Advice needed on buying a surf

[herbman]

Am thinking of buying a new surf as my last one gave up the ghost so to speak.
But I need some advice am pretty good with doing repairs so was just wondering what you guys reckon to this one I have seen on that bidding site item number 260554746185.
Any help will be appreciated thanks.
Also what do you reckon is the maximum I should pay for it? Have got around £800 to spend at mo.

[herbman]

No-one offering any advice?

[adpsimpson]

Didn't see this till now. If you're confident having a go at it, you'll get it very cheaply on ebay (link here). However the slow pulling away from start and the dodgy glow plugs would need a very close inspection before you parted with cash. Try to find out why the fuse blew, what that had to do with the wiring, etc.

If it's an auto, I'd try and find out when the ATF and oil was last changed, and what with, as that may be part of the slow start problem. However it may just be that it's an old diesel, and there's nothing actually wrong with it. Ours certainly doesn't deliver full power till it's warmed up, but I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

Worst case scenario is it's uneconomical to repair, but you could always sell it on for spares/repair again, or break it yourself, if you've got the time.

[rbaz]

Agreed be careful with that one may end up costing you more than a nice sorted truck. Give it a good test drive under a good load a nice big hill is best and check the temp gauge if it gets warm at all could have a head problem (very common especially on 2.4s and very expensive to sort)
Check the rad and coolant too for signs of pressure.
I would expect to pay around £1500 for a good late 2nd gen 3.0 find one that's had a head if its done a few miles.
When I was looking I found good trucks to fetch a lot of money on eBay so I would look on Piston heads or wait untill one comes up on here

[TOYOTATONY]

Am thinking of buying a new surf as my last one gave up the ghost so to speak.
But I need some advice am pretty good with doing repairs so was just wondering what you guys reckon to this one I have seen on that bidding site item number 260554746185.
Any help will be appreciated thanks.
Also what do you reckon is the maximum I should pay for it? Have got around £800 to spend at mo.

As most other members on here will agree, the 2.4 lt models are prone to blown head problems. This is an expensive repair! I'd suggest going to Cromer, some 23 miles from you, & taking it for a long test drive!
If seller says no to that, I'd walk away.
Also, try steering from lock to lock & listen for noises. Can't miss them actually as very loud.

As for price: Others may disagree & it's not easy to say not seeing the car in the flesh, but I wouldn't go above £250.

My gut feeling is that it could well be a money pit. Too old for one that obviously hasn't been looked after. I also wonder why the seller hasn't made an effort to give it a wash so it looks it best. Makes me wonder if he's hiding things?!

Caveat Emptor!

Regards

[TOYOTATONY]

Agreed be careful with that one may end up costing you more than a nice sorted truck. Give it a good test drive under a good load a nice big hill is best and check the temp gauge if it gets warm at all could have a head problem (very common especially on 2.4s and very expensive to sort)
Check the rad and coolant too for signs of pressure.
I would expect to pay around £1500 for a good late 2nd gen 3.0 find one that's had a head if its done a few miles.
When I was looking I found good trucks to fetch a lot of money on eBay so I would look on Piston heads or wait untill one comes up on here

Beat me to it rbaz, but nice to see confirmation of my thoughts.

[Albannach]

No-one offering any advice?

Give us a chance! Some folk work as well...

[rbaz]

Beat me to it rbaz, but nice to see confirmation of my thoughts.

Herbman they are great vehicles I haven't had mine long and really like it.
Just been into town and its brilliant. There is never anywhere to park but in the truck just bump up the ridiculously high curb and jobs a good up (no traffic wardens here anything goes)
And in the main street its very tight to get through but people are more forgiving and let you through when you are in something so big

[Sancho]

Personally, someone selling a car as 'spares or repair' in red underlined with a list of apparently trivial faults smacks of hidden problems to me. There could be all sorts wrong with it (such as some kind of temporary fix for a cracked head etc). Unless you can get it for the money you can make selling it on as a breaker (as Stormforce how much that is), I'd be wary of that particular one.

You should be be able to pick up a 2.4 with the head done for 800 if you're very patient, but it's a bit of a low budget really.

[stormforce]

Surfs have been selling for at least £600 just for breaking.I am collecting a 2.4 this weekend with no mot on it but i will look into what needs doing and mot it and sell it on if its worth it
I would love to pick up a truck as a breaker for less than £500 at the moment but i will be very lucky to get one at the time i need another

[Dixie.t]

its the 3rd line that start the alarm going.
"Have had to rewire the glow plugs as fuse had melted."

[surrey-surfer]

make sure the ciggarette lighter works!.......

[herbman]

Thanks for the advice I have been and had a look at it and talked to the owner. He is going to put some more pics on when he has cleaned it tomorrow. Body work looks sound, took it for a drive and once it had warmed it drove lovely was a lot quieter than I expected. He said that the fault on the glow plug circuit had been there when he got the truck but was wired to a large key switch straight to the battery. He changed it so it is connected through the relay to a fused ignition live operated by a switch. The exhaust just needs a bend and small straight section on the end.
The temp guage never went above half way even off road.
He told me that he has never changed the fluid in the gearbox and was told that it could be the cause of the slow pull away.
He even took me out in it with a large trailor on the back with a tonne of sand on and it was as if it wasn't there.
There was hardly any noise when steering is turned left to right.
So what do you think he says he would consider offers of around 550 to 600. Is it worth it?

[Sancho]

So what do you think he says he would consider offers of around 550 to 600. Is it worth it?

Given what Richard said above about the price of breakers, probably, yes.

I still think there's something iffy about it, but you'll probably break even at that price even if it does die.

[stormforce]

offer him £400 and see what he says and if its not enough ask him how much he considers a good amount and then haggle a bit.Don't spend no more than £600 on it tho incase there is more wrong with it