Hello all

[Laurasmith]

I have a 2010. vellfire. We have had a alphard camper before this one. The vellfire seems better on petrol but still thirsty. My main question - is everyones insurance through a broker? And was it over a grand? I am with mark richards they seem good but expensive. Just wanted to see if this is the norm? I also wanted to see how the resale of these goes? No normal dealership seems to want to buy them so where do people go should we ever want to sell her? 

[Daveo]

Hi Laura, I recently insured my 2008 Alphard through Mark Richards for £500.

[BigNev]

Hi Laura, we insured ours with Admiral, via Confused comparison site.

[Michael Brown]

Hello Laura

 

Welcome to the forum

 

Your insurance all depends on age, where you are going to keep your vehicle, where you live and how many accidents you have had in the last 5 years. £1,000. seems relatively cheap to me. Mine is £1,900. March 25 till March 26, then I hope it will come down another £1,000. In 2023 it was £4,200. In 2024 around £3,600. All because I unfortunately had a few claims. Insurance companies tend to right Japanese imports off rather than repair them fearing parts are unobtainable.

So enjoy driving your Vellfire carefully. Back in 2023 the Hybrid Inverter on my Alphard packed up redendering the vehicle useless. I'd paid £9,500. in August 2022. On reccommendation from Colin Campbell who services Alfie, he suggested a guy called Peter Holland, he runs a business out of Southbourne nr Emsworth specialising in car electrics . www.brightsparkautomotive.co.uk  I took Alfie to him. He reported back that that the Inverter was beyond repair and followed it up by saying the Inverters were still made in Japan. Costing £5,200. including shipping and VAT. So I took out a bank loan and the Hybrid Inverter was ordered. 2.5 weeks later Alfie was given a new Inverter, like being given a new heart. No problems since apart from a couople of punctures and a new battery.

 

Happy motoring

[Laurasmith]

Wow thats a-lot of dedication from you! Its my dads vehicle really i just write on here for him as he’s not great on phones. 
the vellfire isn’t a hybrid so hopefully we should avoid Such costs! I will tell my dad that our insurance is definitely lower than some people. Thank you for taking the time to reply to me. Izzey may is treating us well at the moment! The 7 seater is mainly needed as my mum has a walking frame due to deteriorating hips. I also have my son ,7 in the van most days. We really liked our camper Alphard but had to give her back to the dealer as the petrol was just nuts! 
 

this one seems better! I can imagine parts are expensive we came from Lexus to the alphard/ vellfire world! We have only had japanese cars and i worked for Toyota for years so know the quality we are dealing with. They are a fabulous vehicle but the uk motor trade seems to be scared to touch them . Shame made better than most new vehicles on the road in my opinion. Have a great day and behave Alfie! X

[Rojie]

16 hours ago, Laurasmith said:

I have a 2010. vellfire. We have had a alphard camper before this one. The vellfire seems better on petrol but still thirsty. My main question - is everyones insurance through a broker? And was it over a grand? I am with mark richards they seem good but expensive. Just wanted to see if this is the norm? I also wanted to see how the resale of these goes? No normal dealership seems to want to buy them so where do people go should we ever want to sell her? 

 

No. You do not have to use brokers, but they can save you a lot of time, if not money,

 

I pay about £350 for a V6 camper; only condition is I have to have a gas safety certificate; not a habitation certificate.

 

You could try to sell on this Forum; distance being to only challenge.

[Michael Brown]

My Hybrid is a 2.4 and I get 35 -40 mpg which is good compared to the 32 mpg I was getting for my last vehicle 2.4  2004 Toyota Estima

[Laurasmith]

Thats good! I think due to driving  lexus etx for 20 years you get used to very good mpg but the weight are considerably different. 

[BigNev]

5 hours ago, Michael Brown said:

My Hybrid is a 2.4 and I get 35 -40 mpg which is good compared to the 32 mpg I was getting for my last vehicle 2.4  2004 Toyota Estima

Harrumph, we get 20 to 25, 😆 lol!!

Edited May 10 by BigNev