I picked up 05 Rav4 for a few hundred bucks last spring to scoot me the two miles to my farm job and back. 408k miles (around 200k on the engine/transmission). Busted sway bar end links, muffler was barely hanging on and the fuel tank straps had failed. The thermostat is stuck open but I just cover the radiator some in winter. Pulled the rear seats so I can fit more tools and parts in it.
I got the fuel tank properly secured again, removed the muffler, and replaced a badly cupped tire and that's all the work I've bothered to put into it. It runs like a top and starts great even in very cold weather.
Is it even worth doing regular maintenance on such a vehicle? I fixed the fuel tank because that's enough of a safety issue to me, and the cupped tire because it was annoying to drive on. I don't want to sink much money into such a heap. Theres plenty of other beaters for a few hundred bucks around to replace it with when it goes. Should I bother to do an oil change even? I have a good reliable vehicle for all other needs, I just like to keep the nice car away from the farm.
What would you do for maintenance (if any) on a beater living out it's last days on the farm?
I got the fuel tank properly secured again, removed the muffler, and replaced a badly cupped tire and that's all the work I've bothered to put into it. It runs like a top and starts great even in very cold weather.
Is it even worth doing regular maintenance on such a vehicle? I fixed the fuel tank because that's enough of a safety issue to me, and the cupped tire because it was annoying to drive on. I don't want to sink much money into such a heap. Theres plenty of other beaters for a few hundred bucks around to replace it with when it goes. Should I bother to do an oil change even? I have a good reliable vehicle for all other needs, I just like to keep the nice car away from the farm.
What would you do for maintenance (if any) on a beater living out it's last days on the farm?