Offroad-Express

Hi there, I am new to the 4wd landscape and was hoping for some advise or things to look for when purchasing a secondhand surf. The one I am looking at is a 1989 ssr surf 2400cc diesel- asking for around 5k with 110,000km. The other vehicle I was interested in was a 1973 88 swb series 3 fitted with a 3000cc 3b diesel. I would really appreciate any guidance someone had to offer. Thanks fellas, Dan

2.4 diesel turbo? if it is id say stay away from that motor, unless your planning on a conversion. ticking time bombs, id say most people on here would be saying the same.

Series 3? is it an old bj40? think thats them

A series 3 is a landrover. What type of vehicle do you want? will it be a daily driver? how hard will you drive it?

turoa wrote:A series 3 is a landrover. What type of vehicle do you want? will it be a daily driver? how hard will you drive it?

we cant really afford to have 2 cars so it would be an everday runner and also a vehicle to to take hunting. So it would be to take me into areas a car would not, but not for hard-care 4wd. I will wait till I could spend a bit more to do that. Any thoughts are great.....

For that sort of money I would be looking for a Terrano or a 2.8 diesel Surf.

The 2.4's usually have issues, only buy one if you know that it's had the head, water pump, radiator and turbo already replaced.

If it's going to be a daily driver you want to get the newest vehicle you can. Try and leave a few $$$ left over so you can do a few minor things to it, second hand trucks always need something and you might want to do a couple of small mods, tow hooks, diff breathers etc.

Welcome aboard as well!

Matt.

[quote="Mattman"]For that sort of money I would be looking for a Terrano or a 2.8 diesel Surf.

The 2.4's usually have issues, only buy one if you know that it's had the head, water pump, radiator and turbo already replaced.

If it's going to be a daily driver you want to get the newest vehicle you can. Try and leave a few $$$ left over so you can do a few minor things to it, second hand trucks always need something and you might want to do a couple of small mods, tow hooks, diff breathers etc.

Welcome aboard as well!

Matt

Hey thanks matt, really appreciate the feedback - Its a whole new world and its bloody good to be here!
Cheers Matt
Dan

have you though about a 70 series crusier or dare I say it a safari?

Ok, lets look at the facts:

a. You can only afford one vehicle.

b. You want a dual-purpose vehicle for road and offroad use.

This to me says that the vehicle will need to be:

a. reliable (rules out 2.4TD surfs)

b. comfortable (rules out any landrover prior to a Disco)

So based on that, I think you might need to review your shopping list a little...

I'm assuming your budget is in the $2-4k range, since thats probably what you would pay for either of those two trucks... (yes, I said trucks, no I don't want to see another flame war spring up about what you should call a 4WD)

Options that would give you a good reliable 4WD for that money would probably include:

a. 2.7TD Terrano

b. 2.8TD Isuzu Bighorn

c. 3.4D 70-series Cruiser

Just my thoughts, but the Bighorn or the Terrano are probably the best options to be looking at... cost vs. running cost vs. repair costs vs. creature comforts taken into account.

Steve

I had a 2.4 surf, OMG it was slow, i hated it and only had it a week or to before i sold it. i replaced it with a dico, cheap to buy but expensive to run . if youve got no kids or they are still young get a suzuki, ive got a jimny as a every day car, great to drive around town and great fun off road

SupraLux wrote:Ok, lets look at the facts:

a. You can only afford one vehicle.

b. You want a dual-purpose vehicle for road and offroad use.

This to me says that the vehicle will need to be:

a. reliable (rules out 2.4TD surfs)

b. comfortable (rules out any landrover prior to a Disco)

So based on that, I think you might need to review your shopping list a little...

I'm assuming your budget is in the $2-4k range, since thats probably what you would pay for either of those two trucks... (yes, I said trucks, no I don't want to see another flame war spring up about what you should call a 4WD)

Options that would give you a good reliable 4WD for that money would probably include:

a. 2.7TD Terrano

b. 2.8TD Isuzu Bighorn

c. 3.4D 70-series Cruiser

Just my thoughts, but the Bighorn or the Terrano are probably the best options to be looking at... cost vs. running cost vs. repair costs vs. creature comforts taken into account.

Steve

Thanks steve, yeah budget of about 5-6k - It all new so advise and information are great at this stage

cheers steve appreciate it

MATT4U wrote:have you though about a 70 series crusier or dare I say it a safari?

No I havnt but will look into it thanks mate

ramon wrote:I had a 2.4 surf, OMG it was slow, i hated it and only had it a week or to before i sold it. i replaced it with a dico, cheap to buy but expensive to run . if youve got no kids or they are still young get a suzuki, ive got a jimny as a every day car, great to drive around town and great fun off road

Hadnt even thought about but will look into that too, Thanks mate. Pretty happy I found this site and read more about the 2.4 surfs, they dont sound good at all

for that sort of money i would be trying to fine a surf with a 3liter trubo diesel motor. they 2.4s are shit the 2.8 non turbos are reliable but slow, i have a 3L v6 Petrol and love it cheap to buy, reliable goes ok if you rev it out but stuff all torque and uses alot of gas. if i was spending 5-6 grand id look for the 3liter diesel, they are cheaper to run and have good torque. surfs are cheap and easy to fix/ modify.

if you want 7 seats look at a 95ish prado. again go for the 3L tubo diesel.

just my opinions though....

Pete

My advice would be either a 3.0TD surf or as someone else also suggested, if space isn't an issue a nice little escudo/vitara - If I didn't need to have dogs and a couple of venisons in the back, i'd still own a suzuki.

In saying all this, I don't have anything against the 2.7TD terrano either.
Not a fan of bighorns, but that's just speaking from personal experience.

Good luck, send us a picture.

Sure the surf 3.0td are a good engine but the heads crack. I dont think i know of anyone who 4wds a 1kz that hasnt done the engine on it. I'm upto 3k in repairs, sure ive taken steps to make sure it doesnt happen again but if that head goes your looking minimum of 2k in repairs!

Mike

Save a wee bit more and get a late 80's - early 90's Nissan patrol/safari with a 4.2 diesel ( OR turbo diesel if you can find one cheap enough) , they're probably the toughest/wellbuilt 4x4's stock than most others around. The 4.2's are tough motors , have known a few people with them , you can easily do a turbo & intercooler conversion to yeild great results. i have been told the natural & turbo version motors a nearly identical. If i did'nt want a SWB that i have got , it would be the patrol ( aussie version with a 4.2TD . just my opinion !

adventures_more wrote:Save a wee bit more and get a late 80's - early 90's Nissan patrol/safari with a 4.2 diesel ( OR turbo diesel if you can find one cheap enough) , they're probably the toughest/wellbuilt 4x4's stock than most others around. The 4.2's are tough motors , have known a few people with them , you can easily do a turbo & intercooler conversion to yeild great results. i have been told the natural & turbo version motors a nearly identical. If i did'nt want a SWB that i have got , it would be the patrol ( aussie version with a 4.2TD . just my opinion !

thats the best advice on this post yet, or go for a safari or a prado with a lexus in it. you will get a good truck for 5 grand.