I'm saving up for a newer minivan due to another addition to the family. In the mean time, I ran across a '91 Toyota Previa LE, $800 OBO. The seller claims it's in great shape with new tires and brakes, but needs a head gasket. They then say that it runs just fine but "it's noisy due to the leaking head gasket." That leads me to believe that by head gasket they mean exhaust manifold or gasket. I'm still waiting on pics, but the owner let me know that the mileage is high- about 375k miles. I know these are supposed to run forever, but that sounds pretty close to forever to me. My intention is to drive it a year or so and then sell it when I buy a newer Odyssey.
I have a 206k 1996 AWD Supercharged Previa I bought a couple of years ago with ~200k miles and a blown headgasket for $500. I fixed the headgasket a little over 1 1/2 years ago and have been driving it since.
The upsides: It is a perfectly fine daily. It corners fine, never feels underpowered, doesn't care about speed bumps, and hauls gobs of adults and kids without problem. Its a "turn the key and go" type of vehicle. It always works and I never mess with it. It sounds like spaceship with the exhaust AND supercharger whistles. It isn't your standard boring looking minivan.
The downsides are: its thirsty (15mpg on premium), leaks oil (headgasket kit from RockAuto leaves out a few important gaskets and o-rings), and it heats up like a greenhouse in the summer when parked. Seriously, park the thing in the shade or get a HUGE sunshade.
Make sure you get the mini-gun edition.
mndsm
PowerDork
6/16/13 10:58 p.m.
According to several Toyota mechanics I've known over the years, they're the single most reliable vehicle to ever leave a Toyota plant, and that includes the 1g LS400's.
old_
New Reader
6/16/13 11:04 p.m.
the only really bad thing about them is the terrible crash test ratings. like really bad.
my dad drove one for 15 years and honestly beat the crap out of it. essentially used it as a work truck for his car washes. hauled 1600 lbs of water softener salt (in one trip) every week, mowers, rock, dirt, building materials, etc... he had 200+k of mostly hard city miles on it before trading it in for cash for clunkers. It still ran and drove perfectly. he only gave it one tune up (plugs, cap, rotor, wires) and did one starter (after submerging it driving down a flooded road). Other than that it was just oil changes, tires, and pads. It was the most reliable vehicle he has ever owned. I was heartbroken after I found out it was going to be destroyed. It was such a waste of an absolutely fantastic car.
