Hello from Cornwall

[dysopath]

Hello, Im Nick Dyson, Live in Dobwalls Cornwall. Currently Looking at a Surf 2.4TD (1992) its up for £695 - spares of repair as tatty... Im not worried about the condition as its going to be a workhorse, an offroad toy and a tow vehicle.

Im a tree surgeon, 20 years old and have just bought a 15ft caravan and currently my main car is a N16 almera 2001 1.5 which towed the caravan when I picked it up but I really want a bigger vehicle.

Between me and my girlfriend we have the N16 Almera 1.5, A highly modified N15 Almera GTi and a Sear Cordoba S... I personally want a Jap 4X4, have also been looking at Fourtraks, but loadspace determins these are better... Got to go look underneath etc... tomorrow, anything noticibale i should watch out for???

[Koi]

anything noticibale i should watch out for???

a 3.0

If your going to have it loaded and tow with it often a 3.0 will over time be much better and economical.

Check all electrics, windows air con etc work. 4WD system, overheating etc

[animal]

I'll second that, if your going to be towing and have it fully loaded I'd go for a 3.0 , a 2.4 will do it but not as well as a 3.0.
I have a 2.4 that's highly modified and its great but i would want to tow with it.

[slobodan]

Wow, 20 years old and you already have a girlfriend and a caravan!!

All you need to do now is buy a Seat and move to Cornwall.

[animal]

Wow, 20 years old and you already have a girlfriend and a caravan!!

All you need to do now is buy a Seat and move to Cornwall.

Then all you need is a nippa, and a dog and your lifes over, early retirement

[MWS]

Hello Nick. Welcome. If you're going to work your truck really hard, you may want to look around for a 3.0.....Cheers....Mick.

[legendgamesmaster]

check the head - many 'spares and repairs' have had cracked head meaning £150-£1000 cost depending on DIY or garage.

ask about overheating issues - if a head gasket is mentioned, assume its actually the head - ive never heard of the gasket going but the head remaining intact. see many many many threads here.

oh, and the mileage..... by default, the odo is in KM but many are modified to miles on import, so its often a mix of both - but in general they are often less mileage than shown on the clock - unless theyve been 'clocked' which ive been told is common... how you tell, i have no idea!

£695 spares/repair? you can have my 2.4 for that money m8! its got a replacement head already!

my mates a tree surgeon, hes got a hilux - the pickup bed is much better for his line of work. if you are going to use it mainly to work, go for the pickup or crew cab hilux. more for road and daily drive, go 3rd gen 3.0 surf. 3-5k depending on age, miles and condition, or 3.0 2nd gen. i'd give the 2.4 a miss if you regularly tow in hilly locations - the heat load on the head can be too much.

[puddlesurfer]

What they said, and hello welcome

[marcdtr]

ello mate

[Wolfracer]

Welcome!

We've just bought a new Dyson from your brother, and got a really good deal going to DIXON'S online - save about £60 on all other sites for same model.

Tell your brother he's got great suction...

[dysopath]

haha well thank you for the reply... this may not be the best time to mention ive just sold my nissan sunny, 1987 audi 100 and my volvo 850 2.5glt estate... Oh yeah, and we have a cat!

The caravan is only lightish and towing wise, its under a tonne i'll be towing so any truck will be suitable... the almera will tow easily so any surf should.

Will checking inside the oil filler cap be enough to check if the surf has any damge to the head?

[MWS]

Will checking inside the oil filler cap be enough to check if the surf has any damge to the head?[/QUOTE]



No, Nick. Don't check for "mayonaise".They don't tend to get coolant in the oil. It doesn't work that way with the cracked heads on Surfs. They pressurise the coolant system with exhaust gasses, blowing coolant past the filler caps into the overflow resevoir, bursting hoses, or bursting/cracking radiators. There is a "sniffer test that you can do to detect exhaust gas in the coolant system. Try Halfords etc.....Good luck....Mick.

[dysopath]

not good, i may continue looking as i'm not desperate to buy one instantly... just really fancied the price tag. I'll be looking for a 3.0 then.

[stormforce]

Hi Dyso and welcome.Good to see another Cornish member here