Gidday lads, currently looking to buy a 4x4, i've been looking at older prados and surfs is there any difference? what would you say is better? or is there something around 10-20k i should perhaps be spending my money on instead?
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Gidday lads, currently looking to buy a 4x4, i've been looking at older prados and surfs is there any difference? what would you say is better? or is there something around 10-20k i should perhaps be spending my money on instead?
Surfs built on a Hilux chassis so rear leaves. Maybe more robust.
Prados have coils alround. Better ride. You should be able to get a 3.0 d4d 120 series for mid to late teens. With a 2.0 inch lift and decent tyres a Prado is pretty capable off road and comfortable on it.
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Surfs have coil rear.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dicko
When you say older prado are you about the 90 series prado or the 78 series prado with the solid front axle?
hey mate talking about the 90 series prado, cheers
Surf have better transfer case than prado.
My Prado (1996) was 4 wheel drive all the time.
Is the Surf the same?
To be honest...I'd like my old Prado back again...it really was a minter even though a 1996 model.
@jobasa
The two vehicles have completely different drivetrains.
The Surf is part-time 4WD with selectable high and low range 4WD through a transfer case.
The 90 series Prado is full-time 4WD with a lockable centre differential. Depending on model, it may or may not have a locking rear differential.
You need to thoroughly research what all this means because it fundamentally changes the way the vehicle drives and how you use it. There are lots of comparison articles and threads all over the Internet and equally lots of good YouTube videos that will explain the different drivetrains.
Essentially what you’re looking at is the Surf is a four-wheel-drive that is used as a regular two wheel drive 95% of the time, the Prado is a “proper” 4WD that has some additional tricks depending on specification that makes it far more effective off-road in the difficult stuff.
Happy researching.
prado over a surf imo. unless its a older surf with solid front and rear! I had a 80 series cruiser for about 8 years, then sold it as it felt too old. brought the same year patrol, and everything feels so much newer.
also make sure thery both have the 1kz motor, and not thrashed or ever been cooked.
I bought a 1996 disco 1. solid axle front and rear, coils, disc brakes. Paid $6k and its pretty nice, good condition. Just posted a photo of it stuck, in the here and now thread. Needs new tyres and it will be a good wee truck. half the price of any similar spec toyota but all your toyota friends will think you're gay
Plus the non toyota ones :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad S
And people who arnt his friendQuote:
Originally Posted by blip
If you are looking at a 185 Surf vs a 90 Prado then cambo is right, the surf has the better transfer box.
That is the only difference driveline wise between the two, other than rear disc brakes on the Prado.
Surf is 5 seat and Prado has the option of 8 seats, they are both terrible for chewing out lower balljoints if you dont use genuine toyota ones. They are hard on lower control arm bushes and rack mounts.
Chassis rust around the rear control arm mounting is another thing to check for.
Prado is a safer drive on the road - better handling and road holding
The later surfs, RZN185 and KZN185 both used a Prado chassis, prior to that it was a hilux chassis.
I had both a 2.7L petrol and the 3L turbo surf, I found both nice to drive. Both of thier first wof's cost me $1200 or so because all the suspension bushings had worn out. Also discovered after I brought the 3L diesel one that it had a switch installed so the 195,000km it had on the clock was wishful thinking
Bloody legends thanks fellas
over the moon with my 96 surf, the way i looked at it is generally the surfs cost a little bit less, have the same engine(kzn185 in my case) with less electronics, you could say the prado has the better body i still like the surf, keep in mind im not a mechanic i just drive the thing
Liked the fact I could fold down the rear seats and sleep in the back of my old surf,not enough room in the tray of the ranger for a comfy stretch out on the quick overnighters.
Well I was considering this group of vehicles with a hilux included but in the petrol V6 versions.
Whilst looking I've noticed diesel Surfs are fecking dear. Same model surf vs the prado and its more expensive usually.
As for petrol bugger all 4.0 surfs, a miniscule higher percentage of hiluxs usually with plenty thousand ks.
But quite a few Prados.
Would prefer the hilux over the surf ute wise but the surf has way better suspension than lux.
Surf is more road oriented than the prado and slightly better on fuel as its not a full time 4wd.
Not gonna happen for a bit as money is starting to get tight again after the mortgage went up.
Ah well
thanks boys, i have been looking at this one here https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/c...ing/4275513008 will see how we go
just make sure it hasn't been a boat launcher..
oh right cool will do
Don't!Quote:
Originally Posted by jobasa
It's a non intercooler 130. And waaaaay overpriced.
Look for kzn185 intercooled surf if you're looking at surfs.
there's a few 1995 180s around but not many. like cambo said, thats quite a bit for a 130.
I was tossing up surf vs prado as well. have driven mate's surfs a lot so knew how they feel. prados had a nice ride but all felt heavy. surf is easier to sleep in the back of. if you hold on to it for a long time, i reckon surfs will be a bit more a classic and collectable than the prados.
i wanted to keep mine pretty standard so stayed away from the lifted, snorkled ones out there, also lots of them have real sus amount of kms and will have switches. things to look out for:
- try to avoid sunroof: they generally dont work, leak, and result in rust
- get it checked by someone who knows what they're doing. lots of them drive well but the turbos are buggered, 4wd occasionally has issues, or there's something else going on. generally if you can find any excess oil in the engine bay, thats not ideal (though can also be pretty benign too)
- check the roof rails for bubbling paint. if it's bad it'll be a couple grand to get sorted. the bolts will be rusted in so you could try to take them off but you might break something which will be annoying for you and the seller.
- they all need bushings replaced, steering racks done in the 250/300k mark. if that's done already that's a bonus.
here's a good list of things to check too: https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....sel-4x4-17430/
okay cool i may have to adjust my expectations here haha, is there an amount of kms that would make you lads go shy? i was kinda looking for something that had already had head work done with reasonably lowish kms
Yeah something like this you lads would reccomend? https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/c...ing/4287961941
Never trust a Toyota speedo
Just gonna throw this out there , for half the price u can get a pajero...
The Pajero mods from around 2003 with the 3.2 Di motor are crackers. Auto preferred.
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Never trust any diesel speedo in NZ, better to judge milage by the gear knob and steering wheel (and drivers seat), seen plenty of shiny smooth ones on "150,000km" cars.Quote:
Originally Posted by longrange308
@Dicko as long as you get to around the 2006 mark and get away from the hybrid electric/manual fuel pump. They have an onboard ecu and aren't very robust.
May only get 100000k out of them and cost 5-6k to rebuild. After 2006 they went to a more normal ecu in the body loom
Ive had a few of both. If you go the 1kz just do your research on head life theyre about 200k ish then time for a new one. I think all the prados are intercooled but the surfs are not and youd be well advised to stick to the intercooled model. I had the 3.4 v6 too and while its a pig if you have a heavy right foot . I could get 500kms a tank (80 litre) driving like a tosser but i could get 650-700 if i stayed 90 and below. Plenty of pep and low down grunt and super reliable. If you get an older surf dont touch the old 3.0 v6 petrol theyre terrible. My pick of the motors would be the 2.7 3rz petrol bullet proof and not too thirsty . Youre never going to get the same performance as the 1kz but they are pretty easy to turbo if you want more stick. I prefer the prado more room especially in the back seats and for a heavy pig they go some insane places with minimal mods. They take 16 inch rims to clear the brakes so youre standard 15s wont cut it but 16s are easy to find decent tires for these days. 15 years ago you were paying premiums for 16s if you cluld find them. Im not a mechanic or an expert theres are just my experience with them. Im actually looking at the 95 series for a full blown tourer/all rounder build right now.
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What about a Isuzu bighorn. There is the odd older but very tidy one that pops up. Solid motors. Very good off road. Not as cool as a Toyota but potentially easier to find an unmolested one. Put some decent wheels and tyres and a snorkel if the floats your boat and your away.
The big horns are fine same as the wizards basically. They do have injector fuel line issues to watch out for the autos are notoriously hard to service so most people dont. And they are torsion bar front so limited for suspension upgrades. Ajd for what people are asking for them now is not far removed from the surf prado market. There are a bunch of 90s 4x4s that will fill thos box. The pajeros are another option some of them have front and rear lockers and for the most part offer decent reliable motors.
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My father in law had a 3.2 Pajero over in Aussie for years. Took it all over the top of Aussie towing a big caravan. Never had an issue with it. Reckons the 3.2 Pajero were the only 4wd that you never saw broken down in the boonies.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cartman