Here's my situation guys. I just got a promotion and I am now going to have a 100 mile roundtrip commute daily. I've currently got 186k miles on my 4Runner that I bought brand new in 2001 and is now paid for. I've always had a lengthy commute to work, but this is by far the longest.

My wife and I have gone back and forth, back and forth trying to decide whether or not it would be worth buying a used 4 cylinder Camry just to commute to work. I found one (a 1999 model LE with leather!) with only 87k miles on it that appears to be well maintained and the guy is willing to sell it to me for $5,800. He just spent $1,400 on it on the 90k service and faxed the recepit to me. However, after going to the dealership yesterday, I was informed of the potential engine sludge problem in the 98-01 Camry engines. That scares me because I think this guy maintained it (he's a preacher) but I don't know for sure.

If I go with an '02 with any kind of features, then the price jumps up to about 11k or 12k. I do not want cloth....gotta have leather!

We've run the numbers on the 1999 and basically with the gas I'd be saving between driving the Camry to work and my 4Runner, I'd be paying $100 a month for the Camry ($150/month in gas savings plus an additional $100 for the car for a total payment on the Camry of around $250 for two years). Instead of sending that money to oil companies, I'm sending it to a credit union and have an asset (all be it an old one) at the end of the payoff.

Do you guys think it's worth it? I worry about the sludge issue, but this is a good price on what appears to be a well maintained car. I cannot just go take a look at it though because it's about 4 hours away (found on the internet). I want a new Tundra, but it makes no sense to buy a new Tundra, spend the same or more on gas than with the 4Runner, and run the miles through the roof on it. Again, the 4Runner is paid for and still running well. Please vote and voice your thoughts. Thanks!

Matt

 

The poll did not post because of too many characters....

1. Drive the 4Runner until the wheels fall off
2. Buy the 1999 4 cylinder Camry and have it thoroughly inspected prior to purchase including removing the valve cover to check for sludge issues
3. Buy a slightly used and loaded out '07 or '08 4 cylinder Camry and delay purchase of the Tundra

Again...it's pay the oil companies or pay a credit union and have an asset...that is unless the Camry has a sludge problem. Don't know what to do.....

Matt

 

the 99 camry has a 5S-FE engine, which is NOT prone to sludging...

if i were in your situation, i would buy the 4 cylinder camry, and run synthetic oil in it, and change it every 5000miles... 5S-FE engines last a LONG LOOOOONNNNG time... i frequently see them with half a million kms on them, which is over 300,000 miles...

 

Hey Matt,

Buy the 99' Camry, My wifes 99' Camry is @ 178k, and still worth about $3000 I did the 90k service,(timing belt and water pump) @130k.

If Your worried about the sludge problem, Just use a quality oil, and change it regularly, You'll be fine.

Thanks Kiwi

 

You can buy a lot of gas for your 4Runner for $5,800. I do get your point of not wanting to pay the oil companies though.

Rob

 

the sludge issue can be one way or the other.. if he has kept the service records and it looks like he kept good care of it then i would go for it regardless of sludge.. use a synthetic oil (doesnt matter what brand just go for the cheapest) and run 5k mile OCI's.... you can run an Auto RX cycle or two and call it a day.. there are ALOT of sludged motors with 200k miles + on them so no worries on that end. besides highway miles are very easy on motors! as for your 4runner, keep it!!! its paid for.. i say go for the camry and run the sheit out of it :-)

 

another great point

 

why don't you wait to see how the promotion is going to go (example: wait till your off probation!) and then move on a 4cyl car.

 

Good point. If you don't wait, could you offload the Camry if the job doesn't work out for you?

 

get a used yaris from a rent-a-shop. commute with that

 

negotiate a co. car w/the promotion!

 

The sludge problem was only on the 6 cylinders.

Drive what you got. It is paid for.

If gas mileage is that big a deal sell the 4Runner and get a Corolla. :-)

 

They $5800 plus insurance and car tags will buy alot of gas..Drive what you got for now..

 

90 miles round trip commute for me with my 250,000+ 94 paid for 4Runner averaging 12 mpg. I could drive my 70 Chevelle 454 @ 8 mpg or 89 Camaro 383 S @ 10 mpg. but not the wife's Envoy @ 21 mpg. The reality is fuel is gonna cost what it's gonna cost, adding another payment, tags, insurance to drive something practical doesn't do it for me. But it's your choice so do what you feel is right, as for me I love driving my rig so I'll pony up at the pump.

 

Like it's said above, $5800, tags, insurance and maintenance buys a lot of gas. Drive your 4Runner into the ground.

 

I started another thread about buying a beater car.

Honestly, the Toyota shouldn't be used as your DD for that many miles.
I am looking into a little mazda or honda to commute. Get 2x the gas mileage so it would pay for itself right?

 

"Drive your 4Runner into the ground"

I like that. I realize that $5,800 will buy a lot of gas, but the only reason that I am still considering the Camry is because of days like yesterday when I had to burn a day of vacation since we only have two vehicles...my 4Runner and my wife's Sequoia. Plus...I do hate giving away $200 a month to these greedy ass oil companies!!!

However...the plant that I will now be working at is a whole lot closer to the dealer I use, so I could always leave work early, drop it off one afternoon and get a loaner, and then drive it to work if something went wrong. I just worry about that "oh crap I'm stranded and can't get to work" situation because we only have two vehicles...but then again I guess that's what most couples have.

The 4Runner is paid off, I just got a nice new toy for it (Garmin Nuvi 260W GPS) and it's my baby so...."Drive the 4Runner into the ground!"

BTW...no chance of negotiating a company car. They did away with that well over a decade ago.

Thanks for the advice guys. If I keep taking care of this truck as I have thus far I see no reason why I can't get 250k+ miles out of it and then dump it at an auction somewhere for a few thousand when I get ready to buy my Tundra.

Matt

 

You can argue this either way, but it is $5,800 plus tag, taxes, title, insurance, etc. etc. etc. Not to mention additonal maintenance. Like my wife said, what's the point of parking the 4Runner and only driving it on the weekends. In two years, it will just be two years older and I won't get any more or less for it if it's got 225k miles than I would if it's got 186k miles. The truck has a lot of miles on it and it's going to hurt resale...regardless of all the toys and amenities that it's got.

Again...I HATE to give these oil companies about $400 a month, but the 4Runner is paid for.

I wonder how much my MPG's would go up if I put the stock cross bars back on the roof and removed the Thule rack? It's not exactly aerodynamic at all!!!!

Matt

 

I ve got a 100 mile round trip,3-4days a week, my 4runner has 198k on it, my wifes new trailblazer already has 100k on it she has a 100 mile round trip 5 days a week. We both go in opposite directions. I do drive my VW alot but since i got the 4runner with heat ive been driving it all winter. I probably wont help your decision but my gas bill is about $800 a month just to go to work,not counting any extra trips.

 

What are you smoking..Toyota's are 300,000+ miles motors