| Model year | 1991 |
| Year of manufacture | 1991 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.4 Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 10 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) |
8.2 / 10
|
| Distance when acquired | 180000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 250000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Jeep CJ7 |
Summary:
Best vehicleI have ever owned
Faults:
I replaced the original shocks, ball joints and brake system at 220000 kilometers
General Comments:
Great truck.
Easy on fuel.
Cheap body parts.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 6th July, 2005
| Model year | 1991 |
| Year of manufacture | 1991 |
| First year of ownership | 1994 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.4 liter r.e. Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) |
7.8 / 10
|
| Distance when acquired | 57000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 354000 miles |
Summary:
Rock solid reliable vehicle
Faults:
120,000 miles. Timing chain broke. Got lucky because the cylinder head is non-interference, which meant no broken valves.
150,000 miles. Clutch went out.
Between 150,000 miles and 200,000 miles, had starter go out, also water pump, heater switch broke, and blew out a head gasket. After replacing head gasket, it blew out again after 20,000 miles. I almost hauled the truck out to the gun range and used it for target practice at this point, but I'm glad I didn't. I had the cylinder head rebuilt and resurfaced, and used a copper spray adhesive on the head gasket prior to installation. I also torqued the head bolts down to 75 ft.lbs., versus the manufacturers recommendation of 58 ft. lbs. No more problems with the head gasket.
Another clutch at 200,000.
Another starter at 200,000.
Radiator had to be replaced at 225,000.
Chewed up my differential gears at 300,000. This was my fault, because I got stuck in the snow and had one tire spinning at 95 m.p.h. trying to get out. Never do this, unless you want to replace the rear end.
Finally at 350,000 miles, this truck is starting to fall apart. The speedometer cable howls like a banshee when the weather gets cold, and there are rattles and clunking sounds to numerous to mention. The engine makes a loud "thak thak thak" noise at idle. Probably the camshaft.
Other than the noise, the engine runs great, still gets 25 m.p.g. and still passes emissions.
Truly, the best, and most reliable vehicle I've ever owned.
I have no doubt the engine will make it to 400,000 miles, and at that point, I'll have to decide if I still want to keep it or not.
General Comments:
Toyota did their homework when they built these trucks. Very cheap to operate and maintain, and very reliable. They are also very small. I guess that's one price you have to pay to get the fuel economy.
I decided to buy an American vehicle for my next purchase, a Dodge Dakota.
I am cautiously optimistic after reading some of the negative reviews.
If my Dodge truck turns out to be half the truck my Toyota is, I'll be satisfied.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 11th October, 2004
Are you sure you're not driving my truck... LOL I love my truck as well. If I could only get the speedometer noise to go away... what's cheaper a new radio or fix the speedometer?
Well I'm SURE YOU WILL BE VERY HAPPY THEN...
BECAUSE a Dodge Dakota is just that, a brand new hunk of metal, that is half the truck of my 1991 Sr5 V6 Xtra Cab, slurp..
I made this MISTAKE, I bought a brand new Dakota Quad Cab. The guy who took my cashiers check said I wuote "It's yours now". I never thought about it til later. Then his voice would ring in my ears!
At 1600 miles the brakes were squealing (GRINDING). The dealer tried to get 800 bucks. Then after their embarrassing antics, resurfaced rotors & put on correct pads.
At 4500 miles the tranny would slam into gear. Dealer said "working as designed". Exactly that. I'm sure mechanics that care would love to fix em, if they could. But working as designed, is all I ever heard.
Whistling wind noise through front windshield, & drivers left rear. OHHHH, do I have to go on... in the end for me, 30k miles in 2 years & very happy to get $18,800 of 24,600 back.
Oh yeah, took off sheepskin seat covers & seats were sagging already, I'm 5'10 175lbs. The buyer loved it, it was still clean... & under warranty. Then I bought my 1991 TOYOTA V6 4X4 Xtra Cab.. Reliable of course, working as designed here means, well balanced, do I have to go on..
Final update. This truck finally keeled out at 407,000 miles. The engine is still mechanically sound, but something electronic in the computer failed, and at this point the vehicle is in such poor condition, that it is not worth the money required to fix it. Still, it was a great truck.
My 1991 Toyota Pickup is the best, most reliable vehicle I've ever owned in my life (not the nicest or option laden but the BEST).
Cheap to maintain, great gas mileage, 165k miles and still runs like it did the day I bought it.
It runs perfectly as my driver to work and back, which is most of my driving, while a 98 Dodge Ram Extended Cab fell apart on me with not even half the driving miles. 3 water pumps and a transmission later I sold that piece of crap and bought another Toyota. Wonder why American auto companies are in the toilet? hmm.
To the above comment, what is the gearing in your truck? Meaning, at cruising speed, for example 60-65, what is your engine speed?
I have a 1991 Toyota pick up. My daddy bought it for me when I was 15 and now I am 19.
It has been the best truck ever. He bought it for 2500 dollars and I turned down 6000 for it, it recently blew a head gasket. This was the first thing ever wrong with it :(
They are the best trucks ever!