Is anything built to last anymore ??????

dben002 said:
Is anything built to last anymore ?
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My 1990 Toyota 4Runner seems to have been built to last.

Bought new by me shortly after it rolled off the assembly line in April of 1990...twenty-eight years ago.

Uncovered it just this past Sunday. Charged the battery and cranked it up for the first time since December 17 of last year. Cranked right up. Filled it with fresh gas, went for a spin. Always a pleasure remembering how much fun it is to drive that truck.

It'll never be for sale in my lifetime, that's for sure.

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Toyota's are great years ago we bought Mercedes S class's and thought they were unbeatable got irritated with the dealer over a comment over an M class I had purchased and felt was a ***. Was about to trade it in for another S class instead we bought a Lexus land cruiser that was in 2001, outside of normal maintenance I had a $400 repair were at 180K it still rides great and is my wife's favorite car. I drive a Toyota FJ. Both vehicles have great retained value.
 
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BLACKHAWKNJ said:
Yes, the head mechanic-been there 30 years-has few kind things to say about these "high tech" automobiles, friends who own them have horror stories about electronic components going bad, the replacement parts often poor quality, etc.
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And expensive!
 
Hard to believe how much junk is packed into these cars and trucks today. One would think we would get 80 miles per gallon. Instead sticker prices that could cause a coronary. My favorite is those new valve stems that often fail and have to be replaced.
 
Is anything built to last anymore? Well.......

Was made in the U.S.A. I ain't computer controlled. A few parts have had to be replaced over the years after wear and tear. Had a rust spot a few years back, but got that under control. I can still get around under my own power...Just can't use high gear for much of anything though, pulling power isn't what it used to be. Still get some check ups to see if everything is working as it should. Nope...don't make them like they used to.!!!!!

Other than that...2006 F-250 with the 5.4 engine. 239,000, only had to replace the fuel pump,tires and brakes. My 66 289 Ford went 278,00 before I finally gave it up for the truck. My little ole 81 Datsun 280ZX still humming along with 139,000.

Nope, plastic cars and trucks are sort of like the good ole steel guns vs the new plastic ones to me.


WuzzFuzz
 
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dben002 said:
Bought a 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan (stow and go) in 2011. Van had 26,405 miles on it and a spotless Carfax showing all scheduled maint performed on time and as recommended. It was previously owned by a corporation that used it to transport customers to and from the airport sorta like a shuttle van.

Spotless and no damage whatsoever.

Trans blew out at 110,000....replaced it.
Last week the engine blew out at 168,000..

Car age and mileage not worth a new engine........

Is anything made today to last ??? :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
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A 2009 Dodge Caravan with 26,000 miles and you expected more??? A vehicle with one of the absolute WORST reliability record.:eek:

ladder13 said:
My tighty whiteys are 10 years old.
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Turn them inside out and get another 10 years out of them,:D
 
This may be the only item I still have that I bought while in high school.
 

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dben002 said:
Bought a 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan (stow and go) in 2011. Van had 26,405 miles on it and a spotless Carfax showing all scheduled maint performed on time and as recommended. It was previously owned by a corporation that used it to transport customers to and from the airport sorta like a shuttle van.

Spotless and no damage whatsoever.

Trans blew out at 110,000....replaced it.
Last week the engine blew out at 168,000..

Car age and mileage not worth a new engine........

Is anything made today to last ??? :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
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I'd say you got your money's worth. The thing with minivans is that they are no longer "mini". Essentially you get the engine, transmission and brakes from a 3000 lb car fitted to a 4000 lb van. The 2009 Grand Caravan is a perfect example.

A buddy bought a 1996 Caravan new. I cannot recall the mileage when he traded it under "cash for clunkers", but I know it was a shed load. The transmission was the only thing that gave him any real trouble, and that was North of 100k miles.
 
06 Titan, bought new, never been to the dealership except for factory recalls (2) and regular oil changes. 99,300 miles ( I know, not high mileage but still 14 years old.) Liked it enough to buy a 17 Titan XD. Also owned a 1989 Ford F150 that I just sold to a young man that needed good work transport (was looking for a standard trany because the last couple he bought and fixed up, his wife liked them so he still didn't have a work truck. The wife can't drive a stick shift!) The 150 had an issue at 170,000 but was repaired, it had 225,000 at time of sale. Until I sold the 89, I could stand in the driveway and look at every new vehicle I have ever owned (3)
 
...bought our 2003 Subaru Baja in 2006 with 39,000 on it...

...it has 242,000 on it now...I have it parked to replace the clutch...did it once before at 133,000...

...little car has been coast to coast several times...

...I did have to rebuild the unnecessarily complicated rear suspension at 185,000...it started rear steering and was terrifying on a slick road...
 
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The Chevrolet Vega...between the engine issues with a cast iron head and an aluminum block, many of them are still on the roadside today...as iron oxide slowly returning to Mother Earth...
 
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