Thinking of buying one!

[Joe Cocks]

I'm thinking of buying a surf as a family bus and for some mud and green lane entertainment.
I've got some questions i need some help with though. I ve got about £5000 to spend and there seems to be enough around at that price. Should i look for a 3litre or be happy with a 2.4?
What sort of mpg should i expect, it's got to be better than my 2.1 litre VW camper!
Most of the cars i see seem to be auto, which normally i don't like, but i've been told they are better for off road use. Is this true?
How much should i trust the mileage on imports?
Also when do they need the timing belt/chain changing?

That seems like a lot of questions but i would be grateful of any help with any of them. Plus is there anything i've missed that i need to no/

Thanks big time.

[funkynobber]

I'm thinking of buying a surf as a family bus and for some mud and green lane entertainment.
I've got some questions i need some help with though. I ve got about £5000 to spend and there seems to be enough around at that price. Should i look for a 3litre or be happy with a 2.4?
What sort of mpg should i expect, it's got to be better than my 2.1 litre VW camper!
Most of the cars i see seem to be auto, which normally i don't like, but i've been told they are better for off road use. Is this true?
How much should i trust the mileage on imports?
Also when do they need the timing belt/chain changing?

That seems like a lot of questions but i would be grateful of any help with any of them. Plus is there anything i've missed that i need to no/

Thanks big time.

IVE HAD MINE SINCE SUNDAY AND LOVE IT TO BITS IF YOU HAVENT DRIVEN ONE YET YOU NEED TO ITS GREAT I WAS A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THE 2.4 CYLINDER HEAD BUT IVE MANAGED TO FIND ONE THATS HAD A NEW ONE ,ON A RUN THE OTHER DAY I SEEMED TO GET AROUND ABOUT 27 MPG HAS FAR HAS THE OTHER QUESTIONS I DONT KNOW ENOUGH TO ANSWER THEM BUT SOMEONE ON HERE WILL THEY ARE REALLY HELPFULL. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SURF HUNTING
CHEEERS ADAM

[Pete]

I'm thinking of buying a surf as a family bus and for some mud and green lane entertainment.
I've got some questions i need some help with though. I ve got about £5000 to spend and there seems to be enough around at that price. Should i look for a 3litre or be happy with a 2.4?
What sort of mpg should i expect, it's got to be better than my 2.1 litre VW camper!
Most of the cars i see seem to be auto, which normally i don't like, but i've been told they are better for off road use. Is this true?
How much should i trust the mileage on imports?
Also when do they need the timing belt/chain changing?

That seems like a lot of questions but i would be grateful of any help with any of them. Plus is there anything i've missed that i need to no/

Thanks big time.

Joe, there's a wealth of information on this site. Look to the top centre of the screen, and click the search button. Enter in what you are after, eg: mpg, and there's heaps of info. Should occupy you for a while!
Pete

[laser_jock99]

I'm thinking of buying a surf as a family bus and for some mud and green lane entertainment.
I've got some questions i need some help with though. I ve got about £5000 to spend and there seems to be enough around at that price. Should i look for a 3litre or be happy with a 2.4?
What sort of mpg should i expect, it's got to be better than my 2.1 litre VW camper!
Most of the cars i see seem to be auto, which normally i don't like, but i've been told they are better for off road use. Is this true?
How much should i trust the mileage on imports?
Also when do they need the timing belt/chain changing?

That seems like a lot of questions but i would be grateful of any help with any of them. Plus is there anything i've missed that i need to no/

Thanks big time.

1) General consensus is get a 3.0L if you can afford it. You might struggle to find one at £5000. However a 2.4L with a replacement head is also a good bet.

2) Mpg 27-20 mpg is the normal range for both diesel engines.

3) Autobox is fine both on and off road.

4) Milages- some dealers are trustworthy- others not. Average Japanese miles is less than uk 12,000 miles and more like 10,000km we believe on this forum. If you're offered a J plate with 46,000 km you have to wonder how 'real' it can be. Your 'average' 10 year old Surf should have around 100,000 km on it- be wary of anything differing too wildly from this (of course there will exceptions- but you ought to be able to tell something about it by wear & tear).

5) Timing belt replacement is 100,000km intervals.

6) If buying a 2.4 take someone with you to inspect the car to spot signs impending head failure. If buying from a dealer make sure any warranty covers cracked cylinder head- otherwise walk away. I don't want put you off buying a 2.4 but it has happened to a number of us.

Happy Surf hunting.

Nevillef

[Hilux]

Surf,s

Hi Joe looks like you have done some homework l think the 3.0litre is the better one to go for but if you can find a 2.4 with head done then l would say go for it they are just as good as a 3.0litre. l have 2.4 & 3.0litre Surf,s for sale "BUT my 2.4,s have not got new heads on.
On the other hand they both are running as smooth as silk no probs at all.

[Joe Cocks]

Cheers

Thanks for all the advice.
So i should look for a 3.0 if i can find one then!

[bdamit]

PICKED mine up on Friday

And 700 miles later I'm very happy.
Well worth selling the house for.

With 77000 km on the clock for a 10 year old it is surprisingly immaculate. (-Except for the lakeland mud and morcambe bay salt and sand I have managed to plaster all over it. )
It truly is a comfy car with the cloth seats: 400 miles over hills and valleys, motorways and through a few previously unpassable 'Unsuitable for vehicles' tracks, all in one day. No strange noises or needles nudging red... Only when in LOW on full engine brake on a long 25% downhill, the 2.4 wasn't braking all that much!
I am so far very impressed with this 3 door model, and look forward to the drive to Mallorca in the next few months.

The Diorama suspension copes very well, especially on HARD setting. I have heard the driving position is unpopular, but it takes me straight back to the BMW e30 I owned for two years.

They say 'Get a man in a BMW before he's 30, and he'll buy BMW for ever'.
I say I would have broken the BMW this weekend, and the SSRX wasn't even challenged. I don't own a BMW any more.

My steering wheel logo is a touch tacky tho':
"TOYOTA the unceasing challenger" !

NICE.

[JimL]

What sort of mpg should i expect, it's got to be better than my 2.1 litre VW camper!
They reckon its mid 20's on both engines (Luv Vdubs too)

Most of the cars i see seem to be auto, which normally i don't like, but i've been told they are better for off road use. Is this true?
Dunno, I've only gone round the track in stickshifters and they are great

How much should i trust the mileage on imports?
Not much

Also when do they need the timing belt/chain changing?
Whenever you take delivery and then every 100,000kms


Welcome