Concerns with a 91 taco im looking at.. what do I look for?

[DaveInDenver]

I don’t even know if it is even worth owning the new stuff anymore... as you probably want to turn it in before the warranty is up.

That's what is said each generation. The leaf sprung solid axle guys said it when coils and IFS showed up. Carb guys said it when EFI showed up. When they added emissions controls that was the end of being able to repair your own car. It's a lot of heft but I still have a FSM for my 2008 and I can still fix it. I dunno, maybe eventually things won't be repairable. We collectively do cross a threshold. Used to be able to fix telephones, stereos and TV sets but those days are no more. I'm old enough to remember spending Saturdays with dad testing tubes to fix the TV. I know I'm unique in that I can actually still fix my own cell phone and TV, being a EE and having gone through NASA soldering training. But I don't to be honest.

 

[bkg]

Clutch has a great point, even if it isn’t in his dedicated thread... (?)

Going forward, vehicles will be subscriptions. Ford and Jeep are already in the market. We are headed to a world that doesn’t support the idea of “enthusiasts” or even “ownership.” There are moments that i seriously consider getting rid of all of our vehicles for a pair of early 70’s vehicles... I do spend a lot of time with post EMP fiction, though....

 

[Clutch]

Clutch has a great point, even if it isn’t in his dedicated thread... (?)

Going forward, vehicles will be subscriptions. Ford and Jeep are already in the market. We are headed to a world that doesn’t support the idea of “enthusiasts” or even “ownership.” There are moments that i seriously consider getting rid of all of our vehicles for a pair of early 70’s vehicles... I do spend a lot of time with post EMP fiction, though....

Hey now! (yeah I know I have a problem, and no, I don't want any help... )

The buy-in cost is so high anymore, then if you do hang onto it for long time...when it starts to break, man... just throwing good money after bad. I don't know about you guys, I don't want to have to work that hard just for a dumb vehicle.

Most of us were raised with car culture, it was a right of passage to have your own wheels. Now...I dunno, maybe the millennials are right...do we really need to own a car? If you think about it, it spends more time sitting than it does being used. I might use one of mine an hour maybe an hour and a half per day. If I am home on the weekends it doesn't get used at all, my second vehicle which she uses...we might put 1000 miles a year on it.

When driverless cars become mainstream, what would be the point of owning a vehicle...just tell Alexa you need a ride somewhere, within minutes there is a car waiting for you outside. Car subscriptions would make a lot of sense.

 

[DaveInDenver]

The ability not to own a car has been there for a long time: buses, taxis, rentals. Do we need to own a car? No, of course not. But having the ability to move and travel at your whim has been a social progression that took centuries to filter down to being possible for anyone. It wasn't that long ago that most people didn't own a car. My grandparents were of the generation that buying a car of your own was a major change. Maybe the byproducts of such widespread mobility created problems, I dunno. I guess if no one had cars the backcountry wouldn't be so overrun with yahoos all the time.

 

[Clutch]

The ability not to own a car has been there for a long time: buses, taxis, rentals. Do we need to own a car? No, of course not.

Of for sure, as I am getting ready to run to the grocery store on my bicycle. Which is the direction I am trying to head...really only need a vehicle for traveling...might be better off just renting, or just buy something cheap for a trip then sell it on my return. My buddy who did that recently has given me some ideas. He sold his Tacoma because he was tired of putting gas in it and fixing it. He is only 45 and retired...cheap SOB, but retired at 45 none-the-less. Uses his bicycle to get around where he lives.

Maybe the byproducts of such widespread mobility created problems, I dunno.

Perhaps...

 

[DaveInDenver]

I've ridden bicycles my whole life, to commute to work, run errands, at least in our previous houses and our current one. The one immediately preceding this one was in a semi-rural setting with no real bike-able infrastructure. That was one of the reasons I think I was unhappy there, I had to drive everywhere.

I'm not an off-grid, loner deep down and enjoy walking & biking on a daily basis rather than needing to drive everywhere. Yet I do enjoy getting places not possible or practical otherwise. Jumping in the truck to ride in Moab or Fruita right now is a 30 minute or hour drive rather than an all day journey requiring I outfit a mule train. Such convenience doesn't come without consequences.

Your photo of gridlock is dramatic, but that isn't to say cars are *the* problem. The problem is deeper, over population, poor planning & coordination, generally speaking - chaos. It's a human condition. The possibility exists that we could have cars but live lifestyles that don't cause them to ruin us.

But like everything we do it can't be done in moderation, it has to done to '11'. Living within our means and just being happy with what we have seems impossible. But I guess OTOH without constantly tinkering we wouldn't test the edges of our existence and ultimately seeing what's over the next hill just to know is what we do.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Just thought of something, if you've ever been a part of or just been in a critical mass you'll know it's possible to gridlock with bicycles. It's overall more regulating if there was no cars and trucks because the ability to move people and goods easily like that is what has created all these cities. If farmers had to deliver on bikes the number of people each could support would drop by orders so the number of people would naturally reduce, too. Still, we managed to create super cities (China, India, heck any number of places) and terrible traffic even before widespread individual car ownership using our feet, taxis and bikes.

 

[phsycle]

I'd be interested to see what happens to the car industry. It's interesting to see the neighborhood kids, who are about to come of driving age, not care as much about getting their driver's license. Their world is on their phones, XBOX, laptop. They don't care about physically heading over to Jonny's house to hang out--they can do that in their PJ's from their own room. Couple that with the emerging popularity of e-machines. E-bikes, E-scooters, etc. Don't need a license (yet, anyway), and gives adults and kids of all ages lots of mobility. Admittedly, I detest e-bikes on the trails, but I wouldn't mind one for the road. They are pretty fun.

 

[Clutch]

@DaveInDenver: Of course cars aren't the real problem...it is people...the main source of all of our human problems. But hey, us individuals are people too...so there is that.

I haven't had a commute in 20 years, that all changed 4 years ago...and I am growing to detest cars in general...which goes against my whole being since I have been a car nut ever since I can remember. Heck, one of the main reasons I am on this forum is so we can ******** chat back forth about vehicles...oxymoronic I know. Love vehicles but hate them at the same time too....out exploring, yes! Stuck in gridlock traffic, nooooo!

Not one of those people who think that everyone should ride a bicycle either...though it might help... as what is it now, over 50% of our population is woefully out of shape. Might help put less strain on our health care system. Look at Northern European countries, yes they have bicycle grid lock but I see one glaring difference between them and us.

Hoping in 4 years I can quit the commute, and will only need a vehicle for traveling.

@phsycle Will be interesting where the car industry heads. Vehicle for most of us, was a chance to get out of the house and be social...now that being social is in the palm of your hand. They aren't needed as much. Millennials might be on to something...I remember when you wanted a car, but you need a job to get one, and need a car to get to said job. They seem to be realizing that whole cycle is kinda BS...of course their parents are paying their bills and putting a roof over their heads too. But the one thing that exists now, that didn't when I was younger...is the ability to earn a living from a computer. Shoot I wish I could figure that out so I didn't have to commute...should of paid more attention in our computer labs back in school...played too much Zork instead I guess....

I don't care about e-bikes on trails...just another evolution of the bicycle. Like how they became motorcycles in the first place...now there is a battle over we all recreate because we think our way is better than the "other guys".

 

[DaveInDenver]

now there is a battle over we all recreate because we think our way is better than the "other guys".

I detest e-bikes on MTB trails for the same reason quads/ATVs/SxS on motorized trails. For whatever reason the lowered barrier of entry encourages something in people. It's not that I'm better or worse for being human powered but the point isn't about seeing how fast you can tame a trail but just the act of doing the taming. IOW the journey is the destination, or some such nonsense.

It seems to me in my narrow scope of interfaces is the e-MTB'er wants the rewards of a bicycle but without doing the work. They want narrow flowy trails and to be away from trucks and motorcycles, which is fine, but without all that tedious training and suffering that motors were invented to eliminate in the first place.

I love e-bikes for commuting, bar hopping, shopping. Awesome progression for the bicycle as utility. Absolutely something I see as technology benefiting humanity. A true case study in need vs. want and the effect on people and society. On one hand you have this thing that moves you efficiently and is less of a burden on resources that on the other hand feeds our inherent laziness and tendency to be jerks to each other.

And I know the irony of love/hate wrapping in this post. If the eMTB would be happy matching my climbing speed (local stud racer super climber passing me, much respect, lazy DH'er using assist, not) and just follow the accept etiquette of hike/bike/horse multi-use it wouldn't be the same. Yup, I was run off the trail by one...

 

[goldenfiber]

Seeing a mention of post EMP... Is there a recommended carb and distributor to swap a 3.4 over to the old

way of getting around? Or should I just keep collecting bug parts?​

 

[Clutch]

Seeing a mention of post EMP... Is there a recommended carb and distributor to swap a 3.4 over to the old

way of getting around? Or should I just keep collecting bug parts?​

Prolly better off tossing in a carbed 350 Chevy at that point.

My vote is bug parts...

https://www.facebook.com/thebestbajas/

 

[DaveInDenver]

Seeing a mention of post EMP... Is there a recommended carb and distributor to swap a 3.4 over to the old

way of getting around? Or should I just keep collecting bug parts?​

A V6 carb, for that you'll have to find a wrecked 1984 Celebrity to use as donor.

 

[Clutch]

I detest e-bikes on MTB trails for the same reason quads/ATVs/SxS on motorized trails. For whatever reason the lowered barrier of entry encourages something in people. It's not that I'm better or worse for being human powered but the point isn't about seeing how fast you can tame a trail but just the act of doing the taming. IOW the journey is the destination, or some such nonsense.

It seems to me in my narrow scope of interfaces is the e-MTB'er wants the rewards of a bicycle but without doing the work. They want narrow flowy trails and to be away from trucks and motorcycles, which is fine, but without all that tedious training and suffering that motors were invented to eliminate in the first place.

I love e-bikes for commuting, bar hopping, shopping. Awesome progression for the bicycle as utility. Absolutely something I see as technology benefiting humanity. A true case study in need vs. want and the effect on people and society. On one hand you have this thing that moves you efficiently and is less of a burden on resources that on the other hand feeds our inherent laziness and tendency to be jerks to each other.

And I know the irony of love/hate wrapping in this post. If the eMTB would be happy matching my climbing speed (local stud racer super climber passing me, much respect, lazy DH'er using assist, not) and just follow the accept etiquette of hike/bike/horse multi-use it wouldn't be the same. Yup, I was run off the trail by one...

Ha ha! Well I did sell off all my fullsupension bikes...and now only have a single speed for my mountain bike. V-brakes even...not quite old skool as cantis...but hey! Bought one of those Kona Utes for the grocery getter.


Yeah, it is like the recent influx of UTV's....brings out all kinds of knuckle draggers. Something that can carry even more beer! greaaaaat.....don't think I have ever seen a UTV driver without a beer in their hand...

I hear ya...I try and stay away from the popular trails tho'. I "think" all of the Ridge to Rivers trails are e-bike free, don't know... don't like going there since it is so close to the urban center...too many fricken people. Found another trail system South of the house in a different mountain range which is about the same distance to the trail head...plus it is all back country roads to get there, don't have to drive into Boise. Thank gawd!

Ironic thing about the Ridge to Rivers trail system...it used to be all motorized until they commandeered it years ago and converted it to human powered only. A few moto trails still exist higher up the mountain though.

 

[phsycle]

While we're airing grievances, I also hate that all trails around here are equestrian-friendly. I realize some of these trails were originally built for this purpose and they play a big part of funding a part of these trails. But they sure tear up the trails. And there is nothing like coming around a corner to a huge pile of horse crap. All over the wheels, back, bike, mouth. Fun times.

But you should get a 1st Gen Tacoma.