Hilux surf

SilverRidgeRunner1

SilverRidgeRunner1

Member
Has anyone attempted the import of a Hilux surf going through the run down it seem pretty straight forward and the price would be right.

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https://www.cardealpage.com/toyota/hilux%20surf/18190018/?refkey=0372fd434a0d410f05f24acbb26f4698
 
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You can get it here, but you can’t register it unless it’s 25 years or older. Or unless you have a really large amount of disposable cash. There are ways you can try to get it passed by DOT, but it costs a ton. And there’s no guarantee that they’ll pass it. Which is why no one bothers to do it.
 
Hepar said:
You can get it here, but you can’t register it unless it’s 25 years or older. Or unless you have a really large amount of disposable cash. There are ways you can try to get it passed by DOT, but it costs a ton. And there’s no guarantee that they’ll pass it. Which is why no one bothers to do it.
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Yea that was the piece I was missing registering it. I was more interested in using it around the woods mainly but that makes sense. Then on the other hand I got some connection to :D
 
Hepar said:
You can get it here, but you can’t register it unless it’s 25 years or older. Or unless you have a really large amount of disposable cash. There are ways you can try to get it passed by DOT, but it costs a ton. And there’s no guarantee that they’ll pass it. Which is why no one bothers to do it.
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but... this has a 3rz in it and there are other surfs just like this one already registered in the states?

this is really just a 4runner right hand drive with a different badge on it.

I was under the impression you could just find a previously registered surf and use it's registration as a somebody already did this approved...
 
[MENTION=79826]absalom[/MENTION] is a really knowledgeable guy on this topic he has imported trucks including a fj80 diesel. you might want to message him.
 
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sleepydad said:
but... this has a 3rz in it and there are other surfs just like this one already registered in the states?

this is really just a 4runner right hand drive with a different badge on it.

I was under the impression you could just find a previously registered surf and use it's registration as a somebody already did this approved...
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Essentially yes, it is. But not to the DOT.

And I guess you could try to get away with it, but you'd have to find one first. I'm guessing it would be really hard to find someone who loves the 3rd gen import so much that they're willing to spend the money and risk to get one here.

SilverRidgeRunner1 said:
Then on the other hand I got some connection to :D
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That actually can go a LONG way. I know a guy who has a couple of imported Eurovans that are less than 5 years old. He knows someone with some pull that helped him get them here. But he still had to spend the coin to not only ship them here, but to pay for all of the paperwork that goes with it.
 
spartacus said:
[MENTION=79826]absalom[/MENTION] is a really knowledgeable guy on this topic he has imported trucks including a fj80 diesel. you might want message him.
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Importing an FJ80 isn't terribly hard since they're over 25 years old now.
 
I dug into a hole on this one, unless I am wrong the import ship and paper work in all is going to run me in total with vehicle $4800 out the door... Here is the but part. Once I get it in my garage then bring it up to us safety standards which I guess is where the money get more on the costly side I just have to show a sticker to get it registered.:redface:.....
 
SilverRidgeRunner1 said:
I dug into a hole on this one, unless I am wrong the import ship and paper work in all is going to run me in total with vehicle $4800 out the door... Here is the but part. Once I get it in my garage then bring it up to us safety standards which I guess is where the money get more on the costly side I just have to show a sticker to get it registered.:redface:.....
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I looked into importing an Audi RS6 Avant for a friend who has the income and the desire for one, but not the patience to deal with the process. In the end I came to the conclusion that it would cost roughly $30k with no guarantee that the DOT would approve it.
 
Europe always has everything we have plus more. Don’t understand why they won’t make them here. ( yeah I know the whole it’s expensive blah blah blah. I just call is BULL SHIT ! )
 
Newer than 93 isn’t happening unless it’s already on the exempt list, or you have a huge pile of cash at your disposal. And I wouldn’t bother with the 1KZ-TE motor anyways, IDI diesel FTL
 
absalom said:
Newer than 93 isn’t happening unless it’s already on the exempt list, or you have a huge pile of cash at your disposal. And I wouldn’t bother with the 1KZ-TE motor anyways, IDI diesel FTL
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15 years because you import to Canada first? Hell of a lot better than 25.
 
absalom said:
Bringing it into Canada doesn’t make it a Canadian vehicle, and doesn’t qualify it for import into the USA.
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Whoops, I can't maths. I had heard about people importing to Canada first somehow and thought thats what you were referencing. So many cool cars restricted by our 25 year rule :(
 
SilverRidgeRunner1 said:
Is the diesel model really not all that to write home about.
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I think a lot of it is the want because you can't have thing. I've driven a few in my travels and there are pros and cons. And this is just based on the drivability, not on any sort of maintenance. Although maintenance for me would probably be a big con being it's just not a common engine, thus parts may be harder to come by. Pros were the low end torque and the mpg's. Cons were anything around highway speed as well as general get up.
 
Hepar said:
I think a lot of it is the want because you can't have thing. I've driven a few in my travels and there are pros and cons. And this is just based on the drivability, not on any sort of maintenance. Although maintenance for me would probably be a big con being it's just not a common engine, thus parts may be harder to come by. Pros were the low end torque and the mpg's. Cons were anything around highway speed as well as general get up.
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It's also an IDI motor, so they had quite a few issues given that they were also turbo'd. I'd take a 5VZ-FE any day of the week, and that's coming from a guy who basically bathes in diesel.
 
In response to the guys about the 1KZT-E Motor. I have one in my landcruiser prado which I have in florida, but that's another story. Have had the truck in the family for the last 20 ish years.

Mainteanance - Oil filters and regular diesel engine oil. Filters can be ordered online or through your local dealership with a part number. I have over 220k miles on my motor - with stock injectors, glow plugs, ect. Fuel filters should be changed every few years and can be shipped from the UK. These things are cheap to maintain. MPG- I average 20 around town, 22 on the highway, but remember the prado is a tad heavier than a 4runner, and I tend to cruise around 80-90. - 33" tires - lifted. Stock these fetch 25mpg easily.*

I've driven the 3.4 Lump. Good motor, but you really need to rev it as the powers up high. I tow a lot, 2-3 tons, and the diesels low end torque is no match for the petrol engine. Both great engines, but with the efficiency of a diesel motor and cheap/low maintenance it's a easy win in my OPINION which is the better engine. In Europe ,Australia, Africa ect where markets were given the choice of both petrol and diesel versions, most markets sold many many times more diesels over Petrol models. Ask yourself why,*

Just my two cents.*
 
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