60 series reliability/Teenager's First Car
- Thread starter TRDOffroad03
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- Thread starter
- #22
Yep don't worry. My parents are ok with a older car (as long as it's not too sporty (MR2) nor does it implode in flames (Ford Pinto) and can handle the snow.
I now cannot decide between a daily driver 60 or, own it on the side.
I owe my life to the 70 series...but my heart belongs to the 60.very well put ...
Do you know anyone with a 60 series (or 40 or whatever you are thinking about) you can get some drive time in? Maybe you've already test drove some that you've looked at on Craigslist or whatever?
- Thread starter
- #25
Do you know what, I'll buget myself so, I can afford both. I love the 60 but, do not want to drive it in snow!
Nope not yet. Currently brainstorming ideas. However, by the end of summer, I'll have my mind made up.
Nope not yet. Currently brainstorming ideas. However, by the end of summer, I'll have my mind made up.
Alright. Good luck! Keep using MUD as a resource...you might want to check out the Classifieds section where people post up vehicles they are selling...and also check out the Clubhouse section...I'm not sure if there is a LC club in Boston or not, but there are some MUDers from that area on this forum.
Something tells me you're going to make the right decision for you.
- Thread starter
- #27
Thanks everyone for the help. I have a whole great community here and, no matter what, my first set of wheels will be a Toyota Truck!
I inherited 2 BJ60s when i was 14, one was a parts truck, and the second a 1985 starting to rust good runner with 250000km.
I drove the 85 for 6 years, still have it, it now is too rusty to drive on the road but it gets used around the farm. Currently has 375000km. Keeping that truck running was fun, but it was a lot of work, ensuring reliability especially in -40C conditions. It only let me down once, suddenly, when a battery froze. Bought myself a 06 tacoma for college- and promptly bought another BJ60 while in College, that gets driven summer only, but as a DD for the summer.
In the end- get a 60 but keep it out of the salt. Mine is parked anytime the golf courses are closed. The Tacomas and 4 runners are better on fuel and would be perfect for your winters, plus parts are easier to find and cheaper for a DD.
I drove the 85 for 6 years, still have it, it now is too rusty to drive on the road but it gets used around the farm. Currently has 375000km. Keeping that truck running was fun, but it was a lot of work, ensuring reliability especially in -40C conditions. It only let me down once, suddenly, when a battery froze. Bought myself a 06 tacoma for college- and promptly bought another BJ60 while in College, that gets driven summer only, but as a DD for the summer.
In the end- get a 60 but keep it out of the salt. Mine is parked anytime the golf courses are closed. The Tacomas and 4 runners are better on fuel and would be perfect for your winters, plus parts are easier to find and cheaper for a DD.
A 60 in this day and age is a huge undertaking as a teenager. I would recommend a 3rd gen 4runner with the 4cylinder or 6cyl 5vz motor. They do well in the snow, easy to repair, fairly modern so you'll learn modern mechanics, and if you smash it, you can easily but another one and swap all your good parts from the smashed one. They don't rust to bad in the winter but you have to rinse the underside off very well throughout the week. Also gas mileage is better. After you keep it for a while, if you feel you are up to a greater challenge, get a 60. But not as much character as a 60. If you must get a 60, 10k is enough for one in good shape and can be a daily driver, but the salt will kill it. Another option is to buy a rusty 60 thats in fair shape but runs ok, if you smash it or it gets more rust-who cares, when you get older you can buy a clean one and swap parts from your rusted one.
Don't have kids, only 24 years old... can't really vote.
Reliable right off the bat really isn't going to be a possible scenario unless you spend some silly money (think like new 4Runner money)
These trucks take a lot of work to keep on the road. Tire rotations, oil changes, constantly monitoring fluid levels, and fixing any components of the 28+ year old truck that may fail whenever they feel like it.
Less often maintenance but still necessary: Changing spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter, tuning the carb, valve adjustments, setting engine timing, constantly monitoring fluid levels (yes I said that twice).
All that said... If you're really in love with them and ready to take on the challenge, Don't let me stop you
(I'm going to check how often you are washing the thing if you get one though)
All of this. ^^^^^
We get a good number of posts like yours from dads and teens alike, I remember when I posted one! haha
I put "I'm not sure" for the survey. My first car was/is my 60, and it has been an amazing and interesting journey. BUT, there are a lot of factors that have made it a nightmare too. My 60 really helped me to "come out of my shell" and get passionate about something constructive at the end of high school through learning how to fix things to getting comments about how cool it was from classmates, and most importantly, meeting other cruiserheads.
The part that really sucks about it is filling it up. I actually had friends that refused to go on trips with me because they were scared (read: too cheap!) to pitch in their share of gas. The s***ty gas mileage also stopped me from getting out and exploring more,... you may not realize how big of a factor this is right now, but after a while it just becomes ingrained in you that you cant go to the beach on a whim or go camping any random weekend.
As Kline mentioned, a 60, no matter how nice it seems, will not be ready to go mechanically. You will have to fix stuff. Every couple of months. Period. ....but they are fun to work on and you will learn quite a lot in a short period of time. They are tough as nails and CAN last for crazy high mileage, but if you want that to happen, you need to be diligent (remember, these trucks are pretty much all at least 30 years old; plastics, rubber and other components are breaking down and Toyoda does not make replacement parts anymore). Eventually, you might get tired of working on it constantly,... especially when you spend 3/4 of every summer break turning wrenches and not exploring. (personal experience.. lol)
Owning a 60 as your first car is something that has to be a passion, and if you choose to dive down the rabbit hole, that passion will quickly grow. Eventually though, you may find yourself in a tough situation similar to what I'm trying to figure out right now; I have a lot of passion for LandCruisers but I don't have the time or money to properly finish my 60, OR enough money to continue repairing and daily driving it. The 60 is no longer the right vehicle for me, but I cant find/afford anything that would suit my needs any better!
They may be lame in comparison, but a late 90's 4runner with the 3.4 V6 would be my ideal choice in retrospect. (But if you go that route, stay on 'Mud or other 4runner forums and get involved. The wealth of knowledge and friendly people are priceless.)
FWIW, my gas bill could buy me a new car...
Screenshot_2015-06-16-21-50-01 by Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
- Thread starter
- #33
I understand the challenge. Right now, I will start out will a 1/2nd gen 4Runner.[4 Door Stick-shift] (Learn on a manual to graduate up to the 60!)
I know with these cars, (4Runners) the Chrome bumpers (front and rear) will rust out with salt. However, a ARB bumper may (definitely will) save me in this day and age against the salt corrosion (in Massachusetts, during our strict yearly inspections, the inspectors usually fail 4Runners for rusty bumpers)!
Finally, when I do get the 60, it will be that summer car.
Hopefully by the time I save my money, I'll find the summer car of my dreams for a affordable price
Finally, I keep things till they are completely worn down and, a 4Runner will be my off-road SUV!
The First Generation 4Runner will be the same story as the FJ60. Especially if you get a 1984. Fuel injection started in 1985, and was the only year of solid front axle and fuel injection. Starting in '86 they had independent front suspension and fuel injection. They have been that way since. The early 90's 4Runners (Second Gen, 89-95) I've heard have a terrible V6 engines. The I4 engine beginning in 1996 (Third Gen) 3RZ-FE is a great motor. My friend has two of them, previously had another, likes the gas mileage and repair-ability. (Non 4WD, but the premise is still the same)
The true unicorn... 3rd Gen 4Runner V6 4WD 5 speed manual.
Not sure how many of those were made. Don't see them often.
The true unicorn... 3rd Gen 4Runner V6 4WD 5 speed manual.
Not sure how many of those were made. Don't see them often.
I would vote 3rd gen 4RNR as well. Something newer but not that new...They are much smaller than LCs for the most part, plenty of parts (and offroad goodies) available.
I understand the challenge. Right now, I will start out will a 1/2nd gen 4Runner.[4 Door Stick-shift] (Learn on a manual to graduate up to the 60!)
I know with these cars, (4Runners) the Chrome bumpers (front and rear) will rust out with salt. However, a ARB bumper may (definitely will) save me in this day and age against the salt corrosion (in Massachusetts, during our strict yearly inspections, the inspectors usually fail 4Runners for rusty bumpers)!
Finally, when I do get the 60, it will be that summer car.
Hopefully by the time I save my money, I'll find the summer car of my dreams for a affordable price
Finally, I keep things till they are completely worn down and, a 4Runner will be my off-road SUV!
A 1st or 2nd gen 4runner will be the same amount of work as a 60, parts will be cheaper and more plentiful, but they are just as old. The 3.0 is a dog of a motor and sucks gas for the power. The 22r series is a great motor, but they are all old and leaking from every seal and gasket these days. A 3rd gen 5 speed would be much less work and have a lot of nice equipment. They cost more than the 1st or 2nd gens, but its worth it. It would still need some work, but they are uber reliable and not so old you would be working on it all the time.
^^^Great info on 4Runners from these fellas!
Here is a link to the FJNortheasters Club. Looks like the president of the club in in CT. You might get in touch with him and let him know you're interested in Toyota trucks...see when the next meeting is and tag along and learn about some local information/help, etc.
http://www.fjnortheasters.org/index.php
Same thing for the MA/NH Yankee Toys Club. Here's the link:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/forums/ma-nh-yankee-toys.112/
And lastly, if you don't wear a Red Sox hat to their meeting, these guys at NY Gotham City Landcruiser Club might just let you in, too:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/forums/ny-gotham-city-land-cruisers.38/
Here is a link to the FJNortheasters Club. Looks like the president of the club in in CT. You might get in touch with him and let him know you're interested in Toyota trucks...see when the next meeting is and tag along and learn about some local information/help, etc.
http://www.fjnortheasters.org/index.php
Same thing for the MA/NH Yankee Toys Club. Here's the link:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/forums/ma-nh-yankee-toys.112/
And lastly, if you don't wear a Red Sox hat to their meeting, these guys at NY Gotham City Landcruiser Club might just let you in, too:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/forums/ny-gotham-city-land-cruisers.38/
- Thread starter
- #38
Thanks everyone
I feel embarrassed but, a first gen 4Runner is not what I wanted. I will go late 2nd-early 3rd (before 94) I originally thought the 1st and 2nd gen were the same!
Sry for the confusion and, thanks for the help!
I feel embarrassed but, a first gen 4Runner is not what I wanted. I will go late 2nd-early 3rd (before 94) I originally thought the 1st and 2nd gen were the same!
Sry for the confusion and, thanks for the help!
Maybe the way to see it is that there is a trade-off between costs (resources: time, money, patience) and benefits (commuting, traveling, looking at it).
Whether or not a vehicle fits the appropriate trade-offs depends on the design/age/particular condition of the vehicle and your expectations as an owner for how much time/money/patience you want to spend underneath it fixing it versus driving it.
For example, if you are the type of person who likes to take responsibility and solve problems yourself, maybe the time spent working on it with a friend or two is just as enjoyable as the time spent driving it around.
Or, if you have scheduled responsibilities and need to be certain places at precise times (commuting), then the vehicle will have to meet those requirements.
Only you can know those trade-offs and often times you won't really know what they are until you are in a situation where they are tested...like the vehicle needs to be fixed but it takes away your Friday night...and Saturday...and Sunday...
The information they guys are giving you in this thread (cost of ownership in terms of gas/time spent repairing/parts prices; quirks about model/year designs for the 4Runners, etc.) are helpful to you for getting an idea of what to expect as far as behavior for particular models/years of vehicles in terms of those trade-offs...but only you being honest with yourself can know what you are willing to trade-off in terms of resources.
I say keep digging and reading and asking questions. These guys here on MUD are really smart and have a lot of experience solving problems with these different model vehicles, as you can see from the response you got in this thread.
Whether or not a vehicle fits the appropriate trade-offs depends on the design/age/particular condition of the vehicle and your expectations as an owner for how much time/money/patience you want to spend underneath it fixing it versus driving it.
For example, if you are the type of person who likes to take responsibility and solve problems yourself, maybe the time spent working on it with a friend or two is just as enjoyable as the time spent driving it around.
Or, if you have scheduled responsibilities and need to be certain places at precise times (commuting), then the vehicle will have to meet those requirements.
Only you can know those trade-offs and often times you won't really know what they are until you are in a situation where they are tested...like the vehicle needs to be fixed but it takes away your Friday night...and Saturday...and Sunday...
The information they guys are giving you in this thread (cost of ownership in terms of gas/time spent repairing/parts prices; quirks about model/year designs for the 4Runners, etc.) are helpful to you for getting an idea of what to expect as far as behavior for particular models/years of vehicles in terms of those trade-offs...but only you being honest with yourself can know what you are willing to trade-off in terms of resources.
I say keep digging and reading and asking questions. These guys here on MUD are really smart and have a lot of experience solving problems with these different model vehicles, as you can see from the response you got in this thread.
I grew up in newhampster driving a 20 year old Volvo (74 144). I learned a lot about driving (rear wheel drive in snow 
) and mechanizing at the same time. It took all my money, but I still look back on that car with more than fond memories. Add four wheel drive and the cool factor, I would go for the 60. Between maintenance, repairs and gas, you will be forced to learn how to budget as well!
) and mechanizing at the same time. It took all my money, but I still look back on that car with more than fond memories. Add four wheel drive and the cool factor, I would go for the 60. Between maintenance, repairs and gas, you will be forced to learn how to budget as well!
