buying a hilux.. advice?

[drifta]

Hey Guys/girls,

Well i just got back from a big trip away from home so I dont have a car - I used to own a suzuki sierra but have decided to get a toyota hilux this time around (because i cant get enough of 4x4ing) and the suzuki was bumpy as hell with not enough power on the road.

Anyway I was wondering if you guys could pour out all your thoughts and suggestions in regards to buying a toyota hilux - my budget is fairly low - i want to spend between $1500 and $3500 and could probably stretch to $5000 to buy a hilux and i had thought about getting one with at least 4 seats - was considering a diesel due to theoretical 'fuel economy' compared to petrol but to be honest im not sure if i will save much on fuel costs - anyone with a stock diesel or petrol? - how many ks to a tank compared to petrol..

So what do I look for when it comes to buying a 'lux - ive heard that there was a wider bodied version that came out and there was also an independent front sprung version - is this good/bad?

my hilux is going to be pretty mild - perhaps some 31' tyres at the most and possibly some small other mods like intake and exhaust - i want it to be good to drive on the road as well as offroad and not use too much fuel.

so what year is best to look for - what kinda things should i watch out for, widebody/narrow/diesel/petrol/independent/sold axle?

your help would be muchly appreciated!


Paul

[De-lux]

i want to spend between $1500 and $3500 and could probably stretch to $5000 to buy a hilux and i had thought about getting one with at least 4 seats

You might be strapped finding a 4 seater for less that 5 grand which i would trust on a big trip.

there was also an independent front sprung version - is this good/bad

IFS hilux's are from about 1997 onwards... my opinion - bad

there was a wider bodied version

thats news to me

diesel

the best choice, but slow / noisy on road. (i know mine is)

[gurumon]

ifs blows goats

[Hybrid]

and the suzuki was bumpy as hell with not enough power on the road.

Hate to burst the bubble but hilux's are bumpy as hell and dont have enough power on the road lol, I used to wonder how I wasnt pissing blood. As for ifs/ solid. Solid is better off road and anyone even thinking of 4wdriving should go solid. But in the price range your looking I doubt youd get IFS anyway. As an indicator I got my 85 petrol single cab in reasonable condition for 3500 a couple of years back. The only 4 seaters are the dual cabs and 4runners (if ya can call that a lux). For the money your looking at you will prob get a gen 2 (84-89 I think) single cab. Maybe a gen 1 dual cab but I wouldnt bother. Last time I looked gen 3s were a lot more than 5K.

As far as power goes get the diesel if you can. My petrol was woeful. Thats why alot of us are swapping in engines from supras, soarers, commos etc.

I think the IFS rigs were the ones with the "wider track".

Hope that helps. Theres a lot more knowledgable guys on here than me so I might get corrected a few times

John

[Liquid_Force]

I got my 1990 DC 2.8D hilux a few months ago for $10k

anyone with a stock diesel or petrol? - how many ks to a tank compared to petrol..

I get 550km on 55L unloaded, and 520km on 55L with 400-500Kg's in the back

[4wdphil]

definitely go the diesel. 31 do fit under easily dispite what some tyre centres say, All Hilux are rough to ride (regardless of off road or on road) unless you do the suspension which is highly recommened for an older vehicle as it is usually past its used by date anyhow (the suspension).

Phil