Is this worth looking at?

[TwoBobRob]

So I'm on the hunt for a petrol Surf and this one appears on Ebay;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-HIL...item232e6685fa

I ignored it the first time around at £2k but as the price is dropping I'm giving it a second look.

It's very close to me but I'm not keen on buying a lemon for obvious reasons. Regarding it's gearbox issues, does the sellers description & cure seem plausible?

I'd appreciate your views/opinions please

[BUSHWHACKER]

Well worth the money, grab it now!
It's most likely an ECU fault which can be purchased for around £100.

I have two 2.7s and they are so smooth to drive, I'll never buy a diesel engined Surf again. You won't be disappointed if you buy this one, even with the slight fault.

[TwoBobRob]

Well that was concise!

I looked at a 2.7 before I joined the forum. The seller was a chancer and the car car was rough, but it did drive ###### well.

Just to clarify, does this one have council or posh 4wd?

[BUSHWHACKER]

Council.
If the transfer lever is pulled back towards the seat it's just the basic 4WD the same as the 2nd gens.

[TwoBobRob]

Gotcha. Thanks for that.

Well, fingers crossed my two outstanding clients pay up soon.....

[NiftyNev]

The transmission solenoids are available on eBay.

Nev.

[TwoBobRob]

Cool, cheers

[Koi]

and suspect the seats may be tatty hence pictures with seat covers on but again can pick them up cheap enough

[MWS]

I've always meant to ask, but why is the basic 4x4 system as seen on 2nd gen's and early 3rd gen's referred to as " Council " ? Also, shouldn't a " P " reg be the later type " Multi Mode " ? What year did the change over begin ?

[TwoBobRob]

It's just a gag.

I refer to my freeview as council telly as I don't have posh satellite.

Basic, bare bones = council!

With these petrol ones, it seems that the bulk of 2.7s came with basic 4wd and the 3.0s came with multimode.

Well, so far as my investigations have gone so far. Perhaps it was an option?

[BUSHWHACKER]

It's just a gag.

I refer to my freeview as council telly as I don't have posh satellite.

Basic, bare bones = council!

With these petrol ones, it seems that the bulk of 2.7s came with basic 4wd and the 3.0s came with multimode.

Well, so far as my investigations have gone so far. Perhaps it was an option?

I have 'N' and 'Y' reg 2.7s. The later one has multi-mode, the early one has council.

[MWS]

Still don't understand why " Council ". It's always been used to describe the difference between the two 3rd gen transmissions. Where did the word originate from, in terms of this particular technical reference ? Is it a word that appears anywhere in Toyota manuals ?

[TwoBobRob]

Haha...... Sorry bud, I suspect you're overthinking this... Nowt technical about it.

Have you ever heard of tap water being referred to as 'council pop'?

A council house would be considered by many to be cheap n cheerful compared to a privately owned home.

Working class vs middle class if you will.

[woodwarm]

Still don't understand why " Council ". It's always been used to describe the difference between the two 3rd gen transmissions. Where did the word originate from, in terms of this particular technical reference ? Is it a word that appears anywhere in Toyota manuals ?

page 482, section 9, paragraph 11, sub section 7,diagram 5b,

center council." Where you rest your arm whilst driving "

[Wolfracer]

page 482, section 9, paragraph 11, sub section 7,diagram 5b,

center council." Where you rest your arm whilst driving "

Lol!