Thinking of buying a 2008 sr5 4l v6

[Newbiebob]

Hi,
I'm looking at getting a Hilux 4x4 and have seen one from a mates mate as follows
Hilux 2008 sr5 4l V6 manual petrol dual cab with canopy
I've not looked at it yet, is there anything in particular I should be looking out for in a Hilux in general or this model in particular?

I'm not totally mechanically minded so keep to basic language if possible please

Merry Christmas
Thanks

[HK1837]

My advice is don’t buy a manual V6, they aren’t that great to drive. And they are de-tuned a bit to reduce torque probably to protect the clutch. The auto ones drive a lot better, but be aware if they have been towing or driven off-road without an auxiliary cooler on the transmission. They cook fluid easily, not a massive problem but can cost $3500 to rebuild the box.
The best ones are 2012 to 2015, as they have larger brakes and 17” wheels standard. Plus 250kg more towing capacity.

[Newbiebob]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

After looking around on many sites I don't think my budget of around 20k will get me one as new as 2012 will it?
He's only wants 14k for this one and he's added quite a lot to it
Canopy
4" lift
Snorkel
Light bar
Roof rack
Awning
Big solid bumper
HD clutch
And some other stuff I don't really understand....

We will only use it as a weekend car, Going camping and I do want to do some proper off roading with it

I was reading an article before that said diesels are better for off roading as they have more torque at low revs?

Cheers

[HK1837]

You are probably right, $20k isn’t going to buy a 2012-2015 unless it has lots of kM on it. But you will have to factor in reducing that 4” lift as it more than likely won’t be legal and thus not Insurable. If it has bigger than 255/70/15 tyres it’s front brakes may require attention too.

I drove all of the 4 x SR5 dual cab variants in 2010 and this was my assessment. My personal take only.

I drove a V6 manual and despised it, I was changing gears non stop. Not for me.
Next was a diesel auto. It was dreadful, that 4spd auto is terrible and the throttle lag was almost unbearable.
Diesel manual. These were actually quite good. This was a contender to buy. However I tow a bit and really wanted an auto. There were no V6 auto’s around new to drive, but I chanced upon a 19,000km V6 auto that had been traded. So much better than the other three to drive. So I looked everywhere and found a demo on NSW Central Coast.

Others might see it differently, but drive a few before you buy and make up your own mind.

[Newbiebob]

I didn't realise about the lift And insurance or the bigger the and brakes, doing more reading up about it now so thanks for pointing all that out
Cheers

[HK1837]

Always check the legality of modifications!

[taresk]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

After looking around on many sites I don't think my budget of around 20k will get me one as new as 2012 will it?
He's only wants 14k for this one and he's added quite a lot to it
Canopy
4" lift
Snorkel
Light bar
Roof rack
Awning
Big solid bumper
HD clutch
And some other stuff I don't really understand....

We will only use it as a weekend car, Going camping and I do want to do some proper off roading with it

I was reading an article before that said diesels are better for off roading as they have more torque at low revs?

Cheers

I have an 07 auto V6 and I agree from the test drives I did, it is the best engine/ transmission combo. As weekender, it would be perfect.
The article you read regarding diesel vs petrol is a generalisation, it doesn't apply here as the V6 has more torque, and at lower revs than the D4D.
You do lose about 30nm by choosing the manual, and the gearing is a little poorly matched, but it would still make a reliable weekender if you can't find an auto.

[Martyhing]

I've got an '06 V6 manual and I love it. I may not have the experience of others here, but my rig gets me everywhere I want to go. Sure, the newer ones have the 17" rims so the brake upgrade is easier, but to be honest, I haven't felt the need for more braking power. That being said, I don't tow a caravan or camper with mine.

[HK1837]

The later ones with 17” rims already have bigger brakes, they need them for the larger diameter tyres. You won’t notice the lack of front rotor size if you are running original diameter tyres, they just struggle once you go to a bigger tyre like a 265/65/17.