new cv axles are still in my garage, never replaced because I never noticed an issue with the ripped ones. At 220 I assumed the water pump and alternator were probably right around the corner. The Bilsteins I put in 100k ago were close to needing another set. Until this year, I never once doubted getting in that vehicle and driving across the country. It was a fantastic vehicle and I don't blame it for it's aging, that's all Midwest corrosions doing. But now with a 1 year old, and less free time and money, it was time to move on.
I always kept up with maintenance and for a Midwest car, I managed to keep it in great shape after moving to the northwest. It's taken me up into the mountains, places I didn't think it could go. I've pulled out many vehicles that were in a ditch or stuck in snow. I've passed by vehicles much more capable than mine with drivers who had no idea what they were doing. It has lots of character on the sides from branch scrapes on tight, overgrown trails. My dog and I, who I lost last October, spent many days in that car in the mountains. I brought my son home from the hospital in that car. It's the first vehicle I bought as an adult. At the time, it was a lot of money for me. It was 6 years old with 112k and I negotiated a thousand lower plus a brand new set of KO2s installed for $14k.
Last month we just bought a 2023 4Runner TRD Off-road premium with 30k miles in lunar rock.
No Midwest or Northeast rust shenanigans. Toyota gold certified pre-owned. It feels familiar, but so much more modern. I almost shed a tear of joy when I saw the underside and it's new looking fasteners. Some things I like, others make zero sense (useless open cubbies in the center console, doors, and rear cargo area). I liked my hidden compartments that kept things tidy. I loved the hidden glove box door on my 4th but overall this feels like a spaceship compared. Camera, heated leatherish seats, a manual 4WD lever, Android Auto. The dealer offered us $5k for it which knowing the issues that were coming up, I took the deal without a second thought. I didn't feel like dealing with a private sale. I just wanted to move on.
I look forward to the adventures that await this new one and I imagine it will be in the family for a very long time.
Last edited:
