Hmmm! I'm feeling a little lonely here!
Just became the proud owner of a 4th generation Hilux Surf (US 4Runner). I estimate there are only about 10 in the whole of New Zealand. Since the mid-90's, Toyota New Zealand has only imported the Surf as a second hand or used vehicle from Japan, although the rest of the Hilux range are imported new!
I was looking for a 4WD with true off-road capabilities - when I saw the Surf described in a local 4WD magazine, I love the shape (although I am sure Toyota will ruin it over the coming years) I love the high lift rear door and the spare wheel hidden away underneath (can't stand vehicles with the spare wheel hanging off the back it may have been OK during WW2 but not now) and think the size is about right - not too big, not too small!
Surfs are extremely popular here in NZ and are probably the most common 4WD on the roads, many date back to the late 80's and some are highly modified. There is a thriving used Japanese vehicle import business here, with many high specification vehicles being brought in. Toyota New Zealand has also got in on the act and imports Toyota models which are not sold new here. The very best of these are given a thorough check, and the odometer reading is verified and they are sold as Toyota Signature Class vehicles!
My Surf is a top specified SSR-G model (Signature Class) - VZN215-0001188 (Hey! that's 1188th off the Japanese assembly line). It's a November 2002 build and was presumably used as a demonstrator vehicle in Japan for 2 years before being shipped to NZ with only 9631 Km on the odometer! Toyota are treating it almost as a new vehicle and it comes with a 3 year unlimited kilometres warranty! It is in immaculate condition, just looks new - even smells new!
The reason there are so few 4th generation Surfs here in NZ is of course that they are only just starting to become available as used vehicles in Japan, the numbers should start to mushroom over the next year or so though! Pity the plight of our poor Australian cousins, however, they also do not get the Surf as a new vehicle and the government there has introduced all sorts of restrictions on the import of used vehicles, so they will probably never see the 4th generation model.
I'm very impressed with this forum and I have already down loaded information on the location of the inverter and how to remove the left rear panel (my inverter is 100VAC with a Japanese socket - need to replace it with a 230VAC inverter). I have also found out how to dismantle the centre console to get at the Head Unit. This unit has a motorised touch screen with CD, AM-FM, TV, Sat. NAV, and Backing Camera, and other things, I still havn't sorted it out because much is in Japanese. I will try to contact the guys in the 215 club about this little baby, hopefully I won't need to pull it out
Many thanks, Ken