IN THE GARAGE
Every month we go through what’s blown up, seized up, fallen off or simply refused to work. Of course, owning a Toyota means that none of the above is likely to happen, so this space is left for any mods that we can afford to make!
If you’re a regular reader of The Mud Life, either via our website or other social media channels, then you’ll be aware of ‘Deux Smurf’, our 1996 Toyota Surf. If you aren’t, then buckle in, ‘cos here’s a short run down.
B
ack in January 2016, after my 1996 Discovery lost her battle with rust, I desperately needed to find another 4x4, and quickly too, as Muddy Madam and I had just set up The Mud Life website. At the time, the irony of having a 4x4 and outdoor website and NOT having a 4x4 wasn’t lost on us, so the search commenced. In no particular order my list of basic requirements looked something like this:
• • • • • • • 10
No more than £4,000 Reliable - I need it to work when required Good off road Good on road Parts easily available Not precious like L322 Range Rover Proper 4x4 system with low box
THE MUD LIFE MAGAZINE
I wanted to find a 4x4 that could handle the rough stuff, and still be comfortable for long, interminable motorway excursions, as there are plenty of weeks when I’m all over the country on new car launches or at shows, and don’t have access to a press car. Admittedly, this is usually down to poor planning on my part. Cutting a long story short, I discounted Land Rover products as I wanted to The Mud Life to be more generic, not just another green oval appreciation website, although a Discovery 2 was very tempting. Having scoured the internet for a month, searching for a new-to-me 4x4 that made me feel all fuzzy inside, without success, I began losing the will to live. I arrived at the conclusion that I might be better off searching for a set of hens teeth in a bucket of rocking horse poo. Anyway, cutting another long and boring story fairly short, I posted a thread on the UK’s Toyota Hilux Surf forum - www. hiluxsurf.co.uk, bemoaning the fact there was hardly any Surfs for sale anymore.
