Goodbye, Previa!

[The Critic]

Follow-up to this thread.

I had the Previa at my house for its annual maintenance visit and to reseal the valve cover (again). It was also due for its biennial smog inspection.

After the work was completed, I took the van for its smog. Due to scheduling, I went to a different smog shop than usual. During the inspection, the owner and I started talking about the van and he was quite impressed by its condition and how easily it passed.

I mentioned my dad was ready to sell it to a good home. He thought about it and sent me a text a few hours later.

I looked on craigslist and facebook marketplace for comps, but the numbers were all across the board and it looked like most of those vans had been listed for a long time. There just isn't a huge market for these vans.

We agreed on $1800, which is higher than KBB, but probably lower than what some of you expected. I did disclose that the van needed a LF wheel bearing, so the sale price somewhat reflected that. I also gave him all of my extra parts - filters, fluids, BMW SADS coupler conversion kit, wheel bearing, etc.

Before delivery, I gave the van a final clean-up and machine-polished the exterior. It definitely cleaned up well for being 32 years old!

I hope to see it around the neighborhood. I think the buyer's happy....and I'm happy to see it gone.

 

[dishdude]

That would have been a great candidate for Cars and Bids.

 

[doitmyself]

Wow! Looks fantastic. How many miles?

 

[Number_35]

Follow-up to this thread.

I had the Previa at my house for its annual maintenance visit and to reseal the valve cover (again). It was also due for its biennial smog inspection.

After the work was completed, I took the van for its smog. Due to scheduling, I went to a different smog shop than usual. During the inspection, the owner and I started talking about the van and he was quite impressed by its condition and how easily it passed.

I mentioned my dad was ready to sell it to a good home. He thought about it and sent me a text a few hours later.

I looked on craigslist and facebook marketplace for comps, but the numbers were all across the board and it looked like most of those vans had been listed for a long time. There just isn't a huge market for these vans.

We agreed on $1800, which is higher than KBB, but probably lower than what some of you expected. I did disclose that the van needed a LF wheel bearing, so the sale price somewhat reflected that. I also gave him all of my extra parts - filters, fluids, BMW SADS coupler conversion kit, wheel bearing, etc.

Before delivery, I gave the van a final clean-up and machine-polished the exterior. It definitely cleaned up well for being 32 years old!

View attachment 225547

I hope to see it around the neighborhood. I think the buyer's happy....and I'm happy to see it gone.

I always liked those vans. Haven't seen one around here in a few years now.

Smaller imported JDM versions (Estima?) were common when we lived in NZ in 2003/04.

I first saw one in the spring of '91 when visiting in B.C. I assumed they were FWD, and was quite surprised to find out they weren't.

 

[The Critic]

Wow! Looks fantastic. How many miles?

187K

 

[JTK]

I'm going to miss seeing your posts on it.

 

[drtyler]

Sounds like everyone is happy, so that's a win.

I thought $1800 only bought a low end bicycle in California, much less a running auto with AC and shiny paint!

 

[jcy]

the Space:1999 minivan

 

[Vercingetorix]

Mid engined.

 

[Kira]

In the early '90's I drove one of those all over the High Southwest. That vehicle made the rental experience one which likely will never be topped. It was an absolutely beautiful, AWD version.

What made it even better experience is that I had previously rented the earlier Toyota van. I believe it too was named Previa but was much smaller and way more boxy...in the '60's Japanese style.

After some time, I resigned myself to never owning one as they were discontinued etc.
Also remember that they were astoundingly expensive and not for everybody. I swear, it was Toyota showing us 'how it's done'.

Over 20 years ago, after swapping paper with the original owner of my first Volvo V70, a white Toyota Previa crested my hill.
You guessed it, there was a for sale sign in the window.

Best case: Your baby will emanate good vibes throughout your sphere.
Worst case: It gets shunted over to a non-caring slob who grinds it to death over an 18 month period.

 

[loneryder]

That was a weird design but they really pulled it off. I knew a guy that traveled a lot and put several hundred k miles on it. He did take care of it. Didn't they have a tendency to roll over??

 

[PF52]

Amazing the red didn't fade and the clear coat didn't all peel off, like it did on most of them here in the cloudy Midwest. I'd have assumed the California sun would have burned that thing to a crisp eventually!

 

[panthermike]

Can't believe how good that looks, lucky new owner.

 

[The Critic]

Amazing the red didn't fade and the clear coat didn't all peel off, like it did on most of them here in the cloudy Midwest. I'd have assumed the California sun would have burned that thing to a crisp eventually!

My dad rarely drove it and it was always garaged.

 

[meep]

That was a weird design but they really pulled it off. I knew a guy that traveled a lot and put several hundred k miles on it. He did take care of it. Didn't they have a tendency to roll over??

The previous Toyota minivan was notorious for it. If memory serves it was also mid engine. I’m not sure what they called it - it may have just been “van.” Short wheelbase, tall, front seat was over the wheels VW bus style. Could even be had in a 5MT. My parents test drove one, but it was too small - they went with a vanagon which set the record for the shortest vehicle they owned. As memory serves, while I enjoyed the VW, and got to drive it some later on, the Toyota had a much cooler cockpit.

 

[dishdude]

That was a weird design but they really pulled it off.

They were pretty rare in the states, Chrysler owned the segment in the 80's and 90's...all the other manufacturers were playing catch up. Certainly a unique minivan that has a place in history though.

 

[CKN]

We had two when my kids were you. Neither had superchargers. Consequently-they were both under powered. Ran well and served their purpose.

 

[Kurtatron]

Wish I was in a position to buy it. I’m in an apartment and can’t own another vehicle. Planning on moving to a house next year. If only you kept it then, I may have been interested. I love these old eggs and own a ‘91 myself, but mine isn’t nearly as clean as yours. Mine’s a 5 speed, so that’s why I am attached to it

 

[dfarr67]

Some of those came with superchargers. Any Toyota purchase going forward will be lower quality...

 

[meep]

I have always loved these vans. Never got to own one.