Vehicle & Technical > Toyota

Green ovel to Toyota but which one....

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Smego:
Hello Toyota people, well I have just sold my Range Rover and am looking to go Toyota in the future (not yet so I DON'T want to buy yours  
BUT WHICH ONE:
The reason and thoughts /requirements below...
Range Rover was amazing in the mud but slow and tedious on-road AND kept having silly breakdowns, oil leak, wheel bearings, diffs, electrical issues, breaking belt bearings the list goes on...and I only do less than 3k a year and only at week-ends...I don't repair much myself always a 4x4 specialist...
I need a truck I would be happy to use to do a 500mile round trip with the kids - economy is not an issue so V8 not a prob.
want towing ability for the future AND some off-road ability as this is really a fun truck so want to be able to go to play days with and join in too + want green laning ability. truck will probably live on M/T's and have winch/protection underneath insides will be keep immaculate as was with my Rangie.
budget about 4.5k
So on the list are 3 trucks, sorry I don't know the series numbers but
1, LC amazon VX - V8 (all round diff locks) - the hearts choice (heard TD's blow gaskets and then need 2k in repair??
2, Surf ssx-g 3rd gen3.0l, Heads choice
3, 3ld LC Colorado

for and against
option 1 Amazon
for - massive 8 seats (handy 3 kids + grands on a day out) massive fun V8 power great off-road - diff locks
Against: Are they any good in green lanes and events or just TOO big to maneuver? only afford 140K miles + one heard TD's have weak head gaskets? Can the V8 wade or is it a bad as a LR for dieing in a puddle?

Option 2: Surf, great on-road nice to drive well specced cheapish to buy.
like the looks
against, well are they any good off-road, will be the permanent 4x4 with centre diff lock and I think has older LC style suspension, will it just get stuck all the time?? anyone really off-road one?

Option 3 the wildcard,
for: smaller than amazon, still has 7/8(?) seats, lots of them out there.
against? again is it any good off road, - same concerns as I have for the surf... I have heard the 3.0 TD engines are unreliable? - have added this version to my list as if it is any good it actually ticks more boxes...??

Sorry if I am boring anyone I know all of these are going to make my old rangie look feel like a dog, but I just want a truck I can go and follow my mates in their defenders while I am in 'comfort' with out worrying if I can still drive home, then after a wash-down, Mum and kids will be happy to drive for a couple of hours in it to go camping.
Any other advise, things I have not considered please add!!

Thank you I look forward to driving to some Toyota meets!!

Silvery Thing:
1. A very nice car but expensive to run
2. Good car, plenty around and cheaper, so why not buy it!
3. D4-D engine very reliable. If you have to question whether it is good off road then you don't know the Land Cruiser :?
4. Engine can let you down if not properly maintained. More expensive to run than options 2 & 3 but less than 1.

If you want a good all rounder with plenty of seats and decent running costs then go for option 3. It is good on the road and the LC off-road ability is terrific, if you don't believe me then take a look at what is used in Africa and what cars the UN use the world over.

Woodzie:
I can only advise on surfs .....The 2.4 ain't bad BUT has a head problem

The 3 ltr second gens are better and still have the look of the 2.4
The third gens (we call them haidressers cars ) have the 3.0 ltr engine and coil sprung all round

All can be lifted without too much problem

For more surf information

http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk
http://www.showmesome.info/hilux/info/
http://www.yotatech.com/forumindex.php
http://forums.bauchan.org/portal/downloads.php
http://www.4x4toys.co.uk/
http://www.toyotasurf.asn.au/


Oh and for off road

Team Landzuki:
We chose the LC Colorado over the surf because it was £150 less on insurance.

Smego:
Did you off-raod it, or just turn it into an SJ?

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