Hey Scotty, In May, I bought a great 2005 4WD Tacoma with 229k. The 4L V6 (1GR- FE) engine was replaced recently with one with 133k miles and runs like a top. I want to keep the truck forever. What are your thoughts about buying rebuilt engines and Trannys?
A used 2.7 engine can easily last 250-350k miles. That's a very durability engine. Compared to these new engines w/turbos fitted on them.. an unproven commodity at this point - the 2.7L wins easily.
Nothing lasts forever. And in something like a car it's a financial decision; will it be worth putting a rebuilt transmission and engine on a car that old? Then there's cost of labor too. Unless you have very deep pockets I wouldn't do anything like this.
first it's an engine, then it's a tranny, then it's a steering rack, or an axle, etc... and after a while you've spent enough to have a newer vehicle anyway, and all you have to show for it is a worn out money pit.
Most people want to drive something reliable don't want the hassle of frequent work to replace worn out parts. If you DIY, your tolerance will be a bit higher.
I want to keep the truck forever.
I don't know why people keep using this irrational word. Forever is literally impossible, especially with things like cars. "Forever" isn't anywhere even close to realistic.
Cars are terrible things to put money into. They depreciate like crazy, and then they start COSTING you more and more money.
And it gets worse the older they are. Time will win. An old beater WILL grind you down into poverty.
Thanks @Fjcruiser2014. I’m a fairly capable DIYer able to do most of my own repairs and enjoy car maintenance and repai. With something as reliable as a Tacoma, it could be a better alternative than sinking tens of thousands of dollars into a new car when quality just doesn’t seem to be as good as it used to be. Seems like replacing an engine or Tranny if needed could be a decent consideration. Any additional thoughts?
You can get a 2023 Tacoma and it's still reliable. Not all new cars are unreliable. New engine and transmission is going to cost money so you have to see how much it'll cost and how labor will be added to the cost of parts. At that mileage it's lived most of its life and personally I won't spend money on those kinds of repairs. If you can keep it going with minimal maintenance and some simple repairs good, but anything more than that it's not worth it.
If you just bought it, I would be questioning why an extremely reliable engine died at 229k miles. Do you know what caused it?
My guess would be lack of maintenance, or extreme abuse. Did you get good maintenance records before buying it?
The reason I bring that up, is if the previous owner was hard on the truck, and you replace the engine, how many other components like the transmission are on it's last leg?
Sorry I read that wrong, well you got a working engine with supposedly lower miles. Take good care of it and drive it until you can't anymore. Rebuilt engines are a mixed bag, good ones like Jasper do a really good job, some others, not so much. If yours came with an engine from a wrecked one or something with 133k miles, should last a long time.