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Older Toyota Pickup

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rdandersom

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I need a different truck.Currently driving '01 Dakota4X4 that needs money spent on it and burns way too much gas.I have been watching the ads and figure I will go Ranger or Sonoma but came across an ad for a 1989 Tacoma with V6 and manual transmission.I have no experience with Toyotas but they get a really good name.I have had Rangers and an S10.Aybody got any thoughts?
 
If I'm thinking right the drivetrains are good but
the body and frame rust away around them.
 
I have had a couple of toyota 4wd smaller pickups. The 6 cylinder 5 speed never got real good milage(15-16 mpg). The first one was a 91.
The second was a 1994 I bought last year with no rust on it and 61,000 on the odometer. It is a 4 cylinder with a 5 speed and 4wd. It seems to get about 18-22 mpg. Kind of hard to measure varying loads and multiple drivers.
Where I have really saved money spend is on parts(except muffler on one). Winter mpg this year was not so hot.
 
I wouldn't get excited about a V6 Toyota engine of that vintage; they weren't nearly as dependable as the 4 cylinder engines. I had a '91 4-cylinder 2WD with AT; got 23 mpg in city and 25-26 mpg on highway.
 
If you are commuting long distance and need better gas mileage, I'd look at a car instead of another pickup. If you still need some hauling capacity, consider an SUV to get better mileage than a small pickup.

A 1989 vehicle is almost 26 years old.
 
I picked up a 1995 Subaru Legacy wagon. All wheel drive, room for 4, plus room for cargo. It runs 25-29 mpg, and completly dependable.
 
There were frame rust problems in some old models of Tundra (not sure about the little Tacomas) but Toyota made them good under warranty. Of course the owner had to take the truck in to have the fix installed so not all trucks got new frames. Check to see if that model/year had the problems and if they did see if the truck has been repaired.
 
If you could find a 4 cyl (22R) truck of that vintage in good shape I'd jump on it. I had a 91 4 cyl/man/4wd that I put over 300K with nothing but normal consumables and a radiator. Then I got a 90 with the V6/man/4wd with 150K on it and put another 100K plus on it. The 4 is by far the better engine, but a good running 6 has a little more HP. Rust killed them both and they were used as field trucks for several years after they came off the road. Near indestructible and hard to stick too. Great trucks. I wish they still made a truck that was the equal of that era but they don't, not even close.
 
I have a couple of friends with '86 and '92 Toyota
pickups. BOTH have had to weld some "real" steel
into the rusted-out frames.
 
We had a couple of Tundra's at the contruction supply co. where I worked. Early 2000's if I remember correctly. They were okay, but nothing exceptional. By 150,000 everything started going wrong with them, just like any other truck. I would rate my 2004 Dakota a better truck and I certainly don't consider my Dakota anything to roll on the floor and holler about............Gas milage was a bit better on the Tundra's, but not by a lot.
 
My 97 ranger, 2.3-4 cylinder gets 26/27 mpg and has 300,600 miles on it. I drive about 450 miles per week and would take off on a long trip with it right now if I had to. Very few repairs and this truck is quieter than our last 2 mid size cars. I can't tell much difference in how it drives since I bought it at 86,000 miles. And very little rust!
Mark
 
Dad drives a 80's something Toyota 2wd. Way past 200k and
still going strong. No one has ever been inside the engine, it
runs good and uses no oil. Body will likely fall off before it
quits running
 
I have an 89, V6, 5 speed,2X4 I bought new,22,23 MPG and 25 on the Interstate. Over 200,000. on it,now the bad,the frame rusted into, starting at the right front wheel and stopped at the right rear shackle.I knew it was not driving right but a flat tire is when I realized the rear end was not fastened to the frame anymore.
 
Don't know about the v6, but the 22R/22RE engines are good. Might throw a head gasket at it at some point. Boss had a couple out of high school, bought two more for the kids.
Guy I work with has a Ranger (I think with a 2.3 or 2.6) and 5 speed, it's coming up on 350K and needs some frame work, but mechanically it's sound.
The Isuzu pick-up, Amigo (AKA Honda Passport), and Rodeo are pretty reliable as well. Some parts can be hard to find, but they run about forever as well. The 3.1 V6 used in the later ones often get parked or sold because it's knocking, but most just need a timing belt and tensioner at that point. It's a hydraulic set-up and when it goes bad it starts to rattle.
 
The 3 liter V6 was one of Toyota's worse engines.
Still part of a sort of "recall" program for head-
gaskets - but maybe this one has been done
already. Many also getting frame-changes for
certain years around 89. That all said - still a
good small truck as compared to other small trucks
at the time. I'm involved with a group of Toyota
small-motorhome owners. We all have Toyota truck-
based RVs from 1975 to 1994. I have a 1977 and a
1988. Since these trucks see their whole lives
with 4000 -6000 lbs. of weight - weak spots show
up fast. If the price is rigth and rust-free- I'd
grab it. If rusty - I'd run away.
Here's my 1988 with a 22RE engine and 160,000
miles on it.
a160327.jpg
 
I've had a 1995 Impreza AWD with the 2.2 engine for many years. Average fuel mileage is 23 MPG but will get higher on a long highway run. Been a great car. 320,000 miles on it with no auto trans or engine repairs. Never even changed the trans fluid.

I also had a 2001 Impreza AWD with the 2.5 engine. Worst Subaru I've ever owned. Gets around 19-20 MPG in average winter driving and 26 for a high on a highway trip. By 100K, head gaskets were gone, clutch gone, multiple "check engine" light problems, two wheel bearings failed, recalled by Subaru for computer and rust problems, etc. A real piece of junk that has cured me of my addiction to Subarus. No more. I miss the old Loyales with 1.8 engines, real 4WD and hi-low transfer-cases.
 
My truck is a 00 Dakota with 4.7 2 wheel drive. I had a S-15 that is the GMC version. The Dodge would be a 3/4 ton if the Chevy-GMC was a half ton. Way in different class as load hauling or pulling a trailer. If you are considering going that much smaller then you must not need a truck at all.
 
That's kind of silly. Many small Toyota trucks carry as much weight as full-size half-ton pickups. Some carry more. The small RVs built on small Toyota trucks have 4500-5500 GVWs. A standard Toyota mini-truck from 1989 has a 3300 lb. rear axle.
 
We have a 1991 Extended Cab Toyota PU (2wd/auto tranny) with the 22RE four banger. It has almost 260,000 miles on it and it is our ranch truck. It is tough to work on but never needs much work. I"d buy another in a heart beat
 
If I can recall correctly the 3.0 did have an engineering issue with over heating and blowing head gaskets. Not near as dependable as the 22re engine.

I had a '94 with the 5-speed and 22re engine and got 300,000+ and averaged around 25 mpg.
 
I had an '89 wit the 22re 4 cyl. Put 500,000+ miles on it, and sold it. Guy that bought it still drives it today. He put a head & oil pan gasket, water pump. and timing chain.....Getting close to 1m by now.

Wish I had it back.

Tommy D.
 
Good topic here. I've owned a lot of Toyota 4x4 trucks. I would greatly disagree with the ones saying they get good gas mileage on the 3L v6. 14-16 mpg is not good,it's horrible. My full size gets that with the boost of 150-175 more horsepower. I've owned 6cylinder trucks and they are great trucks but I've owned 4cylinder 22r's with as much umph as the v-6. I'm talking 85-94 trucks I've had 8. A 4cylinder with the proper gearing can pull with a full size,it just won't stop it. For instance I had a 91 ext-cab 22re with 4.56 gears and 33" tires and would pull a bobcat no problem. I do know one thing though they're the best small 4 wheel drive you can own and if you get one you'll see why.
 
(quoted from post at 11:50:34 06/16/14) That's kind of silly. Many small Toyota trucks carry as much weight as full-size half-ton pickups. Some carry more. The small RVs built on small Toyota trucks have 4500-5500 GVWs. A standard Toyota mini-truck from 1989 has a 3300 lb. rear axle.
Click to expand...

True. That 91 Toy I mentioned earlier I regularly hauled 150 bales on a ho'made tandem axle trailer from the St Lawrence valley up into the Central Adirondacks. That's up hill, all the way, about twice a month for several years.
 
I was comparing the Dodge to the Ford Ranger or Chevy S-10 with a 6 cylinder to the Dodge 8 and total smaller size, not to the Toyota as I do not know anything about them. But to go from a Dakota that is a lot bigger than the S-10 is going from more a full size to a compact and expecting it to do the same. The S-10 and Ranger are good for what they are designed for but then thy did not make a midsize like the Dacota is. He was talking about going down in size from the mid size to a compact and that is what I was refering to. What Toyota would compair to the 2000 Dakota with the 4.7 8 cylinder? If and when the time comes to replace mine that I don't ever anticipating to replace unless it gets totalled?
 
Toy had a mid size before they came out with the full size Tundra. I think it was called the T100. Never really got much traction IIRC, the market was filled.
 
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