Awesome when someone has a bit of a passion for something and manages to keep it and it’s pieces out of a landfill for a few more trips around the sun (that’s directed to both of you - keep doing what you’re doing!)
Even back in my early 2000s teenage years when I tought it would be cool to put chrome hubcap spinners in my altima, even then, I tought that Bras was the stupidest thing ever
Great van. Sort of on topic, the Mazda5 was also a cool (albeit more micro) van. I know the Previa is larger, but the 5 had unique styling that was supposed to be the styling direction Mazda was taking, but only made it into production on that one vehicle! Very egg-like too.
@@HelloRoad It could be argued that driving a minivan today is much more radical than driving one when the Previa roamed the streets. In any case, I am happy yours found a good home.
16:26 Given that the Previa's bespoke engine would've been developed shortly after Toyota released the 3.0L V6 3VZE that started coming as an option in the Pickups & 4Runners in '88, I suspect some commonality here with both engines being prone to head gasket failures. From what I've heard, the 3VZE didn't have the issue (perhaps, not as frequently) for those first year models, but apparently '89 is when asbestos was no longer used in the head gasket material, and apparently whatever approach Toyota used to make an asbestos-free head gasket ultimately wasn't up to the task because those are the ones that failed, by and large. Presumably their recall / extended-warranty service for job switched to a better design, not sure as I fortunately have 22RE's in all 3 trucks of my Pickup/4Runner fleet.
yeah, good luck in some parts of the country - zero previas in junkyards in central florida and even rock auto has limited parts available - besides YOU being the crumple zone in a collision, you aren't going to easily find parts for a 30 year old vehicle
Great video! I too have a white Previa and my odo reads 340,216 today. Mine's an LE spec with rear drive, naturally aspirated, and a slick top. Mine also has a factory 2" receiver which was a dealMAKER for me. I have a 1Up bike rack mounted to a RackAttach swing away device. I've rebuilt the top end twice as I have experienced cracked cyl heads. I learned of the DIY method via PreviaLegend - no need to drop the motor out of the vehicle! I imagine a lot of people have reluctantly parted with their eggvans over the years when they learned that the Toyota-approved method required this expensive procedure.
Narrower tires work well offroad and on snow/ice because they are LONGER. Air down a narrow tire and wide tire of the same diameter to the same pressure, and they will both have about the same contact patch size, but the narrow tire is more like a TRACK shaped contact patch, which is superior because the wheel doesn't have to climb obstacles and imperfections as abruptly. The sudden changes in terrain elevation that get you stuck on a tire with a short contact patch, are "averaged" out by the long contact patch. Functionally, the "steepness" of each imperfection in the trail is less on narrow tires, which makes forward progress easier. Good choice on the 205's!
Word to the wise: When someone who knows his s..t, like your friend Serge here, tells you, he found some stuff (at 00:14), please stop whatever you're doing and listen! For the love of God, Jehova, Allah, Buddha, Ron Hubbard or the Spaghetti-Monster, please listen! Or even better make him show you what he found (and let him fix it).
Ethan your friend referred to maintenance as cool (something like cool maintenance things): I’d really love to get to the stage where I was competent enough with car mechanics & minor fixes, to enjoy it enough to say that it was cool
I've had several Previas (still have one with well over 240k) and have never had even the slightest issue with head gaskets. Like never, I've literally never heard of that and I've driven mine all over the country and paid like $600 for each one
I use my 93 previa as a work vehicle. I have mounted a compressor and tool box to do mobile repairs on cars. Mine has now 340k on it. It's really rough outside and inside. But it gets me where I need to go. It's been up to Alaska on a family trip. Installed a TV for the kids to play video games and watch DVDs . Other than having replace the cylinder head it's been perfect. Still passing smog. Thinking I'll get to 400k in no time.
Good to hear of another egg still in use! I am typing this while seated in the back of mine. Solar panel on the roof, charging an EcoFlow power bank which keeps all my devices and external monitor running. And I just rolled over 340K on mine too!
I'm so envious you managed to find JDM curtains and a coolbox. I've been searching for both for my Previa, they're just so hard to get hands-on. Advice?
It’s brilliant to watch Serge take meticulous care of this odd Previa. I’m imPreviaessed to see it only has 90k miles on it. Is that accurate? Also, 70mph is nothing for these vans. My NA Previa has made it to 85mph and could keep going. Awesome Van.
Really cool I own three of these Vans have to say that they give the most miles to me and all vans that are out there. And that's like a legitimate thing that people don't know. How much miles do you get. Besides frowns with head gaskets.
