USED Toyota Previa MPV (00 - 06)

My car

I bought this car (it's nine months old, and has done 12,000 miles) from a local franchise in January 2007.

They stated that a comprehensive inspection of the vehicle had been undertaken. I got it home and discovered that a rear pasenger seat was broken. The car leaked oil over my new drive after two months, and had to have new oil and water pumps, a new cigar lighter, and the cruise control is broken - it's yet to be fixed.

The seller stated the tyres were legal when I bought the car. It did 2000 miles and then needed two new front tyres. The brakes were screaming, and had to be adjusted.

Since buying the vehicle it has been back to the garage five times in four months with yet another visit scheduled.

My car

Bought this car new in Oct 03. 90,000 miles in 3.25 years/ Serviced every 10,000 miles at main dealers and was perfect until June 06 when at 70,000 miles the turbo bearings broke. Car in dealers for 5 weeks due to an intermittant fuel fault occurring after rebuild and took 2 weeks to sort out (extra £50 cost). Cost £2,000 which I harrangued Toyota GB for and they paid the £1,000 for the part. Ever since then the alarm has not worked, which has been looked at many times and I have now given up. Also fan belt has "squeaked" since 30k and is tinkered with at every service but continues to be noisy. Apart from this major failure the car has been excellent and certainly drives better than the Grand Voyager and Grand espace I had before (both 80,000 miles plus with no problems, but petrol engines). Switched tyres to Pirelli P6000 hard compound and can get 30,000 miles from a front set. Aim to keep the car to 300k+ miles and I now let the turbo idle after every journey hoping not to repeat the previous failure. If anyone know what to do with the alarm please let me know! Changing to local garage from main dealer to be able to talk to the mechanic, the only job they cannot undertake in the cambelt change.

My car

I own a 2 litre D4D GLS which I bought in April 2003 when I changed from company car to car allowance. I have to say that the car is fabulous. I have now covered 87,000 trouble free miles at an average mpg of 38!!Regularly serviced at Toyota dealers.

We have a static caravan close to a lake and I tow a sailing dinghy. We just throw all our gear in the back along with the kids and head off when we feel like it. Last year we took the ferry to France and the driving experience was enjoyable for everyone. You are high up and the Previa cruises so well at 80 mph that the miles are just eaten up. The Prev. is rare in the UK but, in France, being the style snobs they are, they couldn't stop themselves admiring the classy lines of the car.

Read various things that the car eats tyres on the front. I drive carefully and managed 40,000 on the first set of factory fitted Yokohama's (with a bit of rotation). Replaced them with Yokohama dB's which managed 35,000. The secret, inflate your front tyres to min 38 p.s.i!!

All in all the best car I have ever driven and I love it to bits. Problem I now have is that Toyota are going to stop doing the Previa. Have test driven Espace, Peugeot and Galaxy and they are pieces of junk compared to the Prev. If I can't get a Prev I will stick with Toyota for my next car and choose a different model.

My car

Overall its the best car Ive driven - Just drove to Cornwall with 5 passengers and thier luggage - not many MPVs can handle that and still provide comfort and performance. Ive got the 7 seater which means i can whip out any one of the 5 rear seats in a minute, its really useful for trips to B&Q or for my other half to load up for kids art parties. The 2.4 petrol is perfect for this car combining economy and performance - it certainly catches out drivers at the lights - In fact I like the engine noise above 4000rpm!

The sliding doors are a must - means the kids dont go bashing doors in car parks and provides massive loading opening. The tinted windows look cool and keep prying eyes away from valuables in the back. The auto box works a treat and is very predictable - no lumpy changes or jumping up and down the gears.

From a build perspective it is top-notch, better than our Audi or Renaults or Fords in the past and better than the Chrysler, Kia and Mitsibushi's we test drived.

Enjoy!