My son is looking into getting a 6 seater vehicle (the older kids are now too large for a Ford with 3rd row seat) and he started looking at a Tarago but is finding the Estima to be an attractive alternative proposition. Have any of you fellow OzBargainers got any thoughts/experience on the matter of Tarago vs Estima and issues to be aware of, particularly in terms of total ownership cost for the long term?
BTW, his budget will be limiting him to the 2002-2008 vintage.
Tarago vs Estima
ozzie freddo on 07/07/2017 - 22:16
Last edited 08/07/2017 - 21:54
Last edited 08/07/2017 - 21:54
Comments
Why? Op just stated it's not big enough for the kids
Get a bigger SUV. The new Discovery is well priced for 7 seats. So is the XC90.
Both still small. Go lc 200.
Still doesn't have the same room in the back as a people mover.
Seriously what a shit suggestion lol
A tarago or grand carnival may look big on the outside, but the third row isn't as big as one would think once inside. Anything more than one hour in the third row is a pain.
Their ride would also be nowhere near as comfortable as in a lc. The airbags in 120, 150 and 200 makes all the difference.
And a $90k starting price for a new LC200. And a strong resale on them means a lot older car when compared to OPs other options
Much more room behind the 3rd row in a Tarago or Grand Carnival than any SUV I've seen, including Landcruisers
we've used tarago and gc for short and long trips. we can't say that we nor our passengers would choose either of them for seating comfort over a lc.
buy the one with the toyota badge.
Lol they both do ;) Estima is the import model
But only one comes with the "Maori Mover" badge!!
Nissan Elgrande!
relative of ariana?
Nissan Elgrand. Or if bnew get a Kia Carnival
Might as well buy a tank. Tell him to keep the car he's got because those kids will probably be old enough to drive soon if they outgrow fords rear seats.
You don't think an armoured personnel carrier would be more suitable? It has much more room for the kids.
would suggest kia carnival for 8 seater car with ample boot space. It is probably the best in that class in Australia at the moment. Go for the platinum one if you afford.
I am a bit disappointed in the community help on this. Only whooah1979, Spackbace and Kangal appear to have read the question.
They're basically the vehicle with different badges. One can't really go wrong with either of them.
Although the estima is a Japanese spec version so may have some differences that make insuring it a bit more expensive than the Tarago.
My brother bought an AWD estima to tour Aus in, and it has some quirky Japanese stuff in it but overall it is a good little bus.
We can't always get everything champ.
I had the same decision to make years ago. The Estima was very attractive price wise. It was only available in diesel as they could only import vehicles that weren't already sold in Australia. The Lumina was also available which was very much the same, but just narrower, probably to meet and reduce Japanese registration charges.
I ended up buying a 1998 Tarago. It was a manual which was fine for us, and was super good value as none of the house wives could drive one. I did an added 150K on it before the kids grew up and it wasn't required any more. Super reliable. Full size seats and more room in the 3rd row than any 4wd could offer.
There is a big market importing the Estima's into Australia at the moment. You'll notice a lot of the back packer camper van hire businesses putting them on the road. They are imported as already equipped campervans which weren't imported by Toyota. Not sure what motors they come with. Most of the diesel motor parts were available from the Toyota utes.
The kids would love the fully equipped V6 models with the captain chairs in the rear !
One thing to consider is you generally will pay much more for insurance on an import. Even though many of the parts of the Estima maybe interchangeable with the Tarago, insurance companies don't see it that way. My parents had a lot difficulty insuring their imported Toyota Soarer, even though it was a non-turbo 6 cylinder. In the end they had to go with Just Cars and it wasn't cheap.
Buy an SUV.