People movers - recommendations please

solitaire · Post by **solitaire** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 8:11 pm

No it's not for me!

A friend is asking for advice on a people mover for circa $10k

He is currently looking at a 2005 mazda premacy.

Requirements: Reliable, need to keep running with standard maintenance, he had a mondeo and replaced gearboxes etc - he couldn't give two craps about anything other than reliability, doesn't want to have to spend money on it breaking down (but understands standard regular maintenance is necessary)

What would you guys recommend?

Lloyd · Post by **Lloyd** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 8:17 pm

Any specific reason for a people mover over a large wagon?

Al · Post by Al » Mon Oct 15, 2012 8:28 pm

Something brand new with a three year warranty.

solitaire · Post by **solitaire** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:03 pm

Lloyd wrote:Any specific reason for a people mover over a large wagon?

Well he wants something bigger, they have a bach in coromandel and i think they want more space.

Al wrote:Something brand new with a three year warranty.

Yeah apreciate you can't have everything for what they are after, they just want something thats going to be as reliable as possible, think toyota corolla of the people mover world.

dnalunchie · Post by **dnalunchie** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:05 pm

toyota estima?

solitaire · Post by **solitaire** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:06 pm

dnalunchie wrote:toyota estima?

Would happily recommend... i just dont know them, if anyone knows them to be a safe bet that's what i'll recommend to him

NILPSI · Post by **NILPSI** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:44 pm

We have had a fair few late model Ipsums through work, they have the same 2.4 that the new Camrys have, may be slightly small though depending on how many people and things you want to carry.

Example: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 262498.htm

Also a fun game to play with these is "where is the spare wheel" and "how the hell does it come out!"

Alex B · Post by **Alex B** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 10:58 pm

solitaire wrote:
dnalunchie wrote:toyota estima?
Would happily recommend... i just dont know them, if anyone knows them to be a safe bet that's what i'll recommend to him

Pig to work on from what I understand.

Honda Stream, Toyota Ipsum/Wish.

matt dunn · Post by **matt dunn** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 11:52 pm

Estima's,

if the engine in not visable under the bonnet dont buy it.

We have heaps of problems with the ones with the engines on thier sides under the floor.

Probably out of the price range but have driven a few late ones with the 2GRFE engine in them, they are pretty quick for a van !!!
Supposedly 271 hp ???

strx7 · Post by **strx7** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 5:13 am

matt dunn wrote:Estima's,

Probably out of the price range but have driven a few late ones with the 2GRFE engine in them, they are pretty quick for a van !!!
Supposedly 271 hp ???

yip, the only one i'd reccomend. but i think they'd be outside his budget.
i'd personally reccomend he steers well clear of anything with a 2AZ or 1AZ type engine in it which pretty much rules out the 2.0 and 2.4 ipsums, estimas etc etc. the estimas with a 3.0 v6 are also outta the question if he wants trouble free motoring.

it really is a tough question

Lloyd · Post by **Lloyd** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:38 am

Why avoid the AZ? Go for the 2AZ if you have the option.

We have customers with them in various cars. Ipsum is probably perfect for what they want if the Estima is too big (ACR30/40).

Only issues I've had with the 1AZ so far have been oxygen sensors and the baffle in the inlet manifold on a Camry started rattling. One did a head gasket, but that was in a taxi with 400,000kms on that had a split radiator tank.

Same issues with the V6 really, oxygen sensors. Expensive for a cambelt too and they don't go any better than a 2AZ one.

strx7 · Post by **strx7** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:23 am

if i could source enough 1AZ and 2AZ motors I could sell 3-4 a week EVERY WEEK.

sergei · Post by **sergei** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 12:40 pm

AZ engines have problem with head bolts stripping.

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/104-5 ... ts-15.html

rollaholic · Post by **rollaholic** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:43 pm

honda stream, you can get a decent one for that money. they are apparently based on a civic platform but seat 7. pretty crap on luggage with all the seats in use though (the rear pair fold up) odysseys are bigger but more expensive.

anything with a V6 is just going to add unnecessary cost, both in gas bills and maintenance.

ultimately buying used cars is always gonna be a bit of a lottery, mechanical warranty ftw.

Lloyd · Post by **Lloyd** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:44 pm

Interesting issue....

OMG so shiny! · Post by **Dell'Orto** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 5:43 pm

Yup, sold a few headgaskets for 2AZ's where they'd stripped threads in the block now

Post by **Mr Revhead** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:19 pm

XA falcon wagon. Kids bounce around in the boot. Harden the $&#$% up NZ

solitaire · Post by **solitaire** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 7:37 pm

Ok, So we are down to pretty much Honda frv or odessey or mazda premacy i think?

the mazda runs a "MZR" engine
cant figure out what the honda runs, but its a straight 4

any bad experiences with those?

Simon K · Post by **Simon K** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 8:30 pm

Ex had a 2006 NZ New Odyssey...haaaaard on gas but plenty of room

AE82 FXGT · Post by **AE82 FXGT** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 10:05 pm

-1 for Estima

they are a prick, my old man bought one against my advice.
The engines in a weird place, so is the jack, the spare tyre, actually everything seems to be. It's got a coolant leak I don't want to go near. Oil leaks everywhere, I just don't want to work on it, it looks like a nightmare.

That said, I've worked on a Honda Odyssey and aside from the typical Honda spinning the other way business with the motor/gearbox etc, it seemed fairly conventional.

I would stay away from anything v6 FWD.

Can't say I've had much experience outside of this.