arthurj

The hybrid shows extra information on the head unit, like battery charge and electric motor status. If you replace the head unit you lose that information. There are services that can add CarPlay / android auto while keeping the original Japanese head unit. The question is whether you find the hybrid info useful.

I think it’s free and the cable you need isn’t expensive. I found some links, but I haven’t tried it. Worth watching the videos. https://www.masconit.com/toyota-techstream-software/

Figured as much. Thanks for the info!

Does anyone have this style of seat? I’m aiming to do the thing where you fold the seats flat and put an air mattress on top. I was just wondering if this style of seat can be made to fold flat at all, the arm rests look pretty solid. Perhaps they can be removed or made to fold down?

I don’t think it counts as an import if you’re bringing it here because you’re moving here. At least, if you’re taxed on the import it won’t be the same tax as you’d pay as if you were buying a car here from Japan (or HK). Normally when you relocate you declare what you own as you bring it into the new country, and you often don’t pay import tax on it. I think cars are included in this, at least up to a point. If you are moving because of work, see if your relocation agent can help. The UK government website will probably have good information too. If the car is less than 10 years old you’ll need an IVA test (£200 on entry) to make it roadworthy, and every car older than 3 years needs a MOT (£40) every year. You need a MOT to get insurance, you need insurance to drive it on a public road. There are companies at every port that will do MOTs for import vehicles, fit fog lights if needed etc. (if you don’t have rear fog lights you fail your MOT and Japanese cars don’t, not sure about HK)

I had that problem with my Skoda. Was forever down at Sainsbury‘s topping up the tires. When it was time to get new treads I took it to a local tire shop that specialises in alloys and they sealed the alloy when they put the new tires on. Didn’t cost any extra. Haven’t had the problem since.

Thanks for the info. Can I just ask what sort of mpg you get?

I haven’t got one yet but phoned my local Toyota garage and they said they’d have no trouble servicing one when I get it.

So that means any car made after 2010, definitely safe. Probably all the AH20 range is safe as they wouldn’t have released a car in 2008 without making sure it could be sold 2 years later. The 2AZ-FE was used across 1st and 2nd gen models but IIRC had a minor update about 2007, so possibly not safe for 1st gen models? Unlikely though. They might have tweaked the ECU to make it run better in 2nd gen models.

I believe they’re mechanically the same car as the Alphards, with a different badge, face, dash and trim levels, but share the same chassis, engines, suspension. They’re aimed at younger drivers, while Alphards are supposed to be more executive, apparently. They only came in in 2008, so if you’re reading that they’re more durable I guess it’s referring to both Vellfires and Alphards from 2008 onwards vs older Alphards?

I’m torn between a late 1st gen hybrid and an early 2nd gen 2.4l. The first tend to be slightly cheaper but there aren’t as many around. Apart from the fuel efficiency I like the idea of mild 4wd, which I think would be too much for a 2.4. But are there any problems with the hybrids that would make it a pain to live with?

I measured this the other day to see if I could get an airbed in. Roughly 170cm from the back to the the mid seat base with the seats forward, 140cm wide between the wheel arches. Gen1. Where are you thinking of buying from Chalky? Anywhere in the NE?

Headlights is easiest, you can see them on https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Alphard

I’m thinking about buying a post-2008 Alphard or Vellfire but also want the swivel seats, so I’ve been trying to work this out too. You can see the swivel base in the parts catalogue here. That’s for a 2005-2008 gen 1. There are no swivel seat parts that I can see for gen2 models, even the bench seat doesn’t swivel. Even if they stopped selling swivel seats in 2006 I’m sure the seats are still compatible with a 2008 gen 1. Unfortunately I’m not sure whether they’ll fit in a 2008 gen 2.

Hello. I’m looking to buy or import soon. Can anyone recommend a dealer in the North-East? Anyone I should avoid? Similarly, I’d like to know if there’s anywhere nearby I can repair it. Thanks in advance!