Toyota Hilux or Hilux surf?
Discussion
Advice please. We have a smallholding in West Wales and looking to switch from our Citroen Berlingo to a 4 x 4. Need for occasional off road use and pulling 10ft trailor loaded with stuff as we build home. Also for school runs and occasional trips to England.
Looking at a Toyota Hilux or Hilux surf for between 2 to 3K. I've seen some on ebay with mileages ranging between 100K and 180K. Any one with experience of older Hilux's here able to advise on merits of either and fuel economy?
Cheers
We have a 1995 4runner (english surf) 3.0l manual about 175k, my belief is the 3.0l is only available in the surf/4runner and not similar vintage hilux. I am unsure everything we've done to it but off the top of my head, uprated suspension all round, new clutch, new rad and have a spare set of doors to add once the ones that are currently on have completely disintegrated. We also do all the servicing ourselves.
Unsure what MPG is went its empty we put fuel in, Dad tends to get better MPG than I though. In comparison to our old 1.9D berlingo and 2.0hdi Picasso we had, it uses a lot more, if that helps any. Last time I had it on a run was towing 16ft trailer, think if I remember correctly it used nearly 2 tanks over 400 miles, But I was towing and potentially was over the 60mph limit, rarely goes 20 miles off site though.
We bought ours cheap, and can afford to spend money on it, the 3.0 is a great engine and will pull all day. Ours is used for launching a boat 3 or 4 times a week, in comparison friends Discovery 300tdi has to be in lowbox to drag the boat out, The 4runner you can do the same in hi box and two wheel drive (if anything disco has more aggressive tyres)
My only other comment is that if you end to use it on the small holding and as a family vehicle I'd have a pickup over the surf/4runner ours is gross in the cabin as its used as a van. I'd rather have a pickup to keep work dirt in the back and keep the cabin usable.
Unsure what MPG is went its empty we put fuel in, Dad tends to get better MPG than I though. In comparison to our old 1.9D berlingo and 2.0hdi Picasso we had, it uses a lot more, if that helps any. Last time I had it on a run was towing 16ft trailer, think if I remember correctly it used nearly 2 tanks over 400 miles, But I was towing and potentially was over the 60mph limit, rarely goes 20 miles off site though.
We bought ours cheap, and can afford to spend money on it, the 3.0 is a great engine and will pull all day. Ours is used for launching a boat 3 or 4 times a week, in comparison friends Discovery 300tdi has to be in lowbox to drag the boat out, The 4runner you can do the same in hi box and two wheel drive (if anything disco has more aggressive tyres)
My only other comment is that if you end to use it on the small holding and as a family vehicle I'd have a pickup over the surf/4runner ours is gross in the cabin as its used as a van. I'd rather have a pickup to keep work dirt in the back and keep the cabin usable.
308mate said:
Get the larger engine. The 3.0l if possible. The smaller ones had occasional issues, particularly in some climates or operating conditions.
The 2.4td is the main problem one AFAIK, tend to overheat and crack heads etc. The 3.0td (1KZ I think is the engine code) still has some reputation for that but is much better, generally avoided with preventative maintenance. Larger exhaust helps them get rid of the heat too from what I've heard.The old 2.8d is pretty bulletproof but also pretty sluggish on the hills.
GravelBen said:
308mate said:
Get the larger engine. The 3.0l if possible. The smaller ones had occasional issues, particularly in some climates or operating conditions.
The 2.4td is the main problem one AFAIK, tend to overheat and crack heads etc. The 3.0td (1KZ I think is the engine code) still has some reputation for that but is much better, generally avoided with preventative maintenance. Larger exhaust helps them get rid of the heat too from what I've heard.The old 2.8d is pretty bulletproof but also pretty sluggish on the hills.
I would keep eyes open for a 96 onward Gen3 2.7 Petrol RZN185 jap Hilux Surf import. I bought one 2 yrs ago for about 750 GBP on UK ebay which was in superb nick to ship out to me in the BVI. Gets over 30 MPG on runs (noticeably better than the older KZN130 3.0 Turbo Diesel - I have both), and is a bit nippier too. It's based on the 80 series previous model Landcruiser 80 series chasssis but is half the price, and the petrol 2.7 4 cyl is bomb proof. I've seen them in your price range now, but creeping up again. Way better road car than the KZN, if not quite as much character. Rememe to clean and Barox / hammerite / waxoyl the underneath, as they are getting on now and rust starting to hit them f not looked after, although still very good for resisting the rot.
Keep an eye on hiluxsurf.co.uk as they do come up now and again.
Keep an eye on hiluxsurf.co.uk as they do come up now and again.
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