Stock #7143
Exterior Overview
There’s a lot to love about the 3rd generation Hilux Surf, and when you pair Toyota’s durable 2.7L drivetrain with a slick shifting manual gearbox, it delivers a driving experience that never seems to get old. Livening up the exterior on our 1998 model is a Cement Grey (1H5) paint job, refinished factory alloys, and a few choice factory options, like OEM rainguards, a rear tire carrier, and subtle rear privacy tint. Save for a few paint chips, scuffs, and dings, this terrific truck is still easy on the eyes, and is a cut above most tired 4Runners roaming around our stateside shores. With only 104k verified/documented miles on the clock, this trusty Toyota is barely broken in, and has a long and fruitful life ahead of it on our stateside shores. Responsive, reliable, and built to outlast the competition, this Japanese Classic is the one to have.
Interior Overview
Much like the exterior, we champion the interiors of these trucks for being brilliant at the basics. Fortunately, this one includes everything you’d need out of a daily rig, like standard dual SRS airbags, a host of power amenities, and versatile and comfortable seating arrangements. The seats are trimmed in a durable tan cloth, and have withstood the past 25 years with no major battle scars other than some flattened foam on the drivers seat bottom and couple small burn holes. The dash is in equally good nick, save for some discoloration on the vinyl, there isn’t much to complain about. The lower dash trim shows well and features a functional American Sony radio upgrade with integrated Bluetooth tech. Below, an easy to use climate control unit resides with cold A/C and hot heat on tap. The rear bench can assume a few different configurations to maximize versatility in the cabin. The seats recline slightly, should your passengers need to catch a quick snooze on the road, and the assembly can fold fully forward to maximize hauling space in the rear. The carpets and headliner are no worse for the wear on this tan interior, and the driver additionally benefits from a tilt-adjustable steering column and lumbar adjustment to tailor the driving experience to their needs. Power windows, power mirrors, and power locks work as expected to make the daily driving experience a bit easier, and a factory field monitor displays clearly if you need to keep an eye on environmental conditions as you explore. Even the rear glass is power retractable if you wish to provide some extra ventilation to your four-legged friends in the rear. Overall, the cabin is in good condition for the age. Although the sunroof is inoperable, the rest of the equipment should serve the next owner well for years to come.
Mechanical Overview
Under the hood, the 3RZ-FE is the same durable unit found in our stateside 4Runners, which is great news for prospective buyers here in the USA. Servicing is simple, and our trained technicians have completed a thorough inspection of this 2.7l to ensure smooth operation for the road ahead. This economical four banger cranks right over and settles into a smooth idle. A fresh oil and filter service was performed to get you on track for future maintenance schedules, and we replaced the engine air filter so the 3RZ breathes freely. With the maintenance performed, this one shoots right up to speed and the 5 speed manual gearbox makes this one a treat to drive from light to light and also off the beaten path. A selective transfer case is easy to operate and an optional center locking differential can easily be engaged for any assistance on loose surfaces. The suspension glides over road imperfections large and small, and we installed new front lower control arms with new lower ball joints to keep things compliant on pavement. We also replaced the rear upper and lower control arms, which were starting to show some wear. The power steering needed some rehab, and we fully rebuilt the rack to shore up the system. New rack and pinion seals were installed by our trained technicians, and we reassembled the unit with new inner and outer tie rods, steering rack boots, and rack bushings. We also flushed in some fresh power steering fluid for good measure. The ABS brakes bite hard when called upon and this Surf seems incredibly agile for what it is. The Falken all-terrains are in great shape, knee deep in tread, and to keep you tracking straight, we’ve polished things off with a fresh alignment!
*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.
