1996 Toyota Hiace DX review from Australia and New Zealand
"A good workhorse, but a bit underpowered for towing work"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Battery failed after 5 years (good run).
Headlights have poor light output (replaced with aftermarket H4 inserts).
General comments?
Good vehicle on & off the road.
Original Dunlop SP-LT5 tyres are noisy at high speed on bitumen & have poor grip in the wet. Replaced with 205/75R15LT tyres on Ford Falcon AU1 15" rims. This also stepped up the gearing by 7% so at 100kph, the engine revs drop by 250-300 RPM approx which made a 1.5 mile per gallon fuel saving.
Seating is uncomfortable on long trips.
Cabin layout is good with all controls in easy reach.
Road noise is excessive, but was fixed by the addition of tar paint on the floor with underlay under the vinyl flooring.
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| Bulletproof reliability, a couriers dream! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 22R 2.4 petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 7/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 10/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 3/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 38200 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 100150 kilometres |
| Date of Entry | 12th June, 2001 |