Hello! I would like to take the time today and review my 1994 Toyota SR5 Pick-up truck. I have owned five or six cars and trucks in my life and none even come close to this vehicle. It is a truck that is just the right size to drive in the city, and can still hold its own in the country, and trust me being from Montana that is a hard job to do.

Let me discuss a couple of the options that I have on my truck and which ones I believe are a must have and which ones are just because they are what I think a Pick-up truck should have. This truck is not a luxury car with plush seats and temperature control, this is a 4X4 that is for people who are looking for some off road fun and yet drive in the city. One of the options that I have on my truck is a V6 engine, this is a must have option to me. I am a firm believer in the V6 engine regardless of vehicle but in a truck you are looking for power, towing ability, and hauling capacity, and the performance of all of these dependent upon the size of your engine, the larger the engine the better the performance. Let me put it this way, if you want the gas mileage of a 4-cylinder engine than buy a car. Plus if you are as power hungry as I am then you will enjoy the V6, and you will still get good gas mileage. The V6 3.0L engine has the ability to tow another vehicle, haul all of my belonging across the country and still be able to sit in traffic. A down side to the V6 engine is that you really are pressed for space, this makes most of your maintenance and do it your self projects much more difficult, and as a female mechanic I find this a little frustrating. Another aspect of having a V6 that most people don't think about is if you live in a climate that you need the air conditioning then I would recommend a V6 for any vehicle, but most people will tell you that this is not a necessity. I am into taking care of my engine and on a hot day you are already stressing your engine as it is and the smaller the engine the more stress you apply when you run the air conditioning.

Another option that I have on my truck is an extended cab. To me this is a convenience option, but I would not trade it for the world. If you do not have a topper for your truck I would highly recommend this option. This will increase the price of your vehicle a bit but the convenience will far out weight the price. Plus this option will help increase the trade-in value or resale of your truck. Having an extended cab gives you a place to put items when there is two people riding in the truck. Without this option you have to hold everything on you lap or put it in the back, and if you stop anywhere then you have to shuffle it to the front. Which seems like a huge pain when you are shopping!

The last large option that I have on my truck is four wheel drive. These trucks are back wheel drive and with no weight in the bead of the truck you will find it hard to keep your front end going straight. This option gives me reassurance when I need four wheel drive, it doesn't give me the confidence to drive like a crazy woman when it snows though. Plus, I do like to take my truck off road and drive on the beach, or in the mountains. So this option is really up to you and what you need this truck to do.

I bought this vehicle used with 58K miles on it, and in great condition. With regular maintenance and up keep on this vehicle I would expect to get at least 200K out of this truck, and although I would never sell this truck I do think that would be my moneys worth!!



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