Toyota Alphard

[ironpaw]

Having just come back from a trip to HK and Malaysia, I saw these things (and the El Grand) everywhere. I have to admit they look nice for a van/MPV

Funny thing happened in Malaysia - we were waiting for a friend to pick us up in his van. A totally decked out Vellfire pulled up to the curb next to us so I went to open the rear door. The driver shouted at me in Malay and I was like "WTF - wrong car oops!". Bloody nice car though!

Too bad we spent the rest of our trip in my friend's crappy lil Toyota Uncer/Kijang...damn that 1.8L engine was struggling with the 6 of us in the car!!

[Alphard Owner]

I own a first gen Alphard V MS 3.0L 4WD (yes they do come in 4WD). Used it in Japan while I lived there and decided to bring it back because I couldnt find a similar people mover here. A lot of nice features like auto doors and flipdown screen for back passengers.

They certainly are great family cars that actually look decent for a mini-van. I modified mine a bit with coilover suspension, second gen 18inch rims, and exhaust system. Probably does 0-100 in just under 10secs, but never going to win any drag races.

Here is a picture of it when I was in Japan. Havent taken any since I got here yet.

The second gen Alphard and Vellfire look great and has some great kits out. The 3.5L engine is a beast and really moves the car. Pity they wont catch on in Oz but I certainly have had some good comments about it (as well a weird looks).

[gel]

I'm currently in Hong Kong and never a Van / MPV type of person but after seeing heaps of modded Vellfires here, I want one!

Hope you guys can get them into Oz, as I'll definately be interested!

Got it in one Will, just waiting on the article to be run and we'll get things moving. The fact that I want one for a family bus has nothing to do with it of course. Might add the Vellfire while I'm at it - sexiest people mover on the planet...

[Andy D]

Looks like the privately imported one is up for sale

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?Cr=0&R=9349645&keywords=&trecs=1&__sid=129DA2CA75F2&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_PriceSort_Decimal|1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&__Qpb=true&tsrc=allcarhome&__Nne=15&seot=1&__N=1216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294962861%204294817506&silo=1011

Check the crazy interior.

[Chris Rogers]

at 50K I say its going to be for sale for a while.

[Iron Chef]

That's pretty gangsta though! Ditch those rims, but otherwise me rikey...

[Messiah]

saw both a velfire and an alphard in bali last week (was surprised to see them there), theuy really do seem like the ducks nuts of people movers... i kinda want one (but then again i want most cars.)