ok, so have had a few email and phone calls with Toyota, it appears those of us with 4x4 light utility on the log book are stuffed regarding help from toyota.
Heres a snippet of a couple of emails, i have removed chassis numbers and names, i queried them regarding getting the V5 changed to estate car and also if the Surf is the same car as the 4runner as i was told they did sell official 4 runners in the UK for a while.
Well thanks for getting back to me, I'm unsure though why you are saying that you classify the hilux Surf as a light utility vehicle?
What is the difference between a Hilux Surf and a Landcruiser or a Rav4 are they both utility vehicles as well?
if the Surf IS a utility vehicle, why are about 50% of he ones in this country classed as Estate cars on the V5 is that a mistake that should be rectified on the V5?
Im not sure how a Landcruiser is an estate car and a Surf is a utility vehicle when the overall concept is the same, you realise that Range Rovers are estate cars, as are Shoguns, Volvo xc90s and Porsche Cayennes and Discoverys?
the DVLA are using the words "4x4 light utilility" to describe a goods vehicle that can carry passengers, is the Surf in your opinion a goods vehicle?
Thank you for your further email regarding the classification of your Hilux
Surf.
All Japanese imported Land Cruisers, Rav4s and Hilux derivatives including
the Hilux Surf are classified as Sports Utility or 4X4 light utility
vehicles. In the UK, the Land Cruiser and RAV4 models are classified as
sports utility vehicles.
You have mentioned other manufacturers and the classifications they use,
however we cannot comment on the specification of non Toyota vehicles.
I am sorry that we have not been able to alter the classification of your
Hilux Surf as requested, but must confirm that the classification of your
Hilux Surf as a 4X4 Light utility vehicle is correct.
Yours sincerely
Customer Relations Executive
I think the trouble is that the definition of utility vehicle is being used in a different way by Toyota and the DVLA
Heres a snippet of a couple of emails, i have removed chassis numbers and names, i queried them regarding getting the V5 changed to estate car and also if the Surf is the same car as the 4runner as i was told they did sell official 4 runners in the UK for a while.
Thank you for your recent email regarding your Toyota Hilux Surf.
Our Corporate Compliance Department have confirmed that your Hilux Surf is
correctly classed as a 4X4 light utility vehicle. Therefore we cannot
accede to your request to list the vehicle as any other classification.
With regard to your enquiry regarding the Toyota Hilux Surf and the Toyota
Four Runner, I regret that as neither of these vehicles are UK models, and
we do not hold any details regarding their specifications, I regret that we
are unable to confirm that these vehicles share the same body type.
I trust the above clarifies our position in this respect.
Yours sincerely
Customer Relations Executive
Our Corporate Compliance Department have confirmed that your Hilux Surf is
correctly classed as a 4X4 light utility vehicle. Therefore we cannot
accede to your request to list the vehicle as any other classification.
With regard to your enquiry regarding the Toyota Hilux Surf and the Toyota
Four Runner, I regret that as neither of these vehicles are UK models, and
we do not hold any details regarding their specifications, I regret that we
are unable to confirm that these vehicles share the same body type.
I trust the above clarifies our position in this respect.
Yours sincerely
Customer Relations Executive
Well thanks for getting back to me, I'm unsure though why you are saying that you classify the hilux Surf as a light utility vehicle?
What is the difference between a Hilux Surf and a Landcruiser or a Rav4 are they both utility vehicles as well?
if the Surf IS a utility vehicle, why are about 50% of he ones in this country classed as Estate cars on the V5 is that a mistake that should be rectified on the V5?
Im not sure how a Landcruiser is an estate car and a Surf is a utility vehicle when the overall concept is the same, you realise that Range Rovers are estate cars, as are Shoguns, Volvo xc90s and Porsche Cayennes and Discoverys?
the DVLA are using the words "4x4 light utilility" to describe a goods vehicle that can carry passengers, is the Surf in your opinion a goods vehicle?
Thank you for your further email regarding the classification of your Hilux
Surf.
All Japanese imported Land Cruisers, Rav4s and Hilux derivatives including
the Hilux Surf are classified as Sports Utility or 4X4 light utility
vehicles. In the UK, the Land Cruiser and RAV4 models are classified as
sports utility vehicles.
You have mentioned other manufacturers and the classifications they use,
however we cannot comment on the specification of non Toyota vehicles.
I am sorry that we have not been able to alter the classification of your
Hilux Surf as requested, but must confirm that the classification of your
Hilux Surf as a 4X4 Light utility vehicle is correct.
Yours sincerely
Customer Relations Executive
I think the trouble is that the definition of utility vehicle is being used in a different way by Toyota and the DVLA
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