Buying A Surf - Advice Please

[Nick V]

Hi Folks, as a newbie to this forum I am looking for some pointers to buying a Surf. So far have been advised to buy a 3.0 diesel version and I have looked at quite a few. Have seen lots of really clean examples for around £6-7k and at the mo do not want to spend much more. I know that this will not buy the facelift model - I prefer the look of the earlier one B)

Some of the ones I have looked at have been really tatty and yet others that are cheaper have been really clean and tidy.

Any pointers as to what to look for would be gratefully received,

Cheers, Nick.

[JimL]

You are talking about buying a 2nd gen (89-95).

The 2nd gen was available in both 3.0 and 2.4 from 92 to 95.

The 2nd gen was facelifted in 92.

...so I dont see how you are gonna get a 3.0 ltr without a facelifted model.

A few tricks to try in this order (in addition to mechanical checks)

1. Try to roll down the back window before you start the engine. It'll probably be sluggish and you can give a big frown saying the motors knackered and/or the relays too and maybe the Battery isnt up to it...

2. Start her up as soon as the glow plug light goes out on the dash coz it actually goes out too soon and will be a little harder to start, frown again

3. When taking it for a spin be sure to turn at full lock at some stage coz you'll no doubt hear a nasty grind of metal to metal (frown) which is due to a simple plastic bushing on the full-steer bump stops wearing away.

4. Dont listen to any sales talk about Satnav systems coz these are useless unless you're commuting to Japan

[Nick V]

Hi Jim, thanks for the reply. Slight misuse of words, I meant the next model that came in '96.

I have now put a deposit on a 95 3.0 SSR X and will be collecting it in a couple of weeks. It's already here - I've been in it - and is being prepped by the bloke selling it to me. Having said that, it's a very clean example, and I can wait to get it,

Cheers, Nick. B)