How long do Toyotas typically last? How many miles are on your car?

General Discussions and Questions
1

I don’t currently own a Toyota, but a family member does. I’m considering switching to a RAV4. My current car has between 37,500 and 40,000 miles.

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3

My 2000 4Runner with the 3.4 V6 just reached 390,000 miles last night :smiley:

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4

My Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 just hit 587,538 miles and it’s still running strong.

5

What have been your biggest maintenance expenses so far?

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6

Probably tires yeah!

7

You know what? Mine were catalytic converters.

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8

Was that because they were stolen?

9

No, it’s because the environmental regulations where I live are very strict. Now I worry that my new converters might get stolen.

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10

Oh, you are also from California?

11

Sorry to hear that. My girlfriend’s 20-year-old Highlander had its converter stolen. It mainly happens with older hybrids. You can have a shop weld a plate over the catalytic converter; it’s cheaper than replacing it.

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12

Fortunately, I do all the work on my cars myself. The most expensive and labor-intensive job was replacing all the polyurethane bushings from front to back. These 3.4s are quite easy to work on. Regular and preventive maintenance is very effective.

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13

What’s the preventative maintenance measures?

14

Oil and gas Hahaaaa!! :joy:

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15

I also own a Toyota (2007 Corolla) and follow these “preventive” maintenance steps:

  1. Check what typically fails at your mileage by Googling it.

  2. I replaced all my motor mounts even though there were no symptoms. Two of them had severe cracks and would likely have failed within a year.

  3. I change the automatic transmission fluid fairly often (every 30,000 miles). Since the automatic transmission is the most expensive part of the car, it’s better to be cautious.

  4. I flush the coolant. Although it wasn’t urgently needed, I had a water pump fail on my old car, so I want to keep the coolant clean to extend the life of the cooling system.

  5. I flush the brake fluid. Again, there was no immediate need, but I want to prevent corrosion in the brake system from high water content in the fluid.

  6. I replaced the PCV valve. It wasn’t necessary, but the old one looked really dirty with black flakes, likely from exhaust gases.

  7. I replaced the serpentine belt, even though it could have lasted another year. I didn’t want it to break during a long trip.

  8. I cleaned the rotors and pads. It’s not something you’d usually take to a mechanic, but I removed a lot of oily dirt from them, and the brakes perform better.

I hope this helps someone. It is enjoyable to work on an older car and it’s reassuring to drive one that you thoroughly understand and trust!

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16

My 99 prerunner hit 395,000 at the start of the lockdowns. I needed a replacement fast and got a deal on a 15 prerunner that is now up to 100, 000 :sunglasses: . I love me some taco trucks

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17

You can expect to get around 200k miles out of the car, even with rough use, and up to 300k if you maintain it well. Because of this, its depreciation tends to be slower than usual.

18

I hear you, that’s tough. I have taken good care of my Toyota too, but once it hit 200k miles and spent a decade in the southern heat, the AC started failing as well. Got quoted around $2k for the repair, so I definitely feel your pain :weary:.

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19

What exactly happened to it? You might want to get a few more estimates because $2k seems a bit steep. Plus, AC is more of a luxury feature, not something people typically refer to when they talk about a car’s longevity. (10 years isn’t that long, maybe you just got unlucky. Did something like a rock damage the condenser?)

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20

I had a couple of diagnostics done, and they said it looks like a refrigerant leak. They couldn’t spot any leaks in the external lines, so they think it’s likely the evaporator core. I’ve tried refilling the refrigerant myself a few times using the stop leak stuff, but now it only lasts for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, with the heat here in the south, not having AC in 110°F weather turns it from a “comfort issue” to more of a “safety issue” when driving during the day. Oh well, the 'yota served me well, no complaints.

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21

I live in AZ, and typically AC repairs can cost a lot because they are very high in demand. My dad was quoted $2,000 by the Toyota dealership and just traded in his car instead. Wasn’t worth it.

Because of the demand they can get away with charging more. It’s 110 outside, we don’t want broken ACs

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