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The minivan craze has spread from Japan to Hong Kong!!

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Old 07-05-09, 09:33 PM
  #46  
Faymester
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I can't stand mini-vans.

I'm not going to go hugely into a rant about it, but I just had to express that I do not like them. I get that they have their place & use, but I would prefer it to not be anywhere near me.
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Old 07-06-09, 07:24 AM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by superchan7
You'll have to excuse the rubber mats, as summers are quite wet down there. I should note the storage cubbies galore and that the leather feels Lexus-grade. As I said, though, too much hard plastic.

Second row is the best place to be; both chairs can move forward/backward as well as left/right. The ottomans are a bit gimmicky, but can be useful on those (begin sarcasm) long Hong Kong road trips (end sarcasm).
Nice to see another Estima/ Previa owner on the forum. Parents have a 2001 model till this day (No point selling it, still works & runs like the first day we got it.), and prefer to drive it over their Merc (Better pick up and easier to park than the M Class.).

One thing I like are the Sonar sensors, I like how the display is easy to interpret (If only there are aftermarket sensors with this type of display, would love to get one for the RAV4.).

The Estima, Alphard & Wish (I love the 2.0Z model.) are very popular grey imports where I'm from (Malaysia), forums for them also exist!

Originally Posted by superchan7
The current Toyota Alphard, all-new for 2008. I suspect a hybrid E-four version (2 electric drive motors, one in rear) will be available in the future, as in the current Estima and the previous Alphard.
From what I can remember, Bangkok Post interviewed Toyota Thailand & confirmed that an Alphard Hybrid will no longer be available. Something to do with making the Estima the only Hybrid minivan in the line up (While grey importers in Thailand said that an Alphard Hybrid will be coming up). Who knows, maybe Toyota will come up with a V6 Hybrid (Hope they do!).

Love both the Alphard & Vellfire, especially the Business Class 2nd row captain chairs in the top spec ones.

Yes, I know some may find it unusual for a young single guy to have a liking for minivans, but I love them.
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Old 07-06-09, 11:21 AM
  #48  
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Hmm, I had forgotten about this thread. Now I have more cars to look for later this week
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Old 07-06-09, 01:37 PM
  #49  
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Originally Posted by Faymester
I can't stand mini-vans.

I'm not going to go hugely into a rant about it, but I just had to express that I do not like them. I get that they have their place & use, but I would prefer it to not be anywhere near me.
quite a few women share your view, they'd rather get an suv instead.
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Old 07-07-09, 08:31 AM
  #50  
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Where most household only have one car, like HK, the minivan is the ideal car.
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Old 07-07-09, 12:13 PM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by The G Man
Where most household only have one car, like HK, the minivan is the ideal car.
You mean where most households that actually have a car at all

About 90% of all transportation is via mass transit of some form. Anyway, since someone upped this thread, some more pics from my visit this past January:









And some other random cars I photographed. JDM Toyota Estima





This guy has cross-border plates that block the central lower air intake...FAIL.





Some coupes





Toyota Vellfire, a more aggressively styled version of the Alphard





M-B A-class

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Old 07-07-09, 01:01 PM
  #52  
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Nice pics with the international perspective.
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Old 07-07-09, 01:08 PM
  #53  
encore888
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Thx for the pics...these Asia-market minivans with their reclining seats, etc. are quite impressive. I like the way the Estima looks...and have personally seen several Alphards with Lexus badging...at first I thought it was a joke but now having learned about their luxury features and price I realize why some owners see fit to badge it that way...although it is still not a Lexus, who knows maybe one day...heck Mercedes makes vans.
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Old 07-07-09, 01:39 PM
  #54  
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the estima and alphard, damn nice
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Old 07-07-09, 01:48 PM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by superchan7
You mean where most households that actually have a car at all

About 90% of all transportation is via mass transit of some form. Anyway, since someone upped this thread, some more pics from my visit this past January:

i love that ottoman, it looks so comfy! too bad we don't have features like this here domestically.
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Old 07-07-09, 01:57 PM
  #56  
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Originally Posted by Stormforge
i love that ottoman, it looks so comfy! too bad we don't have features like this here domestically.
well it's already on the ls460l/600hl. i guess give it enough time and maybe we will see it on minivan, especially if one day toyota decides to put a minivan under lexus lineup as well
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Old 07-07-09, 02:47 PM
  #57  
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the MBZ A-class posted above shold come to america. then less people would hate on the smart.
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