most people on here are maintence slaves...
most people on here also like to do their own work for a few reasons: it's cheaper, you know who to blame if something goes wrong, it is fun, you learn practical skills and can then help others, you don't have to worry about a shop 'upselling' on a few things, etc, etc, etc.
the reputation for Toyota's reliability is definately in the maintence of them, and how they're driven. they will go for ever if regularly maintained and driven correctly. PREVENTIVE maintence is also key to avoid a breakdown in the middle of now-here.
that being said, my "new" Toyota was "maintained" by the previous owner to the tune of $9500+ over the last 4 years...
and ran like shee-it and broke down shortly after I got it.
this was carb/fuel related. when I first cleaned the carb it looked as if the carb had never been cleaned in the last 4 years or more either. and anyway, it will give me the oppertunity to desmog.
good luck with you potential purchase...you are joining an elite club if you do buy the farm! some other things to look at/maintain would be the smog system, and the power steering pump!
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*'80 2WD,murdered by gaper.Rust Into Pieces,'00
*'80 4WD,RIP'02 *'84 4WD,RIP'06
*'84 Tercel4WD.Stolen by City of Durango,and scrapped.Rust Into Pieces,'07
*'77 FJ40,"Panama Red," drove 2 of the tires off of the rims during test drive!RIP'09 *'84 FJ60,"Blue Steel."