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

1994 Toyota Pickup 2.4L 22RE

Faults:

I have replaced the exhaust manifold gasket and one of the manifold bolts.

I have put several thermostats in the truck.

The starter contacts needed to be replaced after 115000 miles.

General Comments:

This has been a fantastic little truck. It has been incredibly cheap to own. It runs perfectly, uses no oil, and is easy to maintain.

The starter quit working at 115000 miles, but the Toyota dealer (very nicely) told me that I could replace the contacts instead of the whole assembly. The contacts cost $7, the starter itself costs over $200.

This truck does an admirable job for its size. I have carried many heavy loads in the bed and I tow my small jon boat with the truck. It has done 14 hour trips and travels well on the highway. The mileage it decent; around 26 for regular driving.

The truck is not equipped with many options (not even power steering), and the seat has lost a lot of support over the years and hurts my back on long trips.

The truck is surprisingly good in the snow (just RWD) if it has good tires and weight in the back. Years of work have made the rear leaf springs weak, though, and the back of the truck sags.

The body is in great shape. No rust whatsoever and the paint is still shiny. I added a very nice body-colored Astro fiberglass topper, which really adds to the functionality of the truck. It also improved the mileage slightly.

The build quality makes it seem like it will last forever. After 11 years and 128000 miles, I still have the original exhaust system on the truck, and even the stock battery lasted 8 years. The Cooper tires I added currently have almost 60000 miles on them.

This truck has been so cheap and dependable that it overcomes its size and comfort problems. I plan to keep it for years and years.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th February, 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!

24th Nov 2005, 12:09

Hi I just got a 1994 Toyota 2WD pickup, I had a 85' for a very long time. MY new 94' seems to be geared a lot lower any comments? Also it seems to run very close to the cold part of the temp gauge.Anyone?Thanks Dave. send any comments to duke_851@yahoo.com.

25th Jul 2006, 12:53

Sorry for replying to your comments after so long. Not sure about the trans. You probably had the 4 spd in your 85, and that may have been geared higher. I find that 1st gear is actually quite high, and makes pulling up a boat ramp pretty exciting... lots of gas and a quick hand on the e-brake to keep from rolling into the lake. Since then I've begun towing with my Chevy, which is geared much lower.

As for the temperature, yes, it will tend to ride low in the gauge. Mine rests about 1/4 of the way up. If it seems too low, replace the thermostat with a genuine Toyota part as they seem to last the longest.

Just finished a 2200 mile drive in four days, and the truck was perfect... even 34 mpg on one tank. I'll never get of this thing.

4th Dec 2009, 01:41

October 2009 Los Angeles, CA. I recently purchased a MINT Condition CA Garage Kept 94' Toyota Pickup NOT 4 wheel drive. The engine has 184k miles and does not leak anything from anywhere underneath. The 22re engine is AMAZING! Fun to drive excellent gas mileage for a truck. The only thing I can say is that I wish it had power steering. Aside from that, I'm EXTREMELY happy with this truck. I say 9 stars out of 10 for sure!! If you can find one with a clean body, grab it.