Rojie

4 hours ago, justin_n said:

Hi, 

 

I'm new to the forum and would like to know which Alphard variant I should be trying to find. 

 

Which is the most reliable and best fuel consumption. There is the 2.4, 3.0 and which generation before 2009 or after 2009? 90% of the time this will be used as a family car doing short runs.

 

My budget is max £10k. I am looking for a comfy 7 seater Toyota.

 

 

 

Also I previously owned a Hilux 3.0d4d auto. Does an Alphard have similar reliability?

 

 

thank you

Hi Justin,

Welcome to the Forum.

What is known as the Gen 1 ran from 2003 to July 2008, with a facelifted upgrade in 2005.

Several cosmetic changes were implemented. The gearbox of the 3 litre was increased from 4 to 5 speeds.

I think the 2.4 remained 4 speed.

Gen 2 from 2008 to 2015 is a very similar vehicle but with different body panels, seats and larger engines.

I believe there was a facelift in 2011.

Seven seaters are available in both models.

There are not many Gen 3 vehicles around yet, so my comments do not refer to that model.

Being a Toyota, all Alphards and Vellfires, imho, are equally reliable. Whether that is better, or worst, than a Hilux I have no idea !

At your budget you should have a large choice of Gen 1 vans, and some early Gen 2 ones too (just).

There are all petrol, no diesels. Quiet and vibration free (almost).

I feel sure you'll receive many other opinions from experienced users.

Good Luck.

The only concern some owners have about the 3 litre V6 is the cams are belt driven. The other engines are chain driven

7 hours ago, Ian24 said:

All done, absolutely stunning job.😎😊

Beautiful. Well worth the wait.

7 hours ago, Alphard Club said:

Wow thats amazing job, also cool to see 3 rear seats, given me an idea now

 

Also, i had this idea of keeping the sunroof and adding a poptop without cutting the roof. use the sunroof to gain access.. wonder if that would work??

Great idea.

I guess it depends how strong the roof area is around the moon roof.

Not designed to bear the localised weight but certainly designed to protect the occupants in an rollover accident

Please send me a PM and I'll give you the contact details of the convertor I use, and recommend wholehaertedly.

He has fitted many pop tops, several different brands too.

I feel sure he could help you decide.

Sorry, but he won't be able to actually do the work as he is far too busy !!

1 hour ago, starider said:

Hi,

When our Alphard is not used for a period of time, especially during winter months, there is always a little concern about the battery discharging, so as all our farm machinery is individually connected [via a cigarette lighter socket] to a 1.5amp trickle charger, which keeps the batteries topped up when the machines are not in use, I have decided to fit a socket in the Alphard. The lighter socket fitted as standard only works with the ignition on, so I have fitted a socket in the drop down pocket to the right of the steering wheel and connected to the battery via an extra fuse box.

Toolstation can supply the charger.

I have 6 chargers around and just switch them on occasionally for a few days.

Hi Starider,

I bought a new charger recently as my then current (pun intended) one had been used by Henry Ford !

Having done some research, as we all do, I discovered my main battery is a Lead Calcium variety.

Those, according to what I was able to discover, require a higher output voltage from the charger, otherwise they will never reach full charge (which may, or may not, be of concern).

Accordingly, my lastest new charger outputs a significantly higher voltage than the more usual chargers.

I have also been thinking of winter charging.

I intend to fit the new charger in the van, plug into my EHU and keep the leisure battery topped up.

Thereby the van will be on constant trickle charge.

Actually, I need to check, I think the charger turns itself off after 10 days; so I need to be careful.

As you and I have a similar model, I have also been thinking of fitting a cigarette socket (fused but not wired through the ignition) to power another charger powered by another EHU socket ( I have 5 !). I also have several cigarette sockets but the are all wired across the leisure battery.

Accordingly, I could charge both batteries independently, all for the cost of another charger, without touching either set of battery terminals.

Plug in to the EHU and go.

This technique will also automatically operate when hooked up to an EHU at campsite (or anywhere with 230v).

Great minds ....

Food for Thought.

If I am overlooking anything, please let me know before I smoke something !

6 minutes ago, Alphard Club said:

Rather than posting it externally we can create an Common FAQ section, something i have been meaning to do for a while and is on my mind to do soon as well as guides section for questions just like this.

Thanks, Alphard Club,  for looking into this suggestion by Teekay.

29 minutes ago, Lucky87 said:

 

I was as surprised as you are.

 

Method was:
I collected the vehicle from seller on 12th April and filled the tank from empty to the brim with the supreme fuel which cost me £107 Approx. I recorded the mileage (km) at the filling station. 
 

When the tank was between a third and a half full I topped it up (to the brim again) with 33.2 litres of the low grade fuel. (The km had gone up by 268km) Therefore indicating I had used 33.2 litres of the E5 since filling up the first time. 

 

I then used the second batch of fuel (which would have been a mix of the two - roughly 60% E10 to 40% E5)

 

I then filled up the vehicle a third time, this time when the light came on the vehicle took 60.9 litres to refill and I had driven a further 272km since fill up number 2. 
 

I was very surprised by the results, I did use the air con slightly more in the second period and I was driving more frequent short journeys as opposed to the first time.  
 

I drive minibuses frequently as part of my job and have been trained to be very light footed on the gas/brakes. My style of driving could be described as a snail on Valium.

 

This being said I really noticed the difference between the two fuels, the vehicle purred and drove beautifully on the supreme, it felt like acceleration was slightly more erratic and the engine felt like it wasn’t as smooth on the E10. 

I have now refuelled with E5 and will repeat the process.  I am unsure if Esso in Cornwall sell 97 Octane or 99 Octane fuel but whatever it was it ran beautifully. 
 

This third time I filled up with 97 Octane E5 from Texaco. Unfortunately the closest Esso from where I live is 25 miles away.  I will definitely fill up there again if I am in that area though. 

Small point for your awareness.

As I have previously posted elsewhere on the Forum, most E5 sold in England has no ethanol.

However, almost certainly, Cornish E5 does !

1 hour ago, Torq2u said:

Jenny asked about tailgate AND sliding doors.

 

I am interested in what to use to lubricate the doors which could be running more smoothly than they are - and so maybe overloading the motor? I think grease could collect dirt and clog the sliders up. So, silicone spray or WD40?

 

I used silicone spray on my tailgate struts and that cured the squeaking.

I don't believe my door slides need lubricating; but I am very interested in any suggestions for when they do.

The garage that services one od my cars uses white grease on door hinges etc.

It makes a real mess !!!

Hello Heather,

Welcome to the Forum.

Do you mean you cannot shift the gear shift except into the drive position, and then there is no movement of the vehicle.

This might be one for picasso

Please send him a PM if he doesn't reply to this thread.

2 hours ago, Thys said:

2007

3l v6 G model 

Mostly urban on cornish lanes

A very disappointing 😔 18mpg. I use E5 and E10 

T

 

Hi Thys,

You have a 5 speed auto; so I doubt you ever get into 5th gear !

32 minutes ago, R4v3n said:

Well economy is a question of price for 100km (or for 60 miles in your case). And fuel price is a question of taxes.
Ecology is another problem. E85 is emitting way less co² than any other fuel, but is emitting a bit more HC than regular (but it's still nothing compared to diesel).

BTW, E85 is very interesting for racing thanks to his burning temperature and his knock resistance.

Forgive me, but what is E85, 85 Octane ?

If E85 is what I think it is, 85 per cent ethanol, my guess is unless you have a drag racer, you have no need for it.

2 hours ago, R4v3n said:

Oh ok, I understand so.
Living in France, the majority of our highways are limited to 81 mph, so consumption is way higher.

As other members have said, the way to economy is 60mph.

Unless doing vast distances, and France is a large country, extra journey time is significantly compensated for by increased economy.

Especially for us pensioners !

32 minutes ago, Teekay said:

Issue is date of manufacture is not on auction sheet. So I'm not sure how to find out.

 

Also dvla want some BIMTA certificate - not sure what that involves. Might have to look up / call them.

No it isn't !

So either the DVLA has access to a 'Japanese' database, or as the delay between manufacture and registration is normally quite short; maybe they just ignore the difference.

I don't know. Interesting.

I assume you are importing your vehicle yourself ?

You need advice from someone that has done it before.

BIMTA, I believe, is a mileage certification. I don't know, but should, where they are created.

Hopefully someone on this Forum will help you

35 minutes ago, Teekay said:

Thanks Rojie. Hard to find this detail online.

Car from Japan Google.

Good site.

7 minutes ago, starider said:

Hi, Just had 4 days away on the Caravan and Motorhome Club's excellent site at Merrose Farm near St Mawes, Cornwall. All went very well,the awning worked a treat and made us realise that an electric air pump would be a pointless expense, as the hand pump supplied with the awning is perfectly adequate. The magnetic awning rail worked quite well,but we're considering a fixed rail.

All in all an enjoyable mini break!

 

 

 

 

 

River Fal. Very nice.

1 hour ago, Teekay said:

Hi I've tried hard but can't find launch date of Alphard 350G Executive package. Can anyone help or point to some relevant sources to look up? Thanks 

January 2015.

There was a Gen 1 version too.

Gen 2? Don't know, probably.

On 12/15/2021 at 5:16 PM, dezufo said:

Apart from some minor changes like the Grille, the V on the tailgate denotes supplied by an Independant dealership and the G is a Toyota owned dealership, but there are also MZ "G editions" but that is shown on the chassis number

 

I have a MZ G with gold badges; but I think that is a dealer option coincidence, not a 'specification' difference.

1 hour ago, Teekay said:

So dvla said 10 year is from date of manufacture.

Very interesting.

I am glad you followed through on it.

In the case we discussed, it is very unusual for the gap to be so long.

1 hour ago, Teekay said:

Cheers Rojie if I can retain the car in as much original specs, that will be my preference. Making notes on plan of action.

 

Ideally would take it to the best person / establishment in UK who can do almost everything needed in one go. Install camera, fogs, usb points, 110v convertor, chip for speed etc. These contacts could all go into Alphie scribbles spreadsheet.

 

Anyone knows best place for this in or around Southampton? As soon car is delivered, try to get things done in one go

Do you mean a dash cam and rear fog lights ?

What do you mean 110v converter ?

There is an importer in Southampton, affiliated to the Uxbridge one I believe, who may be able to undertake the work for you.

There is also a campervan converter on the IOW which might consider the work, although it is not their main activity.

I have referred your spreadsheet idea to the Owner and await his response.

3 hours ago, OldWellhouse said:

I wasn't sure whether to go with Camphard or Campard, but felt dropping the h was best. 

I agree.

4 hours ago, Ian Thomson said:

Is this model suitable for LPG conversion? If so please could you direct me towards a recommended installer with some indication of the cost. Thanks  Ian

Hello Ian,

Welcome to the Forum

Hi TK,

Fits behind the head unit so you won't see it anyway.

Very fiddly job on a Gen 1. 

There are Youtube videos that cover the fitting. Cuttothechase

Not sure how easy, or if applicable, on a Gen 2

Hello Stewie,

Welcome to the Forum.

I think your description "Campard" is a fantastic term.

Please excuse me if I use it herein in future.

On 5/9/2022 at 1:29 PM, Teekay said:

TM trading seemed like genuine and large seller. Might be worth stopping by.

 

"Crystal Ball" question - with recession / slow down heading our way, is it possible we might be drop in prices in coming months / post summer months

Price drop ? Imho, no.

I believe we will see price pressure as more and more discover how good these vehicles are; a true luxury MPV.

If petrol prices go horrendous, that, imho, could depress prices by lowering demand.

2 hours ago, Teekay said:

Morning Rojie instead of one / few bearing the cross, community effort works best. It is not as hard as it looks. Example this can be freely edited by anyone and can be really good meeting ground -> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rclJkgZ2UZnSORT2u7Csl8w3lS8IQdIt9cau8p16R48/edit?usp=sharing

Please try let's see if it works 

Looks interesting.

Where is the data storage ? How is it Moderated ?

Although members would have write access, who would have delete access ?

I still can anticipate a potential proliferation issue as the Q&A base expands.

What do other members think ?