HELP!!!! I need advice from experienced folks.

[rlatham]

HELP!! We have a 95 Four Runner we inherited from our 2 sons. Six cyl, cold A/C, Full elec, Moon Roof, Nice cd/Casset stereo. It was theirs and when they each got their own 4x4s my wife got this one. It was our first 4X in the family and has a special meanig for us.
It has about 150,000 on it, but my son rebuilt the upper engine only about 15,000 miles ago. The trannie does leak and front end needs work. My sons rolled it over last winter (OH YEAH! Ours, not his. LOL)
Some minor damage on the left rear 1/4 panel. Still looks good even with damage. NO rust! Nice rims and could use new tires. 31x10.5s

MAIN?? I don't like payments and that's what I will end up with if we sell it. My wife loves it, but thinks like a woman and wants to sell it. Get another. Come on guys (& gals?) Who's right here? Me or Her.

I figure put the money we would put out for a down. Get the trannie fixed first. Second the front end. Third the body wk.

Thanks for the advice. Won't tell her unless your advice helps me. LOL!

 

[Bob_Garrett]

Some additional info on the mechanical issues would be helpful. Is it Auto or manual? What is the front end problem?

I'm with you on not having car payments. I haven't had a car payment in nearly 15 years. Of course, I also haven't bought anything newer than a 3-4 year old vehicle and I usually keep them until they die.

Bottom line, if you like the Runner, I'd keep it. The V6 is the weakest link and it sounds like it is in good shape.

 

[WristPin]

keep it. what you could spend in a down payment, and 2 monthly payments on a new(er) 4runner, you could have had sealed the trans and fixed the front end.

i dont know know what exactly you mean by the front end neesds work, but here are some $$$ scenarios:

replace pads turn rotors, new grease seals, and repack wheel bearings: $80 in premium parts. add another $85 for new bearings and races (a.k.a. cone and cup) an ameturer can acomplish this in 4 hours for for the repack and such, add another hour for race removal and installation. two out of five bananas.

replace axles, cause cv boots are torn, and have been run dry: $240-280 for both axles. can be done by removing the hub selector cover and removing the bolt thru axle, the upper ball joint 4 bolts and 6 inner axle bolts. its a quick job for a pro, expect an ameturer to take 4.5 hours. three out of five bananas.

relay rod fracture. it probly hasnt hapened to you. and you may not have heard of it. but dont worry. its free to fix, and you get a free aligament out of t. see the sticky'd topic in the contents of this section for details.


any toyota you buy is worth the money, but any payment sucks. its wiser to invest in the 4runner you have rather than get a new one. a toyota truck holds its value better than any other brand of truck on the market