Faults:
I had to have the top end of the engine rebuilt at 124,000 as others have stated. But that is it. Everything else works.
Two things bother me, and I will soon fix them.
There is a serpentine belt squeak, and the fan under the hood rubs up against the plastic frame, but it isn't enough to make me go out tomorrow and fix them, if you get my drift.
General Comments:
My uncle was the original owner, and put 100k on it, then gave it to my dad. My dad put another 88k on it, then gave it to me.
It has black bumpers and handles, but ironically it has leather interior. The driver's seat is just now starting to see wear marks.
I put smaller tires on it, and they make a huge difference. I also change the oil religiously every 3 months or 3k miles, whether it needs it or not.
There also has only been 3 sets of tires, of which the ones I bought will last until 230k because I check the tire pressure once a week.
I live in California where the weather gets hot, and the air conditioning works fantastic.
My 2000 VW Jetta VR6 made it to 133k before I refused to dump anymore money into it. Basic engine stuff, nothing major, but still expensive.
Okay, people say these 4 cylinders are slow... Compared to a VR6, yes, but really they aren't that slow. I also have to admit I don't have the 4wd, which would add weight and cause it to be slower.
12th Apr 2011, 09:29
Original poster here for an update.
My truck now has 220,306 on the odometer and it's still running strong. No problems at all. I also want to note that I get an extra HP or two and several lb ft of torque when I use premium fuel. It ticks and knocks horribly when I use 87 octane fuel.
I also want to compliment Toyota for putting such a smooth shifting autobox in these trucks, or at least in the four cylinder models. I don't know if they are all reliable like mine is, but my transmission shifts effortlessly and without any hesitation. It is reluctant to downshift only because of how it's programed for better fuel mileage, but can get annoying when you feel like you have to really press on the pedal for a downshift.
My fuel mileage taps out at what the EPA states a 4 cylinder model could get 20/24. I also only use two types of fuel; Costco or Shell.