Proud new owner

[Jötunn]

Hello everyone, my name is Jake and I am currently based in the UK, I have never owned a 4X4 before.

I have just purchased what I believe to be a 1998 Land Cruiser Colorado, originally from sweden and imported to the UK in 2003. One lady owner from new and 105k miles on the clock. She has the 3.4 petrol V6 married to a 5 speed manual gearbox and is completely unmolested.

I am struggling to get it insured though, all the insurance companies are adamant that there are no manual Colorado's with the petrol V6, and that it is something they have never heard of... Could it be a different model?

My wife and are planning to immigrate to sweden in a year's time, so we needed a vehicle capable of pulling a small trailer of our belongings through Europe and getting us around in the tough winters that accompany living in Sweden.

I don't plan on modifying this vehicle heavily, I just want to get my family around safely and be able to overcome any obstacles that may present themselves. Maybe a bull bar and winch, a full aluminium radiator to try and mitigate and overheating issues associated with the V6, a stainless exhaust to increase longevity plus produce a nice note, I don't really know what else I should do... Any suggestions?

It's also quite poetic that we will be retuning it back to its homeland, my wife and I had no idea that it was originally from sweden until the test drive... Fate definitely presented us this gift.

 

[Shayne]

Its called smart technology -people cant think any more I had to explain so many times to insurers that my Colorado was a factory 3 door while they insisted it was a 5 door , but if you tell smart technology that people have 6 toes on each foot it will eventually accept the information as fact

Adrian Flux specialize in imports and modified cars for insurance .

Not sure about the petrol engine but a towing thermostat is sold for the diesel which opens to circulate coolant at a lower temperature .

 

[GeekOKent]

Yeah, speak to Adrian Flux for sure.

I guess you can't insure it in Sweden and get an additional UK cover included

 

[Jötunn]

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly!

I have tried Adrian Flux but it was £2000+ per year, they where saying that its an extremely specialist vehical (being a manual) and they cant go any lower, definitely trying to have me on..

Ended up adding it in as a modification to the original quote and much happier with £13 increase to £800.

I won't be able to get swedish insurance until I get my person number and back account sorted, would have made it much easier though!

I guess the towing thermostat is just a lower temp unit?

 

[chadr]

I believe Flux are correct as all the original UK market 3.4V6s were automatic (and perhaps in VX trim but might be wrong on that).

Would love to see how the 5VZ-FE drives with a manual box.

Good luck - would love to see some pics btw.

 

[Shayne]

Could The insurance problem be that it’s a Prado instead of a Colorado ?

And yes the stat opens at 70 something instead of 80

 

[Jötunn]

I believe Flux are correct as all the original UK market 3.4V6s were automatic (and perhaps in VX trim but might be wrong on that).

Would love to see how the 5VZ-FE drives with a manual box.

Good luck - would love to see some pics btw.

Could The insurance problem be that it’s a Prado instead of a Colorado ?

And yes the stat opens at 70 something instead of 80

I have been doing quite a bit of research, the current conclusion is that in Europe they were neither Colorado's or Prado's... Just the Land Cruiser, Germany had the Spezial, haven't seen too much else where. I've managed to get around this issue anyway by adding the manual gearbox as a modification.

The manual gearbox paired with the V6 is great, low end torque to bumble along and long high rev pulls to get the most out of the engine, it's extremely fun to drive if I'm being honest!

There is a point in the rev range that everything vibrates heavily then it passes, I've been looking into it and believe the UJ may be worn? But I have no idea, I'm going to stop thrashing through the rev range and just bumble until I know more.

I will definitely look into a different thermostat, but I'm hoping that the upgraded rad and fans will do the job.

 

[stuzbot]

Adrian Flux specialize in imports and modified cars for insurance .

Yeah, speak to Adrian Flux for sure.

I keep seeing people recommend Adrian Flux, but I wouldn't trust them feckers as far as I could throw them.

A few years back I was looking for insurance for my self-build camper van. I spoke to Adrian Flux on the phone and got a decent quote, so took out the policy. A few days later, I got a letter giving me 7 days to send them an "Engineer's Report" saying that my self-build was up to scratch.

Since:

A –– I wouldn't even know how to go about getting an engineer's report
B –– People online said they cost hundreds of £££s anyway
C –– This wasn't even mentioned when I took out the policy

I got in touch with Flux again, argued for a bit about this sudden need for an "Engineer's Report" and, when they wouldn't budge, asked them to cancel the policy. They ended up cancelling it but charged me various bollox admin fees on top. So that it ended up costing me over £90 to be insured for about a week.

So, even if they offered you a decent quote [which it seems they didn't anyway], I wouldn't put it past them feckers to suddenly, out of the blue, ask you to send them some previously unmentioned documentation proving your vehicle was authorised for use in the UK.

 

[Shayne]

Its a 95 series , 90is the swb . Spec is all over the place but I think only the UK got a Colorado badge and a rear difflock . Prado through most of Europe and i thinkin Ireland they gave it a Landcruiser badge . Venezuela called it the Meru .

Body wise and chassis they all the same so a bonnet or suspension of any would fit the rest though there's several different engines .

I have a KZJ90 and a KDJ90 which is a very specific way to identify the truck and its on a plate under your bonnet .

All 3 of my trucks needed a UJ shortly after I came to own them so when the rear view mirror began to vibrate on the third I didn't even bother to look for the problem until a new UJ arrived in the post .

 

[Rob Cowell]

Love the colour! I think it's a VZJ95, technically a VZJ95L-GKMNKW
Last ones were made in August 2002, so maybe the 2003 reg is confusing the insurance computers, especially as it was also never for the UK?

 

[Jötunn]

suddenly, out of the blue, ask you to send them some previously unmentioned documentation proving your vehicle was authorised for use in the UK.

I had a similar issue with them when I tried to insure my r33, they wanted proof of all mods and some other weird info... Fortunately I have all the documents for the LC, and I mean every one from the day it was purchased from the dealership. I will keep clear of Adrian Flux forever more!

All 3 of my trucks needed a UJ shortly after I came to own them so when the rear view mirror began to vibrate on the third I didn't even bother to look for the problem until a new UJ arrived in the post .

Thank-you for all the knowledge im truly grateful! I don't have the rear difflock.. so I'm guessing it has the LSD. Is this going to harm my dreams of off roading?
I've seen that Rough Trax are highly recommended on here, going to order the UJ from there.

Love the colour! I think it's a VZJ95, technically a VZJ95L-GKMNKW
Last ones were made in August 2002, so maybe the 2003 reg is confusing the insurance computers, especially as it was also never for the UK?

You are correct, that's what's on the paperwork and under the bonnet. The number plate is dateless (6 characters) and none of the systems recognise it, I had to put the details in manually. Even speaking over the phone, to multiple different companies, they have no record of a 1998 LWB Land Cruiser with the 3.4 petrol V6 and a 5 speed manual gea6 in LHD or RHD. To them it is a non existent variant and a one of a kind...

 

[Shayne]

The rear difflock is a wonderful thing when your stuck someplace you absolutely should not be if your determined to avoid damage but its rarely needed , LSD will serve you well i'd guess .