so we have been on the look out for a Toyota surf for well longer than either of us thought it would take and now we have it down to two vehicles and cant decide which is the better number one is a 1994 under 120000ks new import aa inspected certified OD it looks immaculate 3.0l v6 petrol will cost around 9k
the second is a 1996 2.7l petrol ssrv which is just over 200 thou k and pretty tidy looking apart from an odd dent the owner has a recent AA report on it and is driven by cam chain which we love the idea of this is around 7k.
they are both a 6 hour drive to pick up and seem to balance out their ups and downs so looking for some input. TIA also before anyone asks yes we do need a 4wd and have decided that the surf is the best option for us and yes we want a petrol not a diesel just looking to see if people know about these two models in particular thanks!
gmphil,
Mar 8, 4:44pm
94 3.0 because in 5 years it will be round 200 ks on clock and still worth sumthing ,
intrade,
Mar 8, 4:57pm
easy no v6 the v engine crack rear head bank . only 4 cilinder toyota ar fully bullet proof if maintained with the absolut minimum maintainace like most toyota driver only do.
dk002,
Mar 8, 5:39pm
do you mean the 2.7?
intrade,
Mar 8, 5:41pm
yes buy the 2.7 if its in top condition it will go to 450.000km ore more when you service it correctly.
bill1451,
Mar 8, 6:02pm
Buying a petrol surf you will need to buy a trailer with drums of fuel , as any 4wd petrol vehicle will drink gas.
dk002,
Mar 8, 6:06pm
now that's just silly we have already organised a fuel truck to escort us everywhere. lol its ok it wont be a daily driver
andy61,
Mar 8, 6:52pm
The 3.0 V6 is a dog of an engine,due to a design fault they are very bad for corroding the block,causing the head gasket to fail etc,very expensive to fix and replacement engines are difficult to get due to all having the same problem. I had a Suzuki Escudo V6(only used on weekends etc) ,boy did it love the petrol,you will need a fuel tanker as an escort, I sold the Suzuki and got a Diesel Terrano,at least it can drive pass a servo without needing a refill.Way cheaper to run a diesel 4wd.
gunhand,
Mar 8, 7:00pm
I think you need to add, Honda, Mitsi, Holden, Mazda, Nissan, Ford, Bmw, Suzuki, Hyundai and most other marques to that comment. Or do you know every owner of every other make to know they maintain their cars better than Toyota owners? Sweeping generalization I feel?
franc123,
Mar 8, 7:06pm
Neither, they're both gutless, appalling and uncomfortable vehicles and are far too expensive to buy for the age of them. If you are going to pay out that much on petrol (yes I saw the no daily driver bit) then get something that's at least got decent performance and pulling power like a Jeep Grand Cherokee or similar. The above problem re block corrosion is not a joke and would likely cost you half the purchase price again to fix, I'm surprised that anyone has been dumb enough to bring one in TBH.
newtec1,
Mar 8, 8:16pm
Forget both of them and go for a 96 3lt turbo diesel with the 1KZ engine. They have just as much grunt and drive just as well with the 1 KZ almost bullet proof if surviced regularly. It is surprising the difference betwen a 95 and 96, the '96 to' 99 is the last of that model and are good value.
aj254,
Mar 8, 8:41pm
Go for the 2.7, assuming its been serviced. Cheaper to run, easier to work on, less likely to need working on. Should also have ABS brakes and airbags, a 1994 surf probably won't. And its the newer shape so a bit nicer to drive.
brapbrap8,
Mar 9, 7:01am
Get an actual inspection, not the pointless AA report.
tweake,
Mar 9, 4:05pm
and forget about that they have a bad history of cracking heads and overheating. also maintenance cost, ruc etc ,diesels can be more expensive to run than a petrol for a secondary vehicle.
3.0v6 vers 2.7. 2.7 any day. far more reliable motor and cheaper to run.
skin1235,
Mar 9, 5:11pm
they're both Surfs' if you want an agricultural ride, agricultural consumption, and an agricultural tractor parked out behind the shed then either will do or spend less than $5k on a 97 Musso, 6 cyl E32 Mercedes engine and drive train, drives like a car, full time 4wd etc, adjustable height and suspension on some of them, or rides 2cm lower than a surf, although you wouldn't notice it, rated at 3500kg towing capacity I still have a hilux but it doesn't get used too often now, the Musso does it all and better, and I do go into some strange places at times for $7k you can get a 2002 - 2004 model, even better specs than most cars
dr.doolittle,
Mar 9, 6:36pm
Yeah, get a Musso. It'll be yours for life!
skin1235,
Mar 9, 7:00pm
you takin the piss there doc? lol
at 10 ltr per 100km its pretty good, low ratio work does tend to shove those figures out of shape though, it is more economic than the hilux on the same work, way more comfortable to ride, especially off the road, and I'd say near 3 times the power, show me any surf that will cruise all day with a trailer at legal speed on a long haul ( Tauranga to Waverley was the last one ), consumption didn't change with a fully loaded brick shaped trailer on the back, and something a surf will never do, had the power to overtake on uphill passing lanes with the trailer on behind only thing that pisses me off is it hasn't got a 5th gear in the auto, 100km is 2800 rpm, on a 3.2 lt petrol thats way excessive, another cog would be fine and bring the fuel down to 7.5 per 100
skin1235,
Mar 9, 7:03pm
mind you when it hits 3200 its like changing down 2, snaps up to 4700 real quick, can seriously haul some arse
lol can you guess I like them, cannot understand why I ever went to hilux in the first place - could be cos I was given one in place of $200 of wages one week
dk002,
Mar 9, 7:09pm
I know there are better trucks out there than Toyota surfs but we needed something to carry our groceries ( we are 140km from the supermarket) that we can take our Rottweiler in ( boot with rear window that winds down so she is comfortable on long trips with a big enough boot for her to sit and lie down also not slobbering all over us and the passengers window is a plus). we live in a remote area that can get 350mls+ of rain a day and flood and slip, this truck will not have a very hard life I live and work on a farm my partner works down the road she will take the other car we already have and surf will go up to town at most once a fortnight or month then maybe up the road during the week if I run out of bread. so I believe and what everyone else has told us it will actually work out cheaper to have a petrol. Thankyou for your input we will steer clear of the 3.0 and get a tidy 2.7
aj254,
Mar 9, 7:14pm
The rear window doesn't wind down on the newer shape surfs though. Might need to turn up the air con to keep the dog happy.
dr.doolittle,
Mar 9, 7:18pm
I get the feeling they're not looking at a newer shaped Surf. You might as well have said a Lamborghini only has 2x doors!
xs1100,
Mar 9, 7:29pm
must say sounds bloody expensive for 20 yr old 4 x 4s in petrol meaning they will have little resale value. surely theres some better buying out there than those 2
klrider,
Mar 10, 6:04am
Yes it does, if you are referring to the 97 3.4 onwards anyway?, I have had one for ten years, great vehicle, the rear window winds down from the front, and you can use the key from the rear to do the same thing even if vehicle is switched off.
aj254,
May 2, 11:44pm
Oops my bad, not sure why I thought that!
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