Is there a reasonably priced alternative to the Surf ?

[richardimiles]

You'd be right to say that this post is heresy......but.....

My 2nd Gen has died after years of valiant service (good tyres though !). I have a budget of about £6k for a replacement. What do I do ?

All the 2nd and 3rd Gen Surfs on sale are well past their prime..

The few 4th Gen up for sale seem outside my budget and I'm worried about ease of spares and finding a reliable mechanic......although I'd love one....

For various reasons I need an "estate car" style SUV rather than a double can pick up....

Since there don't seem to be any (relatively) low mileage / young Surfs on the market in my budget range what is the best alternative ?

Anyone have any bright ideas..... ?

I love my surf (I think it deserves a decent burial, not the scrap yard)...but I need a reliable replacement in my price range....

[tashtego]

With that budget I would ship an intercooled 3rd Gen from Japan through one of the online dealers like Be Forward or similar.
Cheers

[Bogus]

For your budget you could get a pretty decent 90 series Landcruiser Colorado. something around 2000/2001. Be patient, look around and they are out there somewhere and with less than starship mileage.

[J i m s t e r]

Land Cruiser Amazon. 7 seats.

Supposed to be ultra-reliable. I'd have one if I wasn't too emotionally invested in my Surf.

[AlexKzn130]

id get a series 80 landcruiser

[andyverran]

id get a series 80 landcruiser

Are there any left?

[Triv]

Land Cruiser Amazon. 7 seats.

Supposed to be ultra-reliable. I'd have one if I wasn't too emotionally invested in my Surf.

^^^^^ What he said ^^^^^

[AlexKzn130]

Are there any left?

Yea plenty if u look around, 4.2 straight 6 agricultural block manages 22mpg too (approx)

[Karma Supra]

Another 80 fan here...

I'd quite like one!

[Bogus]

I like the LC80 as well, but I do NOT see it as an alternative to a Surf which was the original question. Just saying thats all.

[AlexKzn130]

I like the LC80 as well, but I do NOT see it as an alternative to a Surf which was the original question. Just saying thats all.

Do u mean cos it's the size of the 5 o'clock ferry to Calais?

[Bogus]

Pretty much. its a bit like telling someone to look at a VW Touareg as an alternative to their VW polo.

[dieselboy]

I've seen a few Toyota Fortuner's about over the past couple years. One in Sri Lanka recently and a couple in Bali. They are gorgeous and I'd love to take a look at one properly.

I believe they superseded the Surf and are a JDM product. Because of how the Surf became popular in the UK I'm hoping the Fortuner will go the same way.

Are Fortuners being imported into the UK yet?
Has anyone managed to take a proper look at the Fortuner?

[tashtego]

I have driven a few rented ones in SA, very popular here, shame they don't cover the European market.
The 2nd Gen Fortuner came out a couple of moths ago if I am not mistaken. You used to get the 3.0 L D4D and the 2.7 and 4.0 petrol. Now the D4D has been replaced by the new 2.8 diesel lump.
You can buy 2 inches lifted model from factory. You are right that it would be a good alternative to the Surf. However I am not sure that they are meant for the Japanese market? The ones I have seen for export sale online seem to be from Thailand...

[Karma Supra]

Well saying as 4th gen surfs are only really beginning to crop up more regularly now I'd suggest you have a long wait!

I like the FJ Cruiser, but decent imported RHD ones are going for silly money (£29-35k) and they are simply not worth that.

I didn't think the Fortuner was a surf/4Runner replacement as they still do the 4Runner in the US.

I quite like the pre facelift 5th Gen Surf.