1991 Toyota Previa LE 2.4 liter 16v 4 cylinder from North America

Summary:

Great, extremely reliable, indestructible and incredibly practical

Faults:

Alternator died at 450000 KM (280000 miles).

Catalytic converter and exhaust have been replaced twice due to rust and degradation

Normal wear on brakes, seats are not in top shape due to extensive use.

Some rattling occurs in the trunk area of the car (this may be due to two 15" subwoofers being mounted in the trunk for two years).

Exterior rear view mirrors had to be replaced due to freezing/thawing breaking the plastic.

Car is rusty from enduring Canadian winters for 14 years (10 in Quebec City and 4 in Ottawa).

A/C compressor has been changed while car was still under warranty.

General Comments:

Car almost has 500000 KM (310000 miles) on it, bought new back in 1990 and I laugh at seeing 5 year old American cars on the shoulder as I drive my 1991 high mileage Previa. Manual transmission and engine have never been serviced through 14 Canadian winters.

Extremely Reliable and versatile people mover. Great buy, I now also own a Toyota Sienna and hope it will prove to be as reliable.

Indestructible transmission and engine.

Wife didn't like the feeling of driving the vehicle and now my son who drives it loves it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th March, 2005

1991 Toyota Previa LX 2.0 Gasoline from North America

Summary:

Dependable and long lasting

Faults:

Nothing gone bad while driving. Replaced Steering Rack (500 dollars) and replaced front rotors and pads (330 dollars). Exhaust rusting out right now.

General Comments:

Beside the crappy gas mileage, a real dependable van. Lasted longer than the caravan that only lasted 150,000 miles. Love the way the rear seats fold up. Dual sunroofs are nice too.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd December, 2004

16th Mar 2005, 17:54

Update:

Struts: GONE.

Body: inside the door, there is rust. part of frame.

Status: no longer safe to drive and for sale for 1000 for what I have in new parts.

27th Mar 2006, 14:42

I'm interested in purchasing your previa. How can I contact you?

1991 Toyota Previa from North America

Summary:

The reliability and overall design of this vehicle is fantastic

Faults:

Nothing more than normal wear and tear for a vehicle with well over 100,000 miles on it.

Replaced both front ball joints at about 200,000 miles.

Replaced brakes yearly - seemed to have more problems with brake wear than anything else, and I don't ride the brakes at all.

Wiper motor went out at 150,000 miles.

Cruise control computer has just started to act up at 213,000 miles.

Upholstery has worn extremely well for a vehicle 13 years old, and having been used heavily by a family with children on long trips. Only one tear at the seam on the driver's seat on the vehicle entry side, where it receives the most stress in any vehicle.

Carpet has worn well - not threadbare, no holes, only minor staining, but always cleans up very well with a shampooing.

No rust at all on the body - one small spot of rust on the hood where a rock chipped it and went through the paint to the metal - my fault - I should have had it touched up before it rusted. However, it hasn't rusted through.

I only have a couple of complaints about the comfort factor of the Previa - the driver & front passenger compartment has a major design flaw in that Toyota placed the front wheel wells INSIDE the driver & passenger compartment, which severely compromises the space allowed for the driver's feet. On a long trip, this forces the driver to keep their left leg bent at an odd angle and leaves no room to stretch it out or move it around. Very uncomfortable. The only other problem I have is that the headrests on the front seats are not removable - the seat backs are all one piece, so the headrest is not adjustable at all.

General Comments:

How else can I say it? I LOVE my Toyota Previa minivan.

Purchased at 115,000 miles for approximately $6,000.00, we have used this van very heavily as a family that travels frequently. It has made the trip from Virginia to Michigan (680 miles one way) and back again at least 8 times now, with several shorter trips in between.

I would never consider giving up my van for any other - especially not a Dodge Caravan, which I owned prior to this one and had severe transmission problems with at 100,000 miles.

If not for the fact that I struck a rather large deer with my Toyota Previa last night, I would never give it up until it absolutely died in its tracks. I can still drive it, but will have to invest in a different vehicle come spring time. You better bet it will be a Toyota!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th November, 2004