Hilux 4x4 Forum

I live in Holland and I bought a Volkswagen Taro 2.4D 4x4 in Finland recently. Original registration date is february 1991. It's a non-turbo diesel (61kW I think). It has double wishbone suspension in the front.

Is it correct to assume this car is basically Toyota model LN 110? From page https://www.amayama.com/en/genuine-cata ... N110L/6361
I get the sense it is.

If so is LN 110 the only Toyota model that got rebadged by Volkswagen into Taro 4x4? Meaning it would be safe for me to either shop for Volkswagen Taro parts or Toyota LN 110 parts?

Very nice, seems to be in good condition for its age.

Hi Maurits and welcome to the forum.

The Taro is basically a re-badged Toyota built by VW under licence. I suspect that many of the parts are direct from Toyota and that there are really only some cosmetic differences. Getting spares from VW means you're assured that you're getting the right thing but if you source from Toyota it might be wise to take a sample with you for side by side comparison.

True. I studied the Toyota archives quite a bit. Which model was sold where is kind of straight forward. Which export model assembled outside of Japan specifically for a certain continent, that is where it gets kind of murky for a Taro owner.

The Toyota Production System and derivatives like 'lean six signa' originate in Japan. Then it sort of blows your mind finding there are so many differences in mostly the small parts among Hilux export models.

I guess Volkswagen threw a lot of data in the dust bin when they started Amarok production. For example replacement parts for transmission and axles. Not much info there. Where Toyota owners can simply look up the right part in their repair manual, I have to pull the transmission apart and measure the part.

I don't mind getting under the hood of course. But this is a kind of silly.

Hi Maurits,

Firstly, welcome to the forum!

Where was this pictures taken? NL or Finland?

Have a look at www.toyodiy.com and enter the vin number, just maybe you will be lucky!

Thanks. You made me register to ToyoDIY.com. Good info on that site. But then I realized that my VIN is from Volkswagen and won't work for looking up Toyotas.

Some time ago I sent an email to Volkswagen customer service about the Taro. Haven't heard back from them yet. I also have contacted Toyota Japan about this issue. I will wait and see what they come up with.

Edit: picture was taken in Finland.

Volkswagen Deutschland says Taro is based off the YN80/LN80 series.

I also thought that it looked more like a YN110 with that separate ¼ panel side window which I am not familiar with in the YN80 series. However, it appears that some YN 80 series (probably for the US market) had this little side window as well ... https://pick-up-trucks.de/toyota-hilux- ... eneration/

So in answer to your original question, I would go with the VW supplied info and quote the YN80 reference when looking for parts (either from Toyota spares Dealers or from pirate part dealers). I would also wherever possible take the sample along with me for comparison.

Your vehicle looks neat and well cared for, so hopefully you won't be needing many replacement parts.

Please also pop in here along the way and post stories and pics of your adventures together.

Isnt engine yn80 and body yn110

pietpetoors wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2020 8:54 am Isnt engine yn80 and body yn110

I think it is. Though it's a diesel: LN110 (+LN80 engine).
It takes a lot of time to figure out of what parts a given platform consists. All those parts should mirror those of my vehicle https://www.amayama.com/en/catalogs/toy ... ux-pick-up. LN110 is as close as it gets.