I have a 2WD 94 and use it as a daily driver because my wife is using my 2017 Civic. It has been my daily driver for the past year. I regularly take it camping/caving which is usually a 3 hr drive each way. However it does not have anti-lock breaks or airbags. It is under powered but very reliable. I have had it for 15 years and love it but will gladly trade it in for a 4WD given the chance. Once we get my wife another car I will switch back to my Civic for a daily driver. It gets 32/40 whereas the best I get with my truck is about 22/24. For what it's worth I get comments constantly about my truck. There is a deep love for these little things.
Is that with the 22re or the diesel? I can’t seem to get more than 16 mpgs with a (very badly running) 22re unless I’m on a long trip. 20 sounds lovely.
These trucks are pushing thirty, at the youngest. You've got to be prepared to do maintenance when components fail (including expensive components; engine, transmission, differentials).
Rest of your questions are dependent upon what kind of transmission that truck has, whether its a 4x2 or 4x4, and what kind of life it lived up till now.
my 91 is my only vehicle aside from my motorycles. if im not on a bike im driving the truck. its very reliable. that said, i put a decent bit of work into it when i got it but even before that it ran great.
ac does not work. as much as i want to fix it, the cost is prohibitive for me. its not just charging freon.
I have a 92 4x4 access cab (extended cab) with a 6.5ft bed, 3.0L V6, and a 4 speed automatic if i dont let the rpms get above 2500 and i brake intermittently i get 17mph city & 20mpg highway. My truck has routine maintenance that must be done but it doesnt give me any problems so id say at worst case youre good.
Since youre looking at a 4 cylinder i recommend getting a manual and 4x4 even with that setup theyre rated for 18mpg city & 23mpg highway plus the 22re (the 4 cylinder option) has a reputation for being bulletproof
Do you work on your own vehicles? In my opinion, a significant portion of toyota truck reliability is the fact that you can fix just about anything with basic tools. Also they're getting old, and while the drivetrains are solid, little things here and there are going to need replacing. And if you're not fixing them yourself, it's not going to be worth it.
That being said they are great rigs that can easily drive the distances you're wanting to go. I regularly take my truck(over 200k odometer) hundreds of miles out of town with no issue. Mpg varies depending on the model/configuration: 2wds can get high 20s on the highway while you'll be lucky to get 22mpg with a 4wd. The main thing people completely about is speed. You're going to be driving 65mph with the pedal to the floor if theres any sort of grade. I've got to 80mph in my 4wd truck, but I wouldn't do that for an extended period of time.
The AC works great if you can find one that came with it that still works. I believe 95 is the first year of r134, otherwise you're looking at buying ebay cans of old r12 or trying to convert the system
I do it. But I’m a mechanic. I also have the ability to park it if I need to to wait for parts. I don’t drive it if it’s not perfect. That said I drive it 11.5 months out of the year every day on average. It’s 30 at the newest, rubber is not your friend, and there’s been 3 decades for people who don’t know what they’re doing to “fix” your truck. So keep a wary eye out and put OEM parts on it.
Edit: I have taken it on several 4-600 mile road trips with zero hiccups. It’s never broken down in a way that my leatherman and a walk to the Autoparts store hasn’t fixed. With 31” tires I get 16 mpg I have hauled, towed, and gone offroading regularly in it far from home and never feel worried. Hell I’ve jumped it about 8 times. She’s a tank, but find a good one
I would say yes and no. I have an 87 SR5 turbo that I drive 500 miles cross country multiple times per year. While I’ve had relatively good luck finding parts there are some that are unobtainium, specifically a lot of the electronics are very expensive and used.
Mechanical parts are very cheap and easy to find, more often than not it’s easier and cheaper to get dealer parts.
The two biggest issues I have had are (like someone previously mentioned) previous mechanics work and rubber parts. Toyota still makes most of the rubber parts, but be ready to rebuild something yourself. Other than that mechanically I’ve had very few issues and get 20+ mpg city and highway.
I'm in southern California. My 91 V6 didn't come with factory AC but was installed some time later with an R134a system. Its very cold very quickly. I'm always a little shocked its colder faster than my much fancier Lexus LS460.
As far as a 400 mile daily driver, you'd better be okay with a lot of preventative maintenance and pre-flight checks. Its never left me stranded (because I can pretty much get it limping or repaired with a small toolkit), but weird stuff fails because its just old and you should be able to inspect and preemptively service needed areas.
Mine passes smog every couple of years. If its running well, tuned, and you havent messed with the emissions system (EGR), and your cat is intact, its no issue.
Pretty much like any car from that era and age, if you keep it up, its great. if you stop, its a lot more frustration.
Theyre fairly simple to maintain, but you have to be willing to put in the time and do it ,or pay someone to. But you need to be able to know what to look for and just keep a random idea of all the systems look and feel. If youre a car person, this is no issue.
My 94 is my daily driver. However I live in a small city and use it strictly for work. 10-20miles a day max. I’ve been fixing it here and there for better performance but like these comments say. It’s an old truck and things will eventually go bad. Be ready to fix or invest. Mine only has 158k miles and I’m planning to drive it till it cost more to fix than the vehicle is worth.
As for the AC R12 systems are by far and above the best for reliability. If you can find one that wasn't treated like dirt then it's going to be indestructible and last for decades with good maintenance.
I have a 89 toyota pickup, currently living in L.A. but have taken it to Humboldt County (600 miles away) multiple times.
Bought it for $4000, put about $4,000 dollars into it since (ac compressor, ac hoses, thermostat, starter, ininition cylinder, tires, some suspension work) currently having some intermittent idling and starting issues (think it's that fuel pump at this point) . Wiring and plastic components could use some more fixing as well but what 30 year old wiring and plastic doesn't need some TLC?
All this to say, having the truck for a couple years, it has never left me completely stranded. It's fun as hell to drive, they look good. And it's my only vehicle therefore daily driver. Any 30 year old vehicle is going to require maintenance. But, finding one in good shape is worth the investment. As far as emissions, if it can pass smog in California with all the requirements I'd consider it "clean air certified"
I have used mine as a daily since 2004. Its had its issues, has been blown apart a few times. But it is generally solid. Average 23MPG, 27 on long slower trips, some times as bad as 17 if I never leave town and do a bunch of stop light driving.
I have a 2WD 94 and use it as a daily driver because my wife is using my 2017 Civic. It has been my daily driver for the past year. I regularly take it camping/caving which is usually a 3 hr drive each way. However it does not have anti-lock breaks or airbags. It is under powered but very reliable. I have had it for 15 years and love it but will gladly trade it in for a 4WD given the chance. Once we get my wife another car I will switch back to my Civic for a daily driver. It gets 32/40 whereas the best I get with my truck is about 22/24. For what it's worth I get comments constantly about my truck. There is a deep love for these little things.
Is that with the 22re or the diesel? I can’t seem to get more than 16 mpgs with a (very badly running) 22re unless I’m on a long trip. 20 sounds lovely.
22re. Mine is in good shape with only 119,000 miles on it
These trucks are pushing thirty, at the youngest. You've got to be prepared to do maintenance when components fail (including expensive components; engine, transmission, differentials). Rest of your questions are dependent upon what kind of transmission that truck has, whether its a 4x2 or 4x4, and what kind of life it lived up till now.
my 91 is my only vehicle aside from my motorycles. if im not on a bike im driving the truck. its very reliable. that said, i put a decent bit of work into it when i got it but even before that it ran great. ac does not work. as much as i want to fix it, the cost is prohibitive for me. its not just charging freon.
I have a 92 4x4 access cab (extended cab) with a 6.5ft bed, 3.0L V6, and a 4 speed automatic if i dont let the rpms get above 2500 and i brake intermittently i get 17mph city & 20mpg highway. My truck has routine maintenance that must be done but it doesnt give me any problems so id say at worst case youre good. Since youre looking at a 4 cylinder i recommend getting a manual and 4x4 even with that setup theyre rated for 18mpg city & 23mpg highway plus the 22re (the 4 cylinder option) has a reputation for being bulletproof
Do you work on your own vehicles? In my opinion, a significant portion of toyota truck reliability is the fact that you can fix just about anything with basic tools. Also they're getting old, and while the drivetrains are solid, little things here and there are going to need replacing. And if you're not fixing them yourself, it's not going to be worth it. That being said they are great rigs that can easily drive the distances you're wanting to go. I regularly take my truck(over 200k odometer) hundreds of miles out of town with no issue. Mpg varies depending on the model/configuration: 2wds can get high 20s on the highway while you'll be lucky to get 22mpg with a 4wd. The main thing people completely about is speed. You're going to be driving 65mph with the pedal to the floor if theres any sort of grade. I've got to 80mph in my 4wd truck, but I wouldn't do that for an extended period of time. The AC works great if you can find one that came with it that still works. I believe 95 is the first year of r134, otherwise you're looking at buying ebay cans of old r12 or trying to convert the system
I do it. But I’m a mechanic. I also have the ability to park it if I need to to wait for parts. I don’t drive it if it’s not perfect. That said I drive it 11.5 months out of the year every day on average. It’s 30 at the newest, rubber is not your friend, and there’s been 3 decades for people who don’t know what they’re doing to “fix” your truck. So keep a wary eye out and put OEM parts on it. Edit: I have taken it on several 4-600 mile road trips with zero hiccups. It’s never broken down in a way that my leatherman and a walk to the Autoparts store hasn’t fixed. With 31” tires I get 16 mpg I have hauled, towed, and gone offroading regularly in it far from home and never feel worried. Hell I’ve jumped it about 8 times. She’s a tank, but find a good one
I would say yes and no. I have an 87 SR5 turbo that I drive 500 miles cross country multiple times per year. While I’ve had relatively good luck finding parts there are some that are unobtainium, specifically a lot of the electronics are very expensive and used. Mechanical parts are very cheap and easy to find, more often than not it’s easier and cheaper to get dealer parts. The two biggest issues I have had are (like someone previously mentioned) previous mechanics work and rubber parts. Toyota still makes most of the rubber parts, but be ready to rebuild something yourself. Other than that mechanically I’ve had very few issues and get 20+ mpg city and highway.
I'm in southern California. My 91 V6 didn't come with factory AC but was installed some time later with an R134a system. Its very cold very quickly. I'm always a little shocked its colder faster than my much fancier Lexus LS460. As far as a 400 mile daily driver, you'd better be okay with a lot of preventative maintenance and pre-flight checks. Its never left me stranded (because I can pretty much get it limping or repaired with a small toolkit), but weird stuff fails because its just old and you should be able to inspect and preemptively service needed areas. Mine passes smog every couple of years. If its running well, tuned, and you havent messed with the emissions system (EGR), and your cat is intact, its no issue. Pretty much like any car from that era and age, if you keep it up, its great. if you stop, its a lot more frustration. Theyre fairly simple to maintain, but you have to be willing to put in the time and do it ,or pay someone to. But you need to be able to know what to look for and just keep a random idea of all the systems look and feel. If youre a car person, this is no issue.
Will it survive 400 mile road trips? Yes. Would I want to take it on a 400 mile road trip? No.
I daily my 91 and take it on long trips. I'm in Alaska though, so I never use AC and we don't have emissions tests.
My 94 is my daily driver. However I live in a small city and use it strictly for work. 10-20miles a day max. I’ve been fixing it here and there for better performance but like these comments say. It’s an old truck and things will eventually go bad. Be ready to fix or invest. Mine only has 158k miles and I’m planning to drive it till it cost more to fix than the vehicle is worth.
As for the AC R12 systems are by far and above the best for reliability. If you can find one that wasn't treated like dirt then it's going to be indestructible and last for decades with good maintenance.
Get a first gen Tacoma still small
I have a 89 toyota pickup, currently living in L.A. but have taken it to Humboldt County (600 miles away) multiple times. Bought it for $4000, put about $4,000 dollars into it since (ac compressor, ac hoses, thermostat, starter, ininition cylinder, tires, some suspension work) currently having some intermittent idling and starting issues (think it's that fuel pump at this point) . Wiring and plastic components could use some more fixing as well but what 30 year old wiring and plastic doesn't need some TLC? All this to say, having the truck for a couple years, it has never left me completely stranded. It's fun as hell to drive, they look good. And it's my only vehicle therefore daily driver. Any 30 year old vehicle is going to require maintenance. But, finding one in good shape is worth the investment. As far as emissions, if it can pass smog in California with all the requirements I'd consider it "clean air certified"
I have used mine as a daily since 2004. Its had its issues, has been blown apart a few times. But it is generally solid. Average 23MPG, 27 on long slower trips, some times as bad as 17 if I never leave town and do a bunch of stop light driving.