Potential buyer - QUESTIONS

[POACHER]

Hi everyone,

I'm considering buying a Hilux Surf to replace my SWB Paj'.

One of the main questions is; Is the autobox any good for such a size of vehicle, particulary off road.

So far I have driven one hilux, a 2.4, wasn't too impressed, mind you someone had replaced all suspension so it may have been a bad example.

I would be greatly interested in any info, good or bad, relating to these vehicles.

Many thanks.

Davie.

[marky]

the autobox on the surf 2.4 or 3.0 is near on bullet proof it has proved its worth off-road if you look at the offroad pics thet will clarify that problem. you dont have to worry about changing gear off-road as the box will do it all for you. i also tow a 21ft 1250kg caravan & i leave most 4x4's standing so the gearbox can cope with extreme situations.

[JimL]

The hilux will have had leaf sprung suspension on the rear - and the front too depending on the age so the ride is different. Havent been offroad in an auto yet and the manual is great fun anyway so things can only get better I suppose and I havent been in a Paj ever so cant compare the two. The surf is great though both to drive and to work on, so you could be like me and wave the odd time in at the family when your not lying on the ground beside 'her'

[ship]

Hi everyone,

I'm considering buying a Hilux Surf to replace my SWB Paj'.

One of the main questions is; Is the autobox any good for such a size of vehicle, particulary off road.

So far I have driven one hilux, a 2.4, wasn't too impressed, mind you someone had replaced all suspension so it may have been a bad example.

I would be greatly interested in any info, good or bad, relating to these vehicles.

Many thanks.

Davie.

hi davie, you coudn,t have come to a better place to ask your questions, the wealth of knowledge on here is second to none, try the search facility on here , i think you will find all you need to know, and look at some of the pics in the off-road section of auto-box surfs, yea they manage
whereabouts in north yorks are you at? theres quite a few of us surfers oop north.

welcome aboard, ship

[Guest]

Hi everyone,

I'm considering buying a Hilux Surf to replace my SWB Paj'.

One of the main questions is; Is the autobox any good for such a size of vehicle, particulary off road.

So far I have driven one hilux, a 2.4, wasn't too impressed, mind you someone had replaced all suspension so it may have been a bad example.

I would be greatly interested in any info, good or bad, relating to these vehicles.

Many thanks.

Davie.

Davie,

You say you drove a Hilux - was it a Surf or a Pickup. Pickups drive totally different to the Surf even if the Surf is based on the Pickup.

Hilux may be Live axle front and rear with leaf springs or live axle rear with leaf springs and an IFS. Also because the body is lighter on a pickup, the back end is a lot livelier when not loaded.

Also there is a wide range of conditions of Surfs out there, especially 2.4s as there are more of them. You really need to drive a few.

Cheers

[POACHER]

The 2.4 I drove was a Surf, but the suspension had been renewed, coils on rear and adjustables all round, it was a 93 K reg, wasn't sure of it at all.

Being of a mechanical ilk (16 years time served), was surprised to find that it wasn't that great a drive. Maybe I'm just too picky.

Got a feeling about these head problems, especially as its an auto, spent many years on big yank tanks!!

May have to find a good example to drive, maybe a 3.0.

[Koi]

The 2.4 I drove was a Surf, but the suspension had been renewed, coils on rear and adjustables all round, it was a 93 K reg, wasn't sure of it at all.

Being of a mechanical ilk (16 years time served), was surprised to find that it wasn't that great a drive. Maybe I'm just too picky.

Got a feeling about these head problems, especially as its an auto, spent many years on big yank tanks!!

May have to find a good example to drive, maybe a 3.0.

Some suffer from a saggy a**e and it can effect the handling, same as lift on rear and not tweaking the bars it gets the back end a bit bouncy. FInd a good one to drive