question about owning an older truck?

[jonass21]

hello i am going to be purchasing a 1996 toyota tacoma in a few months that has about 250000 miles. i was just wondering if there were any tips on keeping a truck that old in good running condition, in a cold climate. it is stick shift and it has no major mechanical problems. i know both the owners and it was very well cared for during its life. its never had any leaks at all. and before someone tells me to just buy newer the truck has sentimental value so i would love to keep it running for as long as possible. so any tips?

 

[FlyASAGuy2005]

I wouldn't consider a 96 to be very old. However, that is pretty high miles so it may say something about the engine and parts. One of my cars is a 98 and I only have 145k miles on it. That't about average the the year range.

Before you buy, make sure you take anotehr look under the car for leaks. Check out the engine and inspect for any abnormal noises or knocks.

After that, all I can say is invest in a small mechanics tool set which can be had at SEARS for about $49 and keep most of your routine maintenance in house. You will save a lot in teh long run. you will also need to buy a maintenance log book to keep track of your oil changes, etc. Just make sure you change your oil when you are suppose to and also change the filter with every oil change. None of that every other change crap. You may also want to inspect all lubes because with a manual tranny, it's essential and nothing worse than having to change plates, etc because they are worn down. As for cold climate, this may seem a bit extreme but I do this with every used car a buy. Empty you coolant system and refill it with the correct 50/50 and keep the levels right.

Can't think of anything else but just try to get into the "do it yourself" mode. You will find yourself baby-ing your truck and it will run like a beauty.

P.S. Buy a Haynes rpair manual for it along with the tools (about $20).

 

[cocoy]

that's good! .. at least you and i think the same, buy an old vehicle cheap, fix it! at least you're confident that it'll last you a while rather than getting a newer vehicle and still not know what you're getting into (tranny problems etc etc)

just ah .. if something breaks down immediately fix it and regular maintenance. keep an even thread wear on the tires to that you don't put too much stress on the t-case..
as far as interior pretty much just keep it clean, you could use a dash mat to prevent it from cracking because of the heat
exterior, just go to the carwash once in a while and prevent rust.

good luck ..