Should I buy a double cabin or surf

imranwazir (I) 2006-09-20 04:17:00 +0500 #1

Hi Guys,

I am looking for your advise. I am planning to buy my first 4X4 with a budget of 16 lacs. Correct me if I am wrong but I think I can get a Toyota Surf 1996-1999 model or a Double Cabin 1998-2000 model for this amount. TO me Surf seems to be a double cabin with its back covered. Can you guys please tell me what are the major diffrences between the two vehicles and secondly which vehcile is advisable in terms of Economy, maintinance, re-sale and comfort. Please help me guy. Thanks

Imran

humy (humy) 2006-09-20 04:22:00 +0500 #2

hmm where is voyager.

ateekt (ateekt) 2006-09-20 04:28:00 +0500 #3

Go for
"Surf"
...!

robin (robin) 2006-09-20 04:42:00 +0500 #4

go for Surf intercooler but again it all depends on ur needs, if u need luggage room as large as that of hilux' then u may opt for that.

imranwazir (I) 2006-09-20 05:13:00 +0500 #5

Thanks for the feed back. My useage is in City, with ocasional travel to the filed, therefore I need a comfortable but a rough and tough vehicle. Again can anyone please tell me the diffrences between a Double Cabin and Surf except the diffrence of the back covered.

Thanks
Imran

humy (humy) 2006-09-20 05:15:00 +0500 #6

surf than!

walliullah (walliullah) 2006-09-20 05:16:00 +0500 #7

I think Surf 96 onwards (SSRx, full options) is a wonderful choice. It is grace coupled with power and elegence and a family vehicle. U can see its specs on the site msn cars uk. Goodluck.

SAD2050 (SAD2050) 2006-09-20 05:35:00 +0500 #8

Dont know about SURF but if u r going to buy Double Cabin then go for " SR5 ".

c123pk (c123pk) 2006-09-20 07:12:00 +0500 #9

Just Confirmed the Prices for 3.0 Liter VIGO 2005 (Only 5k to 10k Kms done)=24 Lacs to 25 Lacs.
Little Used Hilux (Vigo Shape, Imported by Toyota itself) 2.5 Liter=20 to 21 Lacs. (depends upon availability).
Brand New Not Available right Now, but will be Available by February 2006 with New Lower Rates. (Current Price for Top of the Line Hilux 2.5 Liter are 25.99 Lacs, By February 2007 the Prices may come down to 20 to 21 Lacs for a Brand New Truck)

jaan99 (jaan99) 2006-09-20 07:16:00 +0500 #10

you can get new shape vigo in this price.

imranwazir (I) 2006-09-20 08:04:00 +0500 #11

Thanks everyone for your help. Can you guys also give your comments about SURF. Is it reliable? and is it better than the Hilux SR5.

Paperpusher (Paperpusher) 2006-09-20 09:56:00 +0500 #12

i called up Toyota guys a few days back to enquire about the kind of Hilux variants being produced within country (double cabin ones)

they guy told me that only single cabins were produced in country and their production has discontinued !!!!!! thats really surprising to me ... since thats one of their most successful products .... i wonder if they are gearing up to produce the new shape ?? any clues ?????

i was interested in the double cabin ones ..... however, imported ones are way off my budget ... so i guess will have to live with sedan instead ...

about ur question imran ... yar i dont know about surf ... but beware ... double cabins are known to be extremely uncomfertable .... they are very good off roads .. but not very comfertable to drive .... jerky ride !! (i think thats cause of the KAMANI suspension ?? anyone ??)

atleast never heard anyone complain about the surf ... i guess its relatively better in comfert ?

agha300 (agha300) 2006-09-20 10:02:00 +0500 #13

SURF all the way.........................!

AbidSiddiqui (AbidSiddiqui) 2006-09-20 11:08:00 +0500 #14

Agha is Right

Surf s better if money is not matter

Voyager (Voyager) 2006-09-20 12:15:00 +0500 #15

@Imranwazir,

Before buying any thing specially ‘Ride” one needs to see his requirements and Budget. Surf & Double cable are totally 2 different choices. For your requirement as U mentioned U need a 4X4 mostly for city and occasionally for off-raod, plus the options offered/available in SSR-G grade are not available SSR Double cabin. For Example:

Hard Shock Option

Idle UP

Diff Lock

LSD (Limited Slip Differential is Optional)

Less Ground Clearance as compare to Surf

No Alloy Wheels

And according to your budget best option will be Surf SSR-G (with Intercooler) 1996/1998. If U opt to get Double cabin 1999/2000 then U need to increase your budget.

Regarding Surf as I have personal experience & in my opinion Surf is “Sports Ride” and a great vehicle to drive within the city and off-orad as well. Thought I just got Parado as a replacement to my Surf but I think soon I will be going back to Surf as I miss my sports ride.

I am placing Specifications for Surf SSR-G 1997 and Double Cab SSR 1997 for comparison and you can then decide what to choose.

Surf SSR-G 1997

Double Cabin SSR 1997

If U need any further info about Surf, feel free to ask.

imranwazir (I) 2006-09-21 05:16:00 +0500 #16

Thanks a million Voyger .The information you have given is of great value. Just one last thing can you please also tell me the diffrence between Surf SSR-X and SSR-G

Thanks agin Buddy

dosten (dosten) 2006-09-21 05:48:00 +0500 #17

@ imranwazir
I had a 1996 2.8 litre SSR-X Hilux Pickup for 8 years. Bought it brand new and sold it two years back when it had 185,000KM on the clock. It is the best off road vehicle if compared with others available in the market in its class. The vehicle never gave me any problems and was a joy to drive.

Right now I have a 1998 Hilux Surf SSR-X Limited which I imported three months back. Though it has more power and is more luxurious it is by no means close to the Hilux Pickup when it comes to Extreme"off roading. However, if you are going to be using your 4x4 more in the city then I would suggest you go for a Surf. It is more comfortable and has that extra umph when it comes to acceleration and obviously has more accessories.

By the way, don't go for SR5 pickup because it does not as many accessories as the SSR-X. Can't say much about the Vigo and Tiger because I haven't driven them.

Voyager (Voyager) 2006-09-21 06:51:00 +0500 #18

Here U go Imran, following is the main difference between SSR-G & SSR-X.

SSR-G:

In simple words SSR-G is top of the line Model or U can say Fully Loaded. In SSR-G version U will get following Options as standard not as Optional:

1: Hard Shock Option
2: Back Spoiler with Power Mirror
3: Limited Slip Differential (LSD)
4: Sunroof
5: Foglights

SSR-X:
SSR-X is basic version but the new buyers use to have an option of choosing from the Sunroof, Fog lights etc. Or they can just buy the basic version. That's way U will find some SSR-X with sunroof or other options but not with Hard shock option that's only for SSR-G.

@dosten
U might have 1995 or 1997 model. Toyota didn't produced any Double Cab SSR-X with 2.8 Ltr in 1996. And the one in 1995/96 it has only 2.4 2L-TE engine.

In 1997 they produced DC SSR-X in Diesel with 3.0 ltr 5L and 2.4 ltr 2L-TE.

dosten (dosten) 2006-09-21 07:22:00 +0500 #19

@Voyager
A friend of mine has a 1996 Surf SSR-G. It does not have a sunroof but all the other options you mentioned. I guess sunroof is an option for all models.

The double cabin I had had 1996 written on the seat belts.

Voyager (Voyager) 2006-09-21 08:03:00 +0500 #20

@dosten,

U r right, there are some SSR-G without Sunroof, it's optional but most of the SSR-G especially with intercooler attached are with sunroof.

Regarding 1996 DC SSR-X, sorry I forgot to mention that these are the years in which some changes were introduced and August 1995 Model countinued to be produced till 1997 before some changes were introduced. Below are the Model production Month/Years:

August 1990
August 1991
August 1994
August 1995
September 1997
August 1999
August 2001