there can be some problems with parts and insurance. make sure you check out the insurance as this has real $$ issue's especially for your first car. parks are just hard to source obviuosly.

the car themselves seem reliable though.

I had a surf for ten yerars apart from the clutch going i never had any major problems good car the turbo goes reel well on the beach. Parts are easy to come by as a few friends have had a few minor problems good luck with it all

rac insures surfs for same price as 4 runners etc
i would buy another surf in a heartbeat,

cheers guys much appriciated

Can be good cars. I have 3 close friends with Surfs and 2 have been great. One needed a gearbox which cost him more than the car. Then the electrics played up....Personally I wouldn't touch them but everyone has an opinion.
Rosco

I Know of a couple of people that have had em and it seems to be common for the head to crack once theyve done a few kms, if you can get one with a recent head replacment i think you will be on a winner. Ultimately toyotas will go forever if u look after em.

i have heard they can chew up the fuel, if you get one go for diesel not petrol, i did a fair bit of looking around and listened to what a lot of people said and finally settled on a navara, but everyone will say something different about all cars, just do your homework and if mechanical work has been done try to look at any paperwork they may have

i owned a 2.8 diesal forunner for a year and it was alright but lacked power off road - i bought a landcruiser with a 2h 6cylinder diesal and it was way better fishing car - thees room for every thing and they are a lot more comfortable to drive and are a stronger vechicle

"respect may authouratay"

a couple of my mates have ha them, if you are gonna get 1 get the 3litre turbo diesel, the problem with surfs is the parts are really expensive and the motors hard to work on compared to hilux and contrary to belif alot of the parts are different, also most mechanics put them in the too hard basket.  most of them came out with full electrics and these have all just about had it by now.  my mate couldnt sell his recently and had to trade in through a dealer for next to nothing, he had it on the market for 9 months.  watch the insurance with it being turbo and import $$$$$.  some of the problems he had was the aircon playing up non stop, elec windows stuffed, constant battery problems (they have 2), shorts in wiring, oil leaks from motor and gearbox

i personally went offroad alot with my mate oing the usual beach stuff and a few trips to mundaring. it had plenty of go but overheated whenever the sand got tough on the beach and the IFS seemed to creak and groan alot

imo get a GQ patrol they are a steal at the moment and so many to choose from, if you want something more economical go for a vitara or a normal hilux either way look at the quokka alot of people are unloading their fourbies

good luck

yer had a few mates who hav had surfs..

had alot probs with the 2.4L turbo.... but the 3L turbo goes alrite...

but i guess its like all cars... u gotta know the history.

i prefer the Nissan Terrano or Pathfinder for the first car.

Mate brought a  1990 Terrano for 7k and has conquered any hill, sand dune, and wateva stands in his way... I got a 96 Pathfinder n drives a mint...

but all the best for ur 1st car mate...

best way to get them cheaper for insurance if its ur first  car is insure it under ur parents and u as the second driver

cheers guys for all of the info much appriciated