1994 Toyota Pickup Xtra Cab DX V6
Summary:
Durable and Dependable
Faults:
Head gasket replaced at about 120,000 miles (this was a factory recall for this engine).
Back-up light switch went out at about 120,000 miles and hasn't been replaced.
Shifter mechanism broke and was replaced at about 150,000 miles.
Starter and water pump replaced at about 170,000 miles.
Clutch wore out and was replaced at about 210,000 miles.
Paint began fading on part of the hood and roof at about 200,000 miles.
General Comments:
Overall it has been reliable, durable, and economical. 4WD does extremely well off-road and in heavy snow conditions. With the long wheel base of the extended cab, slides on ice are easy to correct. The Jeep Wrangler I had previously could spin like a top if you weren't careful; not so with this pickup. Very durable vehicle in rugged conditions and it is easy to trust. It offers a smooth ride, corners very well at high speed even with a heavy fibreglass shell, and the V6 has reserve power for quick passes and climbing steep grades. Once it got into the mid 100,000s of miles, things began to deteriorate and need replacement. Parts are expensive, but not as expensive as payments for a new vehicle. Gas mileage for mostly highway driving is around 22 mpg.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 23rd March, 2005
23rd Sep 2005, 09:23
Just an update to what I wrote above. Since gas prices have increased, I began driving more conservatively and keeping an eye on my mileage. On the last tank (about 75/25 country roads and town driving, no highway at all) I got 29.6 MPG! I've recorded about 32 on the highway in the past, too, and that was at an average speed of about 75 MPH. If you need a truck with good mileage, you can't do much better than this!