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- #41
Justifiable when its a career, a hobby, and a passion, I'd say.
What it Cost to Own an 80 Series: 11 months and 20,000 Miles In
- Thread starter benjrblant
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I was writing my dissertation when I first called @cruiserdan.
Living in Akron, OH next door--interestingly enough--to Dan Arbaugh: The Black Keys. Him and Pat were garage band material at best.
My how time flies.
and you ended up doing your own parts trading so we all know how that phone call worked out haha
Same here - I quit keeping track 13 years ago. I happen to know that I just dropped about $5500 into it, but that got me a new headgasket with all the usual trimmings, a rebuild on my head and a new Magnusson S/C. I have all my receipts for 13 years of ownership jammed into a file cabinet, but I've never bothered to add it up.
I'm afraid to add up what I've spent since buying mine. I have a 96 LX, 175k, Lockers. I hate broken stuff and every time I drove the truck the first few weeks I would notice something else. I've been chipping away at the list, doing some stuff myself and having some work done by my local Toyota shop that's run by an old friend of mine. But, it's a big list, and it's been a lot of parts, which aren't Ferrari expensive, but they aren't GM cheap. Hopefully I'll get over the hump, but hard to imagine at this point, since I've set my mind on a Cummins R2.8 or Vortec 5300 after I've addressed the other more pressing issues.
I know some folks have said that these trucks are only expensive because people replace parts they don't need to and address issues that don't exist. I'm not sure I agree with that. I think if you've owned your truck a long time or have been lucky enough to purchase a truck that's been maintained regularly and properly over it's 20 year life, that may be true. I think for the rest of us, after 20 years, a lot of these vehicles have seen some level of neglect and to come back from that takes some time and \ or money. A
I know some folks have said that these trucks are only expensive because people replace parts they don't need to and address issues that don't exist. I'm not sure I agree with that. I think if you've owned your truck a long time or have been lucky enough to purchase a truck that's been maintained regularly and properly over it's 20 year life, that may be true. I think for the rest of us, after 20 years, a lot of these vehicles have seen some level of neglect and to come back from that takes some time and \ or money. A
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My point exactly, the mere thought of sh@&&& bricks gave me more puckering than a 30 degree off camber. Highly unadvisable!
I kept track of "most" of what I did BUT intentionally did NOT keep track the price tag.
Bought my 94 back in September. Now, 7 months later, I'm pretty sure I've spent at least the purchase price on baselining and some add ons. After doing a running count on my 74 BMW 2002, and seeing that I had nearly $15K sunk into a $3600 car, I figured I'd just keep all the receipts for the FZJ on file, and not hurt myself again by adding it all up.
I still think it's a bargain. It's the cheapest reliable 4x4 out there with any form of carrying capacity.
Quit yer slackin and finish that paper!
Someone a lot wiser than me said something along the lines of "all 80s cost $15k - if you buy one for $6k it will take $9k to get it up to snuff, if you buy one for $11k it will take $4k to get it up to snuff, etc." Once that money is spent though it will be one of the most capable, reliable and durable 4x4s you can get for the price.
The cost of ownership is well worth it.
inb4 @LS1FJ40 comes in and tells us the cost of ownership isn't that bad. I actually agree with this too, most of us are picking up neglected trucks that cost nearly $50k in the mid-90s for a few thousand bucks. Of course they are going to need some catch up work and parts are not as cheap as a honda civic. After the catch up is done though and you spread it out across all the many years of (mostly) worry free years you get after this the cost of ownership imo is below average.
The cost of ownership is well worth it.
inb4 @LS1FJ40 comes in and tells us the cost of ownership isn't that bad. I actually agree with this too, most of us are picking up neglected trucks that cost nearly $50k in the mid-90s for a few thousand bucks. Of course they are going to need some catch up work and parts are not as cheap as a honda civic. After the catch up is done though and you spread it out across all the many years of (mostly) worry free years you get after this the cost of ownership imo is below average.
My 92 is at about $200/month over the course of the 25 years I've owned it. That includes the purchase price when I bought it new.
That is an incredibly low cost of ownership.
I completely agree with you. The total cost of ownership of these is usually exaggerated because people on here buy neglected trucks and have to pile in a few thousand bucks worth of parts to get them reliable again. They then come on here and post about it which leads others to believe they are expensive to own. Yes, up front they may cost quite a bit more than the purchase price but once that money is spent and you spread it out over years and years of ownership, the total cost is not bad.
And people include upgrades and modifications in to their total cost of ownership. That is misleading since none of those are truly necessary for it to function.
I included all necessary maintenance and wear and tear items. Brakes, hoses, belts, alternator, water pump, radiator, tires, etc.
FWIW, my cost of ownership includes replacing a perfectly functioning alternator and water pump at 17 years since I was replacing the radiator.
I included all necessary maintenance and wear and tear items. Brakes, hoses, belts, alternator, water pump, radiator, tires, etc.
FWIW, my cost of ownership includes replacing a perfectly functioning alternator and water pump at 17 years since I was replacing the radiator.
I am going to report that thread, definitely a public safety concern !
happy now.....I'll have to see a shrink as a result of what I have read so far, I am traumatized now.......
happy now.....I'll have to see a shrink as a result of what I have read so far, I am traumatized now.......
It's that modest "Total Service Cost" entry hidden in the middle that gets me every time. As long as I don't look, it doesn't feel so bad. 
Most all of this is me doing the labor, but things like re-gear I had done professionally. And, in truth, I obtained most parts at a steep discounted. But, to keep an accurate valuation, I still entered retail costs.
This is about 18 months and 12k miles, but includes a full maintenance baseline on a 200k mile Cruiser.
Most all of this is me doing the labor, but things like re-gear I had done professionally. And, in truth, I obtained most parts at a steep discounted. But, to keep an accurate valuation, I still entered retail costs.
This is about 18 months and 12k miles, but includes a full maintenance baseline on a 200k mile Cruiser.
Bought my rig at the beginning of December last year. Total costs to date, including purchase price is approaching the $20K mark.
Needed all four calipers replaced (did rotors, pads and hoses, too), a front wheel bearing, knock sensors, parking brake non-functional, installed an OME lift kit, needed new tires. Also bought a tailgate storage hatch through one of our vendors, along with other parts yet to be installed (waiting for pleasant spring weather).
That stated, yesterday, I drove the beast from Cincinnati to Chicago & back, and she drove beautifully! On one fill-up, I even managed 14.5 MPG!
Now I'm looking to upgrade the stereo and replace the rather nice-condition front seats with something that will keep my buttocks happy over long distances.
Needed all four calipers replaced (did rotors, pads and hoses, too), a front wheel bearing, knock sensors, parking brake non-functional, installed an OME lift kit, needed new tires. Also bought a tailgate storage hatch through one of our vendors, along with other parts yet to be installed (waiting for pleasant spring weather).
That stated, yesterday, I drove the beast from Cincinnati to Chicago & back, and she drove beautifully! On one fill-up, I even managed 14.5 MPG!
Now I'm looking to upgrade the stereo and replace the rather nice-condition front seats with something that will keep my buttocks happy over long distances.
The fuel economy thing is a bad measure, it's a 5+ ton 4x4. It will lose all day in that department.
But I don't see any civics out in the woods at the area lakes camping with their families. And I mean "real" woods.
But I don't see any civics out in the woods at the area lakes camping with their families. And I mean "real" woods.
I've got two... one is at my house in CO and the 2nd is a new addition because I wanted to drive one all the time. Between the two of them I could own a nice new car.
- Thread starter
- #60
Psh. This way, you own TWO nice ones.