Stock #6488
The Surf is a killer daily driver, good on fuel, fun to putt about town, and equipped with sturdy 4WD for when things get down and dirty
Exterior Overview
A Diesel Hilux Surf is a wonderful thing. It’s built on a tough and proven chassis, backed by the best engine we never got here in the states, and shares oodles of parts with domestic 4Runners, making serviceability a snap. Our 1997 SSR-X is a strong unit, finished in Desert Dune metallic (1A5) and boasting a scant 119k miles on the clock, which is barely broken in for a diesel Toyota. It also sports some desirable optional equipment, including a spare tire swingarm, and OEM rainguards. Rolling on aftermarket 16″ alloys, the refinished rolling stock looks great wrapped in new 32″ Falkens to boot. Save for some light paint imperfections the finish is in good shape overall, and it’s clear this super Surf was well cared for during prior Japanese ownership. The Surf is a killer daily driver, good on fuel, fun to putt about town, and equipped with sturdy 4WD for when things get down and dirty. Taking all of the above into consideration, it’s easy to see why we’d dub it a Japanese Classic!
Interior Overview
If you’ve ever set foot in a USDM 3rd gen 4Runner, you’ll notice it hardly holds a candle to the cabin condition of this Surf! In America, we use our trucks like trucks and it shows, but this moon mist fashioned KZN185 interior has resisted any major wear and tear on the upholstery. The gray vinyl dash is also free of excessive damage besides some peeling around the glovebox, and it houses dual SRS airbags to keep both front occupants safe. Cabin comfort is also a priority, thanks to automatic climate control, which is primed and ready with piping hot heat for the winter ahead. Cold A/C is also on hand for warm climate dwellers, and the driver can feel free to unfurl the power rear window to let in a natural breeze instead. Additionally, all other power windows are operable, as are the locks and side mirrors. To soundtrack your drive, Pioneer audio is handy and sounds decent overall despite being a bit dated. The rear seats are versatile, and recline slightly if your passengers need to catch a quick snooze. They also create a flat loading surface if you need to expand the cargo hold in the rear. Overall, it’s hard to pick apart the condition of this cabin. There’s some typical wear to the touch points, and a couple holes in the center stack from a prior accessory mount, but aside from these minor defects this 3rd generation really impresses as a whole!
Mechanical Overview
You can scroll through our customer reviews, or ask any Surf owner, the 1KZ-TE under the hood is the bees knees and we love servicing these turbodiesel four bangers! To shore this one up for the road ahead, a new 12v battery was installed to aid ignition, and a fresh oil and filter service was performed to help the 3.0 chug along smoothly at idle. We also changed out the engine air filter and fuel filter to keep the 1K clean and free of unwanted contaminants. After that basic tune up, it was ready to pound some pavement, and with the maintenance performed the turbodiesel roars up to highway speeds with ease. Shifts are handled by a durable automatic gearbox, which sends power through a selective transfercase, where both 2WD and 4WD are easily accessible. For true off-roaders, a center locking differential is on hand, and you can even slip into 4WD low to trudge through a blizzard. Bolstering the suspension, we installed new upper control arms in the rear, as well as lower shock bushings and front swaybar links to increase responsiveness. This lovely Surf starts, steers, and stops on a dime, with new front pads and rotors beefing up the ABS system. Handsome on tarmac and functional off it, brand new Falken A/T tires were mounted on the multipiece 16’s to keep you full of traction for the road ahead!
*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB compliant first. CARB certifications will have to be performed within the state. Depending on the vehicle and any existing modifications will affect the pricing. Typically CARB compliance will range between 5-10K. Additional information can be found on the California Air Resources Board website.
