written by on 24/07/2009
I have had a 1996 imported Lucida for 5 years now. Great for the whole family, 8 seats plus luggage space, nothing else can match this at the price. 2.2 diesel auto returns nearly 30mpgin town and nearly 40mpg on a run (not driven hard). The only spare part I've needed so far is an interior light bulb for above the side door. £20 from local Toyota dealer. What do they think it, is a bloody chandelier? I found a copy on the internet locally for £10. Still a rip off. So vehicle is great as long as you don't have to buy spares from Toyota. Rear seats are a bit of a struggle to get in and out for the elderly or slightly infirm.
written by on 23/01/2008
I really wish you ignorant people would STOP calling the imported Estima, Lucida and Emina a Previa.
The Previa is a UK built vehicle with a PETROL 2.4L engine that does NOT repeat NOT suffer cracked cylinder heads. This problem is 100% dedicated to the 2.2TD DIESEL engine found exclusively and ONLY on the imported cars. The UK built Previa is one of the MOST reliable cars on the road whilst the imported cars are 110% guaranteed to suffer a cracked head sooner or later.
What's more even though from a distance the Previa and the imports look similar the imported Lucida's and Emina's are a narrower and overall a smaller car than the Previa. ONLY the true ESTIMA (has no other name on it) is identical to the Previa not only in size but also in that it too has the superbly reliable PETROL engine.
If you want to buy an IMPORT make sure it is fitted with the PETROL engine otherwise start saving at least 1500-2000 to have the cylinder head changed.
Written on: 01/09/2012
Info. 1, 1992-1998 The ESTIMA IS THE PREVIA, it shares the same 2.4 petrol engine, it has the same eggplant bodyshape as the Previa, same grill, same interior same everything as the Previa, but with a bit more luxury as it is built and still in Japan and they get a better choice as that's where the PREVIA is originally from japan, but built for the uk market. Info 2. the other 2 estimas (Emina and Lucida) are both diesels which were also built in Japan aside of the Estima/Previa and are slightly smaller, and had a 2.2 turbodiesel engine to fit in Japanese small car Tax system, quite a lot of them were imported (2003) over the uk which some were equipped with luxury trim also all previa are basic trimmed also it was pointless importing the Toyota ESTIMA 2.4 petrol over as there as it would have been confusing knowing the uk market already have them rebadged aka TOYOTA PREVIA also with all the luxury it would have outclassed the PREVIA itself and yes they do suffer from a cracked block due to bad overheating, remedy is replace the thin 16mm rad for a 32mm heavy duty version, you will notice vast difference so before you start having a go at estima owners, DO YOUR HOMEWORK, to round it off, the ESTIMA is a PREVIA and the PREVIA IS THE ESTIMA, as same saying the Emina is a Lucida and the Lucida is the Emina just trim difference on all 4 vehicles they all have the same 2wd and 4wd & mid engine layout all have 4drs, it's only difference is the large body size & petrol on the big estima/previa and small body & diesel on the emina/lucida
written by rich21bro on 18/01/2006
Owned my Toyota Previa for just over two years, cylinder head recently cracked - this is apparently quite common. This cost us around £1500. It's not a car for drivers, but it's comfortable and very practical. The seats swing round so the kids can play games on a long journey.
Great - but watch for that Cylinder head
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Guest's Comment
Written on: 16/02/2012
Seems like your equally as ignorant.Previas,petrol. suffer from blown head gaskets,and thats fact.And diesels,are more robust,more than likely to out last the petrol plus the specs are superior to the previa.More people who own a Toyota would much prefer The Diesel version over the Petrol.