What vehicle thread?

[Paul_B]

Seen some nice Nissan Elgrand vans. Three rows of seats with the last ones folding against the sides to give a huge space. Think the second row does that too.

It means you don't have to store the third row if you need the space.

They look a lot nicer than a Mazda Bongo IMHO.

There's a good company called Algy's who do the importing for you and charge £350+VAT to do it apparently.

 

[daveO]

I've worked on a couple of jap import cars for friends over the years. It's amazing how clean they are underneath compared to cars over here. Get any fresh import well undersealed though or the rust levels will quickly catch up with the UK cars.

 

[Paul_B]

I've worked on a couple of jap import cars for friends over the years. It's amazing how clean they are underneath compared to cars over here. Get any fresh import well undersealed though or the rust levels will quickly catch up with the UK cars.

Did any of them have a jap van/mpv? What do you think of them?

 

[daveO]

I've got a Bongo myself. Although I'm a big fan of japanese cars I wouldn't recommend the Bongo to anyone just because the engine cooling system is such a joke. I can't speak for other MPVs though. The only thing I would check before buying one is that you can get parts easily and find a local garage that is happy to work on them. No one around here has a clue about Bongos but the local parts supplier can get hold of most things next day for me because they share parts with UK cars. I broke down in Pembroke and he had the replacment part in before the AA even got me home. It's no good if it's your only car though and parts have to be special order.

 

[Paul_B]

We can get by without a car if need be but obviously having a van based on.a uk spec vehicle is a good idea.

I know my local main dealer is a very good Mitsubishi dealer. I've asked them about a Japanese import Mitsubishi and their reply came across as "why the hell not?". IIRC the Japanese spec imported Mitsubishi vans are based on a car that is sold over here.

I've heard most of the Japanese imports do have UK spec equivalent parts. Reminds me, I should contact Nissan garage to see what they say about imports. Also Toyota.

 

[Nice65]

I like the Elgrand. If I was going for a bigger vehicle again it would be that or a Delica. Or an older Jeep Cherokee.

Can be tweaked too.

Though nowhere near to Delica tweaking

 

[Paul_B]

I wonder what a 3.5 litre petrol engine is like on a mpv van with selectable 2wd/4wd. Anyone know?

I bet it drinks petrol for fun.

One I've seen has 4wd and winter tyres on it. Interesting!

I particularly like the elgrand versions where the third row if seats fold against the sides. We want it to carry bikes easily but have no storage space for third seat rows so this seems a good feature for us.

Those seats fold flat, with the back level with the seat. Then it folds into the side so the seat and back is folded into the inside of the van. This leaves the base of the seat and the back of the seats to get dirty from whatever is carried in the space created. Better than damaging the seat surface.

The Nissan Elgrand looks a well designed van IMHO. Mind you the delica might be a better option since it's based on the outlander 4x4 I believe. That's sold in the UK so all but the bodywork is stock UK spec parts. Although the company that imports bongos and Elgrand vans don't touch Mitsubishi delicas from what I've seen. Aren't they a bit too tall for the 2m car park height limit too?

 

[Tony]

I've only scanned through this thread so I may have missed something. We've got a Ssangyong Rodius, and I can't think of a better big motor for the money, I've driven 110's for years, grand espace, estate cars etc but for the money it's amazing, some hate the look, but I'm fine with it because it's got so much space in it, it's a 7 seater that you can fit luggage in as well. They come in 4x4 versions, good engine etc, it will tow 2.7t and fit in a carpark. I've put on nearly 100,000 miles on mine and i'd get another one.

the newer models have fold down flat back seats (3rd row) creating a massive space.

Just a thought

 

[Janne]

That S. Korean brand does not do well in crash/safety tests.

They used to have excellent, Mercedes Benz designed engines.

 

[Sundowner]

Just got myself a Galaxy. Largest MPV I ever had. All the seats in the back fold flat and I can get a double air bed into it. Now I'm looking for roof bars to put the canoe on. Anyone got any? For a 64 plate?

 

[Klenchblaize]

Any vehicle where the doors close and stay so when the temperature drops. Which rules out my Defender 110 Double Cab!

K

 

[Janne]

Any vehicle where the doors close and stay so when the temperature drops. Which rules out my Defender 110 Double Cab!

K

Sounds like you need to change the ’thingy’ in the B pillar and maybe invest in new (stainless steel?) hinges!

Today I saw a van called Toyota Homo Limousine. Japanese import.
Many Japanese and Chinese vehicles made fir domestic market have weird names.

 

[Robson Valley]

Sundowner: Be careful what you find for a roof rack (as we call them).
Some of the damn things sing in the wind @ 100kph on the highway.
Worst are those with open tubing ends like organ pipes.

 

[Janne]

Swedish Thule does not whistle or sing, but it does dance for sure!
They do not even increase the fuel use much.

I have owned a few of those with various add ons. Swedish quality.

 

[Laurentius]

My absolute go to choice, if I could get one for a reasonable price these days, would be a series or lightweight landie, the older the better. I do miss my old series 3. Give me a choice between a vintage Rolls Royce and an immaculate series Landie, and there is no doubt that I would be after the Landie first.

 

[Janne]

Immaculate vintage RR or immaculate vintage LR then?
I choose the RR.

 

[Robson Valley]

Lots of Thule lock-boxes here. The best roof racks come off the 1970's and 1980's GMC/Chev station wagons.
I know that because I drove 2 of them.
The more recent racks, like the one on my 97 GMC 3/4T Suburban, really is a sorry piece of rack.
A decade ago, I would have ripped it off and gone to the wreckers for a vintage one.

Yes, the Burb is really big + 454cid mill. Can't pass a gas station, so I use the trucker's card lock.
40 imperial gallon tank. Sure does hold a lot of my tools and toys for a play day back up some side valley.

I Google most of the models you all mention. They look quite reasonable for green spaces.

 

[Paul_B]

Thule roofbars are the kinky ones I get by choice. I nearly got halfords copies but I changed my.mind and got the Thule ones. The original box section ones. The aero ones have advantages but there's more add ons for rectangular bars than aero ones needing a T bar attachment.

Simple upright bars bolted onto the rectangular section bars. Solid attachment point. Tie from loop on the end of the uprights down around the bars to hold the kayak/canoe securely. Obviously I'm a whitewater kayaker so uprights are de rigueur! Easily made too if you have welding kit and can actually weld.

If you carry kayaks they're usually stronger on their edges. Strapping them onto bars using an upright, on their edges, tend to prevent the distortions such as the base under the seat bending up.into the seat.

I've not carried many canoes but they tend to be laid upside down. If carrying two I'd still use an.upright personally. It marks you out as a canoeist type. Not good in fishing areas if.you're leaving the car untended for long. Heard of rivers subject to disputes having issues where car tyres have been shot out before now. Allegedly a farmer who made money out of.riparian rights who was not psychologically suitable to own a gun license but smart enough not to get caught by anyone who'd report him.

BTW take your bars off when not needed we took our bars off with the two bike racks this weekend. Car computer gave 46mpg average for a journey that last trip gave 28-32mpg with bars on. IMHO that's a significant difference.

 

[Janne]

The aero ones are much better on yhe air resistancy bit, but you still use more fuel.
My last Defender ( expedition modified) was strange, despite several additions, including a large Thule roof box, it did not use excessively more fuel.
Must be that the airflow is finely tuned on a modern vehicle, any small airflow disruption ruins the total ‘slickness’.

A Defender must be the vehicle with the worst airflow...

 

[srod]

Any vehicle where the doors close and stay so when the temperature drops. Which rules out my Defender 110 Double Cab!

K

That'll be the grease used in the locking mechanism that becomes too sticky when below zero. There's a 5-minute fix which involves rinsing out the mechanisms with brake cleaner, and I can verify it works! Do a search on defender2.net to find the full instructions. Made my life so much easier, there was a time when all four of us had to go in the through the drivers door... either that or a passenger door flying open randomly on roundabouts!