Late Jap mpv/people carrier to convert into a camper van...sugestions?(diesel!)

kippermitten

kippermitten

kippermitten

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Hey.
Im looking for a late to mid 90's mpv / people carrier to convert into a camper van. Ideally Id like a diesel engine or a good petrol one and reliable so a Jap one.

So far:

Lucidia
Honda stream? or something else....

um thats it!

Suggest away...
 
Just for it's sheer size - Renault Espace. Maybe even a grand espace.

Although,camper van with standard doors?

Edit: The older version of the toyota drexel bought is pretty spacious aswell and has just one sliding door....window blinds and movable seats so the ideal candidate i would say.

Yeh lucida.....appears you have it in your OP. I fail.
 
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They are actually called Estimas. 'Lucida' is a model in the Estima line ;)

But yeah, would be a great choice.
 
Yes, the engines don't really live up to the Toyota reputation. They have nasty tendancy to develop cracks in the head between the combustion chamber and the coolant passages. Easy to spot as the engine temperature climbs quickly under load and all the coolant falls out. Very expensive to fix.

Fuel economy is not great, especialy on the 4x4 models, but even the 2WD ones struggle to crack 30mpg, lots less around town.

Wheel bearings are also a common problem, and the central locking on sliding side door can fail.

On the plus side they are very well equipped for the price, and performance is reasonable for the size and weight of the thing.
 
Isn't the Renault Espace essentially a plastic (or lightweight) body bolted onto a chassis?
The body has little structural strength, so cutting into it doesn't really matter much. I think that why TG chose to make a convertible our of one.
 
kippermitten said:
Drexel, anything in particular to look for on Lucidas in terms of engine/body/mechanical issues?
Click to expand...

Being a Toyota they are mechanically pretty solid, but as Dogbreath said some do suffer head issues. Apparently using only Toyota 'red' coolant is reccomended and these issues arrise from not using genuine Toyota coolant.

Another common issue the auxilary drive coupling destroying itself. Listen for a knocking at idle coming from the centre of the vehicle. Not massively expensive to fix, but an issue none the less.

Cambelt is at 100,000 kms.

Bodywork wise there are no issues I know of, apart from the headlights having a tendancy to cloud over.

Basically aside from replacing the coupling and some rear shocks, mine never cost me a thing in the 5 years or so that I owned it. Sure, MPG wasn't that great, but it never missed a beat and I can't say I was religious about servicing it either (had the cambelt done at 100k and I did an oil change every 6 months. Fuel/Air filters etc got changed about twice in the time I owned it :o )

If my new one turns out to be as hastle free I'll be happy as larry :cool:
 
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