Surf/4Runner?

Post by **Begbie** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 12:43 pm

Hi there, new to this board.

I am going to buy a 4x4 this week, if i can find one.

I was going to buy a 92 or newer Surf , simply because i cannot afford a turbo diesel Hi Lux dual cab 1990+ and the Surf seems like the next best thing with all the options etc.

This is going to be my first 4x4, I am buying to take the kids bush a little bit as i am dead sure they will get a kick out of going through a little mud etc We already go camping a fair bit but just in the VT wagon.

Is the Surf or 4runner a good car? I have seen a lot of people syaiung they have had to replace motors in the Surf under 150kms which scares me a little. Guy at fine choice auto said these are no good, cant get parts, cant get insurance etc?

IS there a better alternative to the Surf? Do most most 4x4 enthusiasts consider these a good car? or does some one know where i can get 6cyl petrol or turbo diesle hi lux dual cab 1990+ for less than 14k ? I am in melb.

EDIT: i have seen a couple of hilux dual cabs in melb under 14k, but all of them seem to be 4cyl petrol, which to me seem spretty damned small engine, i have just spent 10 years driving all types of v8s...is the 4cyl hilux super slow?

Post by **ratboy** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 1:07 pm

look in the trading post thay are every where

Post by **pongo** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 1:27 pm

As a 2.4 petrol 4 runner owner, i can say they a fairly slow but if your not in a rush there ok . If i buy another i,d buy a surf. The diesel reliability/practability outweighs any petrol.
Just watch the leg room as i find it a bit annoying on long trips,otherwide a good 4by indeed

Post by **Roctoy** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 1:51 pm

my last 4wd was an 89 model ln 130 surf, great truck, comfy to drive. it was a 2.4L turbo diesel, it was very thirsty on fuel and it was slow as!
if your getting a surf, look for the 3L version, they go much better.

as for parts, don't listen to anyone when they say surfs are different to 4runners, they're not, just the engine is. everything else is pretty much the same.

IFS wheel travel sucks major arse but it all depends on what your going to use it for. i just put a lockrite in the front of my surf and it whelled ok. Say if i was headed to Cape York tomorow, i'd do it in a Surf, instead of say a leaf sprung hilux.

check insurance on a imported vehicle...

if everything checks out ok get one!!!

Cheers Chris

Post by **Surfin Alec** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 3:25 pm

Go the Surf.......in a 3 litre.
The 2.4's are more economical, around 10 - 11 litres to 100km and the 3 litre is about 13 / 100km, but heaps better power.

Parts are a piece of p!$s. Much better ride than a lux (even with a SAS in the front). Go off road great - better with a front locker as sugested and no rear sway bar. Great to cruise / beach work etc.

Had my 94 3 litre auto Surf for almosy 5 years and still love it. Only down side is they are limited in leg room compared to a cruiser. But they again I am 6'1" and find it fine. Been to Fraser etc without complaints. Rear leg room is for kids or short trips for adults, but what do I care, I'm driving.

Alec

Post by **Begbie** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 5:51 pm

Wife has upped the budget to 16k

Today 2 more people told me to stay right away from Surfs.

Is it possible to get a 3L diesel surf? or do you mean petrol, 4runnner motor?

IS there anywhere i can find out what all the model codes mean?

I have been to see an SSRX 92 and i think the SSRg has recaro interior? What do the other ocess mean?

Post by **pete_novo** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 7:48 pm

take a look at the toyotasurf forum. Hive of information about all things surf:

http://toyotasurf.asn.au/

Post by **Begbie** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 8:22 am

Thanks for the tip that site is just what i need.

I think hiLux is still out of my price range, even if i spend 16k so i will go for the surf and hopefully have enough money to gget all the preventative stuff before i go anywhere.

thanks
Pete

Post by **Roctoy** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 8:35 am

Begbie wrote:Today 2 more people told me to stay right away from Surfs.

have these people owned surfs or are they going on what they've heard???

Post by **dumbdunce** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 10:26 am

roc70y wrote:
Begbie wrote:Today 2 more people told me to stay right away from Surfs.

have these people owned surfs or are they going on what they've heard???

if they are talking about 2.4 litre surfs, they are absolutely right. if you are going to buy a surf do not even contemplate a 2.4 litre. the engines (2L-T, 2L-TII, 2L-TE) are underpowered and have many common failures. the 3 litre engine (1KZ-TE) is a whole different story and should give many years of flawless service.

Post by **Going_up** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 5:59 pm

wat ever you do dont get the petrol, i have a 2.4petrol 4 runna,
gutless as shit, you'll hate it!!!

i'ld get a 4 runner, less electronics in it, non import,
the RV6 are pretty good
no autos!

Post by **Begbie** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 8:59 pm

Yeah looked at some 4runners today - not real keen actually - the surf is attractive cos of all the features - comparing the handful of surfs i have checked out to the 3 4runners i looked at today - surfs is really heaps nicer car for the same money.

I am gonna keep looking at Surfs, 4runners and hi lux till i find a tidy one in my price range.

Not even gonna consider 2.4 diesel now, i drove one today and it was awful!

Post by HG » Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:44 pm

I have a 2.4 in my Surf and with a few mods she goes well, rebuilt turbo, big exhaust, adjustable boost (up to 13lbs), top mount WRX intercooler, remapped injector pump and a 4 core Desert cooler radiator are just a few of the mods I've done

.
Just make sure what ever you buy that it has a good history and get it checked out by a Diesel mechanic.
Cheers
Andrew

Post by **Mick_n_Sal** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:52 pm

Don't be too put off by the Surfs, I have a 2.8 4Runner with 445000 kms on the clock ( diesel ) and it's still runs fine. The Differences in the Surfs are not all that major - the diesel engined ones have the following differences

Turbocharged 2.4 or 3.0 litre engine.
Most have two smaller sized batteries - because of all the electrics
The flywheel is different - it is fitted with a load relieving device for starting
The radiator is different
The air cleaner assembly is different - to make room for the extra battery
The air con compressor is a different model ( the air con guys hate them )
The electrics are somewhat different to the 4Runners - all the extras.

Check your insurance company and see if they'll insure it and at what rate. There are heaps of them on the road and most parts problems can be sorted with either hilux, 4Runner or Prado parts.

Mick_n_Sal

Post by **Begbie** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 10:12 pm

Not put off, just want a 3l manual , in good nick. Hope to find a nice Surf, 4runner or hi lux this week - i really need a car badly, wife is ghetting pissed off driving me to work each day, although i am sure this is what has cau8sed her to allow me a rise in budget by 5k this week

Gonna have a look at this Lux tomorrow.

http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsales ... 8&dweb_id=

Post by HG » Thu Sep 30, 2004 10:10 pm

Very nice, it's just way too clean should have heaps of mud over it

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