Faults:

Had complete exhaust replaced at 12 months. So far so good with current one.

CD player unreliable and overheated replaced with aftermarket.

Sliding door mounts are loose causing the door to stick when trying to close it. Very irritating problem and needs to be fiddled with in order to close.

Very hard to shift into 1st gear of the start, sometimes crunching when selecting other gears.

Engine check lights randomly comes on. Need to turn off & restart engine to make it go away.

Rear speakers no longer work.

Handbrake has always been a problem holding the cars weight on slight gradient let alone hills.

Rear view mirror day / night adjustment has broken so now the mirror flops around.

Front Interior light globes constantly not working.

Ariel not going down all the way.

And also the engine oil mixed with the cooling system and out of the water overflow bottle. This requires a reco bottom end and 4-6 weeks wait.

General Comments:

Travels well and is reasonably comfortable.

Faults:

Black smoke is very evident when one is caught in traffic. The certified dealer changed the whole muffler system with no charge, but after a few months the smoke was again obviously catching the eye of the traffic enforcers and anti-smoke belching officers. Because of this I bring the van to the dealer to clean my exhaust system. They could not permanently solve the problem.

The fuel pump always accumulates air. Everyday before going to office I have to pump out the air. One day I made a test not to pump out the air. On the fifth day the van could not start, and I had to call the authorized mechanic from the dealer. He loosened some bolts and cranked the engine so the air would come out. I had to pay for that service and I could not work for that day.

Plastic guides on the sliding doors make noises which are irritating when you drive long distances.

General Comments:

The van is comfortable.

It is roomy and relaxing.

It has a smooth ride when cruising.

The engine noise is bearable since it is a diesel engine.

Engine performance is quite commendable except for the smoke that it emits.

Workmanship is below par considering the irritating noises from doors, hinges, and other mechanical assemblies within the cabin.

Air conditioning system is alright, although this has no thermostat control. I have to manually turn off the aircon switch to limit the coldness inside the cabin. Not driver-friendly.

Faults:

High idling at 30000km -> intake O2 sensor replaced (under warranty)

Rough running at 60000km -> ignition leads replaced ($290)

Other minor problems we've had:

A CD player that sometimes overheats and stops or plays at low volume - usually when the car heater is on.

Some poor finish on interior trim - carpet becoming unglued and plastic covers coming off.

Occasionally in hot weather the starter motor won't engage the first time, resulting in an alarming noise.

General Comments:

All in all, this has been a great car for us. Despite some minor engine problems it has never left us stranded and hasn't been off the road for longer than a morning.

You basically get what you pay for, and the issues with fit and finish I offset against the fact that when we bought it, the choice was a new Carnival or a four or five year old Tarago. We took the view that a cheaper new car is better than an expensive second hand one, and haven't been disappointed.

The car has great, and usable, interior space. With the rear seats rolled all the way forward you can fit a surprising amount of gear in the back. The walk though from the front to the back row of seats has proved invaluable. Even with seven seats occupied, we have fit enough gear for two week holidays.

Comments in other reviews in regard to the appalling turning circle are correct. Don't expect to do a U turn in a two lane street, and swing wide to get into parking spaces.