Is this a bargin or a rip off?

[LuckyBstd]

I`m buying a lovely new(to me) Surf this week subject to inspection of course but was wondering if anyone would be so kind as to give me their opinion as to whether this sounds like a bargin or not?

It`s a `N` reg 96 I believe, SSR-G very clean and tidy selling at 4k. All the usual extras like A bar, cruise control, recaro etc etc. The only drawback is it`s got 100,000 on the clock. It doesn`t have a sunroof although I was under the impression that the SSR-G models all have them. Does anyone know if this is a fact or not?

Would you consider this to be a good deal or not? I thought it was rather cheap and have started thinking that maybe somethings wrong with it. I haven`t seen one of this age sell at this price before. I`m buying it from a dealer.

Anyone got any thoughts? What could be the worst thing wrong with it?

I`m driving 250 miles to collect it and don`t want to be dissappointed. Has anyone had any horror stories concerning new purchases?

thanks

[BUSHWHACKER]

Do you know if it's a 3rd or 2nd gen.
If it's a 3rd gen I would say very good price. Whats the dealers name, someone on here may have had some experience of them.


Model history....http://www.showmesome.info/hilux/info/history.htm

[LuckyBstd]

It`s a 2nd gen, therefore it must be a 95 `N`reg. The dealers name is Direct Fleet but I don`t think he`s been trading that long.

He is bending over backwards to sell me the car which is why I`m a bit suspicious.....

[BUSHWHACKER]

In that case, You can get another 3.0 just as cheap and probably nearer home too.
I'm sure the last of the 2nd gens were 'M' reg.

Here's one for sale on here. Don't know if it's sold yet.
http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/forums/sh...ad.php?t=17473

[sketty]

i bought an early Nreg 3.0L TD ssrx 2nd gen of dealer in bradford for £3750. it was ****ing it down when i looked at it. so did'nt look underneath properly.it had full mot 6 months tax and i was 1st owner over here it had been imported 1 month earlyer. 6 weeks after buying it i had a full service done for piece of mind. turned out it needed brake pads anti roll bar drop links snapped on both sides and both front bottom wishbones had holes rotten in them and they still have until i get some more i fought i was getting a bargain at the time. anyway that was in the past happy with it now i have spent a few hundred quid on it. have a good look round it before buying.
ps check label at bottom of driver seatbelt should have year on it.

[LuckyBstd]

Bushwacker- mine`s the same model as the one you showed. Mine`s definately got an `N`reg plate on it? Makes me suspect that the car may not be honest. (If anyone knew the answer to whether all `G` specs do have sunroofs or not would help in answering that)
For some reason there`s very few surfs within 50 miles of my address and those that are are well over priced compared to similar ones sold Midlands/North area.

Sketty- Was the `N`reg you bought 95? If so then I`m OK but if its as Bush says then I`m gonna be really suspicious!

3750 for an the `N`reg you purchased still seems like a bargin, I have been scouting surfs for quite a while now and the one I`m interested in seems the cheapest price for that year I have seen so far especially buying from a dealer. I`ve seen many `N` regs selling for nearer to the 6k mark. Lower miles obviously.

Anyway i`m going to view it tomorrow and hopefully I`ll be driving back in it. I`ll let you know whether it turns out to be a bargin or a rip off!!

Great advice about the year being on the seatbelt Sketty, thats handy to know, thanks for that.

(anyone know about the sunroof question yet? Could help in deciding whether this car is legit or not!)

[BUSHWHACKER]

This probably won't help you, but mine is a '92 ssrx and I've got an electric sunroof!

[Sparky]

I`m buying a lovely new(to me) Surf this week subject to inspection of course but was wondering if anyone would be so kind as to give me their opinion as to whether this sounds like a bargin or not?

It`s a `N` reg 96 I believe, SSR-G very clean and tidy selling at 4k. All the usual extras like A bar, cruise control, recaro etc etc. The only drawback is it`s got 100,000 on the clock. It doesn`t have a sunroof although I was under the impression that the SSR-G models all have them. Does anyone know if this is a fact or not?

Would you consider this to be a good deal or not? I thought it was rather cheap and have started thinking that maybe somethings wrong with it. I haven`t seen one of this age sell at this price before. I`m buying it from a dealer.

Anyone got any thoughts? What could be the worst thing wrong with it?

I`m driving 250 miles to collect it and don`t want to be dissappointed. Has anyone had any horror stories concerning new purchases?

thanks

don't know about the year but 100,000 k is only 60,000 miles converted but it is cambelt time so check it has been done or fit one asap

[sketty]

mine is a 1995 model. there is also 2 people at my works that have 95 models on a Nreg 2nd gen. i payed a good price but by the time i have finished replacing knackered parts it would cost in regen of a grand extra. contact your local toyota dealer and ask them about sunroof. when i got mine serviced i wanted a new cambelt but garage said the early Nreg had the same engine has the later model different from earlyer one.on a 3.0L TD but don't now about any 2.4s. this means that if belt snapped it would not damage engine. you just replace belt. the mechanic is a good friend of my brothers who do a lot of offroading and he knows what he is talking about. check tyres aswell mine had snow tyres on and they have worn down pretty quick. i did not notice this at time of purchase. don't be afraid of putting your foot down to about 30 or 40 then slamming brakes on hard to check pads and ABS if it has it.should stop in a straight line aswell.

hope this helps
mark

[LuckyBstd]

Well I`m now the proud owner of an `N` reg SSR-G 2nd GEN Surf.

I think the reason it hasn`t got a sunroof is because, (and correct me if I`m wrong) it`s a Northern model. The models sold in northern Japan are slightly different to the ones in the South due the difference in climate. I think mine is a winter model.

Winter models, or Northern models I believe, apparently have thicker carpets and an idle raise button for raising the revs and obviously NO need for a sunroof!! There`s probably other differences but I`m not certain what they are. It does have cruise ctrl and aircon but I doubt that is unique to Northern models?

Anyway, my car appears very clean underneath and doesn`t look like its been off-road before. The only thing I could find wrong with it was that the back springs have sagged 2". Although its a good excuse to put a high lift kit on it!!

Has anyone got any advice as to what maintainance steps I should take as of now? Like changing the cambelt and oil change. Is there anything else relevant to Surfs that would be good to know? I`m amazed how much more powerful than my Landcruiser it is. I can`t wait to take it off-road.....

Many thanks

excited Surf owner LOL

[LuckyBstd]

don't know about the year but 100,000 k is only 60,000 miles converted but it is cambelt time so check it has been done or fit one asap

The speedo has been changed to MPH but although the car doesn`t appear to have done that many miles the clock shows 112,000.

Like you say though, a cambelt change asap would be a good idea.

thanks for the advice

[wibblywobbly]

Probably too late but

Even if the clock face is changed to mph the mileage is still in kilometers, so it looks like it is 60,000 miles not 100,000 miles,

Cam belts are cheap, even genuine ones. You can replace all of the belts for next to nothing and its a lot easier on the 3ltr.

As regards spec, there is no 'standard' surf. They were sold in Japan with all sorts of upgrades and mods. They even had different specs depending on whether they were sold in the cold or the hot part of Japan.

The best bet is to see what it is fitted with, whether the bodywork, paint and interior are in good condition and most important of all take it for a drive and watch the temperature gauge. It should stay just below the centre mark. If it stays 'cold' someone has removed the thermostat (possibly because it was overheating), if it goes 'hot' then suspect the head has problems (rare on a 3ltr). While you are driving test the 4wd works, but don't drive around in 4wd as you will damage the transmission on tarmac).

Check the autobox is smooth.

If the steering creaks on full lock it is only a blob of grease on the stops to sort it so its not a problem.

A lot of surfs steer to the left, so if this one does it is not a big deal (wish I knew the cure though).

Check all of the electrics work.

I have seen hundreds of Surfs (import docks in Bristol) and some that come in are as tatty as hell, whilst others are stunning. It is worth paying extra for a minter, at least you know someone looked after it in the land of the rising sun!

Thats about it, they are pretty rugged beasts!!

Cheers

Rob G