2004 Toyota Tacoma SR5 V6 XTR Cab from North America - Comments

I should have sold my last import as soon as mine hit 36,000 miles. There is still deductibles with extended warranties if you don't mind paying. I had a transmission, water pump, complete set of tires, all new brakes in the next 10,000 miles. If you keep a car a long time price a new quality paint job. After 2000 if you own an import... I would sell as soon as the factory warranty expires. All your repairs done in quality shops/dealerships show up on Car Faxes and then your vehicle de-values. Actually the day before. I do not like outside extended warranties with deductibles. I went with GM factory 100,000 miles...

"Your point may have been valid five or 10 years ago, but today cars are incredibly complex machines with endless computers and electronic stuff. And guess what? That stuff breaks down, and it IS expensive."

No, the point is actually just as valid, if not more valid today than 10, 15, 20 years ago. The fact is that technology isn't some magical mysterious thing that is only out there to befuddle you and make your car fall apart quicker. If that logic was accurate, then radios would still run on glass vacuum tunes that burn out and we'd still be using steam engines to get us across the country.

First of all, all those mysterious things, like computers, direct injection fuel systems, emission devices, and warning indicators all do one thing: make your car run better and last longer. I know because on one extreme, I have a 53 year old Ford truck. The thing might be more simplistic, but since it has a carburetor, points, exposed lube points, and parts that aren't as precise, it requires my constant attention to keep it running well. The life expectancy between rebuild is also a lot less since the metallurgical engineering of the parts means they simply wear out faster. I might get 100,000 miles out of the engine before the next rebuild.

On the other hand, a modern car's computer helps maintain the proper temperature, fuel to air mixture ratio, engine idle speed, and so on. The result is an engine that runs more efficiently and reliably. metallurgical engineering assures that the alloys and welding techniques used in a modern car are less prone to rust and wear. Tighter clearances means parts operate with less friction. On board readouts lets the owner know when to change the oil, inflate the tires, and other things that helps the owner take better care of their vehicle. Even the technology in paint, using modern nano-technology for smaller gaps between molecules in the paint means a longer lasting shine. To this day, my 11 year old truck still has absolutely no fading or scratching.

Of all the major concerns you mentioned over technology, none of the cars me or my family has had dating back to the mid 80's has had a problem related to anything invented for the car in the last 25 years: the computer, emission control equipment, or even long established convenience features like AC, power windows, or heated rear windows. In fact, none of our cars- all Toyotas and one Ford have had any problems that added up to more than an afternoon at the shop for something really minor and inexpensive. None left us stranded either. The only person I know who has been stranded was a friend who had a beat up Taurus he abused the death: He failed to keep the radiator filled and it overheated.

So in other words, your wife and kids are perfectly safe riding around in a 4 year old car. They would be just as safe in a 10 year old car that had been properly maintained.

Admittedly I make a decent income and could easily buy a new car probably every year. But I find it silly to do so. No- I don't feel deprived that Johnny Hotpants has a new bimmer while I drive down the freeway. Dear ole' Johnny probably has a lot less in the bank than I do. He probably also has a mortgage. I don't. I bought my house lock stock and barrel with cash- money that could've been spent on 4 new cars. What would you prefer?

So yes- I choose to drive my cars as long as they are mechanically sound simply because billions of dollars have been spent perfecting technology so that our cars will last longer and run more reliably. I find it ironic that people keep their cars less than they did 20 years ago and for no good reason other that they're concerned that this technology is out to get them and that heaven forbid if (gasp) the car leaves their family stranded on the freeway. That's why we have cellphones and tow trucks.

I paid off my home in 15 years paid my childrens college. I do not consider myself Johnny Hotpants buying a new car and a new truck every few years. What does bother me is throwing good money after bad on very expensive mechanical repairs. I am at the point now where owning high mileage, questionable vehicles are not my forte. I can jump in either of my new vehicles take a very long trip without hesitation. I can understand 1 trans failure, but not 2 of them on my wifes last 2002 import. I should have sold it in 2005 but I thought it would be practical to hang onto it.

My wife has kept her present vehicle longer than any of her previous 5 cars. This is the first one since 1994 that she has put over 20,000 miles on (and I'm NOT kidding). She is one of those people who like to trade often to have something new and reliable. That is great of you can pay for it (and she can).

What has caused her to fall in love with her current vehicle is that fact that it is her first GM car and the smoothness, great build quality and luxurious feel have made her fall in love with it. At 60,000 miles it has never had a single problem and she plans to keep it several more years. Our brief experience with imports was a total disaster and it's great to now have something she can rely on not to break down every other week.

<<What has caused her to fall in love with her current vehicle is that fact that it is her first GM car and the smoothness, great build quality and luxurious feel have made her fall in love with it. At 60,000 miles it has never had a single problem and she plans to keep it several more years. Our brief experience with imports was a total disaster and it's great to now have something she can rely on not to break down every other week.>.

You cannot generically say all imports are bad and all domestics are great. Obviously, your wife wants some barge with no handling, which is what she should have bought in the first place.

All the domestic vehicles I have owned have had endless reliability problems. I had only one problem with a Honda, and that was because it was made in America.

If you want to see some honest comments and reviews on Toyota, check out the Tundra site. These things are falling apart faster than they can build them.

'I had only one problem with a Honda, and that was because it was made in America.'

Hmmm, that sounds like poor logic with a side of Anti-American. It's strange too, because the Japanese made Honda we had was plagued with serious problems, and someone I know with a 5 year old Honda has had HORRIBLE problems with it. It's odd too, because our Mercury, Ford, Chevy and Dodge have had great reliability.

"Obviously, your wife wants some barge with no handling, which is what she should have bought in the first place."

More objective commentary from the import crowd. Not all of us want a "good handling" yet lousy riding, flimsy import so we can turn our hats backwards and pretend to live the "Fast and the Furious." Some of us prefer the comfort, style and smoothness of a full-sized American sedan, rather than being cramped into a cheaply made, uncomfortable Japanese cigar box all for the sake of going around corners faster than the posted speed limit.

<<'I had only one problem with a Honda, and that was because it was made in America.'

Hmmm, that sounds like poor logic with a side of Anti-American. It's strange too, because the Japanese made Honda we had was plagued with serious problems, and someone I know with a 5 year old Honda has had HORRIBLE problems with it. It's odd too, because our Mercury, Ford, Chevy and Dodge have had great reliability.>.

Poor logic? HMMMM, I guess owning various cars since 1981 (23 so far) and the only ones with problems were either domestics or imports made in America means nothing.

My household also had a totally unreliable made-in-Japan Honda (a Civic). The CV joints went at 40,000 miles and the whole car self-destructed at 90,000 miles. Our domestics have never had a problem and some have gone over 300,000 miles. Garbage is garbage regardless of what country it is made in. Japanese companies just use poorer quality, flimsier material.

She might be driving a late model Corvette... which keeps getting better and better especially 98 present...

"Poor logic? HMMMM, I guess owning various cars since 1981 (23 so far) and the only ones with problems were either domestics or imports made in America means nothing."

You have owned 23 cars in 26 years? Wow, your vaunted imports must really be crap if you only keep them for an average time of 1.1 years! In 20 years, I have only owned three cars. They are all Dodges, and are all still my normally driven daily drivers.

<<More objective commentary from the import crowd. Not all of us want a "good handling" yet lousy riding, flimsy import so we can turn our hats backwards and pretend to live the "Fast and the Furious." Some of us prefer the comfort, style and smoothness of a full-sized American sedan, rather than being cramped into a cheaply made, uncomfortable Japanese cigar box all for the sake of going around corners faster than the posted speed limit.>.

Given even entry level Hyundais have more room inside than some luxury cars (Rolls Royce, etc.) your comment holds no water. And my Chevy Aveo cruises 85 mph on the highway all day in absolute comfort and smoothness.

Your post is just based on outdated stereotypes.

Who is the know it all that thinks Honda uses different or thinner metal than anybody else? Do you know anything? It doesn't sound like it. Metal is metal, genius, and it is of the same quality and thickness as any other car. If you're going to make some kind of anti-Honda, anti-import comment, first understand that you know nothing about Honda's, obviously, and very little about vehicles in general, apparently. By the way, if you are driving a domestic, any Honda will outlast it. As will any Toyota. And to you guys who CLAIM to drive 40 year old GM or Ford trucks; it doesn't count when you've done 17 engine rebuilds on them. Just because you still drive it doesn't mean that it was ever reliable when you have put 9 motors in it and 5 transmissions. A Honda will go that far on ONE motor.

""Who is the know it all that thinks Honda uses different or thinner metal than anybody else? Do you know anything? It doesn't sound like it. Metal is metal, genius, and it is of the same quality and thickness as any other car. If you're going to make some kind of anti-Honda, anti-import comment, first understand that you know nothing about Honda's, obviously, and very little about vehicles in general, apparently. By the way, if you are driving a domestic, any Honda will outlast it. As will any Toyota. And to you guys who CLAIM to drive 40 year old GM or Ford trucks; it doesn't count when you've done 17 engine rebuilds on them. Just because you still drive it doesn't mean that it was ever reliable when you have put 9 motors in it and 5 transmissions. A Honda will go that far on ONE motor.""

AHHHHHH there we have it. The completely non-factual statement that a yuppie import lover makes against a domestic. He/she is basically saying "it's a Honda and a Toyota and it's mine therefore it just HAS to be better." Please, lay down some real facts, not just a big hyped-up statement in blind support of imports.

Oh, and my truck, a 1988 Suburban, with nearly 250,000 miles on her, is still on the original engine and transmission. In fact, in all eight (8) years I've owned it, I've only had to replace the alternator.