Buying A Previa

[timf]

I'm looking to get a MPV and the choice seems to be between the Previa/Espace/Galaxy/Sharon/Alhambra.

I like the look of the Previa and for about £12k would probably get a 4yr model.

I'd be interested in any tips you might have in what to look for when buying/ any good outlets for vehicles (they seem to be quite difficulat to get hold of)/ whether you have bought a Previa and regretted it for any reason?

Also what is the service interval and cost and cost of items such as brake pads/discs & tyres.

Thanks

Tim

[jaysback]

we have had our previa now nearly a year now and would not be without it.

just had a run to manchester in it and managed to get just over 400 miles out of a tank that was at pretty much 70 all the way.

picked up a 9ft tree fern and that went in without having to rope the tail gate shut. did have to rest it on the hand brake a little though.

only downside is having to remove the seat if you need the the space.

but there are not many mpv's where the seats just fold into the floor.

very nice to drive, feels a little more solid on the road when you have a few people in it, this is nothing at all major it drives like a dream.

most of it is that i am used to having performance cars. (mitsubishi galant vr4, mondeo st24 etc.)

we where looking at getting the alhambra tdi 130 which can have more power with a chip change, but the previa is the best looking mpv atm in my opinion would recommend it.

hope this helps you out.

j

how about you other guys, any words of wisdom.

[Tardis]

We've had our 02 CDX from new and it's good. The only problem was a faulty Oxygen sensor replaced under warranty last week, otherwise it's been trouble free.

Servicing is every 10k or annual. Ours had it's 40k service last week (a big one) which cost £240 at a main dealer. It's still on it's original rear tyres and only second set of fronts which were about £140/pair for uprated tyres (same size, higher speed rating which gives stiffer sidewalls and better carcass). It still has it's orginal brake pads.

To be fair, this low wear is mostly due to my wife. I have a BMW M5 for daily transport.

[Bluebottle]

We are also looking for an MPV and have decided on the Previa as the best option to replace our Mk2 Granada, 7 or 8 seats, whatever comes along really. We're not a huge family so we're wanting it more for lugging camping / band gear around and transporting friends. We're looking for a post 2001 example (with two sliding doors, petrol, manual, as few 'toys' as possible (although air con would be good for long runs with the family in the summer...)

So, a few questions....

What differences are there between the UK spec macines and the import models?

Is it worth looking at a new import?

What time is it Eccles?

Are the rear seats easily removable? (won't need the rear seats much, they'll spend most of their life in my shed!)

Cheers! :)

[jaysback]

hi bluebottle

all i can tell you is that the rear seats on the 7 seaters are removable.

but we leave them in, but flipped up.

j

[Glanma]

hi bluebottle

all i can tell you is that the rear seats on the 7 seaters are removable.

but we leave them in, but flipped up.

j

←

Well we were after a 3 year old ish Previa, and found average prices were about £14-15k in & around London, a bit above our budget. So already having an imported Lucida, we decided to try the same route and import again. We ended up with a 2002 ACR30W 2.4 (its the only variant which can be imprted at present) in very good nick for 13k with only 9000 miles on the clock. The only problem we had was the auction sheets don't often show if it's a 7 or 8 seater, and i would have liked leather trim too but didn't see that come up much either. As we were happy with 7 or 8 seats it wasn't a big issue, but might be to others. I think the imports are pretty much the same as uk spec unless you go for sat nav, DVD, etc, which I don't think are uk compatible anyway.

So in short, yes you can save but you need to do your homework thoroughly, and wait for the right car to come up. And then win the auction, of course!!!! :D

[Tardis]

.....We're looking for a post 2001 example (with two sliding doors, petrol, manual, as few 'toys' as possible (although air con would be good for long runs with the family in the summer...)

So, a few questions....

What differences are there between the UK spec macines and the import models?

Is it worth looking at a new import?

What time is it Eccles?

Are the rear seats easily removable? (won't need the rear seats much, they'll spend most of their life in my shed!)

Cheers!  :)

←

Our 02 Previa was a European import and the spec is identical to a CDX apart from missing the SatNav (aircon included). We bought it new because we couldn't find a decent example 3 years old which was cheaper than a new import.

I'd suggest that if you can find a good one at the right age and price then go for it, but be aware of the import prices as a comparison.

The rear seats (7 seater) are difficult to remove until you've had some practice but then it only takes a couple of minutes. The trick is to prepare: move the seats in front forwards, remove head restraints, then tilt forwards and keep pushing.

[Glanma]

.....We're looking for a post 2001 example (with two sliding doors, petrol, manual, as few 'toys' as possible (although air con would be good for long runs with the family in the summer...)

So, a few questions....

What differences are there between the UK spec macines and the import models?

Is it worth looking at a new import?

What time is it Eccles?

Are the rear seats easily removable? (won't need the rear seats much, they'll spend most of their life in my shed!)

Cheers!  :)

←

Our 02 Previa was a European import and the spec is identical to a CDX apart from missing the SatNav (aircon included). We bought it new because we couldn't find a decent example 3 years old which was cheaper than a new import.

I'd suggest that if you can find a good one at the right age and price then go for it, but be aware of the import prices as a comparison.

The rear seats (7 seater) are difficult to remove until you've had some practice but then it only takes a couple of minutes. The trick is to prepare: move the seats in front forwards, remove head restraints, then tilt forwards and keep pushing.

←

Hi Tardis - just out of interest, where in Europe did you import yours from? Did you still need a model report, as we did buying from Japan?

[Tardis]

<snip>

Hi Tardis - just out of interest, where in Europe did you import yours from? Did you still need a model report, as we did buying from Japan?

←

Ours was sourced from Holland but we actually bought it at "TradeCarSales" in Slough for £20k instead of £25k (2002, 2.4auto, 7 seat, CDX equiv w/o satnav). There was no extra paperwork, approvals or changes with no extra mileage.

The warranty was honoured and it was all very easy. I'd do it again.

I would consider importing from Japan if it was also easy and offered better value; I resent paying initial depreciation on a car and would rather buy at 2-3 years old which I understand is when lots of Japanese cars are exported?

[Glanma]

<snip>

Hi Tardis - just out of interest, where in Europe did you import yours from? Did you still need a model report, as we did buying from Japan?

←

Ours was sourced from Holland but we actually bought it at "TradeCarSales" in Slough for £20k instead of £25k (2002, 2.4auto, 7 seat, CDX equiv w/o satnav). There was no extra paperwork, approvals or changes with no extra mileage.

The warranty was honoured and it was all very easy. I'd do it again.

I would consider importing from Japan if it was also easy and offered better value; I resent paying initial depreciation on a car and would rather buy at 2-3 years old which I understand is when lots of Japanese cars are exported?

←

Me too - on principle I will never buy a brand new car off the showroom floor, just to see a couple of grand wiped off its value before I'd driven it more than a couple of hundred yards!

Yeah I think the first Shaken test is at about 3 years in Japan, so thats seems to be a popular time for the Japanese to trade their car in for a new one. Great for us - as mentioned earlier in this thread, we've got a 2002 Estima on its way over, and for 13k I think we've done ok really! To be honest it never even occurred to me to import from Europe, and by my experience of importing from Japan it is more involved than you say it was importing from Europe. But sounds like we both got a bargain compared to buying here!