Howdy folks! Just found your site - did a Google search for Toyota truck forums and Shazam, there you were. The first 'new' vehicle I ever bought was a 1986 Toyota 2WD pickup, which I bought brand-new in Omaha, Nebraska in 1986. It was a stripped base model, no radio, no carpeting, no AC, no power anything. Just a 22R engine, a four-speed transmission, a cab and a box in back. I loved it. It was a real workhorse; got me through several years delivering newspapers loaded to the gunnels with the springs flattened out completely. Never complained. It got exactly 29 MPG in all weather, all conditions, under any load, highway or city. It was young and did not take good care of it, but it never broke down. Once, it developed a leak in the head gasket, it started shooting water right out of the head onto the ground. A mechanic quoted $800 to replace the head gasket - money I did not have back then in my 20s. So I poured two cans of "Bars Leaks" into the radiator and it sealed itself up; never leaked again. Anyway... Much time has flown by. I've owned many, many, cars and trucks. Recently had to let my daily-driver econobox go to the junkyard, blown rear main seal. And this led me to some introspection. From my way of thinking, there are only two kinds of cars. New and used. New cars, you get a warranty. But you also get car payments and higher insurance. Used cars, they break and you have to pay to fix them. So. I don't want a new car. No use for car payments. Given then, that I'm going to buy another used car, it will break and it will need to be repaired. The question I had to ask myself was what kind of car I would be willing to pay to have fixed on a semi-regular basis? Making a list of all the vehicles I have ever owned, I put a check mark next to the ones that I 'loved'. The ones that put a smile on my face. The ones that I regretted ever getting rid of. My 1986 Toyota shortbed pickup was the top of the list. So I decided to buy another one. I have been looking around - it seems they are still out there. From 1984 to 1986, it seems they are basically the same vehicle. So here I am. Hope to have another mid-80s Toyota truck shortly. And I thought I'd find people of like mind to talk to about it. Best, Wiggy
Hope you get what youre looking for. Keep an eye on craigslist. Theyl pop up when you least expect it
I'm going to have a look at one tomorrow. It's an 85, mine was an 86. It's a long bed, looks like from the photos, mine was a short bed. Mine was blue, this is red. But I think I can get past that. It looks nice; high miles but how can you avoid that at 30 years old? The seller says the motor was new 130K ago. Price is right, no rust that I can see. Hope it works out. If not, I have a line on a few others, but I'd have to travel a bit to get to them. Thanks for the welcome, I'll be posting with photos of my new truck, with luck on my side.
Just an update; I picked up a 1994 Toyota shortbed base tonight. 200K miles, no rust on body or frame (it came from Colorado). Blue ex and in. 22RE, automatic. Power steering, no AC. It is at my mechanic now, I will get the timing chain replaced at the minimum. But bottom line, I'm a Toyota owner again.
