Michael Brown

£5,200. including delivery and VAT imported from Japan, plus around £350. to fit and set up. I have been trouble free since. I took out a bank loan to pay for it all.

Mine was off the road for 3 weeks whilst waiting for the new Inverter to be shipped over from Japan and for Peter Holland get it fitted and set up. Had no probems since.

I had a rear view mirror on the first Estima Emina I bought in 2007 very handy it was too for reversing up to my trailer to hook up

The most I have put in is 65 litres. The only way to test the tank is have a can of petrol in the back and run the tank dry noting how long alfie went on the orange reserve light for future

70 Litres

Or try Estima's, many of them had curtains. I have a set at home somewhere, but no rails. I will look them out next time I am home

Your brave, yes at around 10mph the batteries run the Alphard, ideal if you are in a Q of traffic. Occasionally the engine will kick in to either run the vehicle or charge the batteries up. For an Alphard of that age you will have to expect things wear out as I found out earlier this year after breaking down twice and having to have Alfie ferried home via the RAC on a transporter twice, each time a reference was made to the Inverter packing up. 2nd time I broke down I had the Inverter replaced with a brand new one imported from Japan at an eye watering £5,200. including VAT and delivery plus fitting and setting up. I look at it as an investment in Alfie's future. I have had nearly 6 months trouble free since installation and hope it will last at least 10 years. I had speciallists electronics help from a guy called Peter Holland. So good luck with yours when you get it and start looking out for a car electrics expert and someone to service it for you, just in case. Not all car garages work on Hybrids

When Iused to have my previous Estima's MOT'd as well as the MOT certificate you always got a sheet with emissions and other Data on. Not Now, all I got was the MOT Certificate

I only ever used to listen to Radio 4 or Radio 4 digital. but on the 2007 Japanese fitted radio I have in my Alphard Hybrid now, I can only get Radio 2 and I am enjoying it. I have not gotten round to fitting an aerial expander yet or an add on digital radio which will transmit the sound to the radio unit fitted

I get 33 - 40 mpg, if I eased off on the excellerator on trunk an M roads, I'd probably get more

Peter Holland could not sorce the parts he needed to repair my Inverter, then he rang me to say theat the Inverter was available in Japan and could be ordered. Peter would need the money up front before it could be ordered. Well I do not have that kind of money foating about, so I contacted my bank and explained the situation and was told yes I could borrow the money. So an order was put in after paying the money up front. Yes it was kinda expensive but I had paid £9,500. for the Alphard in August the previous year, so I felt I was investing in Alfie's future. Glad I did. Not had a problem since. Been going well over 6 months now.

You need an electronics specialist to check over the codes and the Inverter. The Inverter seems to me to run the Alphard and if its not running right nothing works properly. I used a man called Peter Holland of Bright Spark Autos 07774152660 he is a busy man and you maybe too far away ? He shares a workshop in Southbourne, West Sussex. About as far west in West Sussex you can get. But he sorted out my Hybrid and it runs very well now. I had a new Inverter fitted at an eye watering £5,200. inc vat and delivery. It did not include fitting it and setting it up. So I should hopefully be trouble free for 10 years or more Good Luck

I had this probem on 2 of the Estima's I have owned I went to a Toyota main dealer and asked. I was told about £240, inc the key. I did not argue and arranged to have it done. Over the years of Estima ownership I went to that Toyota dealer again and again. Listers Toyota in Stratford Upon Avon.

You have to expect a 16 year old Alphard to have some faults, they cannot all be perfect. There is a time limit how long major parts last. For instance my Inverter packed up and my mechanic could not source spare parts for it. He looked into importing one from Japan an they are available for £5,200. including VAT and delivery. I was not going to get rid of Alfie that cost me £9,500. last August, so I took out a bank loan to buy the Inverter and I have had 6 months trouble frree motoring. I expect it to last at least 10 years ( the Inverter )

So if you breakdown as I have twice, insist the recovery people provide a vehicle transporter, flatbed car transporter where your vehicle can pulled up onto. I joined the RAC in 1982, the best thing I ever did.

Is that a 4 or 6 seater

Sorry, I meant Ignition off

Since I had the Inverter changed for a brand new one imported from Japan around 6 months ago, I have changed my driving style. Where as before I would turn my engine off if I stopped for lunch in a layby. Now I don't, sometimes parked up for 10 - 15 minutes. I hear what sounds like a fan, ( cooling the Inverter perhaps ) Then when I drive off, I put it in drive and away I go, less stress on the engine ? or is one supposed to drive a hybrid like that ?

Hello Aftab Now that pod is neat, do you have a web site link to it you can share with us and approximate cost of it please

My 2007 Hybrid is ULEZ compliant. I went to the DVLA website and put in my registration # and it said mine was compliant. Also I am getting 35 - 40 mpg. I have never heard of Alphard Pioneer, enlighten us.

A month or so on and Alfie drives well, Been to Scotland and back last week too. Yes it cost a lot to fix but well worth it. I hope to keep Alfie for many years. So I will look after it.

Thank you Lee, I will give that a try

Is there anyway one can turn off this autolocking of the doors ?

Try ABD in Southampton, they sell the 28" blades etc also headlamp bulbs etc

I get 35 - 40 mpg on mine, I am happy. I keep to limits, but put my foot down on dual arriageways, but under 80. I had a brand new Inverter fitted (£5,200.) Eye watering I know 5 months ago, imported from Japan. But Alfie runs really well now.