Well I just don't think the 85's worth enough for me to do anything. It's really put a hurt on my (self proclaimed
) ability to make smart car buys
I am below $135 per month 'overall cost' for it (cost of car + major repairs divided by months owned), still more than my last 97 Grand Marquis (around $100-110) and far more than the $80-85 the Metro ended up at (and that doesn't even account for gas saving). If I sold the TC for $2k the figure would be down to $80-85 though. But that doesn't include my time!
Too bad my old 96 Metro had the LCA rust problem and tried to kill me, it only had 130k on it. Ran like a top.
Have a bone to pick with Toyota. My bro-in-law drives a 07 Camry, 38k miles or so, a high optioned model, nice car. Making noise at the front of the engine. I told him to have it diagnosed at the dealer (too nice a car to guess at).
He calls sat around 1:30 from the dealer, says it's the water pump, $650, and they can do it that afternoon.
I thought, they've got to have 4 hours labor in that quote, how could they do it that day?
God Bless the internet. The water pump is a known problem on his engine. So I did it. In 2-1/2 hours. The first time I laid eyes on it.
Seriously it was the easiest water pump I've ever replaced. My hands didn't even get dirty!
BUT - if I did it so quickly out the gate imagine how fast a Toyota tech can do it. An hour?
So, not only doesn't Toyota do the awesome thing (fix it free), they actually rip off their customers. Nice.
Also helped get a Goodwrench crate 350 running right in its' new home, a 1991 C3500. They might not be the most efficient engines ever made but man do they snort!
Pete