Is the Surf unsafe?

[thom5r]

Reading this about the surf/4runner on wikipedia. Apparently the 1st and 2nd Gens were poor at side and head-on collisions. Does go on to say that Toyota bought in more safety features afterwards though.
Is the surf not as solid as it looks?!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_4Runner#Safety

[pirate-storm]

Reading this about the surf/4runner on wikipedia. Apparently the 1st and 2nd Gens were poor at side and head-on collisions. Does go on to say that Toyota bought in more safety features afterwards though.
Is the surf not as solid as it looks?!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_4Runner#Safety

dont think there is that much problem with it really i ran into a back of a car last year due to being blinded by the sun slight front damage to my truck, mess of the car i ran into.
think a few on here have had a crash in theirs also & only suffered slight damage.
i personally think the surf is safe!!!

[Apache]

You wont find many 20 year old designs (apart from maybe Volvos) any better than 'poor' as far as NCAP goes I would suggest.

I'm hankering for a Mk1 Escort or Capri at the mo. Cant imagine they're any better

[sledge]

i'd say i think your readin to much into it.

[slobodan]

A few member's on here had their Surf's rolled by their other half's recently. I don't think there were any serious injury's.

[stormforce]

Just do a search for DaveHMS as his wife rolled the truck on its side.I supplied all the panels required and he is now just about ready for the truck to be on the road again without any problems.You only need to watch the top gear video of the actual hilux to see how well built they are and the surf is based on the hilux
I also suppled parts for another forum member who hit a wall side on and his truck is now ok

[Phantom]

I ran into the back of a corsa in my red one and totaly destroyed it. It was about 2 foot shorter than it should have been. Damage to my truck was zilch not a scratch.

[da SLUG man]

apparently they're very dangerous if you attempt any routine mainenance on your own!... not even regular garages can service them!... they MUST be taken to a "surf specialist"

[rbaz]

I think the biggest problem would be they are too solid. In a high impact crash you need the car to crumple around you to absorb the impact forces so the body doesn't take them.
One reason I am buying a Surf is for my mother to use to take my wife and 8 month old child shopping etc she currently has a Renault Twingo (not the new one) and I wouldnt like to have a bump in that.
If they where to have a bump I know which I would rather they be in.

[DaveHMS]

Just do a search for DaveHMS as his wife rolled the truck on its side.I supplied all the panels required and he is now just about ready for the truck to be on the road again without any problems.You only need to watch the top gear video of the actual hilux to see how well built they are and the surf is based on the hilux
I also suppled parts for another forum member who hit a wall side on and his truck is now ok

They seem to be built of tough stuff. I noted when changing the damaged doors that they have side substantial impact bars.
Certainly our truck stood the flip-up incident well. My Mrs just had slight neck strain & hurt pride.
I'll post some post repair picks shortly.

[Koi]

Having read that I think its firstly based on very old models and already stated a car 15 years plus wouldnt stand up to NCAP ratings now.

As for the roll over aspect as they quote ' given the right conditions' you can roll any vehicle if you try.

Have taken mine off road and having had the alitmeter off the scale both side to side tilt and front to back i would say unless you drive it like its a sports car or you flick the steering severely it will stay on 4 wheels.

If it is built solid and you hit a car with crumple zones then surely that car will crumple and absorb a lot of your force. Only problem is if you hit another Surf.

[steved]

Can't comment on the 1st and 2nd gens but I have personally tested a 3rd gen with a tree.

[thom5r]

Thats good news about the side impact bars.

In high-speed head-on collisions crazy things happen like the brake pedal wrenching up or the steering wheel being driven into your chest. Nothing to do with the car being solid.
Guess a good plan is to just not crash. I do hate this mentality that a lot of 4x4 drivers have that "my car's heavier so my family are more likely to survive a crash". Only at the expense of the family riding in the ford Ka!

[TonyN]

You need to retitle this 'Is any SUV from the 80's safe?'

They are built to different standards, very few cars from tha late 80's will stand up to todays safety standards, just forget abuot it, its like buying a 70's big block muscle car, then moaning about how much it costs to run today. Apples and Oranges, its just not comparable.

[thom5r]

Only problem is if you hit another Surf.

Then the universe collapses.