***I need to go visit family 300 miles away for visiting family member in hospice.*** I bought 2008 Toyota Sienna XLE from 1 owner with all documentation 6 years ago at approx. 161,000 miles. They were selling it because they had just bought a new Sienna and they didn't need 2 vans. This has been a great van, but it now has 272,000 miles.
Since August, I have had to replace battery, something is going on with the muffler and it now roars from the back when I turn it on and hit the gas, radiator busted and replaced the radiator, coolant, and a lot of the transmission fluid was added, now groans when someone gets in the front and when you turn right, and the steering wheel does wobble/shake a small amount when driving, usually lower than 50 mph. What is going on? I had the tires balanced last month with a fresh oil change. The previous owner and myself have always had oil changes (full synthetic) at 5,000 miles. Throughout the years I have replaced all brake pads and rotors, 1 rear wheel bearing, and struts.
The 2 front tires are 3 years old, the back 2 are almost a year old and all Michelin from Costco. Costco says they will not rotate my tires because the tires are different ages. I have 3 kids and need to get them to preschool, gymnastics, piano, church activities, and classes.
For some reason I am almost terrified to drive this car thinking it will collapse at any moment on the highway/interstate and I will get in a wreck. Does anyone have any thoughts or any Siennas with this high of mileage? We buy cash and drive until the wheels fall off and I am just wondering what that means exactly, or how much money to put into this car. I come from a family where the brand new Toyotas were traded in at 100,000 miles because my parents thought they weren't safe anymore.
Also, what car should I consider next? All the Siennas I've looked at on marketplace/cargurus are much more than the cash I have saved. I am thinking no more than $7,000 range because I live on gravel and that just eats up the cars. I will only consider Toyotas, but I may only be able to afford Camry on that budget. Is a 2005 Camry v6 with timing belt ok to buy? Should I stick to only timing chains? I have been researching Scotty Kilmer and Car Wizard to the extreme!