Toyota Hi Lux Surf '93, your thoughts?

[Athlon]

Thinking about the above as a winter runaround and to tow a boat (I hope) next year, it will be a 3 litre manual.

Anyone have any advice about these? Do I forget it as a stupud idea or are they a decent truck?

Fuel economy or lack of and other stuff I should know would be great.

Thanks in advance all.

A.

[Fire99]

Excellent truck. Come in various specs but pretty well loaded with electrics.
Just make sure everything works (including electic boot-door window).

3 litre is very good. More powerful and durable than the 2.4 but make sure it's had fluids changed etc.

Other than that, no particular 'surf only' issues.

MPG i'd expect mid to late 20's mpg. maybe 30 at a push on a run.

[Hollywood Wheels]

We have a 2.4TD, which as I understand it is the better engine to have, fewer problems. They are slooooooow, and be prepared for sub-20mpg....
Other than that they are great, very reliable. Ours has just passed it's MOT, and it's a K-reg with about 150K miles and lots of rust. Tons of room, loads of cheap spare parts on ebay, nice and comfy, great off-road and in the snow, and you can get the back end out with ease when it's wet and you're in 2wd

[andymach23]

My mate had a 3 litre auto Surf. It was a generation 3 I think. I had a couple of drives in it and found it quite nippy for the type of car. Certainly more poke than the TD5 Discovery I have now.

From reading about these they seem to be very reliable and are well kitted out. A bloke on one of the LR forums I frequent has a Surf which has been totally reliable, unlike his Range Rover Classic.


The older 2.4 diesel is well know for Head Gasket issues, or general over heating type stuff.

There's a forum www.hiluxsurf.co.uk

If you need to get your boat into an awkward space, Watling Engineering do a front mount tow bar kit for the Surf. I have one for my Disco and it's brill.

Cheers, Andy

[jr502]

The 3L is the one to get, the 2.4TD is known for overheating issues/warped and cracked heads, mostly because the 2.4 engine was originally N/A and it was only later that it was turbocharged and the head wasn't designed for it.

Easy to find spares, being based on a hilux, easy to fix with basic tools.

[R60EST]

I had one for a short time , no complaints for what they are. A couple of things I took from the ownership experience, I got mine mainly to take the dog out in , so two or three times per day I used the rear door , which means the rear window has to retract before you can open it , although mine was fine the rear window failing is not unheard of . The back does step out easy especially if you have budget or mud biased tyres on . I think it would be a more complete package if leather seats were a more popular option , they are rare as rocking horse muck.

Finally , manual ones are also very rare so be prepared to compromise and opt for a better presented / value auto.

[Athlon]

Thanks everyone, it is sounding pretty positive.

This one is manual which I would prefer, I will check the rear window is OK as well, it only has around 75K and has been one older owner for the last 10 year so good history as well.

[GravelBen]

3L diesel or petrol? The petrol V6 makes a nice noise but guzzles fuel and doesn't go any faster than the 3.0td. As said above the 2.4td is well known for overheating, though apparently a larger exhaust solves most of that problem.

Lexus V8 transplant is pretty common too

[Athlon]

3.0d, seems to be the better engine so far as well?

[jbi]

Only one thing to say...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB3GLM8zqZY&fea...

1uz-fe all the way

Bolts right up to the w-57/ w-58 gearbox

Edited by jbi on Wednesday 6th October 07:56

[Bluebarge]

I seem to recall from researching these that the max tow weight is quite low for such a rufty-tufty looking vehicle - only 1500kgs in some cases. Might be worth checking before you buy if your boat is any size.

[Athlon]

Will do, thanks for the heads up.

[anonymous-user]

We ran a 3.0D manual for 3 or 4 years in the family business.

Worked hard every day, covered around 80,000 miles without incident.

Downside was not very comfortable, tailgate window never worked and sub 20mpg.

Backend is 'lively' when the roads are greasy and the back is unladen.

[HereBeMonsters]

Just don't drive a like a muppet on dirt roads. They roll easily.



(Pic taken about two weeks ago. I was in it. No injuries.)

[Athlon]

Glad you are OK !