Better than a MPV

[soulman101]

I've always wanted one of these.
If you have children this would keep them quiet.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-det...o=2025&fromsra

[soulman101]

I've always wanted one of these.
If you have children this would keep them quiet.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-det...o=2025&fromsra

Check out the interior

[Omegstrat6]

Its been very nicely done but the back is still quite cramped with the tip seats down.

Back in the early noughties when we still had all the kids (we merged two families so had five) we purchased a Toyota Estima Emina which was one of the best cars we ever had. It was a 95/96 plate so over 7 years old when we got it but it was a very low mileage grade 4.5 "grey import" so pretty immaculate and good value at £3.5 k. Got it through a Japanese import specialist and we added tinted windows to the needed waxoil underseal and change of entertainment electrics. Ours had the "moon roof" and two turning captains chairs in the middle. Now we have increasing numbers of grandchildren we wish we had it back!

[soulman101]

Its been very nicely done but the back is still quite cramped with the tip seats down.

Back in the early noughties when we still had all the kids (we merged two families so had five) we purchased a Toyota Estima Emina which was one of the best cars we ever had. It was a 95/96 plate so over 7 years old when we got it but it was a very low mileage grade 4.5 "grey import" so pretty immaculate and good value at £3.5 k. Got it through a Japanese import specialist and we added tinted windows to the needed waxoil underseal and change of entertainment electrics. Ours had the "moon roof" and two turning captains chairs in the middle. Now we have increasing numbers of grandchildren we wish we had it back!

Hi did have any problems with insurance on a import ?

[Omegstrat6]

Hi did have any problems with insurance on a import ?

No we do didn't luckily. I think it may have helped that Toyota by then were selling a UK version -the Previa-which was very much the same but wider. The people we sourced it from specialised in both these Toyota Estima/ Emina mpvs and various Japanese sports cars that were very popular in the late 90s early 2000s (the popularity of the early Fast and Furious films probably helped with this). There are specialist insurers for import and modified cars like Adrian Flux, but we didn't need them.

I remember buying a book called "Grey Imports" to try and read up first to avoid pitfalls but the garage I got mine from was very clued up. I also joined an online car forum and their help, experience and contacts were invaluable over the years and saved us quite a bit of money. One problem, for example, could have been sourcing replacement parts like exhausts. The local garage we used were always very good but relied on parts providers who were fine for UK vehicles but exceptionally expensive for "grey" imports-they once wanted £350 for an exhaust system, I could have got a custom stainless steel job for that! Using the contact specialists the forum and garage gave me, I could get one for just over £125 at the time so my local garage always left it to me to source any parts needed in the end.

Obviously, this was some time ago when you could get some real bargains with Japanese grey imports especially, but I assume the situation has changed quite a bit now and it isn't so viable. Certainly don't see the number of such imports on the road that I used to-hardly any in fact.