patrick.net

Straw Man says

20 y.o. Corolla will be pretty much spent. 20 y.o. LC will be still pretty much alive and kicking.

I've probably seen more 20 year old Corollas rolling on roads than 20 year old Land Cruisers. People are still driving them around in places where salt isn't used on the roads, like California and the South. A 20 year-old Land Cruiser driver is probably more likely an enthusiast.

New Renter says

One caveat - paint. I've found most Japanese car paint SUCKS!

Yeah, the worst is probably Mazda. Those things start rusting fast. At least other companies like Honda and Toyota have gotten better since the 80s when they started rusting away while they were still on the dealer lot, but Mazda is still an offender.

New Renter says

Straw Man says

Anyhow, keeping a 20 y.o. car that was in the family the whole time and buying somebody's 20 y.o. car with it's history unknown is not even in the same zipcode. While the former is pretty reasonable, the latter is insane and should be done only if you have no other choice and biking to work is not an option. Talk about apples and oranges. ;)

Wrong. The buyer of your 20 yo Landcruiser is taking the same risk or greater than you are buying a 20 yo Corolla

You didn't read, did you? I'm talking about KEEPING an old LC vs replacing it with and old Corolla for the sole purpose of "saving the Planet" (which was the original premise of your "there is no reason to keep driving low MPG car" post). Buying 20 y.o. anything is a huge gamble.

New Renter says

If you HAVE to tow a boat then fine - you are using the Landcruiser for what it was made for! Good.

I am talking about the SUV driving masses who cant stand the idea of a station wagon or a minivan yet NEVER utilize the capabilities of the vehicle.

Even if I don't need all LC's capabilities at the moment, but the truck is paid off, sorted out and cheap enough to be insured for liability only, I would choose to keep it until the wheels come off vs replacing it with something new or, God forbid, something old. Because buying new would mean paying on average $30K, 10% in sales tax on the spot, higher insurance premiums, much higher yearly registration fee, etc. Which will never pencil out, unless we're talking crazy 40-miles-one-way commute.

Straw Man says

New Renter says

Straw Man says

Anyhow, keeping a 20 y.o. car that was in the family the whole time and buying somebody's 20 y.o. car with it's history unknown is not even in the same zipcode. While the former is pretty reasonable, the latter is insane and should be done only if you have no other choice and biking to work is not an option. Talk about apples and oranges. ;)

Wrong. The buyer of your 20 yo Landcruiser is taking the same risk or greater than you are buying a 20 yo Corolla

You didn't read, did you? I'm talking about KEEPING an old LC vs replacing it with and old Corolla for the sole purpose of "saving the Planet" (which was the original premise of your "there is no reason to keep driving low MPG car" post). Buying 20 y.o. anything is a huge gamble.

Don't be silly. My point was keeping a 20 yo car is also a gamble, even if it has been in the family the whole time. Any 20 yo car is going to develop problems, problems no longer covered by a warranty. It all becomes how much you want to avoid being stuck somewhere with a broken timing belt or water pump.

New Renter says

Any 20 yo car is going to develop problems, problems no longer covered by a warranty. It all becomes how much you want to avoid being stuck somewhere with a broken timing belt or water pump.

Moreover, if we're really going to keep talking about this "money" argument, which is largely a Straw Man anyway, another alternative to a 20-year old Land Cruiser is a 1-2 year old Corolla. I suspect 5-6 years of repairing a 20-year old Land Cruiser could be an equal cost to that alternative, depending on the repairs. I've run old cars that were far cheaper to maintain than a Land Cruiser where the math does work, however.

corntrollio says

Moreover, if we're really going to keep talking about this "money" argument, which is largely a Straw Man anyway,

Well yeah:

Straw Man says