Faults:

Recently I replaced the following, luckily all covered by a warranty when we bought the car.

+ Water pump

+ Clutch on aircon unit

+ Rocker cover gasket.

I would not consider any of the above by no means serious, things unfortunately do wear-out.

General Comments:

+ PERFORMANCE - it is no racing car, but then would you drive it like one? Our petrol powered Previa is very strong and very refined.

+ RIDE & HANDLING - For such a large car, it rides extremely well, also coping with poor road surfaces with ease. The smooth ride is not at the expense of town driving, or decent handling or motorway stability.

+ REFINEMENT - One would expect the large nose would generate wind noise; this is far from the truth. We have found it to be amazingly quiet, even above motorway speed limits. The engine is very smooth and quiet - being hardly audible, though it can make itself heard if you use the kickdown.

I fitted new wipers - the drivers blade should have really had a spoiler, it does not. The wind flutters around the blade - this faint noise spoils the amazingly quiet Previa cabin!

+ BEHIND THE WHEEL - All the controls are easy to reach, the clocks/dials are also easy to read. The driving position is excellent, leg room is absolutely fine.

+ SPACE AND PRACTICALITY - This is one of reasons we wanted a Previa - The boxes marked SPACE + RELIABILITY have a big tick. Many so-called seven seaters have little or no boot space. This car really does have an abundance of space, the Previa's boot is massive, even with the 6 + 7 seats in place, our double buggy will fit in with ease. Remove the middle and rear seats and you have a van, though they are heavy - it is a two person job.

+ EQUIPMENT - Our T Spirit has a good list of toys; privacy glass, climate control, and even 2 sun roofs. The rear ceiling mounted AIRCON + HEATING controls with vents to all rear seats is very effective at keeping rear chilled and such a good idea, not many MPV's have such a system.

+ BUYING AND OWNING - If you can find a Previa with low miles with a FULL HISTORY (a must) without breaking the bank, then good luck. Considering Toyota stopped making Previa's in 2006 - they are hard to find especially good ones - it took us 8 months to find ours!

Running the Previa is expensive anyway, but if you like to pull away fast and fly around, and dash around like a bat out of hell, then purchase a small sports car and make the kids walk.

Because your leaded foot will DRAIN your bank account... you'll pay for your "lead" foot, at the pumps. One tank of fuel is app £70 - £80 it's one very heavy car tipping the scales at over 2300kg - you'll soon learn that feather weight footing is needed.

That rarity though will pretty much allow guaranteed resale, like I said it took me 8 months to track one down. Every Previa I found over the net had been snapped-up, before I had chance.

+ QUALITY & RELIABILITY - Being a Toyota, it is very well put together, the Previa is a quality piece of kit; even the doors close beautifully, but why cannot Japanese manufacturers do soft plastics?

Reliability, well it is a Toyota, and if looked after and serviced correctly, they are pretty much bomb-proof. Every review I have ever read about the Previa it scores very highly. Personally I have no cause for concern that it will ever let us down.

If your looking for a reliable, spacious, family car, really don't look any further. I for one can reliably guarantee a Toyota Previa will fit the bill. Just on looks alone especially in T Spirit trim with privacy glass, the very shape of it, it is one cool looking people carrier. But if you don't need an 'AUTO' (we do) go for the diesel (non auto) it has a little better MPG and that all important diesel torque.

I hope you like my review

Kind regards