has anyone had a frontera 23td before their surf

[mugen]

hi

has anyone had a frontera 2.3td (93)before they had a surf..
if so can you compare the two and let me know what you think..
i'm looking at getting a surf . but i have not trouble with the frontera.
thanks for your help
lee

[crazybitch]

Not had one as such but my uncle has one (poor chap) I had a go in it and found the frontera as flat as anything, no pulling power loaded or otherwise, god knows what its like with a loaded caravan on the back, but hes happy! then again he is a pensioner!! lol Ill stay with my 4 runner thanks, goes anywhere, pulls up tree stumps and is super comfortable when its not broke!

[mugen]

thanks

thanks for the reply,

the reason i'm looking at changing the frontera is that it is gut less.
i race nitro r/c cars so i need a big car to move all my kit about.
plus 2 kids.
what problems do the surf have. what is the best one to buy

[paulh]

I had the 2.8 td couldn't fault it except it dosn't have the style and luxury of the Surf.
Never got less than 30mpg and only had the gearbox go in about 5years and 60,000 miles.
Don't believe all you read about them.
Mine got me out of the mud with a 19ft caravan on the back when 2 Discoes were totally bogged down.
But I wouldn't swap.

[Koi]

thanks for the reply,

the reason i'm looking at changing the frontera is that it is gut less.
i race nitro r/c cars so i need a big car to move all my kit about.
plus 2 kids.
what problems do the surf have. what is the best one to buy

Some issues with the 2.4 heads cracking, not all suffer. That said pick up one with a NEW head and you should be fine. 3.0 offers more grunt, obviously as its a bigger engine so will cruise at higher motroway speeds a little less effortlessly, bigger engine scenario like all cars.
mpg not a lot in it between the two, down to driving style and journeys covered.
Look at few take them for a test drive and take your time in choosing one.

[kazam401]

I had one quite a while ago (6 years ago) and found it very very sluggish, which was main reason I got rid of if.

Reliability wise it was good (can't believe i've said that about a vauxhall), but it did suffer oil leaks..........the earlier 2.3's were notorious for this.

Trim was ok, if a little weak (kids easily snapped bit's off) but rubber trim round wing arch never stayed on (really annoying)

On the road it was a slug to drive, wallowing round corners, steering not as light as the Surf nor as solid round the bends.

One thing it was comfier than the Surf with the seats being very good (my one complaint about the Surf, but am in the process of sorting that out )

[mugen]

so how much better

so how much better do you rate the surf to the mark 1 frontera 2.3td
lee

[TonyN]

so how much better do you rate the surf to the mark 1 frontera 2.3td
lee

Personally, there's no comparison, But then this is a Surf Forum, Vauxhall fans may say different.

You need to test drive both, its the only way.

[mugen]

thanks

i have been read this web site all night....
i do want to buy a surf. but by reading the site. the 2.4 looks like a no go due to this head problem.
how do you look after a 2.4 to stop this head problem. do you have to flush the water sytem . or is it that you have to use toytota anti freeze.
i was look for a 2.4
please advise

[stormforce]

hi

has anyone had a frontera 2.3td (93)before they had a surf..
if so can you compare the two and let me know what you think..
i'm looking at getting a surf . but i have not trouble with the frontera.
thanks for your help
lee

[laser_jock99]

Pre 1998 Vauxhal/Isuzu/Holden/GM Frontera's are to be avoided like the plague as they suffered from poor, guttless engines (2.0L, 2.2L & 2.4L petrol and 2.3L diesel). Also noted were build quality problems and electrical problems in early models.

That said, later models namely the 2.8L TDi diesel and V6 3.2L petrol models are much better than the earlier generation of Frontera's getting the power units such a car needed. However you won't get one for less than £7K- which is 3rd Generation Surf money- if it was my money the Surf would win as it's nearly a different class of car!

Nevillef