Toyota Alphard/Vellfire Sydney

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  MS Paint on 29/12/2022 - 22:45

  -5

  Carting around 2 new babies and 2 elderly parents means some random grey import is not a good idea.

  • 

    dcep on 29/12/2022 - 22:57

    +4

    But it's a Toyota !

  • 

    bhubb18 on 30/12/2022 - 09:44

    Why not? They use the same motors as many locally available cars, and the platform is the same as many other Toyotas.

    Sure, some parts may be ex Japan, but thats not a huge deal.

• 

  bobbified on 29/12/2022 - 23:48

  I've always wished I had an Alphard. If you do it properly, they're absolute luxury!

  (Buuut…. it means I'd need to hire a driver too because the front seat is nothing special!)

• 

  blitz on 30/12/2022 - 02:12

  OP have you owned an import before?

  Edit: you should get a prize for being a member for 15 years and still having an L plate ;)

  • 

    numnut on 30/12/2022 - 02:52

    Yep. I used to drive a Evo 8.

    So that's why I do not mind a grey import so much but now this car is min 80k for a newer one and if you search carsales those dealers sell them up to 150k.

    Yes. More a lurker than poster 😎

• 

  Hydralyte on 30/12/2022 - 08:04

  Buy two cars, teach the wife to drive.

  Trust me.

  • 

    bdl on 30/12/2022 - 13:25

    wife has grabbed OP by the numnuts

    • 

      Leo Getz on 01/01/2023 - 00:46

      wife has grabbed OP by the numnuts bonuts

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  pegaxs on 30/12/2022 - 08:49

  +2

  If you are happy to get a used grey import Japanese car, why not just go for a used Kia Carnival. I just did a search and 2020 model with less than 40,000 there are 120 or so available to buy.

  While the Toyotas are nice vehicles, they are going to be a nightmare to fix because dealers usually won’t touch them or supply part for them. Spare parts can be thin on the ground and getting one repaired if you have an accident may take months, not to mention that being a grey import, insurance could work out more expensive as well.

• 

  elcheapoinoz on 30/12/2022 - 09:43

  There are some hidden costs to grey imports.

  1) as said above, Insurance could be more expensive. but don't take this as gospel. Insurance usually look at the value of the car, and whether it's a car with inherent more risk (sports car) or not. so do your research, it might turn out costing less than a comparable car, as it's cheaper.

  2) Repairs.
  If you don't service at the dealers, then the fact that they don't work on them shouldn't necessarily be a concern.
  With a local mechanic, the usual consumables should be generic, but when there's something broken they might not be able to source the part/source it quickly enough for you/could take longer to work (more expensive labour) as they are not used to working on them.

  This doesn't necessarily mean a no-go, it depends on your use case, and how much you need the car on a daily basis.

  If you have a good relationship with your mechanic, he could simply tell you what's needed, and then you can source parts yourself, even easier if you have/make a japanese speaking friend :-)

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  Euphemistic on 30/12/2022 - 09:56

  +2

  If you want the car now, but really want a new one. Order new, buy used now, trade used in/sell when new one arrives. Otherwise, just order new and use whatever you’ve got until the new one arrives.

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  pao2x on 30/12/2022 - 12:49

  Consider a Staria. More modern and spacious than a carnival. Less isofixes though

  https://fb.watch/hJ-qQ5kSQY/

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  omguleh on 02/01/2023 - 00:04

  We bought a Staria Highlander that was in stock back in June for 70k drive away. Cannot fit child seats at the rear but the extra boot space is so good.