Michael Brown

Well done in sorting out the problem you had, but, sorry what is sugru ?

Niot heard of that one, do you have a picture of what it looks like ?

I am insured with Aviva

Cost of insurances depend on age, where you are, how much damage to your vehicle in an accident, trouble free driving etc etc. Insurance companies are inclined to write your motor off rather than repair it. I have only ever had fully comprehensive insurance and unfortunately a claim was made against me several years ago after I misjudged moving my Estima in a hospital car park. I washed the paint from another car off my bodywork, the other driver claimed £1000. from my insurance because the cars touched each other and his paintwork on his plastic bumper was little damaged. Then my insurance wrote off the next 2 Estimas. Not had anoer accident since June 2022. Then I changed to an Alphard. I got an insurance quote for £1,500. on top of the £565. I had paid for the Estima. When it came up for renewal in March 2023, an eye wateruing £4,200. At renewal in March 2024 £3,600. As i had had a new Hybrid Inverter fitted April/May 2023, I wanted to get my monies worth. Alfie is driving very well apart from the trailing arms still to be replaced, 2 weeks time. If my insurance is not greatly reduced in March 2025, I will be looking to change vehicles and not an import. The insurance companies have gotten their monies back from paying me out over the 2 write offs. I am now 73.

I'd better take a picture of mine tomorrow. I have the Alphard carpet that came in the vehicle, matching the trim colour. My pedals are the same as yours Paul

I occasionally find my right foot slips off the accelarator pedal, especially at the wrong moment. For instance when pulling away at a junction when you need that extra umpff ! Has anyone else experienced this ?

I had Pirrelli P7's on my Mk2 Estima's 215/60/16 and put in 35 psi. I cannot seem to get Pirrelli P7's for the Alphard, So I have 4 x 205/65/16 and put in 36 - 38 psi. My Alfie is invariably loaded up

Go on DVLA website and present your registration plate, it should tell you if you are compliant or not

Try one of the many AutoFactors. Many years ago I had a Mk2 Estima and someone in Japan had tried to lower the Estima to the road. I changed all the suspension and struts to original Spec and had no difficulty obtaining what I needed

Change the aerial to a digital one as the aerial inbedded in one of the rear side windows is trying to pick up a different frequency

My Hybrid runs at showing 3 green bars most of the time and only shows 4 bars if i am going down a long hill foot braking steadily, the regenerating power fills the power bank to capacity. Then at the bottom of hill the engine cuts out and one is driving on the batteries until one gets to the 3 bars again and the engine kicks in.

Road Tax currently £325. for 12 months

I oil the runners , and moving mechanisms from time to time. I use WD40, spray the latching too. Most Toyota dealers will not touch imports with a barge pole, but some will. Its just finding the ones that will and hang onto them, for the future problems.

Welcome to the Forum Little did I know the Hybrid Inverter on mine was to pack up 6 months into ownership. The guy I got to work on Alfie, a chap called Peter Holland was an auto electrical engineer. He could not fix it but suggested that the Inverter was still being made in Japan and £5,200. would buy one including VAT and shipping. I don't have that kind of money so I took out a bank loan and paid Peter upfront. 2.5 weeks later it arrived. It cost £350. odd to have it fitted, test run. Not had another problem apart from the odd puncture and the new Inverter should be good for 10 years or more. So good luck in your quest to find a vehicle you like

Could you give us some more information to the problem please. welcome to the Forum

You are buying a 15 year old Velfire / Alphard, you cannot expect a brand new vehicle for your money. I have found in the past the Japanese driver will have looked after the vehicle for many years, before you, servicing it etc, maybe putting options on. So you buy it and something goes wrong within first 6 months, get it sorted. I drove around several dealers and ended up buying my 2007 2.4 Alphard Hybrid from a dealer in Exeter. I looked at the tread on the tyres, started it up, it was smooth running. I did not test drive it. I gave the dealer a £500 deposit and asked him to deliver it, which he did. I fell in love with it and if anyting goes wrong with it I will get it fixed.

This las Thursday I drove 520 miles back from Scotland since my last fill up. A75, M6, M6 Toll, M42, M40, 70 - 75mph except where limited in road works, A3400, then A34, A272, then country roads on 61 Litres of E10. Just over 38 miles to the gallon, okay I thought

I drove home okay, did not speed. Colin rang me on thurs 19th to say the new bushes had not arrived yet, but to take it round to him and he would have a look see. After inspection he said who had told me that they needed replacing, as they were okay for now and not to worry. So when Colin receives the bushes, I will get the job done anyway. I have used Colin Campbell, CMC Autos, Sidlesham 01243 64196 on my previous Estimas and now he looks after Alfie. It was Colin who introduced me to Peter Holland @ Bright Spark Autos 07774 152660 about my Hybrid Inverter, which was replaced last year. Colin also introduced me to Joel at Sidlesham Tyres 01243 641986, who has saved me a bundle of money on tyre buying over the last few years. For instance Kwik Fit charged me £502. for 4 Pirrelli tyres 215/60/16 fitted and when I came to replace them I rang Joel and was quoted £360. for the same tyres, been using him ever since. Reccommendations are a powerful thing.

I bought a year 2000 W reg 2.4 Litre Estima, which had the 2 sun roofs in 2011, The front tilt up one leaked like a sieve especially if the vehicke was parked on a cambered road. I remember visiting a butchers in Stratford and it was throwing it down with rain outside and whilst in the Q I could see water pouring into vehicle. When I got in, the front passenger seat was soaked. After that I found the drain holes and ran a 2.8mm strimmer line down the tubes. I'd had to lift out the sunroof to clean the tubes. Later I replaced the front sunroof and it did not leak again. One of the uses for front sunroof was I used to have it open when camping and I slept in the Estima on a bed I'd made. The next Estima was a tin top as is my present Alphard.

There are 2 named drivers on Mothers insurance policy, hers and mine

When isters Toyota rang me on tuesday to say they neded Alfie for 2 days and not 1, why they had to wait 3 weeks to tell me that beats me. Not only shifting the work to October 14 & 15th October but the price had shot up too to around £1,284. from around £836. I was not prepared to wait so cancelled the job. If I had discovered the trailing arm bushes wanting changing and Alfie was at home I'd have asked Colin back in August 19th, but it was whilst at Mothers house in Stratford I had the problem. I will report back when fixed. I have been using Mothers Auris since 19th August.

My local mechanic near my home is going to do the work needed thursday 19th Sept, I said to him does it matter that its a hybrid and he said no. So I will now take it home next week, fingers crossed it can be done. I have not driven it since being told that they needed replacing as I don't know when they broke. In fact only 1 has broken so far, but I will have both of them replaced at the same time.

Unfortunately Listers are off my list of trustworthy garages. Mine was due in this coming thursday to have the trailing arm bushes replaced on the back and they have just rung me to apologise that they could not do the work , as they now say they want the vehicle in for 2 days and now cannot do the work till around the 14th October. Which is no good to me. I had planned a lot of driving for Alfie. Now I am going to limp home with it tomorrow and try and get it fixed by my local mechanic.

Depends on your budget to relace your Granvia, because the newer the vehicle you buy the better. I bought my Alphard 2 years ago and it cost me £9,500. which is the most I have paid for a car ever. I understand from other members the Mk2 Alphard from 2008 is a good one or Mk 3 from 2015 onwards is good too. I personally don't like the heavy chromed frontages of the newer ones. I wish you luck in looking. If it does not have a BIMTA ( British Independant Motors Association ) get one done. at least you will know if its been clocked, KM, Milage wound back. Or use the CAR VX as advertised on this site.

By the time any imported vehicles come over to UK, they will be of an age when things start to wear out and need replacing. I have found the 2.4 engine more than adequate for my needs. The most expensive part I have replaced is the Inverter on my 07 Hybrid, as it could not be repaired. But at least it should give me 10 years trouble free motoring. Until something else goes wrong with it. The Alphard is a lovely vehicle to drive and comfortable too. I get 35 - 40 mpg. So good luck in your quest