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There's a new hairdresser in town....
Hi All,
Well I finally took the plunge.
I've been looking for a Surf for a while now, having been forced to sell my beloved '86 Hilux 4X4 pickup due to a new arrival in the family (even with the bench seat in the single cab, four of us would be pushing it). When I got it, it was 14 years old with less than 30,000 km on it and the body was unmarked, suspension lift and FAT tyres). Oh well, I've moved on to bigger and MUCH better things now!
I started looking at Gen 2s pref SSRG (wanted ABS), with about 2.5K to spend. I saw a few (dealers mostly) and was very unimpressed. Not with the Surf, but just the quality of what was on offer. Then I made the mistake of test driving a Gen 3. Now I know this will raise plenty of contoversy out there, but what a machine! After that there was no going back (sorry Gen 2 owners)!
For the 4WD system alone it gets my vote. I drive a 54 plate Hilux 4x4 2.5 D4D pickup for work with a conventional part-time 4WD system (a-la Gen 2s) and show it a wet roundabout or muddy country lane and the back-end is all over the place. Being able to select 4WD on tarmac is essential (IMHO).
So after seeing a few, I took the plunge yesterday on a Green over silver 96/P SSRG (No Recaro
). Auto. Imported in 2004 on 75k, now on 97k all mots to prove milage. £3,300. 6 months MOT, no tax (on a sorn-been standing for a couple of months so needs a really good clean/polish).
I collected it this afternoon, and drove back from Glastonbury to Swindon.
I could seriously get to like this car!
I really like the styling of both the interior and the exterior of the gen 3, and the ABS and airbags are a nice feature (as this is supposed to be our family car-saftey first). I prefer the conventional tailgate (although I think the Gen 2 looks nice, the lift-up is more pracitical). The engine has really got some power, and when you hoof it, she flys (coupled to the 4WD to get the power down on all those wet roundabouts in Swindon)...awesome!
So I'm going to do the filters and oil in the next couple of days, and give it a good clean, but so far everything works and I reckon I've got a bargain.
Right, enough of War and Peace....
Great forum BTW guys.
ps Anyone know where I can get 12V curling tongs & hair clippers (I like to be prepared)!
Well I finally took the plunge.
I've been looking for a Surf for a while now, having been forced to sell my beloved '86 Hilux 4X4 pickup due to a new arrival in the family (even with the bench seat in the single cab, four of us would be pushing it). When I got it, it was 14 years old with less than 30,000 km on it and the body was unmarked, suspension lift and FAT tyres). Oh well, I've moved on to bigger and MUCH better things now!
I started looking at Gen 2s pref SSRG (wanted ABS), with about 2.5K to spend. I saw a few (dealers mostly) and was very unimpressed. Not with the Surf, but just the quality of what was on offer. Then I made the mistake of test driving a Gen 3. Now I know this will raise plenty of contoversy out there, but what a machine! After that there was no going back (sorry Gen 2 owners)!
For the 4WD system alone it gets my vote. I drive a 54 plate Hilux 4x4 2.5 D4D pickup for work with a conventional part-time 4WD system (a-la Gen 2s) and show it a wet roundabout or muddy country lane and the back-end is all over the place. Being able to select 4WD on tarmac is essential (IMHO).
So after seeing a few, I took the plunge yesterday on a Green over silver 96/P SSRG (No Recaro
). Auto. Imported in 2004 on 75k, now on 97k all mots to prove milage. £3,300. 6 months MOT, no tax (on a sorn-been standing for a couple of months so needs a really good clean/polish).I collected it this afternoon, and drove back from Glastonbury to Swindon.
I could seriously get to like this car!I really like the styling of both the interior and the exterior of the gen 3, and the ABS and airbags are a nice feature (as this is supposed to be our family car-saftey first). I prefer the conventional tailgate (although I think the Gen 2 looks nice, the lift-up is more pracitical). The engine has really got some power, and when you hoof it, she flys (coupled to the 4WD to get the power down on all those wet roundabouts in Swindon)...awesome!
So I'm going to do the filters and oil in the next couple of days, and give it a good clean, but so far everything works and I reckon I've got a bargain.
Right, enough of War and Peace....
Great forum BTW guys.
ps Anyone know where I can get 12V curling tongs & hair clippers (I like to be prepared)!
(apart from the road tax
)
Anyway the last remark ! Road tax, have I missed something ? I've just got used to £180 Surely the year and model isn't even more !!
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