Overall The Best Van ever

The Toyota Previa is the result of extensive design and meticulous detail. Toyota's hardwork will always be remembered for this van. The design is so good that if you don't know the year model, you would mistake it to be the same as the new ones coming out now except for the double door. The design was so brilliant that Toyota actually kept the body frame and features and just changed the front and maintained the model until a few years ago. It's called "Estima" in Japan). It is what other motor companies tried to pattern their designs with and any Van person can attest to that. The Sienna is great, don't get me wrong, but the Previa is a step higher. I believe if they continued to sell the Previa here in the US, it would be more expensive because of the quality and design. So therefore, business-wise, the Sienna will fill the price nitch more of the competitive market today. That's how higher up the Previa would have been at this present time.
The mechanical design is outstanding. Imagine a horizontal engine (especially designed to fit in the lower part of the body) much like a porsche horizontal placement. Although it is only 4 cylinders-these are big bore cylinders therefore coming out with decent power in the overall. Not only that- it was even supercharged! Power and economy in one. The position of the engine- another marvel. Its mid-engine placement gives the whole vehicle a good balance on the road. Good wear on all four tires. More power because the engine is closer to the rear differential, all torque from the engine is transferred right away to the rear. And mind you, this is a rear drive vehicle at that. Again, not only that, it also came in AWD.
Seating and ride height is excellent. This is one of the hallmark of Toyota's "Commanding View of the Road". Adjustability and flexibility is unprecedented. I remember my brother even folding back the rear chair all the way and using it as a bunk bed while waiting in the car. That shows how much verstility there is and having mentioned it, how much space is stil present beyond the reclined seat. The round shape of the back gives more space than you can imagined. You won't believe that it will still close after putting a lot of baggages back there. In the 2nd row bench version, you can actually still put a suitcase (standing) infront of the sliding door and the 2nd row bench seat. How amazing is that?
Our family had a motor business and therefore we have a vast experience in automibiles, knowing good quality from mediocre quality. We believe in this van so much that my father owns one, my mother owns one, I bought my father's first previa from him, he has a second one for rough work and we are still looking for a 1997 which I believe was the last version, with all the Top end features and of course now a very low price for that! The Previa I bought from my father, now has a new paint, new sound system, high quality tint, runs as smooth as before and is now on its 238,000th mile. New large rims (but not too low profile as it still carries passengers) are next. Of course I had regular maintenance and replaced parts once in a while due to regular wear and tear.
The newer vans have great designs and features but pardon my opinion, up to now, I haven't seen one that might be as good as how the Previa was made overall. Thank you for car lovers' continuous quest for perfection that the Previa was born and continuous to serve it's owners as reliable and oustanding as ever before.