sumogogg

Many thanks for the info and advice and for the insurance tip too will defintely check that out! I'm really torn between a 10 series or 20 series Alphard, but edging towards a 20 series and purely on the looks alone I think the Vellfire looks the best.

Hi Did you have any joy with this? Be interested to know as I would love the option of the middle seats to rotate on a series 20.

Thanks very much for the replies. Any photos would be very much appreciated! Co-incidently, a few hours ago another poster has updated a similar question I had here showing the 8 seater in 'bed mode' But would love to see the 7 seater sleep option with 2nd/3rd row !

That's brilliant - thank you, exactly what I was after. It is very similar to the series 10 in that sense, as that folds down in a similar manner. I imagine it should be ok to sleep on, with a slim inflatable mattres on top? (have you tried sleeping on it?) I see that since January you must have purchased a Vellfire, how are you finding it? What model Vellfire is yours can I ask? - As I am looking for an 8 seater 3.5 litre Alphard or Vellfire, with sunroof, and ideally electric curtains - both of which yours appears to have ! I was originally looking for a series 20 but now I'm shifting toward a 20 series instead - I just wish that the 8 seater 20 series was able to rotate that middle bench in the same way. I love the idea that you can have an impromptu picnic table scenario (4/5 people facing each other, middle > rear seats) anywhere you go, rain or shine, it's a nice thing to have with the kids. Same goes for the 'bed' option too, so practical.

Hello Looking for information please - I am trying to understand if the Gen 2 Alphard can convert its middle and rear seats into a 'bed mode' and go flat, like the Gen 1 Alphard did (as seen in this useful video here I can't seem to find a definitive answer to this. It looks very useful and I would reallly like it as an option. Does anyone sleep in their Gen 2 Alphard (without camper conversion aids) ? The Gen 2 seems to have more 'captain seats' than a middle bench, and I assume a bench would be better for a bed fold down like in the video above ? Thank you

Regarding the 8 seater version with the middle row 'bench' - does this not have the ability to fold flat into a bed, like in a Gen 1 Alphard? (I have been trying to find a definitive answer to this, but was assuming that it did fold in such a way, with it being a 'flat' back seat)

I have also been looking at this service, would also be interested to hear from anyone who has experiences with them or have used them lately?

Also another Gen 2 question I can't seem to find an answer to - in the 8 seater (middle row bench) version - can the middle and rear seats fold flat to be an 'almost' bed like it can in the Gen 1 ?

Thanks - I wasn't aware of that with the CVT. It would be used more for weekends/day van/day trip type use - occasional short trips. I don't mind too much on age - though the Gen 2 defintely looks more 'modern' whereas the Gen 1 is starting to have an older looking design (not that it really matters too much). I would be happy with either Gen 1 or 2 - I was just a bit put off by the high prices that seem to exist for these old cars, even for a basic model, and wondered if a Gen 2 might be a better long term option as it should (in theory) hold value better being a newer model. The big Gen 2 downside for me is I really wanted those rotatable middle seats 🙂

Sorry to revive an old thread but I am in a similiar quandry to OP. I was considering a gen 1 Alphard, but I would like to get a really good one, and the cost for that seems to be around 10 - 12K. However - to get an early gen 2 Alphard/Vellfire doesnt seem to cost that much more. As the gen 1 ended production 16 years ago, 10 - 12k seems to me to be lot of money for an older model car that is quite expensive to run? So - I am wondering if I should be investing in a Gen 2 over a Gen 1 ? Is the Gen 2 considered better or worse overall? Are people starting to migrate over to the gen 2 over time? For me the only key downside to a gen 2 seems to be that the seats are not as flexible - specifically that the middle seats are not rotatable. Any other thoughts on the gen 2 vs gen 1, other downsides/upsides to either version? Just to compare with Nissan - its interesting that the E51 Elgrand is still popular, but the next gen E52 it seems is not as popular, as it is more car based than MPV. But the gen 2 Alphard/Vellfire is still similar to gen 1 and still an MPV.

Hi, do these seats rotate? Sorry I am still unclear on which middle seats rotate and which don't. This looks to be an MZG with the two separate middle seats rather than a 3 seater bench. Do these two separate seats rotate? Thanks in advance (Looking to buy an Alphard first gen but the rotating seat option is non negotiable!)

This is something I am also interested to know. Would I be correct to say that only the Gen-1 8 seater Alphard has the rotating middle seat option? It seems odd that they stopped this for rules/requirements as I think (but could be wrong here) that the Elgrand continued to offer this well option after 2008 (?) I wanted a Gen 2 Alphard but honestly this is probably a deal breaker for me, I just love that option.