Michael Brown

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

Really hard luck, I hope its found for you

About 5 weeks ago I had a puncture on the nearside back wheel and I had the skinny wheel spare put in its place, on my Hybrid. Then drove home the 37 miles at roughly at 50mph. Then had the puncture repaired the following day, no problem

Well done for coming up with a solution. When I have had to have paintwork touch up done, I used "Chips Away" in Chichester and they did a good job matching up the paintwork . Mine is Olive Green in colour and looks Pearlescent.

Don't forget in many cases some of these Alphards are up to 20 years old + and parts don't last forever. They have a lifespan. One hopes when buying one that you are going to get many happy years driving your Alphard without having to fork out shed loads of money to keep your pride and joy on the road. They are a joy to drive when everything works as it should. I enjoy driving mine, the gremlins are on board again and Alfie is off the road presently waiting to have the rear trailing arm bushes replaced next monday. So I am driving Mother's 07 Auris till its fixed. Her car has only just clocked up 60,000miles as its not used much. So I am looking forward to getting Alfie back.

Try Peter Holland of Brightspark Autos his workshop is in Southbourne near Emsworth on West Sussex/Emsworth border. I'm sure if you google him you can find the info you want. I'm away from home presently, as l do not have his tel no to hand. He is a busy man but he knows his stuff. Speciallises in auto & boat electronics l believe.

How do I or where can one connect to, to replenish the air-con system. Should be 2 connecting points under the bonnet, where are they

Brilliant, one of the best investments I have made. Other than a couple of punctures Alfies been a dream to drive. I had to borrow the money to pay for the new Inverter, they only have a limited life span. So I should get many years of trouble free motoring now and I still get 35 - 40 mpg.

I joined the RAC in 1982 with breakdown and recovery, one of the best investments I have made.

Any vehicle that is older than 10 years old will need to have worn out parts replaced or end of their life parts replaced. For instance in August 2022 I bought a 2007 2.4 Hybrid expecting may years of happy motoring. Then 2 breakdowns in quick succession bought me down to earth. My car mechanic Colin Campbell reccommended a car and boat electrical expert Peter Holland of BrightSpark Autos from nr Emsworth, West Sussex Hampshire border to look at Alfie. As it was dead having been transported back home from the 2nd breakdown, it was transported over to Peter's workshop and he reports that the Inverter is Kapput and he could not source spare parts for it. But as luck would have it the Inverter was still available in Japan and could be ordered if paid for first at a whopping £5,200. inc VAT and delivery, but not including fitting and setting up. I said leave it with me and I rang my bank and asked if I could borrow the money. Within 2hrs the money was in my A/C, so I rang Peter back, paid for the new Inverter, being told about 10 days to come, actually 2.5 weeks. I saw this as an investment for at least ( touch wood ) 10 years trouble free motoring. 15 months so far and apart from a couple of punctures Alfie is a dream to drive. I get 35 - 40 MPG and I am pleased with that. It cost £352. to get the Inverter fitted and setup. Happy motoring now. So good luck in your quest

What, looking for spare parts or dumping stuff

When I needed some trim clips for my previous bus, an 03 Estima, I went to Listers Toyota in Stratford upon Avon explaining what I wanted. They looked it up somewhere. I needed all the nearside front passenger inside card panel clips plus some other clips. They said they may take a while to come, but they got them, not cheap though but genuine Toyota ones. I guess if you went to your local Toyota dealer and ask nicely, you might be in luck. You will need your Vin No etc. Good Luck

Just sorry I could not make it to the meet last year, about a week or so bfore the meet I had a Mini Stroke and could not drive for a month. I was taken by Ambulance to Coventry Hospital (they have a Stroke Unit there) from my Mother's house in Stratford upon Avon. In the morning I had to have a taxi to take me back, £75. It looked like I missed a good event, having seen many posted pictures.

Hard luck Chris, that underside of the engine looks pretty thin, I wonder if something has punctured it, maybe repairable I dunno, I wish you luck.

Yes mine is compliant