Car-buying: not quite sure what to do.

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
05/11/2016 at 19:40 • Filed to: didn't you just buy a yaris?

A while ago, I mentioned I was working on buying another vehicle. Said vehicle is like what you see above: a 1984 pickup 2wd, xtra cab longbed, manual, A/C, power steering, basically fully loaded.

I have found that the preliminary price is higher than I think I want to pay (though probably lower than it it’s worth). I was actually planning... many things but... short term, give it to my dad because he’s in desperate need of a little pickup for his property. Since it’s being sold to me by a fellow Toyota enthusiast and some other loose meaningless relation, I have no interest in lowballing him. But I’m not sure I want to walk away entirely.

It’s in great shape (surface rust on the bed — that’s why I planning on getting it for cheaper, and it is comparatively speaking). I think only 180k miles, which is nothing on these.

Now for some good news: my wife wants to finish her manual transmission training this year so she can use the pickup and pickup and get gravel, bark, soil, etc.

But you may recall I already own a pickup. It needs some TLC... lots of it. I’ve been driving as is because, hell, I got it for nothing and it does the job, and I love it. But basically every errand I run with it is one step closer to shelling out for a neglected repair. There are things on it I simply can’t (or won’t) do in my driveway. I’d have to take it in... Now, it could certainly last the summer! But I really don’t want to push it with how much I anticipate using it.

Now you’re probably suggesting, hey Zoidface: why not use money that you’d by the other pickup with and simply fix up the SR5 instead? I’m glad you asked. For one thing, I really did want to help out my parents and get them a little go-getter. I could even leave then the SR5 because my dad would use it maybe once a week if that, so they would not add nearly the wear I foresee myself doing. Also, I had this mild pipe dream for NEXT sumer: swapping the 22R out of the ‘84 into my SR5. And in the short-term, the ‘84 would simply be more livable for anyone wielding (my ‘80 is basically an SR5 with no options selected for some reason).

So as you can see I’m all over the map. I like the idea of a more livable pickup, but I don’t think I could ever part with my ‘80. But the ‘80 needs work. But another truck obviously costs money. But a 2nd gen loaded 2wd longbed is terribly uncommon. But— But— But—

So, at this point I’m running in circles. I just think in a perfect world, I would have the pickup for cheap, give it to the folks, collect it when they’re done with it, and gut it and make the ‘80 just a little more fun. Then again, how hard will it be to hook up that power steering... or the AC... Or, yeah, the whole “engine” thing. Could be a little over my head, but it sounds kind of fun to me.

I could sell the Celica... That’s not going to happen either. I need a vehicle that can carry more than two humans. Also, CELICAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I don’t know what I’ll do.

DISCUSSION (21)

RallyWrench > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/11/2016 at 19:51

STAHP

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RallyWrench
05/11/2016 at 19:52

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/11/2016 at 19:53

1uz

Chariotoflove > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/11/2016 at 20:06

The wheels look really small in that pic. Maybe it's a byproduct of being hit with big wheels constantly on modern pickups.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Chariotoflove
05/11/2016 at 20:07

Steelies or deep dishes are the only acceptable wheels on these

RallyWrench > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/11/2016 at 20:08

I mean, I should talk... even if you get this truck and keep all the others I’ll still outnumber you for accidentally accumulated cars. I know it’s bad, so I try to discourage it.

Chariotoflove > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/11/2016 at 20:11

I’ll take your word on that.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RallyWrench
05/11/2016 at 20:17

Yeah I’m a little close to regressing back to my “I have six cars for no reason” days. The difference is that they would all be drivers now, but... Maybe I should just... STOP IT

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Chariotoflove
05/11/2016 at 20:18

I’m a boring old man.

RallyWrench > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/11/2016 at 20:29

I fear it is the only way.

Chariotoflove > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/11/2016 at 21:00

Boring saves money.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/11/2016 at 21:41

but the 80 is RED. Red.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/11/2016 at 21:50

My 85 has a terrible secret. So instead of fix that, I’ve been been doing dirty shameful things to with a bucket of fibreglass. now onto filler and hopefully paint before the may-long weekend, when I will need a truck. Have found TWO reg cab/longbox 5 speed 4wd T-100s in my travels this week, as well as a 1985 solid axle 4runner rolling chassis. all of which would suit my needs, but I need less project cars not more at the moment.

His Stigness > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/12/2016 at 00:20

Be honest with yourself and come to grips with the fact that you’ll never do an engine swap on your 80. If there are things you need to do on your 80 that won’t/can’t do in the driveway, then double that for an engine.

If you buy and you’re going to use it, great, but don’t buy it telling yourself you’re going to do something you probably know you never will.

It’s kind of like how I want an E46 M3 and want to turn the engine up to 11. I can do it, but I probably won’t, at least not for five to ten years. But in the mean time I know I will/can drop the subframe and reinforce it, and change every bushing, etc.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > His Stigness
05/12/2016 at 00:23

YOU’RE A THOUSAND PERCENT RIGHT. Im trying not to go down that dark path of unfinished projects again. I have enough of those as a homeowner.

His Stigness > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/12/2016 at 00:33

Oh you own your house too, well then you can forget ever doing an engine swap for at least ten years, and that’s if you were a technician with all the tools. Or you could trick someone into helping you (can space crabs do that?).

But seriously, house projects are going to have to come first because your wife will want that done first, probably. So just buy the truck but don’t make it another project.

Thinking leads to planning, planning leads to anxiety, anxiety leads to hate, hate, leads to suffering. That is the path to the Dark Side.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > His Stigness
05/12/2016 at 00:36

u_u but I also wouldn’t mind a little pickup that was... much more comfortable than my beloved 80.

His Stigness > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/12/2016 at 00:37

Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. Hell, you and your wife could go Space Crabbing around in both trucks.

I have no idea why, but that’s all I could come up with.

Dru > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/12/2016 at 14:51

I have a vintage yota that I basically can’t use. It’s got a lot of rust, the exhaust manifold overheats, the driver’s side window is stuck shut, and it’s missing a bumper just to name a few things.

But I can afford to keep it hanging around and it makes me happy just having it. Plus it has BLUE VERTIGO SR5 SEATS!

So yea, if you can afford it and it makes you happy, just do it.

vicali > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/12/2016 at 18:34

Buy it. Someone has to save them right?

You should come to BC for a there are lots of things you need .

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > vicali
05/12/2016 at 21:35

Wow... do they ship to the US? Also... I need some louvers....