Surf's up.

[MadScott]

My Surf has come home.

Pictures as promised.







Three cheers and a beer for the paint man, faultless repair of hood and roof, perfectly matched in color, flake distribution, texture and blend.

Runs and drives like a dream, and have got 200km out of the top half of the tank. No smoke, strange noises, unreported damage or dead bodies found as of yet, we shall see.

Passenger side door mirror electrics are failed somewhere, that's it so far.

I also did replace all windshield wiper components from spindle to glass with factory new, old kit was crusty and mismatched, and I can't stand f'kd up wipers.

Also ordered a new lock cylinder for the driver's door, as it's slightly tired, and some brand new keys, it only came with one.

It has very obviously never been beat, punked or seriously off-roaded, and the included full maintenance records indicate my hunches regarding it's health were not misguided.

Not bad for buying sight unseen, but Japan usually works like that, got the Missus' ride the same way, yay internet.

Perfectly pleased.

[Fey!]

Gorgeous.

Well wear.

[MadScott]

Thanks, will certainly try.

[gwh200]

Ooooo...Thats a pretty one...and a damm good bargain. Is it going to
"evolve"...

[MadScott]

If 'evolution' means that we grow old together gracefully and with a minimum of aches and pains and damage, then yeah.

We're both getting too old to successfully modify anyhow I think...

Although the idea of trying to find a spot to stuff an intercooler is floating around somewhere at the back of my mind.

Up until now I have been flogging a Volvo turbowagon that I 'improved' until it became a real pita to maintain, meaning I have to do everything myself, including the oh so fun Japanese inspection. Searching out everything I need from the States or Sweden has become too time-consuming and expensive.

Also we are in the process of relocating further up and further in, so to speak, working on a shack in the mountains and we are about to make the leap; I think if I build a garage before I build a bath for the missus I will find myself in deep doodoo and sleeping therein for an uncomfortably long time.

Probably until the bath is finished.

Hmm... decisions.

Anyhow the situation is that I need to be able to get my gal into town at sudden notice, come hell or high water, snow, typhoon, earthquake, the Whole Thing, 24/7.

The shack at the Hill is just high enough to get the bit of extra snow, and there is a mountain pass between points to be crossed also that can get tricky, steep grades too. Not unusual for there to be trees down, landslide, idiots spun off or other mischief afoot, this calls for Heavy Equipment.

Hence Surf.

Missus has a 4wd Pajero Jr. (1100cc version) that does real well most of the time, but under some conditions sending her out alone is out of the question.

Also have a 4wd kei truck which is worth it's weight in gold, and a '73 Suzuki Jimny 360cc van which will survive the Apocalypse.

I think the Surf is the newest of the lot.

Anyhow I guess I have made a short story long, it happens.

Short answer: It's perfect as is for now.

Also, filled up again today after 300km, with 1/3 tank or so left, about 17.5 mpg (13.44 l/100km), all town driving and farking around with the engine running.

So nice.

[MadScott]

News: Door lock cylinder and keys arrived, I replaced the cylinder today under bright sunshine and a cold brisk north wind.

Funny how the smallest improvements can make the whole thing feel better.

No longer sticking my key into a sloppy hole every time I want a ride.

Can't complain about that.

Related news: Sat back with a beer running the new keys in and out of the old cylinder to smooth them off, factory cut keys are rough.

Don't wanna tear up the ignition.

[gwh200]

News:No longer sticking my key into a sloppy hole every time I want a ride.

Hurrah...and a double entendre too boot.

[Mrs Thrifty]

Like it ,very nice!

[Ploddit]

Did you order the lock and or keys via code?

Which export firm did you use?

[J i m s t e r]

I think he's in Japan so no export

Why blur the plate out though? No good copying it over here

[Albannach]

Why blur the plate out though? No good copying it over here

I've never understood the point in doing that. My truck lies outside 24/7, anyone can see its number and obviously its location; so why would I blur it out on a forum where folk that don't know where I live can see it?

[ninjadave]

I've never understood the point in doing that.

Why advertise your number plate, vehicle colour etc etc on the internet?
False plates can be made up using your reg number and attached to the same colour vehicle as yours, then used in petrol forecourt theft, or travelling into London and not paying congestion charge. It has been done many a time.

[JUDWAK]

its never bothered me but thats just me

i tell you what has bothered me has done for a few years now

surfs are imports from japan so why do surfs have surf in english wrote on them and limited edtion
why would japan write in english on there cars?

thats like the english getting a tattoo wrong in chinese

[Albannach]

Why advertise your number plate, vehicle colour etc etc on the internet?

I advertise all those things to many thousands of people almost every day, what's the point in hiding them on the internet?

Surely it would be easier for someone to go to a Tesco's car park to find a vehicle to clone, than it would be to trawl the internet in the hope that they stumble upon the right make, model and colour of vehicle without its number plate obscured.

Just a tad too paranoid for me.

[JUDWAK]

i hate agreeing with albannach but in this case i have to

i'll just have to sulk all day now
in fact iam going to take it out on this tartan teddy i have