3rd Gen newbie

[bigNeil]

Hiya, forum and Surf noobie, please be gentle

I am looking at my first couple of Surfs this Friday. One is a 1996 3rd generation SSR-X, 90,000 miles and no history. The seller has taken it in as a trade in, it has a Bimta certificate and it was imported in 2003. I am a bit nervous as I have never bought a) an import and b) a no history car before!

Is there anything I should look for when viewing? I've read all the helpful guides here of things to check, but is there anything I should be especially wary of with a no-history car?

Any advice appreciated, just being overly nervous I spose, a pic...

[logey79]

Is there anything I should look for when viewing? I've read all the helpful guides here of things to check, but is there anything I should be especially wary of with a no-history car?

yeah...

make sure previous owner hasn't left any half empty cans of hairspray in the motor, or curling tongs/straighteners etc.

make sure all the plastic is tightly blue tacked in place.

adjust the rear view mirror/make-up reflector thingy so it reflects whats behind the vehicle and not who's behind the steering wheel.

thats it...for now!

(you'll get a fair bit of this...so be warned! )

[andrewlee31]

just make sure it drives good mate, and im sure you;ll have no problems. welcome to the nuthouse

ignore all the hairdresser gags, its nothing personal, kind of an on going joke here.

[WARRIOR72]

yeah...

make sure previous owner hasn't left any half empty cans of hairspray in the motor, or curling tongs/straighteners etc.

make sure all the plastic is tightly blue tacked in place.

adjust the rear view mirror/make-up reflector thingy so it reflects whats behind the vehicle and not who's behind the steering wheel.

thats it...for now!

(you'll get a fair bit of this...so be warned! )

[andrewlee31]

dont worry about the no history, we were all in the same boat, unless you can read japanese mate! just service regularly yourelf and you'll be fine.

www.milneroffroad.com
www.toyotasurf.co.uk

are you best places for parts and service items, and question just ask on here and somebody will be along to take the pi$$.

[summinelse]

ahhh 3rd gens look sweet matey , all polished up. il grant u they dont look as mean and purposeful as a modded 2nd gen but hey ho
do my eyes deceive me or is that a chrome bumper on a 3rd gen. if so has much else been modded and why.
is it possible retro fit a bumper from 2nd gen to give more front clearence.

But as above says drive it put ya foot down get a good feel of it make sure u try the 4 wheel drive etc. mine didn have any history but after i got it i took it to tonyn /http://www.4x4toys.co.uk/, surf guru and god and he serviced it completly giving it a clean bill of health, so seems i was lucky.
if u buy it u will enjoy it.

[Ace Piker]

Welcome, good to see someone else with taste! Get thick skin you will need it

Saggy suspension is about it. I had mine straight from import. From 40k to 130k (miles). Have had a Head go , but apart from that it's been great. Have also had a 2" suspension lift and am currently remodeling the front end.

Test drive it, pay for it and enjoy!

[bigNeil]

Thanks everyone!

May still get a 'proper' one if this 3rd gen one falls through!

It doesn't seem to have the usual bodykit of other SSR-X's I've seen, no wheelarches, alloys etc. I suppose it may be a base model with a different badge!?

Some more pics below..

[lclascaris]

Thanks everyone!

May still get a 'proper' one if this 3rd gen one falls through!

It doesn't seem to have the usual bodykit of other SSR-X's I've seen, no wheelarches, alloys etc. I suppose it may be a base model with a different badge!?

Some more pics below..

My 3rd Gen is the same as this one. It's an SSRX but has had alloys fitted as the spare is a steel rim. This model without wheel arches is known as a KZN185G & not a KZN185W. The G is for Grand Touring & the W is for wide body (wheel arches fitted). They also came with chrome bumpers just like mine, so you won't get any stick from those 2nd Gen owners about all the plastic....maybe!

Regards

Lewis

[BUSHWHACKER]

Hi Newbie!

Looking at the photo, I would say that is basically, the most basic of the basic 3rd gen models I have ever seen!!!

It looks like the previous owner has sold the original alloys and fitted pick-up wheels.


I don't what your budget is, but assuming you have between £4000 to £6000 to spend, you can get a whole lot more truck than that one.

[bigNeil]

Yep, I think it is totally basic, but to be honest I need a boat towing/launching car and load lugger for doing up a house on the west coast of Scotland.

The price is 'bout 3000, which I think is fair, not the best colour or spec. If it drives well and has no big problems, should do as a workhorse for a couple of years.

[POPEYE]

Have to aggree with vince, it does look very basic, the wheels spoil it, unless your getting it real cheap i'd look around

[BUSHWHACKER]

£3000 for a 3rd gen? You can't sniff at that!

[lclascaris]

Have to aggree with vince, it does look very basic, the wheels spoil it, unless your getting it real cheap i'd look around

The only difference between the SSRX & the top model should only be that it doesn't have the adjustable suspension & that electric mirror on the tailgate & alloys. 3 grand is very cheap, you can always retrofit the alloys. I paid £5400 for my 3rd Gen 11 months ago & with the alloys fitted & of course the "standard" chrome bumpers fitted to the grand touring model it looks great.....My one is dark blue though which is of course the best colour!!!

[Apache]

The only difference between the SSRX & the top model should only be that it doesn't have the adjustable suspension & that electric mirror on the tailgate & alloys. 3 grand is very cheap, you can always retrofit the alloys. I paid £5400 for my 3rd Gen 11 months ago & with the alloys fitted & of course the "standard" chrome bumpers fitted to the grand touring model it looks great.....My one is dark blue though which is of course the best colour!!!

Dunno why, but when anyone mentions 3rd gens, the 'be gorgeous this christmas' advert pops into my head. The one with the blond bird with the big hairsprayed hair