hardyferret Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Has anyone owned or owns one ? what do you reckon and what to look for ? Regards HF :? :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Had one of the very first UK issue 4Runners for 3 years. Reliable motor :tup: Wish I'd kept it!!!!!! At the very least I should have put a pickup body onto it :whistle: Although it is essentially a pickup chassis with the independent front suspension, it is nicely weighted and the 3 litre engine is a beauty, slight wallow in tight bends but holds road well. Brilliant towing truck. Nice transmission. Solid qualityfeel to the body and interior (UK spec was maybe better spec cloth?? Sliding tailgate window is gimmick, in wet weather sucks in water, in dry sucks in dust. But the vehicle is great with a sunroof :-) Assume the import Surf is identical engine :dunno: To sum up, a Hilux with attitude and comfort :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 P.S. Would look the biz in olive drab :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Isn't this the vehicle Clarkson & co tried to destroy on Top Gear - and failed??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardyferret Posted January 3, 2008 Author Share Posted January 3, 2008 NOS was yours the oil engine or the V6 HF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Oiler of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop larkin Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I've got an automatic 3ltr Diesel Surf 1994. Had it for 4 years now. Fantastic motor. The cylinder head cracked on me 2 years ago, but since I put the new one in had no problems. Apparently the 2.4ltr diesels were renowned for the heads cracking, but its not so common on the 3ltrs. As already said great for towing, I use it tow and launch/recover a 7m RIB. Nice to drive, very smooth ride. Huge internal space, and the back seats fold down flat (I sleep in the back of it when I am away at shows with no problems and I'm 6'). The imports tend to have a better spec than the UK 4 runners, but finding a manual transmission import is alot harder and can add £500-£1000 on the price. Also an option to have the spare wheel slung underneath or on the back door. Doesn't make much difference, but I do find that on some trailers the jockey wheel can hit the spare tyre on turns. Great motors, very pleased with it and would not hesitate to buy another :tup:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I had a Toyota Hilux for many years when I was a woodsman - after owning 4 Land Rovers this made them look like they were going backwards. I worked that truck hard and then once I had worn it out I sold it for £500. It was the best 4x4 I have owned - even better than the V8 Range Rover :whistle: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardyferret Posted January 3, 2008 Author Share Posted January 3, 2008 Well, thank you all looks like Solihull has lost :whistle: HF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick W Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Toyotas go on for years. Had Hi-Lux, MR2's for many years until the familly popped out! Very rarely fail the MOT, especially not on rust. Import models have very low mileage and are a good buy. Regular servicing, parts easily available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Toyotas go on for years. Got 98,000 miles out of first set of rear brake PADS and 102,000 from fronts on Colorado, with heavy towing work, absolute bu**er to get the pad pins out though after all that time!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodger Baz Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Had one for fours years, it was brilliant, could not fault it :tup:. Got rid of it when i upgraded to a big boys Toyota ........................... The Landcruiser HDJ80 4.2TD :naughty: Baz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
da bomb Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 The pickups are good motors, dad had one for years, filled to capacity with rocks and wood and driven offroad most days, never a moments problem. I have also heard that the 3.0 diesel Surf is the one to get. Looked at one prior to getting the Shogun (Which is fantastic!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Geting this back to a HMVF orientated topic, I talked with an importer 3 years ago about getting a 3 litre extra cab Hilux, one of a very large consignment confiscated by Spanish authorities from a vehicle ferry ship, en route to a middle eastern destination for use as gun trucks!! The thought of paying money up front and travelling to Barcelona to collect it was enough to put me off....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick W Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 We refer to them as the "Taliban Taxi".. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 I heard the African ones described on Radio 4 news today as "Technicals" - priceless name! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightweight Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I set out to buy a 'nice' 4x4 a few years ago and test drove a Surf. I thought it was like an agricultural vehicle compared to the Isuzu Trooper I eventually got. Of course, I now drive a Land Rover Defender but wouldn't want something 'nice' anymore - the byeways of this fair land tend to punish your paintwork! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Hardyferret Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 We refer to them as the "Taliban Taxi".. ;-) :-D I like that :-D After do many helpfull comments from those 'in the know' it looks like I'm in for a change of transport. Not sure how that will look at shows when it turns up as support to whatever himself is driving Will be sad to sell my little Daihatsu Sportrak as their is nothing wrong with it, it goes anywhere and its cheap to run.................................... but if he wants to spend his money, who am I to deny him the pleasure. P.S. The offending beast is Pillarbox Red :schocked: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigeP Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 We'll let you park next to pop larkin's HiLux at Buckfastleigh if you're coming. It won't look out of place then :-D Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop larkin Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 And who says I will taking it to Buckfastleigh this year. I should be going in the Chevy...... But then I said that last year :whistle: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NigeP Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 I should be going in the Chevy...... But then I said that last year :whistle: Precisely :whistle: Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 When they were being grey imported secondhand from from japan in quantity some years ago. I was considering one and a quite friendly importer told me that If they come straight from japan secondhand he always took the rad off and flushed the whole system or fitted a new radiator . Apparently at that time they would sit for months in japan waiting to have enough vehicles to make the import viable and during this time the sludge in the cooling system would settle in the radiator. If they were then sold in the UK without the cooling system flush etc they would eventually overheat if worked hard and pop the head gasket. Otherwise they are vitually indestructible. good luck Centurion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.