Seabreezers, I'm thinking about importing a Hilux Surf to Australia. I like the dual cab Hilux but prefer the interior space that the Surf offers over a fixed canopy. The second market is flooded with Hilux's but they seem to have a high asking price even when they have high Kms. I think the Surf version is more practical, plus you could sleep in the back should you need/want to.

I've seen a few agents offering 09/08 models from Japan with under 100,000k's, including import costs to Freo for around $20k AUD (more or less depending on exchange) to me this sounds almost too good to be true as people in Aus are asking $30+k for an equivalent Hilux. I've seen pre 97 Surf models for sale online in AUs with 250-300,000km for around $10k but think they might carry a few too many mechanical issues at that age to be worth the money

Has anyone got any experience with importing cars that they can share? What additional taxes do i need to pay? (I’ve had a look at car forums but most posts seem dated and not sure if they are still relevant).

Obviously not being able to test drive it is an issue but given the large number of Hilux's we have in Aus spares shouldn’t be a real issue should there be any problems? Any reasons for/against a Hilux?

Cheers, Dave

The hilux surf is notorious for blowing head gaskets. At least the 90s models are. Don't know about the new ones.
Something worth considering.

I did have a 92 diesel surf import that seized not long after I bought it. Later on a mechanic that deals in imports told me that although in great condition , Jap imports are driven hard and not serviced. Then sold for export. Need to see service history.
I have a 96 diesel hilux now, not a import . Full service history until I bought it and now gets a service every 5000km . Rock solid. 250000km and no issues. Touch wood!

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Seacht said..
Jap imports are driven hard and not serviced. Then sold for export. Need to see service history!

I call BS on that, sorry... most likely, they've spent 80% of their running time sitting at traffic lights. 99% of SUVs are urban poser wagons that only see mud when they're driven into a paddy field by mistake.

Most people here buy their cars new, from the appropriate dealer. This gets them a few additional years break on the J-version of "rego and WOF". When that rolls around again, they take it to the dealer for a good reaming on all servicing details. After the car becomes a certain age, this comes around every 2 years and becomes uneconomical... so the car gets "traded in" and you buy a new one. Dealer either pays a pittance for the car, or the owner pays $500 for the dealer to "dump" it and thats when the car ends up in the secone hand market...

... dealers usually off-load them at the auctions, where the exporters and local used car salesmen snap them up for a song.

$20k sounds retarded expensive to me, but it depends on the year you're after and SUVs are pricey, I guess. My 2002 Toyota Voxy was $5,000 when I got it 4 years ago, delivered to my door, 84,000 km... now 120k and all I've had to do so far was the air con compressor. Buddy exported a sedan to NZ for about $1,000...

There are webpages here to get people going to auctions on your behalf... If you did it that way, you'd save money but waste time.

look at a space cab ute thats what i have with a canopy ! best of both worlds, plus the smelly west stuff stays in the back too

Research the Surfs. Undersized radiators from memory so the cooling system is stressed in warm climates (I think).

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ikw777 said..
Research the Surfs. Undersized radiators from memory so the cooling system is stressed in warm climates (I think).

i've heard the cooling issues on some early 90's models, not sure how relevant this is with the newer ones, i'm assuming the Hilux's of the time had the same problem?

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ok said..
look at a space cab ute thats what i have with a canopy ! best of both worlds, plus the smelly west stuff stays in the back too

Do you mean the hard top canopy some Utes have? I'd like it to be a dual cab car for when i'm doing city driving with passengers, i'm yet to see a dual cab that can fit a 6ft surfboard/human/mattress in the back.

I've seen it mentioned a few times that we can only import cars that are on the 'SEVS' register, apparently there is a list of cars that is allowed to be imported into Australia and the Hilux Surf is not on this list...does this mean thats the end of the story?

I've also seen that the vehicle has to come with all the original manufacturers components, if not they must be taken off during the compliance process (also an additional cost of around 3k)..new tyres for every car is another requirement amoung other weird inclusions. Does anyone have experience with importing a car who could comment about this?

Is it true imported cars attract significantly higher insurance premiums as well?

My triton fits a 6'4 surfboard in the tub without any issues.

Years ago i was looking to import a GTR through an import company here in Perth (prestige imports and they will be able to help you either way). The cost of the car was about 25K in Japan but landed and licensed it was looking more like 33-35K. Insurance was going to be $4900pa, too much for a 20y/o so i bought a wrx instead. Insurance was $2200 on a newer and more expensive car.

This time last year i looked at 2nd hand utes, new chinese and the usual DC utes but in December last year i settled on a new MY15 glx+ triton. 29k for a brand new 4wd ute with painted sports bar, fuel, floor mats, tint etc with 5 years warranty is hard to beat if you're already willing to spend 20k on a 10yo car with 100k kms.

hi green cherub

not to be divisive with a toyota v other car brand derailing of thread, but i reckon a nissan pathfinder fits your bill as well.
08/09 seems to be the last runs where they had the decent shape for multi purpose (mattress and boards in back, verses decent for city passengers etc), and seem to see them from 15-20k on car sales and in yards, depending on condition and all the trimmings etc. don't know why they are going for a soccer mum look with the car in newer versions, but looks less functional too. mits challenger has gone to the bubbly look too.
i'm not clued in on pathfinder mechanical problems etc, i just put them in same boat as the hilux surf for my requirements, but wouldn't expect them to 4wd as well as a lux either. does anyone know why they don't make a surf type model anymore? **e sales??

i have done the same search over the past few months as i need to get a vehicle sometime may/june when work car time runs out - see-sawing over the price comparisons that MDSXR6T mentions above on whether to go new with full warranty, or 2nd hand and take the risk on maintenance. also whether i just spend 5k and get an old corolla wagon, and then spend 10k on surf trips next year instead

let us know how you go.
cheers maz

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Green Cherub said..

ikw777 said..
Research the Surfs. Undersized radiators from memory so the cooling system is stressed in warm climates (I think).

i've heard the cooling issues on some early 90's models, not sure how relevant this is with the newer ones, i'm assuming the Hilux's of the time had the same problem?

I could be wrong, but thought the Australian Hilux's had a different cooling system for our climate. I lived in NZ for a while and you can get all sorts of great imported s/h cars over there, but the NZ climate doesn't push them too hard (at all). Here, I think it is good to be aware that some imported s/h cars might have been built with different local adaptations, esp in regards to cooling. It's worth trying to find out.

Edit: You may have seen this forum but here it is anyway: www.toyotasurf.asn.au/forum/index.php?sid=fae951de048fc5b2b6c04014c6ff5145

I had a Camery that blew a head gasket, I thought I would be smart and replace the engine with a Jap import.

Came with a 1 month warrenty.

I think the engine cost me $1000. (Apparently 100k)

Two months later, I had another blown head gasket. Must have lost 5k on that crap lemon.

Even if you dont have the money, its cheaper to buy something quality. I'll never get that 5k back.

Have a look on website www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/20500.asp.
There is a section there which is all about the importation of vehicles.

Also when it comes to servicing/maintaining imported Toyota Surf ,you will often find it hard to get some parts as Toyota Australia wont have a correct parts listing for your Model.

My best mate bought an imported Surf. It was the king of duds as he actually had to have the motor rebuilt three times. Apparently the radiator is way too small to cope with the Australian heat.

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Seacht said..
Well maybe not driven hard as in off road but not serviced is definitely something that comes up again and again with jap imports.
Some hints and tips on what to look for here.
http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.html?&title=Japanese-Import-Problems&A=2706

Tosh. Your local dealers are selling you a line of crap to protect theit market. This a nation of anal retentive pedants; if you some sort of freak who can't be bothered and don't get your vehicle serviced on the due date, the dealer will literally come knocking on your door to make sure you get it there.

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japie said..
My best mate bought an imported Surf. It was the king of duds as he actually had to have the motor rebuilt three times. Apparently the radiator is way too small to cope with the Australian heat.

Once = Poor him
Twice= Silly him
Third time = Sucker. A set of thermo fans never came into question? or a larger radiator? .

Owned a 2.4t surf for years. Cooked it twice and head never warped, both times my fault due to lazyness.
The 3.0 litre turbo lights up 32's on the rear. My 2.4turbo could not pull skin of custard. Great cars, as mentioned just service service service.

Also most parts are everywhere, just tell them its a hilux or 4runner and the dealers/wreckers suddenly have it in stock.

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Kamikuza said..

Seacht said..
Well maybe not driven hard as in off road but not serviced is definitely something that comes up again and again with jap imports.
Some hints and tips on what to look for here.
http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.html?&title=Japanese-Import-Problems&A=2706

Tosh. Your local dealers are selling you a line of crap to protect theit market. This a nation of anal retentive pedants; if you some sort of freak who can't be bothered and don't get your vehicle serviced on the due date, the dealer will literally come knocking on your door to make sure you get it there.

The problem though is everyone buys imports with say 100K on them and wonders why they fail. The problem is the amount of time spent idling in traffic like you mentioned earlier. 100K on a Jap is more like what, 150K or 200K (?) on an aussie car.
That's why machinery has an "hours" indicator, not an odometer.

You can't make wear disappear by changing the oil lots.

Turbo's can be an issue if not on boost enough due to just dawdling in traffic in Nipponland, and the wastegate seizes. First time you open it up here you get overboost and cook it.

Then, some models will cost a fortune for parts unless you know what the part is for the equivalent aussie model. Google helps a bit there though. Not the Surf, more like with Delica etc

I think imports are not a bad thing but they're really for car-heads who know what they're getting, and are savvy enough to source info / own parts if needed if things break. Even then, a mate who is a head diesel mechanic had a Surf once, and won't ever again.......

+1
Another thing to remember is the Japanese use a higher sulphur content in their diesels, which won't mean much until you start using the lower content of Australian fuels. An overhaul kit for the fuel pump when it reaches our shores will mean the difference between getting a bill for $1600.00 for the fuel pump etc when the gaskets break down and run right through the fuel system, and trouble free (albeit slow) motoring.
Also take into account insurance, HBF is the only insurer that I could find to insure my Delica (grey import). And only at market value, not agreed value.

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youngbull said..

japie said..
My best mate bought an imported Surf. It was the king of duds as he actually had to have the motor rebuilt three times. Apparently the radiator is way too small to cope with the Australian heat.

Once = Poor him
Twice= Silly him
Third time = Sucker. A set of thermo fans never came into question? or a larger radiator? .

Owned a 2.4t surf for years. Cooked it twice and head never warped, both times my fault due to lazyness.
The 3.0 litre turbo lights up 32's on the rear. My 2.4turbo could not pull skin of custard. Great cars, as mentioned just service service service.

Also most parts are everywhere, just tell them its a hilux or 4runner and the dealers/wreckers suddenly have it in stock.

You have to know him to figure it out. Before he was diagnosed with diabetes it was a bottle of moonshine, 60 smokes and numerous cones a day

He's cut back on the bourbon and mixes his home made vodka with a diabetic cool drink.

Still on the 60 smokes a day and probably upped the cones!

Both people I know who owned Surfs had the head gaskets go.

My 4runner never missed a beat!

I bought a 94 3.0TD surf back in 2003 and never had any mechanical issues. First thing I did when I got it was to flush cooling system. Never had any overheating problems. The engine was the same as in australian prado so if parts were needed they would be easy to get. I put a 2 inch body lift, 2 inch suspension lift on it and 33inch muddies and it was a great offroad car. I then sold the car to my girlfriend's sister and her husband and they have modified it even more and drive it to this day with no issues at all. I would say I was pretty lucky though. I used to go offroad with a whole bunch of surf owners I met via www.toyotasurf.asn.au/ and many of them (especially 2.4ltr owners) did have overheating issues.

Overall, I think it's a great car and came with many options like recaro seats, sunroof, all electrics etc that the 4runners did not have.

OP, check out toyotasurf site - guys there know what they are talking about and can make a recommendation.

Here is a recent pic of what my old surf looks like now

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Mark _australia said..

Kamikuza said..

Seacht said..
Well maybe not driven hard as in off road but not serviced is definitely something that comes up again and again with jap imports.
Some hints and tips on what to look for here.
http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.html?&title=Japanese-Import-Problems&A=2706

Tosh. Your local dealers are selling you a line of crap to protect theit market. This a nation of anal retentive pedants; if you some sort of freak who can't be bothered and don't get your vehicle serviced on the due date, the dealer will literally come knocking on your door to make sure you get it there.

The problem though is everyone buys imports with say 100K on them and wonders why they fail. The problem is the amount of time spent idling in traffic like you mentioned earlier. 100K on a Jap is more like what, 150K or 200K (?) on an aussie car.
That's why machinery has an "hours" indicator, not an odometer.

You can't make wear disappear by changing the oil lots.

Turbo's can be an issue if not on boost enough due to just dawdling in traffic in Nipponland, and the wastegate seizes. First time you open it up here you get overboost and cook it.

Then, some models will cost a fortune for parts unless you know what the part is for the equivalent aussie model. Google helps a bit there though. Not the Surf, more like with Delica etc

I think imports are not a bad thing but they're really for car-heads who know what they're getting, and are savvy enough to source info / own parts if needed if things break. Even then, a mate who is a head diesel mechanic had a Surf once, and won't ever again.......

But it's only idling or doing 30kph, not spinning up the 32's or bashing through flooded creeks no wonder things fail!

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SpaceCoyote said..
I bought a 94 3.0TD surf back in 2003 and never had any mechanical issues. First thing I did when I got it was to flush cooling system. Never had any overheating problems. The engine was the same as in australian prado so if parts were needed they would be easy to get. I put a 2 inch body lift, 2 inch suspension lift on it and 33inch muddies and it was a great offroad car. I then sold the car to my girlfriend's sister and her husband and they have modified it even more and drive it to this day with no issues at all. I would say I was pretty lucky though. I used to go offroad with a whole bunch of surf owners I met via www.toyotasurf.asn.au/ and many of them (especially 2.4ltr owners) did have overheating issues.

Overall, I think it's a great car and came with many options like recaro seats, sunroof, all electrics etc that the 4runners did not have.

OP, check out toyotasurf site - guys there know what they are talking about and can make a recommendation.

Here is a recent pic of what my old surf looks like now

Its a pity that you cannot legally drive a modified vehicle like this anywhere on public roads.
All those mods make it a vehicle with absolutely NO insurance .
Don't hit me on the road , cos if you do I would have to take you to court to get any compensation.

This car has engineering certs for all mods and was inspected by VicRoads too.

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jeff2 said..

SpaceCoyote said..
I bought a 94 3.0TD surf back in 2003 and never had any mechanical issues. First thing I did when I got it was to flush cooling system. Never had any overheating problems. The engine was the same as in australian prado so if parts were needed they would be easy to get. I put a 2 inch body lift, 2 inch suspension lift on it and 33inch muddies and it was a great offroad car. I then sold the car to my girlfriend's sister and her husband and they have modified it even more and drive it to this day with no issues at all. I would say I was pretty lucky though. I used to go offroad with a whole bunch of surf owners I met via www.toyotasurf.asn.au/ and many of them (especially 2.4ltr owners) did have overheating issues.

Overall, I think it's a great car and came with many options like recaro seats, sunroof, all electrics etc that the 4runners did not have.

OP, check out toyotasurf site - guys there know what they are talking about and can make a recommendation.

Here is a recent pic of what my old surf looks like now

Its a pity that you cannot legally drive a modified vehicle like this anywhere on public roads.
All those mods make it a vehicle with absolutely NO insurance .
Don't hit me on the road , cos if you do I would have to take you to court to get any compensation.

Pffffffffffft compo.

Spent the last 10 years in Hokkaido, Northern Japan, i wouldn't touch one unless i knew where it come from.

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jeff2 said..

SpaceCoyote said..
I put a 2 inch body lift, 2 inch suspension lift on it and 33inch muddies and it was a great offroad car. I then sold the car to my girlfriend's sister and her husband and they have modified it even more

Its a pity that you cannot legally drive a modified vehicle like this anywhere on public roads.
All those mods make it a vehicle with absolutely NO insurance .
Don't hit me on the road , cos if you do I would have to take you to court to get any compensation.

"This car has engineering certs for all mods and was inspected by VicRoads too."



As long as your engineering certificates are still recognised you will be OK,

However - to build something similar today, that is road legal might be hard, [impossible?]

I am pretty sure that Australia wide there are now common regulations that apply to vehicle modifications - one being the total overall lift permitted is 50mm.
This can be a combination of tyre size, suspension lift and body lift - as long as the total does not exceed 50mm.

stephen

Oh the fun I had with my 1992 2.4L TD surf, replacing fuel pump seals, messing around with the thermo-fan, shredding timing belts, constantly watching the temp gauge, the list goes on. Great entertainment for my mates though who used to laugh and laugh. Best advice used to be keep the body and throw away the motor! Be interesting to know if much has changed.

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snot said..
Spent the last 10 years in Hokkaido, Northern Japan, i wouldn't touch one unless i knew where it come from.

Good point. That's a whole other place up there...

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Green Cherub said..
Seabreezers, I'm thinking about importing a Hilux Surf to Australia. I like the dual cab Hilux but prefer the interior space that the Surf offers over a fixed canopy. The second market is flooded with Hilux's but they seem to have a high asking price even when they have high Kms. I think the Surf version is more practical, plus you could sleep in the back should you need/want to.

I've seen a few agents offering 09/08 models from Japan with under 100,000k's, including import costs to Freo for around $20k AUD (more or less depending on exchange) to me this sounds almost too good to be true as people in Aus are asking $30+k for an equivalent Hilux. I've seen pre 97 Surf models for sale online in AUs with 250-300,000km for around $10k but think they might carry a few too many mechanical issues at that age to be worth the money

Has anyone got any experience with importing cars that they can share? What additional taxes do i need to pay? (I’ve had a look at car forums but most posts seem dated and not sure if they are still relevant).

Obviously not being able to test drive it is an issue but given the large number of Hilux's we have in Aus spares shouldn’t be a real issue should there be any problems? Any reasons for/against a Hilux?

Cheers, Dave

Just get a Mitsubishi Challenger. Cost less and goes great in standard form.

Has all the same seats and interior space.

Unless of corse you are a Die hard Toyota only buyer.

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jeff2 said..

SpaceCoyote said..
I bought a 94 3.0TD surf back in 2003 and never had any mechanical issues. First thing I did when I got it was to flush cooling system. Never had any overheating problems. The engine was the same as in australian prado so if parts were needed they would be easy to get. I put a 2 inch body lift, 2 inch suspension lift on it and 33inch muddies and it was a great offroad car. I then sold the car to my girlfriend's sister and her husband and they have modified it even more and drive it to this day with no issues at all. I would say I was pretty lucky though. I used to go offroad with a whole bunch of surf owners I met via www.toyotasurf.asn.au/ and many of them (especially 2.4ltr owners) did have overheating issues.

Overall, I think it's a great car and came with many options like recaro seats, sunroof, all electrics etc that the 4runners did not have.

OP, check out toyotasurf site - guys there know what they are talking about and can make a recommendation.

Here is a recent pic of what my old surf looks like now

Its a pity that you cannot legally drive a modified vehicle like this anywhere on public roads.
All those mods make it a vehicle with absolutely NO insurance .
Don't hit me on the road , cos if you do I would have to take you to court to get any compensation.

Well if you happen to be driving the Honda Civic parked behind you won't be taking him to court. The bumper bar on that body-lifted, suspension-lifted Surf will hit you right in in the earhole. How retarded is it that we have yet to sort out standardised bumper bar heights matched with door intrusion barriers for the vehicles used for suburban commuting?

Owned several surfs and 4runners....would never do it again.