My daughters water pump kept going in her rav4 other than that she didn’t have problems but it had almost 300,000 miles on it

I have had my vehicle since new. I purchased it in September 1996 with only 11 miles on the odometer. She was so young and inexperienced then. Over the decades, I have changed multiple sets of tyres, about six batteries, four sets of brakes, replaced the springs and shock absorbers, upgraded the headlights, changed the ignition switch, and that is all, until last year when the wiring under the bonnet ignited into flames. Many said to scrap my dear Stargazer. After 27 years, she is so much more than just a machine to me. She has been with me through things no human was there for me. I could have retired her after so many years of service and coud have easily bought a new vehicle using cash. But, it was my time to say thank you to my dear old friend of 27 years. I rented an economy car and ordered parts, went to special salvage yards, disassembled all the burnt parts and wiring, gutted the interior, and went to work every night, after work. I allowed myself four hours of sleep a night and dedicated the rest of my time at work with my dear Stargazer. I did all the work myself, so they have been affordable repairs. The RMS Stargazer now has 446.500 miles on the odometer, has a new bonnet, front fenders, new stainless steel bumper, new LED headlights, an aftermarket stainless steel grill, new, large, off road tyres, many new engine parts, all new wiring, fresh, bright yellow paint, a new top and doors, new radiator, used replacement interior, new dashboard and instrument panel, and more. After all, how else do you say thanks to an old friend that has been there for 28 years?

Thanks, its sort of like pizza, even a bad pizza is still pretty good. Honestly better than most competition of the time. The 22 Camry is a huge win indeed and that 4Runner has huge potential too. Great, reliable vehicles nonetheless.

If something has the term, "eco, green," avoid it! If something is advertised as prioritising the environment, avoid that as well. Those things do not help the environment in the slightest. Often, they are far worse for the environment, like a four cylinder, turbo charged engine, or continuously variable transmission. You have often heard, "If it is not broken, do not fix it." Well, there are those that want to, "fix," things that have proven themselves far more reliable than any of the alternatives coming out. The results speak for themselves.

@@indridcold8433 Test drove one of the "New Toyota 2.4 L 4 cylinder Grand Highlanders and it was a total piece of crap engine-wise, won't buy one. Too large of a vehicle for a hamster engine, kind of sad, nice looking vehicle otherwise and interior as well. Turbo kicked in just to get up to 35 MPH LOL!

@@FixMyBleep The Bronco is the same as what you mentioned. You see a nice looking, rather solid looking, true SUV, from the outside. But under the hood, you get a twin turbo charged 2.0 or 2.2 both four cylinder engines. It is not bad enough that the engines are grenates eating to explode, they have a plastic oil pan, plastic timing cover, plastic valve cover, and instead of all rubber hoses, some have hard plastic tubes. Someone brought one in to have an oil leak fixed. The pile of junk only had 40,000 miles. That is when I discovered the nightmare engine with so much plastic where it should never be. I studied up on them and found even worse. Some models have an inline, 3 cylinder model, also. Their interiors are rather sporty looking. But looks mean nothing if the engine are garbage. I have never been so thankful for my old fossil, of an automobile, after looking into lots of modern vehicles. Almost all of them are junk. The few that are not are still not as good as the prior model. We live in the time of garbage vehicles and the oldest public fleet in history. Not many want to buy the ugly modern abominations.

@@indridcold8433 Oh I know, I have a 2010 V-8 Ford Explorer Sport-Track (truck) that I just can't part with because all the new vehicles I look at are crap and my old Ford runs circles around all of them, it's light weight, very fast, and not all plastic LOL! I really wanted to love the new Toyota's and Lexus but when they went with 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder w/turbos or hybrids that has ruined much of it. I may end up buying a 2-3 year old Toyota that still has a solid engine before they went to the 4 cylinder.

I do hot think any vehicle would make 444.000 miles on the odometer without extensive repairs made to it. Mine had very little done at that mileage. My first major repair came last year, after 27 years of service to me. I saved her and she is still with me today. I could have bought a new vehicle, in cash, to replace my dear RMS Stargazer. But, there is so much more to my dear Stargazer than just a machine. I did all the work myself and have no regrets putting so much money and time into my beloved Stargazer, last year. But, how else can I say thank you to the one that has been there for me when nobody else was there? If I bought a new 2023 vehicle last year, it would be just an appliance, a transport, an over-engineered, weak, extremely ugly, very expensive, poorly put together eyesore. Repairing my dear Stargazer was far cheaper and my friend stays with me. I made the right decision.

Terrific report, Mark.

Great vehicle

@@ECPP it was a complete accident because it came off the truck that morning and I was at 7 dealership looking for a hybrid. The manager said because I was there they would sell it to me otherwise I would have to be put on a waitlist and couldn’t guarantee I’d even get one this year. I’m sure that was true because every dealership I was in said basically good luck because they have a waiting list of at least 50 people. I didn’t get a choice but I got the xle nightshade in pearl white

Yes time will tell

You have one in their golden years/decades, that is for certain.

Thanks for sharing, thats not good to hear. Hopefully no more of those experiences.

Awesome

Cheers

The only thing a new Toyota & an old Toyota have in common now is the brand

Man ! We bought a new 82 Tercel for my wife after I started my first job after college . It had a standard transmission . Loved driving that little car :D We let that one go around 125,000 miles with zero issues .

Exactly

Thanks for the feedback and I do appreciate that. This is really more of an awareness for those now shopping for older vehicles. Every brand has a miss now and then but its OK. Thanks

Exactly right, my family, grandparents, parents and kids have owned ordinary Toyotas ie corollas, Rav-4 etc since 1969! Not one engine issue, not one gearbox issue, no clutch replacements on manuals, no major suspension issues( a few replacement bushings) etc. Only really minor stuff like an erratic electric window on one car). These cars have saved us many 10's of thousands of dollars over the years.

I think the point of the video is to show that even Toyota (the most reliable brand) has had problems before albeit very few as you have pointed out.

Lucky

Toyota has the shitiest clutch ever. Toyota with manual transmission is disaster.

That's really bad, I always hear 'buy a manual' & 'CVT's won't last'..... it's confusing 🤔

definitely go with the ES350, they’re both reliable overall but the ES is better

@noahh.8737 Thank you that's the one I'm leaning towards the most.

Thank you very much

It's a bit slow but excellent otherwise.

I wouldn't buy a Honda because of that terrible 1.5 turbo earth dreams engine )with oil dilution) ....but an automatic Camry would prob be a reliable car 🤔

Thanks for the info

That was my first and last Toyota I ever owned up to now. It remains to be seen if I will ever purchase a Toyota again.

100 percent

Get rid of it . Its a Hyundai

Ouch

Was that the short period they made them with a belt-drive valve train? Yeah, those were a wreck. I think that 'technology' only lasted 2 years in production before they went back to a chain drive.

Great point!

Exactly right, even if there is a mistake, it’s very quickly fixed

Haha, thats fair, even the worst Toyota is likely better than much of its competition.

It’s all clear as I tell you what years and engines you are dealing with

​@@ECPP Yes but its not correct. Toyota never had widespread transmission issues, they had torque converter issues in the early 2010s

BS!! Mine failed 250mi/400km out of warranty and Toyota treated me like dirt. I have more than twenty case studies to disprove the Reliability Theory. Don't get me started .... Main shaft on gearbox, centre bearing AND differential failed. Toyota was known, even in the 1980's, for whining differentials. The so-called Blackheath rear axles were notoriously unreliable.

I have a 2014 rav4 that looks like the one you're showing and is super reliable 80 k miles and no problems 🤔

@@Motorsportsgeek2013 rav4 first year which is model he showed absolutely had terrible tranny issues. Alot were replaced under warranty

All Vehicles are too expensive, Yes we are starting to see price drops now, But some were simply 50% overpriced to begin with at MSRP, Now people can't trade every three years because of upside down valuations, Especially those who over payed on purpose for AIR- Dealer and manufacturer PROFITs.📈

Who, Toyota Lexus ?? They are one of the cheapest vehicle on the market new? A loaded GX550 is $80k a turd GMC is over 100k 🤷‍♂️ used they hold their resale higher because they are just better. But I do agree ALL car companies are out of control period.

@@raymondreiff8170 I bought a brand new ram power wagon in 2012 for $49k. that same truck today with its new “lowered msrp” is $72k equally equipped. 😡

@@bigsneakypete Right I personally feel bad for all the Working People who actually NEED Trucks for the JOBs they do, In my opinion of course, > It's disrespectful to the working Man trying to SUCK the last dollar off of Him or Her like this, Now if the Quality actually doubled I could understand it better but I'm hearing that's just not the case, I think it's also Unamerican now just laying American Workers off it's like Stallatis could care less, As long as they can keep making Record profits.

Thanks 👍. Good morning Paul, thank you for the support. Wondering what time it is over there. Its 8:00 am local time here.

We are 14 hours ahead. I am In Sydney.

Do u trip any catalytic converter codes/ engine warning light etc ?

@@mrgarrison3516 My engine light comes on a couple times year for a day then shuts off.I do have 230k miles on it and the 3rd gen Prius are none for head gasket issues.

​@@thrash123ful Ok. Burning oil doesn't mean a head gasket issue, it's probably just worn-out piston rings (allowing oil past the rings.... getting burned off....then out your exhaust). If u do get a catalytic code, there's specific cleaners u add to the fuel 👍

Wow, I nearly bought that same RAV 4, instead bought a 2017 Subaru Crosstrek (cheaper & AWD)....it has 140k & nothing except routine maintenance & I take it soft-roading often 😮

Thanks for sharing

@@ECPP you’re welcome

I did too. I almost bought one e a bunch of years ago

I did, too. It was perhaps the most fun I've ever had test driving anything besides a Mustang.

Well…..

Toyota has never had a rigged emission scandal. That was VW. The acceleration issue was recalled but most of the issue was caused by the floor mat getting stuck under the gas pedal. Most every brand used Takata airbags that have been recalled. Excessive oil use was taken care of by Toyota warranty that has the pistons and rings replaced free of charge. If you're looking for perfection you will NEVER find it.

​@@wysetech2000 Thank you for pointing some things out sir. I am guessing you own or owned Toyotas at one point and you are a loyal fan. I sincerely wish you all the best and long lasting to your car(s) (not sarcastically) We all have our brands that we love and swear by. The purpose of this video and of my comments is simply to raise awareness to a few facts, one of them being not to trust companies blindly on account of "being reliable" Spoiler alert, they don't have your best interest at heart but rather trying to sell you their products.Sometimes you as the consumer being the guinea pig of their new shiny tech. All I'm trying to say is that Toyota as reliable as they may seem they do/did have their share of issues and the history showed us how poorly they handled their problems.I couldn't care less about Toyota much so I would try to convince anyone they are bad(which is not true).If you are happy with yours well... enjoy it. I simply think the Toyota "legendary" reliability" is simply overhyped to death that's all. As far as the issues I and you mentioned you can simply search for them online everything is public information

@@axx8326 First, I don't own a Toyota but my daughter owns a 2021 Corolla Hybrid. With almost 100.000 Kl. (60.000Miles) on it without one single problem. It's her second Toyota. Only regular service. Her old 2017 Corolla was trouble free as well accept for a new battery and front brake replacement. I was a technician for over 50 years and every brand has problems. Anything man made is prone to break down. My son has a 2022 Honda that's also been a great car. Car manufactures and dealers have every trick in the book. They always have and always will. Today everything is so expensive, we demand perfection, and some are closer than others, but cars today have so many electronics onboard, and most don't make their own components so something is going to give up sooner than predicted. Factory workers have been screwed since Covid. None of them give a damn any longer. There is NO pride in anything today and everyone is in a bad mood. Welcome to 2024.

Thanks

Thanjs. In what way ?

@@ECPP it seems that you're violently shaking the camera when zooming in.

No not really

Overall a solid brand

Like who?

@@ECPP You know who.

thanks