About to pull the trigger on 2005 hybrid...

[Bracey]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505011924596?sort=price-asc&searchId=90d94c64-1168-4192-bab9-802def02e416&advertising-location=at_cars&fuel-type=Petrol Hybrid&make=Toyota&model=Alphard&postcode=L392ef&fromsra

Hello, this is my first post on here.  I've been looking at 8 seater imports for a little while and settled on Alphards.  

 

I went to have a look at this car today.  Does anyone know this car?  

 

I believe it has only been in the UK since last year and was first registered in March.  Apparently [so I was told] the previous owner traded it in for something smaller because his wife found it too big to drive.  

 

I haven't done a CarVX check on it yet. 

 

Can any of you more experienced people please give your opinion on the vehicle based on the advert?

 

The mileage seems low - unusually low for a 20 year old car and one video I watched suggested that under-use can be detrimental to a hybrid battery.  I haven't had chance to scrutinize the Japanese paperwork that came with it using Google Translate.  

 

The body condition looked absolutely mint, without a blemish.  Underneath looked like new too.  

All the electrics seemed to work, with loads of parking cameras and both electric doors worked, although the offside door needed a slight nudge to get it started.  

I test drove it and it felt like a new car to drive.  Very smooth, the CVT did its thing and at slower speeds the electric motor seemed to take over.  

 

Is it a fair price from a dealer for the mileage?

 

 

Cheers, Neil 
 

[Gamith]

As the description only says "Imported 2024, 8 seats, petrol/hybrid, good condition, starts and drives brilliant Vehicle registered: 01/03/2024" there isn't much to go on. It does look like a 2005 model but it has been imported in 2024? that strikes me as a little strange as my 2005 was imported in 2018 so I would have expected this to be the same.

That could be because it has been sitting in someones garage doing nothing for 10 years or maybe it was first exported to another country and then imported here? Either way the CarVX would give some useful info such as when it was auctioned etc.

Mine is not a hybrid so I am also not sure whether the tail gate light arrangement and the central console are typical hybrid features or not.

Check that the fog lights work (looks to have been fitted as original) and I see the cruise control is fitted so it looks like it has got quite a few of the extras fitted.

On the face of it the price is reasonable - though it's still a 20 year old vehicle of course.

You may want to see about changing the heads unit (or learn Japanese) but that's it's own minefield if you want to keep all the functionality - for instance I see the button on the steering-wheel for the front cameras has been replaced with one for 360 degree view - at least that is what it looks like, and it seems that getting all the functionality is difficult. 

I would wait for someone to comment on the low mileage / hybrid side of things as I can't help there I'm afraid.

 

 

 

[Rojie]

7 hours ago, Bracey said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505011924596?sort=price-asc&searchId=90d94c64-1168-4192-bab9-802def02e416&advertising-location=at_cars&fuel-type=Petrol Hybrid&make=Toyota&model=Alphard&postcode=L392ef&fromsra

Hello, this is my first post on here.  I've been looking at 8 seater imports for a little while and settled on Alphards.  

 

I went to have a look at this car today.  Does anyone know this car?  

 

I believe it has only been in the UK since last year and was first registered in March.  Apparently [so I was told] the previous owner traded it in for something smaller because his wife found it too big to drive.  

 

I haven't done a CarVX check on it yet. 

 

Can any of you more experienced people please give your opinion on the vehicle based on the advert?

 

The mileage seems low - unusually low for a 20 year old car and one video I watched suggested that under-use can be detrimental to a hybrid battery.  I haven't had chance to scrutinize the Japanese paperwork that came with it using Google Translate.  

 

The body condition looked absolutely mint, without a blemish.  Underneath looked like new too.  

All the electrics seemed to work, with loads of parking cameras and both electric doors worked, although the offside door needed a slight nudge to get it started.  

I test drove it and it felt like a new car to drive.  Very smooth, the CVT did its thing and at slower speeds the electric motor seemed to take over.  

 

Is it a fair price from a dealer for the mileage?

 

 

Cheers, Neil 
 

 

Hello Neil,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

The van was imported in March 2024.

 

These earlier hybrid vans tend to be high risk in terms of battery repair / replacement costs.

People capable of such repairs are rare, and quite busy.

 

As this van has been traded in, I would focus on the warranty.

Check it minutely, make sure you know what is covered and what is not.

 

You may wish to review Michael Brown's threads in the Forum with respect to his hybrid experiences.

 

If you do proceed, it will need undersealing.

Actually, that should have been done by the importer.

 

Also, regarding the low mileage; you need sight of the Auction Certificate (required for the van to have been exported from Japan).

If the vehicle is registering miles, rather than kilometres, it will have had a conversion chip fitted.

Doing such provides an opportunity for the unscrupulous to adjust the distance recorded.

 

Whatever you decide. Good Luck.

[Michael Brown]

Nice looking Alphard Hybrid, mileage to good to be true. You could also get a BIMTA check (British Independant Motor Trades Assosiation ). They can do a mileage check dockside in Japan or a fulll check of the vehicle. I had a mileage check done on a Toyota Estima that had 65,000 miles on the ODO. I did not get the check done till I'd had it a few years and 67,000 miles had been removed. When I bought the Mk2 Estima in 2011, it was a 2000 model. All the imported Estima's at the time had around 65,000 miles on the ODO, definately worth getting a mileage checked at least.

 

You should look up Alfies reg no on DVLA to see if its compliant to take into cities and not have to pay any clean air charges.

 

Good luck in your quest 

[Bracey]

19 hours ago, Michael Brown said:

Nice looking Alphard Hybrid, mileage to good to be true. You could also get a BIMTA check (British Independant Motor Trades Assosiation ). They can do a mileage check dockside in Japan or a fulll check of the vehicle. I had a mileage check done on a Toyota Estima that had 65,000 miles on the ODO. I did not get the check done till I'd had it a few years and 67,000 miles had been removed. When I bought the Mk2 Estima in 2011, it was a 2000 model. All the imported Estima's at the time had around 65,000 miles on the ODO, definately worth getting a mileage checked at least.

 

You should look up Alfies reg no on DVLA to see if its compliant to take into cities and not have to pay any clean air charges.

 

Good luck in your quest 

Thanks for the advice.  

 

I've had the CarVX results back and it shows the mileage as being correct, looking at previous Inspection data.  It had the cleanest looking engine bay of any car I've seen, and not like someone has just jet washed it.   There's grease on earthing connections etc.  

[Michael Brown]

Yes go ahead and buy it, not forgetting the vhicle is 20 years old and you would be extreamly unlucky for something to go wrong or breakdown after you have bought it. Do you have breakdown and recovery  on the vehicles you drive. Well worth having it just in case. I only had my Alphard for 6 months and the Hybrid Inverter packed up. A costly repair. £5,200. for the Inverter and about £500 to strip it down, fit new Inverter, do the codes. Like giving Alfie a new heart.

 

Thanks for showing us all those nice pictures and good luck.

[Bracey]

Michael, I appreciate you taking the time to comment.  It sounds like you had rotten luck with your own Alphard, but eventually got it sorted (at considerable expense!) and I am trying to digest all the comments on here to make an informed decision about the purchase. 

 

I've read that the reason for a lot of Jap cars being exported around the 65k mark is the Shaken Law and the super costly and rigorous inspections for older cars once they reach that kind of age and mileage.  According to the CarVX report, the one I'm looking at was auctioned at 65,548 in August 2023 and I can see evidence of inspections going back a few years with the mileage increasing by a small amount each time. It certainly tallies with a current indicated mileage (kilometerage?) of around 71k. 

 

I have also found evidence of 5 different Toyota recalls having been carried out on the car since 2009.  These were obtained via a link to Toyota Japan.  It includes two for the airbags, one for the inverter coolant pump, one for the braking computer and something else I've forgotten.        

 

I have a few questions if you have the time. 

 

• In your earlier reply, did you mean that although your van was showing 65,000km, the true mileage was actually 67k higher at around 132,000km?
• What first made you realise that there was an issue with the inverter?  
• What MPG are you getting now that it is all running well?

 

Cheers, 
Neil 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 10:15 AM by Bracey
Terrible spelling. I was ashamed

[Rojie]

As Michael says, DLVA will help.

 

The Gen 1, non-facelift, is generally not compliant.

Whereas the Gen 1 facelift is.

 

Check on DVLA when the van was made; not when it was imported.

 

The general consensus of opinion is the change occurred about July / September 2005.

[Bracey]

5 minutes ago, Rojie said:

As Michael says, DLVA will help.

 

The Gen 1, non-facelift, is generally not compliant.

Whereas the Gen 1 facelift is.

 

Check on DVLA when the van was made; not when it was imported.

 

The general consensus of opinion is the change occurred about July / September 2005.

Thanks Rojie. 

 

I know the van was manufactured in September 2005 from the CarVX report and other checks.  

 

I have to admit that the compliance you're referring to is not something I've been considering but I don't think it will be compliant and I suspect we will have to pay clean air charges in the cities that enforce them - is that what you're referring to?

Edited yesterday at 10:21 AM by Bracey

[Rojie]

3 minutes ago, Bracey said:

Thanks Rojie. 

 

I know the van was manufactured in 2005, first registered in Japan in August of that year.  

 

I have to admit that the compliance you're referring to is not something I've been considering but I don't think it will be compliant and I suspect we will have to pay clean air charges in the cities that enforce them.  

 

If you photograph the rear light clusters, we should be able to tell you which variant you have.

The early vans have smaller light clusters.

 

My guess is yours is facelifted; and, if so, should be compliant.

 

Check your registration on TfL, Transport for London.

[Bracey]

9 minutes ago, Rojie said:

 

If you photograph the rear light clusters, we should be able to tell you which variant you have.

The early vans have smaller light clusters.

 

My guess is yours is facelifted; and, if so, should be compliant.

 

Check your registration on TfL, Transport for London.

 

There are photos of the rear light cluster further up the thread.  

 

I've just checked and the Ulez charges and congestion charges apply to this one.  I live in the North West, so currently we don't get penalized for driving older cars round here.  I do have an EV if we needed to go somewhere that did charge.

Edited yesterday at 10:32 AM by Bracey

[Rojie]

4 minutes ago, Bracey said:

 

There are photos of the rear light cluster further up the thread.  

 

I've just checked and the Ulez charges and congestion charges apply to this one.  I live in the North West, so currently we don't get penalized for driving older cars round here.  I do have an EV if we needed to go somewhere that did charge.

 

Sorry, so there are. Gen 1 non-facelift.

[PaulE]

My 2005 hybrid (December 55 plate) had 62 K miles on it when I bought it from a reputable dealer but required the HV battery to be repaired at 67k miles . HV batteries do need attention and can require this as little as 50k miles. I also needed the the inverter cooling pump replacing shortly after so was expensive but I have come to realise these vehicles will need money spending on them. There are many vehicles out there- don't buy the first one you see- do a lot of homework first. When I bought mine 4 years ago there wasn't as much info as there is now. Better buy a 2.4 petrol rather than the hybrid if you can unless it is a a very good price. Take your time and look around. Buy from a reputable dealer as there are a lot of scammers about. Good luck.

[Michael Brown]

Hello  Neil

 

35 - 40 mpg

I had broken down  and Alfie had to be ferried home on an RAC breakdown lorry. Peter Holland came highly recommended to check Alfie over, so I had it ferried over to his workshop in Southbourne nr Emsworth. Where he stripped it down  after testing the Inverter, he rang me to say the Inverter was beyond repair as he had no needed parts and could not obtain any. Then he said the Inverter was still available in Japan and to ship one over including taxes and delivery charge it would be £5,200. + a fitting charge and set up. I said leave it with me. I rang my bank and managed to get a loan. I then rang Peter back as he wanted the funds to order the Inverter. It took two and a half weeks for it to come. Peter then phoned me to say it was ready to collect.

 

Since then I have had no motor/engine problems, but have had a few punctures and had the rear trailing arm bushes replaced and Colin Campbell my local motor mechanic replaced them, he had made a tool to extract the bushes, he said they were a swine to do.

 

In 2011 I joined the Toyota Estima Club and in around 2013 a lady reported that she had used BIMTA to check on her mileage and her Estima had been clocked, so I thought it wise to get mine checked. BIMTA charged me £10. for a milege check ex dockside in Japan and gave the true mileage, I was not too happy. By having a lower recorded milage meant the Vendor could sell at a higher price.

 

So be aware.

[Bracey]

12 hours ago, PaulE said:

My 2005 hybrid (December 55 plate) had 62 K miles on it when I bought it from a reputable dealer but required the HV battery to be repaired at 67k miles . HV batteries do need attention and can require this as little as 50k miles. I also needed the the inverter cooling pump replacing shortly after so was expensive but I have come to realise these vehicles will need money spending on them. There are many vehicles out there- don't buy the first one you see- do a lot of homework first. When I bought mine 4 years ago there wasn't as much info as there is now. Better buy a 2.4 petrol rather than the hybrid if you can unless it is a a very good price. Take your time and look around. Buy from a reputable dealer as there are a lot of scammers about. Good luck.

Paul, do you remember how much did it cost to get the HV battery and the inverter cooling pump repaired?

[PaulE]

It's a couple of years or so ago but the HV battery was repaired by Mark at Hybrid Repairs Torquay and was just under £1000 ( a bargain I thought as he came out twice to take it away and return it)- if you need advice on Hybrids of any type there is no one better. The inverter pump cost £249 at the time and my local garage fitted it (with instructions from Mark) and they charged about a £100 (plus I had to buy Toyota pink fluid to top up).

 

Be aware that some parts for series 1 hybrid are getting very expensive and or difficult to obtain new or are in fact no longer made. My AC compressor has gone west and it is no longer available from Toyota (the last price was £1400). I had to replace the V belt tensioner last year and that was no longer in production but I managed to get one at £500 plus fitting (plus £50 for a new V belt). Parts for the Series 1 petrol 2.4 appear to be much cheaper and easier to get. In my experience the MPG difference between the hybrid and petrol only is negligible especially on motorway driving. 

 

If you are in the Northwest of England there is a company called Aikotech in Wigan who appear to specialise in Alphard Hybrids and seem to have a good write up on other forums.

[Rojie]

7 hours ago, PaulE said:

It's a couple of years or so ago but the HV battery was repaired by Mark at Hybrid Repairs Torquay and was just under £1000 ( a bargain I thought as he came out twice to take it away and return it)- if you need advice on Hybrids of any type there is no one better. The inverter pump cost £249 at the time and my local garage fitted it (with instructions from Mark) and they charged about a £100 (plus I had to buy Toyota pink fluid to top up).

 

Be aware that some parts for series 1 hybrid are getting very expensive and or difficult to obtain new or are in fact no longer made. My AC compressor has gone west and it is no longer available from Toyota (the last price was £1400). I had to replace the V belt tensioner last year and that was no longer in production but I managed to get one at £500 plus fitting (plus £50 for a new V belt). Parts for the Series 1 petrol 2.4 appear to be much cheaper and easier to get. In my experience the MPG difference between the hybrid and petrol only is negligible especially on motorway driving. 

 

If you are in the Northwest of England there is a company called Aikotech in Wigan who appear to specialise in Alphard Hybrids and seem to have a good write up on other forums.

 

I believe Mark is now based in Exeter.

 

In my humble opinion, the best way to check mileage, in kilometres, is the Auction Sheet.

If the vehicle has been clocked before then it, obviously, will not be highlighted.

 

If CarVX, BITMA, or other reports, investigate service history then that will be even better.

 

My experience with CarVX, as I remember, did not report on (official) Service History; but I may be wrong in that recollection.