buying a hilux? need advise

NOLAW · Post by **NOLAW** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:12 am

hey guys, im looking into getting a new daily but i want to be able to use it to tow my car (on a trailer) and be able to load stuff onto it, making a ute my ideal option, thing is i dont have a huge budget and i want something post 1990 model

i found this ute and i quite like it but i need some advise, what do you guys think, are the ks too high? will it be suitable for towing? (if i is raised back up) any help would be much apprecited

cheers

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =197713007

skoty · Post by **skoty** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:29 pm

No such thing as high km on a hilux

Besides that I would suggest a diesel over a petrol for towing plus fuel economy eh.

Lloyd · Post by **Lloyd** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:35 pm

There are high kms on petrol ones, the diesels tend to go forever. Looking at that, its high kms for a petrol one, the guy said its developing a miss and its been f*cked with. I'd stay away

If you're wanting a daily you basically want cheap to run and reliable right? A diesel one would be perfect, though it depends how far you want to stretch the budget.

How much have you got to spend?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 323716.htm

NOLAW · Post by **NOLAW** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:45 pm

at this stage i only want to spend around the 3-3500 area, maybe in a few months id spend a bit more but really after one soon as my current car is due to be sold and is a bit unpractical for the things i need it for :roll:

fangsport · Post by **fangsport** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 5:27 pm

offer him $2500 for the primered one.
2.4 petrols go alright, but you really want the RZ motor, not the Y motor.
would pull better than a lazy old 2.4 diesil

Truenotch · Post by **Truenotch** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:42 pm

2.4 petrol will still suck for towing, my 2L petrol is average as. Wouldn't be keen to tow up hills or anything with it. But has done 299,000KM and never misses a beat.

Find a cheap one for $500 and spend the rest on a 1UZFE conversion. Or look out for a 2.4 diesel one.

Dazed&Confused · Post by **Dazed&Confused** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:46 am

I heard the 2.4 diesels eat heads like no tomorrow

edwagon · Post by **edwagon** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:41 pm

The 2l-t engines in the surfs do, and the 3l, but I thought the na 2l engines that come in the 2wd luxes are ok - could be wrong tho?

Snaps · Post by **Snaps** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:28 pm

Why specifically a Hilux? Or would you go for something else.

My dad used to have two 3L Turbo Diesel Toyota Hiace Vans, one converted to be a work van (i.e. flat tray in the back with seats taken out). They got absolutely thrashed but were still going strong when we sold them, both around the 170,000km mark.

THA SHZ · Post by **THA SHZ** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:29 am

the 2 lt engines only eat heads from poor maintenance practices , they are actually a strong engine and you can buy brand new kiwi made heads for cheap

they would tow a battleship , albeit they would just do it terribly slow but would get there .

fangsport · Post by **fangsport** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:15 pm

THA SHZ wrote:the 2 lt engines only eat heads from poor maintenance practices , they are actually a strong engine and you can buy brand new kiwi made heads for cheap they would tow a battleship , albeit they would just do it terribly slow but would get there .

thank you. but i bet that comment won't stop the now-it-alls from claiming they eats heads.

THA SHZ · Post by **THA SHZ** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:38 pm

haha gotta love the know it all internet mechanics :lol:

Post by **Mr Revhead** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 5:41 pm

have they improved those nz heads yet? about 3-4 years ago they were worse than a 10 year old import head!

if the cooling system has been looked after then they shouldnt crack heads.

OMG so shiny! · Post by **Dell'Orto** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:40 pm

One of my customers wont use a new cylinder head from Kiwi unless they send him a few to cut up and test...he uses them, so they cant be all bad

THA SHZ · Post by **THA SHZ** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:04 am

Mr Revhead wrote:have they improved those nz heads yet? about 3-4 years ago they were worse than a 10 year old import head!

if the cooling system has been looked after then they shouldnt crack heads.

Yeah the nz heads are better now , like anything gets better with time , but it still better off to just look after the head you have and wouldnt need to

FULLOC · Post by **FULLOC** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:49 am

i got a 2L (2.4 NA) hilux with 445000 on it not too long ago and its f-ing mint! was a company car so has been diamond serviced by the local mitsi(wtf?) dealer all its life. never misses a beat.
iv had nissan and mitsi diesels and i prefer this. 40 bux to fill at the moment does over 500kms

oooh yeah