Right after purchasing it we took the Previa into the local Toyota Dealership for a bumper to bumper check-up and oil change. The following items had to be replaced:
Valve-cover gasket. Slight leak and we smelled the burn-off after heavy use.
Distributor O-ring. Same as above.
A/C charge.
New Drive Belt. (We thought is was about to lose the alternator or power steering pump... nope just the belt.)
$664 corrected everything they could find wrong with the car and they gave us a 2004 Camry to drive free of charge while they did the repairs.
Very impressed.
We have always driven Diesel Mercedes because of their reliability, safety and efficiency. Alas, our smallest Mercedes, a 1987 190D 2.5, was rear-ended by an uninsured motorist and totaled-out.
As we searched for a replacement we drove by one of the local Acura Dealerships and there sitting on the platform was an immaculate pearl white Toyota Previa LE with $3995 emblazoned across the windshield. We decided to take a look. It was loaded with all the options, including trailer towing, and didn't have even one door ding on it.
The car was one owner and dealer maintained at the Acura dealers sister Toyota dealership. 122,000 miles on the odometer. Interior looked like new, never used. Everything worked with the exception being the A/C did not blow very cold.
Bought it on the spot after negotiations for $3,388. Add the $664 bumper to bumper check-up and repair and we have $4,052 in the car. We are totally satisfied.
Handles like a dream, comfortable, reliable and stable. Drove back from Dallas with granny who would only let us go 55 mph and with the cruise on got almost 30 mpg. Averages about 22 mpg so far city/highway.
After reading here about the high milers way ahead of me I feel like I got a new car!! Having driven my Benz 300D for 19 years now and 384,000 miles I can only say this Previa will be in our family for a long time... we hope!!
My Previa 91 is running well also, just my wife that complains about the AC not doing to well in the summer (That's Houston for you)
Has anyone managed to improve on the AC.
I believe you can change the AC system to HC12a gas that apparetnly blows cooler than R134a that you get in new cars.
Great Car...
Just a minor oil leak on the exhaust comming from a valve cover gasket and some breakfluid leaking on the back seals.
Currently at 175.000 miles.
We're in Houston too. We had the Fred Haas Toyota Country on SH249 Service the A/C. Does well for Houston. They did it at the same time that they replaced the valve cover gasket and distributor o-ring. (probably same oil leaks you have) VERY SATISFIED with their service. Have noticed our front A/C blows colder on the drivers side than it does on the passenger side. Have had passengers suggest getting it charged, I just tell them to feel my side and it's freezing. The rear A/C works like a champion.
We live in Alabama near the coast and have a 91 Previa with 260,000+ miles. The AC was a problem a couple of years ago and there were 2 fixes. # 1 was very cheap, the heater valve which supplies heat to the interior was slipping and the valve was tightened. Cost = $12 and a huge improvement. #2, and an even larger improvement was replacing the overhead/rear AC plumbing as it had a minor leak. That cost about $200. Since then, it has been ice cold - and we updated years ago the the new R134.
Why did I wait so long... The price? The image of moi driving a van? But overall I hate toyota for stopping the production of a well made vehicle. A vehicle that would have kept on going and going and going. Now the summer month of August of 2005, I have finally decided to drop the sword and purchase a minivan. Oh I know the honda odyssey and the new Toyota Sienna is the top choices by consumer reports, but it is something I would want someday too, but because It is far unreachable at this time; I have opted to pursue the 1991 TOYOTA PREVIA with 155K miles. 155K miles some people laugh at me... Why are you buying that piece of junk with so many thousands of miles.
It only costed me $2000 plus $400 of extensive maintenance work plus $300 paint job and detail work and I had a shiny brand new car for less than $3000.00.
It felt funny at first; The first time I took it for a road trip... My heart pitter pattered. Why? Because it had Over 155K miles on it and I had to drive to North Carolina from Washington State and it was 14 years old. I took it easy, driving only 8 hours a day at 55 miles an hour. But the last couple days to NC I felt more comfortable. The loud engine underneath my seat was still purring like a kitten. I began to drive 16 hours straight at 70 -75 miles per hour. Made it there with no problems... Not a drop of oil, No overheating, the air condition still blasting cold air in this little spaceship.
On my return trip I went crazy I wanted to see the whole united states... My wife and two kids (both still toddlers) My wife thought I was nuts... I said "honey, It is our only time. We are already here why not hit a couple beaches in Charleston, S.C. and I always wanted to see Orlando, Fl... Daytona Beach and Ron Jon Surf shop and ofcourse the famouse Disney World and Miami Beach and finally KEY West Florida... It was beautiful. I drove everywhere. It was a needed vacation sort of felt like the National Lampoon summer vacation with chevy chase.
We started our trip with our trusty previa on August 2nd
and returned home on August 25, 2005.
Almost TEN THOUSAND miles ROUND TRIP.. TRULY AMAZING!
The best investment I have ever done. Ofcourse I had a little help on this trip... I had to install my trusty navigation system which I removed from my old vehicle, Tinted Windows, My mechanic who tuned it up after purchasing it, My trusty unbrakeable autolock (hoping that no one will steal my ride and leave us stranded somewhere), the wonderful readers and people on this website who share their experience to assist me in determining which van is reliable, and ofcourse my family who was willing to go on an adventure that will last a lifetime of experience... But they won't remember it when they grow up or will they???
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