About to buy an imported surf - any advice please?

[Kenny_Notts]

Hi Gang,

I am sure glad that I found this great forum and you guys seem so friendly too - always a bonus.

I am going to take the plunge in the next week or so and join you guys in owning a surf. I am most likely going to buy a imported Hilux Surf 3.0 TD SSR-X from a dealer here in nottingham thats close to where I live who seems to specialise in imported Surfs called Junction 24 4x4 (http://dealerservices.autotrader.co....21983&pageid=2)

They offer a six months Warrenty, they say they will take care of all the registration paperwork with the DVLA, give the surf a full service before they release it to me, it will have 12 months MOT, six months road fund licence and basicly make sure it conforms to UK rules.

Here's the thing - I am totally scared that I am going to get ripped off. I recently had a very bad experience with my local Mitsubishi dealer here in Nottingham over a very suspect used Shogun but thanks to my local trading standards office I have got a full refund. The situatition got a little nasty and as a result I am very nervous of any car dealer let alone an importer.

So far I have read the info on www.showmesome.info/hilux/info/faq.htm and have been researching as much as I can on the www but with so many so called "horror storys" about imported cars, I still cant shake the feeling I'm gonna get ripped off.

Is it worth having something like a BIMTA milage check (www.bimta.org/MileageChecks.asp) or a BIMTA Certificate of Authenticity (www.bimta.org/CertificatesofAuthenticity.asp) ?

Are these worth having or is it wasted money?

I thought that the commen sense route might be the way to go - Find a surf I like, take it for a test drive, use the check list on www.showmesome.info/hilux/info/faq.htm, get an RAC motor engineer to check the Surf over, if all seems ok - make the purchase

then,

Take the surf straight into my local Toyota dealer and get them to give the car a full set of tests, check the head and change the fluids and so on

What do you guys think please? - My head is in a bit of a mess over buying an import - its scary to someone like me who has not done it before.

Any advice or comments would be most welcome - thank you in advance.

Kenny.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Hi Kenny welcome to the forum. Fisrt of all, take a deep breath and stop worrying. I know what you mean when you talk about dealers, they're only in it for the profit.
If I were you I would check out the Surfs for sale section on here, you're most likely to get a well looked after and serviced truck for around £2000 cheaper than a dealer would charge.
Owning/buying an import is no big deal, it's just the same as any other car.
All the info you'll need is on here, like insurance companies that know what a Surf is, servicing guides and modification tips with links to parts suppliers and fitting guides.
Good luck and don't worry, we're all one big owners guide on here, if we can't answer any of your questions, then nobody can.

http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/forums/fo...c&daysprune=10

[carol]

help

i am new to the surf got mine in july great car for towing a caravan i have a 2.4 surf the problem i have got i dont know how to get it into 4 wheel drive not having one before its a great car and also can any one tell me where to get a surf book from so i can let hubby lose on it for the oil change and other small things thankyou

[Woodzie]

i am new to the surf got mine in july great car for towing a caravan i have a 2.4 surf the problem i have got i dont know how to get it into 4 wheel drive not having one before its a great car and also can any one tell me where to get a surf book from so i can let hubby lose on it for the oil change and other small things thankyou

Here is a good online tech site.....http://www.toyotasurf.asn.au/techsite/And you can get a semi accurate manual from milners 4x4...http://www.milneroffroad.com/index.html....And prarts from...http://http://www.toyotahilux.com/

[phoebelala]

Hi and welcome,

Always a risc, generally if it looks well cared for it is. Not really anything else you can do.....

Get a 3 litre in good clean condition and you are laughing.

Previous advise about buying from a forum member is good advise as we all know each others cars and you won't get stitched up.

I am considering whether or not to sell mine (cant decide) as I am getting another company car.

Its a 3rd gen in tip top order ssrx 3 litre (all 3rd gens are) might be open to offers.

Certainly you can save a bundle over dealer prices and get a truck that is known to be a good one.

Good luck,

Al.

[Kenny_Notts]

Thanks for all the replys But...

Hi gang,

Thanks for all the replys, I appreciate them.

But what about the BIMTA Milage checks and BIMTA certs and so on, is it worth spending the money?

Regards,

Kenny

[BUSHWHACKER]

Nope.

[andy]

Hi gang,

Thanks for all the replys, I appreciate them.

But what about the BIMTA Milage checks and BIMTA certs and so on, is it worth spending the money?

Regards,

Kenny

Ask the dealer for a BIMTA mileage check, any good dealer will do one, and if he wont do it walk away.

[Kenny_Notts]

Thyanks Guys

Thank you all for answering my questions, I appreciate it.

I guess, as with many things, buying a used car of any description is going to be a leap of faith but, of course we can do what we can to reduce the risks (up to a point).

I defo wish to join you guys in enjoying and owning a Surf but I can not decide where I am going to get it from. I have looked at those offered for sale by members of this forum but none of those offered really catch my eye - I kinda have my heart set on a Black Series 3 3.0 SSR-X with body kit and so on but then "pigs can fly" and elephants are "purple with blue spots".

Take care guys and Happy Surfing.

Kenny

[MattF]

Good luck in your search. Just remember, being too pedantic about everything
being in perfect order isn't always required. Provided you have a chassis that is
in good condition, (which shouldn't be a problem, especially if you pick a fresh
import), and an engine and gearbox that are working and running smoothly,
everything else is repairable within a reasonable budget. You will need to carry
out minor repairs at some point regardless, but don't be put off if a nice one
requires minor repairs. Example, mine was p*ssing oil out of the rocker cover
gasket when I bought her. Visible straight away when I went to look at her. Other
little bits and pieces I also knew needed doing. Didn't give it a second thought.
Price was right, she ran okay, I was happy. Had her serviced straight away,
and not had a moments trouble since, (other than self inflicted repairs and
alterations), generally. A diesel engine is a rugged thing. Even if it hasn't been
perfectly looked after in the past, as long as no intense damage has been caused,
start on a good maintenance schedule and stick to it, and you should have a good
few years of service from her.

[Kenny_Notts]

Thanks MattF

Hi MattF,

Thanks for the posting and good straight talking advice M8.

Regards,

Kenny

[Diezel Weazel]

Thank you all for answering my questions, I appreciate it.

I guess, as with many things, buying a used car of any description is going to be a leap of faith but, of course we can do what we can to reduce the risks (up to a point).

I defo wish to join you guys in enjoying and owning a Surf but I can not decide where I am going to get it from. I have looked at those offered for sale by members of this forum but none of those offered really catch my eye - I kinda have my heart set on a Black Series 3 3.0 SSR-X with body kit and so on but then "pigs can fly" and elephants are "purple with blue spots".

Take care guys and Happy Surfing.

Kenny

Welcome to the BEST Forum there is Kenny
You'll never stop ing & there's more answers than you got questions!

There's Alwats a Payback.... You just can't see it Comin !!!!

[MattF]

You'll never stop ing & there's more answers than you got questions!

Reaaaallllyyyyyyyyyyyy. What's the output power of the flux capacitor then?

[BUSHWHACKER]

1.21 gigawatts.

[MattF]