jimcraiguk Posted December 1 Posted December 1 Hello everyone, I hope all is well? I've recently joined in a bid to learn as much as I can about Vellfires and Alphards. I have a bunch of questions to ask, coming from the perspective of a current and happy Nissan Elgrand owner, who's considering a change. If these questions have been answered before, please excuse me asking them again, I've done a fair bit of searching but if I've missed something please can you post a link to the answer. My Elgrand is the second generation model, the E51, (the boxy one, see attached pic) built in September 2004, and I bought her in 2017 for what I consider a bargain of £6,750, plus £1,300 for LPG installation. Below is its current spec, which I'd like as a minimum, any extras would be icing on the cake. Based on the below is this Vellfire (auto corrected to Hellfire!) or Alphard or even Estima territory, please? 3.5l v6 auto. Although I've read on here that the 2.4l Toyotas run very well so I'm more than happy to drop down engine size 8 seats Middle row can face rewards Reversing camera Auto on lights Side blind. A camera in the passenger mirror so you can see the kerb Dual climate control in the front, rear climate for the rearmost seats Electric sliding passenger door Alloy wheels Twin sunroof Privacy glass Some questions, if you don't mind? Vellfire or Alphard? Based on my Elgrand spec, which versions should I refine my searches to? What models/years/configs to avoid? Is hybrid available on older Vellfires? Are they all ulez compliant, regardless of being hybrid or not? Is the indicator stalk on the left? It's on the right in my Elgrand, they can be swapped if you are suitably skilled/confident (I am neither of these ) Are the buttons and any on screen menus in English? Elgrand buttons have some in English and some in Japanese! The on screen menus can be changed on newer models with a magic box from some guys in Russia. Unfortunately, mine is too old for this. Do the radio's support Apple CarPlay? Does the speedo also indicate mph? The Elgrand was kph and I had a new panel fitted. The odometer is digital and fixed at kph. Are most of the commonly used parts readily available? Any recommended dealers that would be open to part exchange? I live in Surrey and happy to travel for the right car. I bought my Ellie from West Yorkshire. Has anyone used an importer and achieved a happy outcome? I'm easily distracted by shiny things and would welcome your thoughts if this, constitutes good value? Is the criteria of newest model and lowest mileage the most appropriate? Or are high mileage examples likely to run and run? Do some models have twin electric sliding doors? Do some models have a powered tailgate? Thank you so much in advance, a long post as there are always more questions than answers. Happy to have a phone call with someone if it makes life easier. All the very best Jim
Gamith Posted December 2 Posted December 2 While you wait for someone more knowledgable: >3.5l v6 auto. I have a 2.4 and it's not bad I would say - the V6 seems to be preferred as it makes a nice burble noise and has more power, though it has a timing belt that needs changing every so often (the 2.4 has a chain which doesn't) >8 seats There are 7 and 8 seat options - mine has two fronts, a wide and normal middle and the rear seats taken out - though they can also (apparently) hold three people also. >Middle row can face rewards (I take it you mean rearwards 🙂 ) My 2005 (10 series facelift) version certainly can - I have heard that later ones can't but I don't know which ones I'm afraid - some models have seats like an air-liner which probably can't turn. >Reversing camera I would hazard a guess that they all have these though some head units might have been changed that might not have them connected - my 2005 has two side cameras in the grill but they don't work 😞 >Auto on lights Mine has but your mileage may vary so to speak - and currently I have a dash cover which I need to make a hole in so my car doesn't think its night all the time. >Side blind. A camera in the passenger mirror so you can see the kerb Are these two things? Mine has side blinds in the back and a secondary side-mirror so i can see the kerb - though no side camera. >Dual climate control in the front, rear climate for the rearmost seats Again mine has - there is a separate air-con for the rear above the offside rear wheel >Electric sliding passenger door Mine has the near side powered though others have both - someone recently posted they got a right dash switch and plugged it in to find their offside door was also powered. >Alloy wheels Again that will depend but I think they all might >Twin sunroof I can only speak for mine, which has a manual front sunroof and a larger electric rear sunroof >Privacy glass The glass around the back is darker, though it can be seen through if you really try. >Vellfire or Alphard? Personal choice - the Vellfire is supposed to be more sporty than the alphard but I cant really see the point 🙂 >Based on my Elgrand spec, which versions should I refine my searches to? Can't help much here I'm afraid as so much comes down to what you want and how much you want to spend. if you have UKP 100k sitting around you could probably get a brand new one imported. >What models/years/configs to avoid? They are all as, or more, reliable as you have any right to expect but I don't know of any that are worthy of any sort of an avoid label - sorry. >Is hybrid available on older Vellfires? No idea > Are they all ulez compliant, regardless of being hybrid or not? Some are - I think 2007 inwards - again you will have to await a more knowledgeable >Is the indicator stalk on the left? It's on the right in my Elgrand, they can be swapped if you are suitably skilled/confident (I am neither of these ) Umm - yes I think so. I suspect you can swap them around but I haven't taken a close enough to be sure I'm afraid. > Are the buttons and any on screen menus in English? Elgrand buttons have some in English and some in Japanese! The on screen menus can be changed on newer models with a magic box from some guys in Russia. Unfortunately, mine is too old for this. The original head units are in Japanese and offer all the functions but most people, for their own sanity, have changed them for EU versions that may not be able to do everything and usually have to play around with various adaptors to get them to work. >Do the radio's support Apple CarPlay? If it's a modern head unit then quite likely - I doubt the original japanese versions are. >Does the speedo also indicate mph? The Elgrand was kph and I had a new panel fitted. The odometer is digital and fixed at kph. Most have been converted to MPH but I have fitted a separate GPS HUD which can show both in my line of view, which I find preferable anyway. >Are most of the commonly used parts readily available? To some extent - certainly service items aren't too much of an issue at all - but things like replacement windscreens would be more of a tricky proposition, though someone was talking about their insurance company being able to source the correct windscreen without too much of an issue. >Any recommended dealers that would be open to part exchange? I live in Surrey and happy to travel for the right car. I bought my Ellie from West Yorkshire. I will let some one in surrey pick up on that one - I am in Stevenage and I don't know of any specialists in my area. >Has anyone used an importer and achieved a happy outcome? Others can answer this - we got ours from a company that was using them as campers. >I'm easily distracted by shiny things and would welcome your thoughts if this, constitutes good value? Well it's certainly shiny. If that is your budget then look around and see if there is anything that is shinier 🙂 >Is the criteria of newest model and lowest mileage the most appropriate? Or are high mileage examples likely to run and run? I can't (and won't) say for sure but generally speaking it's a good rule of thumb. Just bear in mind a well-maintained one that has been used as a taxi every day will be better than a zero miles one that has been kept in an open field for 15 years. >Do some models have twin electric sliding doors? See above >Do some models have a powered tailgate? Indeed some do - but not many. However you can get kits from the likes of aliexpress that can be fitted. I would post a link but I have been typing for a while and my wife want us to watch the TV now. 3
jimcraiguk Posted December 2 Author Posted December 2 Thank you so much @Gamith this is really helpful, and yes rearwards not rewards! I thought I’d caught all the autocorrect’s, my special favourite being the Toyota Hellfire! all the very best Jim
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