I'm generally a Toyota guy mostly because of their trucks, but Honda seems to build as dependable a product in most cases.

Both are going to be long lasting, reliable vehicles, so it comes down to whatever style, options, and comfort of driving you prefer.

This is a real good point and Toyota has been going back and forth with that for a long time. And can be one or the other depending on if it is a four or six cylinder.

That being said, they are much sturdier now and when I did the belt on my 3.4 pickup a while back, the parts I removed still looked like brand new after 80,000 miles. But nobody wants to break one and bend the valves on interference engines like Honda has been mostly known to use.

Looks like most or all Toyotas have been using a chain for the last ten years.

Rarely, but occasionally I get a high mileage one in that is rattling a bit, but at least that is some kind of warning when it needs to be replaced.

It's funny as in my owners manual for my Tacoma, there is nowhere in the maintenance schedule at all that mentions timing belt replacement.

In the early days 60,000 miles was the general rule of thumb and usually listed as such, but when I worked a Nissan we were getting a lot of 300Zs and Maximas towed in at 50,000- 55,000 with broken belts and bent valves.

Some belts got thicker and heavier over the years like my V-6 Tacoma so they will last much much longer than that.

One thing about Honda that kind of bothers me is that "random act of kindness" ad campaign.

Maybe they are giving away a bunch of money, but that has to come from somewhere, probably the bottom line on the price of the vehicles.

I worked as a mechanic at a Nissan dealer and they had problems you would never see on Toyotas or Hondas. A lot of which was related to cheap thin wiring and bad connectors. Maybe they are better now, but I see no reason to buy one, when Toyotas have always served me well.

I'm going to drive my 2001 Tacoma with 180,000 miles on it until the wheels fall off. Or my wheels fall off, whichever comes first.

Most Toyotas that come in my shop now with very high miles have no leaks and the owners say they have never had any problems. But there are a few exceptions.

100,000 miles is the beginning of the end for many other car manufacturers. I had an '03 Corolla in the other day with over 300,000 and that little motor was still purring like a kitten

I am pleased to say my 2001 Tacoma with no antilock brakes or asshole detection systems has made it thru another day and I arrived safely at work today.

Then you will be able to afford filtered alkaline water and a good massage.

The same people that would listen to and take the advice of somebody that has been in the automotive business for over 35 years... nobody.

But I'll leave it at this.

In five years when you go to sell your Toyota, if you decide to do so, you are going to get way more for it than your Chrysler junk. And you will have people lining up to buy it.

I'm going to add one more little tidbit.

In 35 years of auto repair and service, I can't remember if I ever replaced a radiator or coolant hose on a Toyota. My 2001 Tacoma with almost 200,000 miles still has all it's original hoses and they are still holding up just fine.

The Chrysler minivans we get in for inspection almost always have the PCV hose that goes from the valve cover to the air cleaner cracked and falling apart after just a few years and they fail and have to go get a new one.

That is something that did cross my mind. Some vehicles may be more prone to cold weather and salt damage than others.

I can only go by where I am at, which we have neither of those and Toyotas tend to outlast them all.

That's the problem right there. Passenger cars and trucks just aren't what they used to be. In the last 5-10 years they are all so bogged down now with technological innovations that the enjoyment of driving may never be the same.

One that I can work the radio without causing a major accident.

If I had to buy a new one, it would certainly be a Toyota. Thank goodness I have an older one

You know I see all different cars all day, but it sure seems a lot of the newest ones have taken a step backwards in user friendliness.

Is that anything like a SuperLE?

Good you didn't settle for a "pro" model.

But I'll be damned if I ever use a cargument in saying a Toyota is like any Stern.

Congrats! In ten years when all today's new Caravans are either rotting in junkyards or limping down the road, your Toyota should still have a good resale value.