Toyota surf 1988(50-...)🤔🤔🤔

[DARA]

Dear Friends,

Kindly provide some information regarding the Toyota surf 1988 (50-...).

*Fuel consumption(Main concern)

*Reliability

*maintainance cost

*Reported issues.

This is to ask you since I have found

One for 3.2 mil.

* Is it worth for that price.

(Interior is perfect/Exterior  with new paint/Engine seems to be ok.did not check with a mechanic/Comfortable/Old government used vehicle)

Hope that you would give an answer.

 

 

 

[iRage]

28 minutes ago, DARA said:

Dear Friends,

Kindly provide some information regarding the Toyota surf 1988 (50-...).

*Fuel consumption(Main concern)

*Reliability

*maintainance cost

*Reported issues.

This is to ask you since I have found

One for 3.2 mil.

* Is it worth for that price.

(Interior is perfect/Exterior  with new paint/Engine seems to be ok.did not check with a mechanic/Comfortable/Old government used vehicle)

Hope that you would give an answer.

 

 

 

Before anything...please make sure that it is an actual Hilux Surf. 

1988 could either mean a 1st gen Hilux Surf (N60 series) OR a 2nd gen Hilux Surf (N130 series).

Only a VERY few N60 series came to SL. Like a handful. But there were people who stuck Hilux Surf bodies on standard Hilux pickup truck chassis. You don't want one of those. These came only in 2 door form.
The 2nd gen (N130 series) came out in late 1988. A few were imported but there are also quite a few locally assembled ones (by Emperor) around. These came in 2 and 4 door form. Considering the background you have mentioned I am assuming it is a N130 series.
 

Now..answering your questions.

1. The N60 series came with either a 2.4L diesel engine or a 2L petrol engine. Later on they added a 2.4L turbo diesel engine. The N130 series came with a 3L V6 petrol, 2.4L turbo diesel or a 2.8L non-turbo diesel engine. Later on they replaced the 2.4L turbo diesel with a 3L turbo diesel engine. The car you are looking at is too old to have this engine.  These engines were low on power but the diesels had more torque. But considering the lightness of the body of either series the vehicle felt pretty nippy.

Now...fuel economy...when new the diesel would give about 9kmpl on average and the petrol around 7 (at the very most). Now...these cars are 35+ years old, and components have worn out, engines rebuilt, etc...so you would probably get much lower than in reality, depending on the condition. The second generation (N130 series) had similar engines but with slight improvement in power. The fuel economy will be around the same.

2. & 3. Maintenance Cost, reliability, etc...

You are looking at a 35+ year old car. All of these things you ask are dependent on the condition of the car. When new, and those that have been preserved in factory shape remain reliable workhorses. Chances you would find one of these, especially a 1st gen one, is nearly next to impossible. Just because it looks good, do not assume that just because it looks nice and clean it is actually in good running order (things might be pretty bad but looks good because of the new paint job). Even if maintained properly, engines, gearboxes, etc.. wear out. Engine, transmission and suspension wise it would not be difficult to maintain as the parts are shared with the Hiluxes of the period and parts are fairly common and simple by design. However, body parts are hard to find. Especially for N60 series.

4. Reported issues

Rust...rust was an issue. So check for rust not just on the surface but the inner frame and chassis as well. Being this old the car would have been fixed quite a few times. Make sure that the fixes are proper fixes and not just quick coverups using putty/catloy.

Suspension...to make the car more road friendly (i.e. comfortable) they softened up the rear suspension on the N130 series Surf. This resulted in the rear-end of the vehicle sagging. Being this old the vehicle probably doesn't have the poor old suspension but different suspension that would have sorted this out. The N60 series did't have this issue.

The N130 series had a reputation for cracking its head. Mainly because of poor cooling the engine would heat up and crack the head. This was mostly with the diesel turbos. These might have been fixed over time, but you still need to keep an eye out for this. The car just needs to be driven gently and not put under unnecessary stress. There are plenty of Hiluxes around with the same engine are running around being trusty workhorses with head cracking not being an issue. You just need to know how to use the car (but being a Hilux underneath even with a cracked head I wouldn't be surprised if the car keeps running). 

The next is electricals...it is a 35+ year old car. Electricals can go wrong.

Not to sound rude...but....if fuel economy is a concern, you need to ask yourself if you want to get a SUV. Especially one that is going to require some effort/diligence to take care of, especially when it comes to things like the body (even if you break a light, it is going to be challenging to find a replacement). 

 

[DARA]

On 7/1/2024 at 7:53 PM, iRage said:

Before anything...please make sure that it is an actual Hilux Surf. 

1988 could either mean a 1st gen Hilux Surf (N60 series) OR a 2nd gen Hilux Surf (N130 series).

Only a VERY few N60 series came to SL. Like a handful. But there were people who stuck Hilux Surf bodies on standard Hilux pickup truck chassis. You don't want one of those. These came only in 2 door form.
The 2nd gen (N130 series) came out in late 1988. A few were imported but there are also quite a few locally assembled ones (by Emperor) around. These came in 2 and 4 door form. Considering the background you have mentioned I am assuming it is a N130 series.
 

Now..answering your questions.

1. The N60 series came with either a 2.4L diesel engine or a 2L petrol engine. Later on they added a 2.4L turbo diesel engine. The N130 series came with a 3L V6 petrol, 2.4L turbo diesel or a 2.8L non-turbo diesel engine. Later on they replaced the 2.4L turbo diesel with a 3L turbo diesel engine. The car you are looking at is too old to have this engine.  These engines were low on power but the diesels had more torque. But considering the lightness of the body of either series the vehicle felt pretty nippy.

Now...fuel economy...when new the diesel would give about 9kmpl on average and the petrol around 7 (at the very most). Now...these cars are 35+ years old, and components have worn out, engines rebuilt, etc...so you would probably get much lower than in reality, depending on the condition. The second generation (N130 series) had similar engines but with slight improvement in power. The fuel economy will be around the same.

2. & 3. Maintenance Cost, reliability, etc...

You are looking at a 35+ year old car. All of these things you ask are dependent on the condition of the car. When new, and those that have been preserved in factory shape remain reliable workhorses. Chances you would find one of these, especially a 1st gen one, is nearly next to impossible. Just because it looks good, do not assume that just because it looks nice and clean it is actually in good running order (things might be pretty bad but looks good because of the new paint job). Even if maintained properly, engines, gearboxes, etc.. wear out. Engine, transmission and suspension wise it would not be difficult to maintain as the parts are shared with the Hiluxes of the period and parts are fairly common and simple by design. However, body parts are hard to find. Especially for N60 series.

4. Reported issues

Rust...rust was an issue. So check for rust not just on the surface but the inner frame and chassis as well. Being this old the car would have been fixed quite a few times. Make sure that the fixes are proper fixes and not just quick coverups using putty/catloy.

Suspension...to make the car more road friendly (i.e. comfortable) they softened up the rear suspension on the N130 series Surf. This resulted in the rear-end of the vehicle sagging. Being this old the vehicle probably doesn't have the poor old suspension but different suspension that would have sorted this out. The N60 series did't have this issue.

The N130 series had a reputation for cracking its head. Mainly because of poor cooling the engine would heat up and crack the head. This was mostly with the diesel turbos. These might have been fixed over time, but you still need to keep an eye out for this. The car just needs to be driven gently and not put under unnecessary stress. There are plenty of Hiluxes around with the same engine are running around being trusty workhorses with head cracking not being an issue. You just need to know how to use the car (but being a Hilux underneath even with a cracked head I wouldn't be surprised if the car keeps running). 

The next is electricals...it is a 35+ year old car. Electricals can go wrong.

Not to sound rude...but....if fuel economy is a concern, you need to ask yourself if you want to get a SUV. Especially one that is going to require some effort/diligence to take care of, especially when it comes to things like the body (even if you break a light, it is going to be challenging to find a replacement). 

 

Dear friend,

Thanks a lot for your lengthy answer and it was included all the neccessary information.Thank you verymuch.