Advice wanted for new purchase

[trojanhunter007]

Hi all, I don't yet own a Estima but am seriously considering one.

Initially I wanted a 2.4 non hybrid but have realised that the market doesn't have many non hybrids anymore.

Are these reliable? My budget is around £10k-£12k.

How reliable over all are the estima as I have never owned a Toyota before.

I don't care about japenese radios ect as this is all part of the JDM experience.

How fast do they rot being built for a country with no salt on the roads?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

[RUToyota]

welcome,

Personally I wouldn't buy a 10-15 year old hybrid.

Toyota are generally very reliable. Build quality is excellent. Common service parts are generally easy to find.

JDM vehicles come into the UK pretty much rust free...so undersealing is the key to deal with UK weather.

Mine was done at purchase and it's still amazing underneath over 7 years later.

If you can, buy from a reputable importer.

[Cyker]

An old hybrid would be fine, but the problem with the Estima is it's an import, and while any random garage can look after the normal ones, there are far fewer that will help with the hybrid side - Most Toyota dealers won't even touch it, so unless you already know of an independent who can look after them it's a bigger risk than the straight petrol ones.

It doesn't even give much of an advantage - Mainly lower NEDC CO2 rating, but MPG isn't much different and it's much heavier. The only real draw for the hybrid ones is if you want AWD, as I think you can only get AWDs with the E-Four hybrid system.

[Paulscarbs]

I side with RUToyota as the batteries are only reliable for 10 years or so, and a large cost beyond that.

[trojanhunter007]

1 hour ago, Paulscarbs said:

I side with RUToyota as the batteries are only reliable for 10 years or so, and a large cost beyond that.

I was only considering the hybrid as the straight petrol ones seem to be very thin on the ground.

I also don't want the wood trim on the dash.

Some petrol one seems to have the dark wood or silver but a fair few have the wood effect.

Hybrids seem to have mainly silver.

I will be going for the straight petrol as I do all my own mechanics.

Just got to find a good one from a good dealer.

My local dealer (magnum motors) seems to have some nice ones but they are also more expensives than other company's such as Sussex cars and gsat.

It's a bit of a mine field 

[RUToyota]

Depends what you wanna spend I guess....those 2 or 3 2.4's at Magnum at just under £10k don't seem overly expensive to me.?..particularly given the current market price levels for good, clean motors

They look decent examples and low mileage at least.

If they are a reputable dealer then that's a good start.

[trojanhunter007]

24 minutes ago, RUToyota said:

Depends what you wanna spend I guess....those 2 or 3 2.4's at Magnum at just under £10k don't seem overly expensive to me.?..particularly given the current market price levels for good, clean motors

They look decent examples and low mileage at least.

If they are a reputable dealer then that's a good start.

They seem a very reputable dealer and are very local to me.

I have listed after a Estima for years but could never afford one in the past.

Just about to come into an inheritance so now can afford the car if my dreams.

We have struggled with a zafira for the last 7 years and we have 6 children so could never go anywhere as a family.

Hopefully that's about to change.

Thx for you help