[rrsteer]

Introduction



Over the years I have come to value the practicality that vans offer. My love for vans was triggered by the delightful experience I had with our Innova. But, I could have never imagined in the wildest of dreams that within a year of starting looking for a largish van for recreational purposes, I would ultimately end up buying a Hiace and that too in India.

My search for a van truly began sometime in 2018. We were returning from a trip to Palampur, and along the way I was thinking only about getting a large van. I though it would be an ideal vehicle for family vacations. Tata Winger and Force Traveller were the two vehicles that fit the description and for some time I was obsessed with the thought of buying either one of them. Ofcouse, my family baulked and never understood how attached I was to the idea. I would regularly screen OLX for both vehicles. The closest I came to buying either, was a 2013 Winger that was privately registered and had run for some 30k kms if I remember correctly. The engine wasn’t the 2.2 Dicor though. While the car was not in the best of shapes, it was better than almost any other Winger I saw. Such was my eagerness, I was ready to buy it there and then, but fortunately lost the deal to another gentleman. May God bless him! The other close shave I had was with a Force Traveller being sold somewhere in Karnataka. It brings a laugh now when I think about all the things I was doing then. Anyhow, God showed mercy on me and I spotted this HiAce parked outside a garage while on the road to Delhi. Made quick inquiries and got in touch with the owner, who was already selling it. Thereafter, I moved fast and within a couple of days was barrelling down the NH1 in the 15 year old van that had run 2 lac kms.

The History & Purchase

History, as I get to hear a lot nowadays, is often manipulated. So with that thought in mind, this is what the previous owner told me about the van’s history. It’s a 2004, model that was built specifically for Eastern European countries. It was used by the Hungarian embassy as a school cum office bus. Thereafter it was purchased by a friend of the owner in 2017. Unfortunately, the person had to leave India for good but not before spending a good deal of time and money attending to the needs of the van.(ah the Bollywood-ish cliché!). Now, I don’t have the knowledge or the experience to evaluate cars, but what I saw and felt of the van, really impressed me then. Haggled a bit and finally paid 3.25 lacs for it. Looking back, it has turned out to be a steal - a homerun of a purchase.

The van had 'Toyota' marked parts everywhere, e.g. this side view mirror. All the windows had 'Toyota' inscribed:


One test I have of used cars is to look for the manual and the condition of the jack and tool set. While the manual was absent, the jack and tool set were in very good condition and tucked in exactly where they should have been:


Just look at the condition of the roof lining:



The Review

Initial condition and sprucing up

As I undertook the first journey, driving the van back home – a 150 km odd trip, I couldn't believe my luck. It was driving so smooth. The engine had that unmistakable grunt that a typical Toyota diesel has. The brakes were good. The AC cooled and the original radio was working fine. Amazingly, this 15 year old metallic bread box had nary a squeak or a rattle – a trait that only a Toyota can have in my honest opinion. The journey had an overdose of ‘life’s beautiful’ vibe but regularly interspersed with thoughts from Murphy dear.

Let me quickly summarize what extra I have had to spend on the van before my ownership period truly began.
• Mechanically it was and is a sound piece (Touchwood!). Apart from replacing the front shock absorbers and changing a fused bulb at the start, everything else was in order.
• I spent about Rs 80k on the registration and the whole process took about 10 months. COVID related lockdowns delayed the already lengthy and convoluted process, even though I hired the best ‘professional’!
• Spent about 10k to get a third party insurance.
• Got the front windshield replaced at the very start of the ownership at a cost of Rs 11k
• Got a pair of auxiliary headlamps (don’t know what’s the appropriate term) for 10k or so.
• A new battery was installed, costing about 8k
• Also changed tyres right at the onset of the ownership, which set me back by about Rs 30k.
• Got one of those Chinese made car awnings installed for Rs 20k.
• Paid about Rs 8k to get one of those unique twin front parking mirrors for Hiace vans - although one of the mirrors was missing.
• Spent around 40k to replace the original 12 seat arrangement at the back with 4 captain seats from Innova. This was unplanned and done in a hurry and I repent doing it.
• All in all, I think my landed cost of buying this car would be about Rs 5.5 lacs.



A quick summary of the usage

• Under my use, the car has done close to 22k kms
• It’s the car I drive most regularly of the 3 we have, but not the one that is driven the most.
• On average, gets driven atleast once or twice a week – many times only for short bursts – take that, good for nothing BS6 diesel engines!

Exterior

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. I will not stretch it and say it is a thing of art, but I like the looks. Especially when viewed from the side when the awning is visible, it bears a purposeful look, I feel. I haven't been stopped by the police for having the awning on the top, so far. But, I have been stopped by Army soldiers. We live next to a cantonment and have to cross it to access the highway. First few times, the soldiers manning the checkpoint stopped us to inquire about it. Given my frequent passage through the checkpoint, I know a few of them and they told me that they initially thought it to be some type of an ammunition launcher!



The front has a typical 90s Jap car design, while the back is plain jane.





The current wheels and tyres are not the factory size, but they fill the wheel well quite nicely and makes the van look big. The alloys are from the Innova, and the van came shod with them.



The reaction of people when they look at the van, ranges from it being a Full Size Maruti Van to a ‘High’ roof Tata Ace (lol). I have also been stopped by a discerning few, inquiring more about it and checking if I was selling it. And before I miss to add, the van is eye candy stuff for school bus drivers and tour operators. That Toyota logo in a mini- bus type body is what dreams are made of for them (Well, it was for me too!). They bring their autos/ mini-buses/ traveller next to me and nonchalantly check the interiors. Once someone perplexed by just 4 seats at the back, even asked ‘paaji kinney nayane fit karde ho?’ (Brother, how many school kids do you fit in inside?)


Interior

The USP. Sadly, I have ruined it a bit by replacing the original arrangement with 4 captain seats from Innova. For a start, I could have bought seats of some other car. In the scrap market, I see seats (of good quality) of luxury cars going for a song. Given the space, many different permutations and combinations can be thought of, and I hope to correct my folly soon. Also the new seat arrangement disturbed the seat belt alignment. For now, only one seat in the back gets seat belts.

The back seats:


The massive leg room:


The rear most seats:


That said, the seats at the front for the driver and the passenger are par excellence. Atleast for me, they have the right support and I can be perched on that driver seat for however long I want. While the driver seat can move forward and backwards and tilt, the passenger seat is fixed and the engine is accessed by flipping it up. But its still very comfortable to sit there – its like you are sitting on an armchair.

A view of the front seats:


Features: For an eighteen-year-old vehicle, the van is very well equipped with features. It has power windows for both front seats (including one touch feature for the driver side), central locking, rear defogger with wiper, dual AC with independent control at the front and back and a CD player. All the features work as desired except for the defogger which gave up recently and central locking - that works partially. A special note on the power windows- they go up and down quite smoothly and without any noise or hesitation. In my experience Toyota cars have the most consistent and graceful power window operation. Similar to the Hiace, our Etios too works very well in this aspect, as did the Innova.
Overall, the family likes travelling in it (specific to certain conditions). There is so much space, so much light and absolutely no tension with regards to accommodating luggage.

The cockpit and all the controls:


Power window switches at the front:



Driving the Van

It is powered by an old school 3 litre naturally aspirated diesel engine churning out about 90bhp and has 192 NM of torque. The engine is from Toyota’s 5L diesel engine family. The last of the NA diesel engines before being replaced by the D4D generation.

I get consistent mileage from the van. It hovers between 9.5kmpl to 11 kmpl irrespective of the conditions, which I think is fairly decent and reflects the good condition of the engine.

Overall mileage:


The 3L Naturally Aspirated Engine:


The engine has got good low and mid-range torque, and pulls cleanly from stand still in an endearing way. In the city, its very tractable. The steering though power assisted, is on the harder side, tuned very similar to how its in the Innova. In spite of that, a commanding driving position, excellent visibility of what lies ahead (since one is sitting on the edge) and the fact that the van’s body ends where you think it ends, ensures its quite easy to drive in the city. I have a lot of fun squeezing it in and out of traffic. Size wise, its longer than the Innova/Crysta and almost similar in length to the Kia Carnival. But contrasted with the Carnival, while driving the Carnival is a chore in traffic, this is a breeze.

On the other hand, driving it on the highway is a totally different story. Its meant for idiosyncratic like me. Accelerating above 80kmph, is beginning of torture, both for the engine and your senses. On the highways, I just cruise at 75kmph. That’s a sweet spot for the van. The engine feels lusty, the brakes respond well and the van feels sturdy. But this can test the patience of the passengers and hence forced to use it only for short day trips or rides to the hills.

Ride, Handling and Braking

The ride and handling is as good or bad as you would expect from a ladder frame, bread box shaped van. Given the reality, have low expectations and thus not much to complain about. E.g., our trip to Spiti was actually very comfortable. The road from Kaza to Manali, which is a back breaking one, we were all at ease – the ride and the high GC of the van ensured we were unperturbed.

Brakes are applied through discs at the front and drums at the rear. In the limited use case, they work quite well and do a good job of stopping the vehicle. I say limited since I don't cross 80kmph and my driving style is defensive. Again, the braking feel is quite akin to the Innova.

NVH and AC

If you are used to cars of today, you will find the NVH jarring. On the other hand, if you consider the type of engine it has, where its placed, how old it is and compare it to what you experience in a typical Tata Winger or a Force Traveller, you will appreciate what Toyota has done. I’d say the NVH factor is at par or only slightly worse than with what I have experienced in the Qualis.
It has a dual AC setup and it makes the large cabin comfortable in quick time. Its when you see and experience stuff like this, you tend to have a bit more respect for the Toyota guys. I say so, because its is now an 18 year old van, that has passed through multiple owners, but the AC and AC controls work absolutely fine, with no complaints whatsoever. I find this just brilliant!

The Rear AC Unit


Controls for the rear heater for passengers at the back:


Living with Van

We have used it extensively to travel to the Hills and beyond. Its when travelling to the hills that the qualities of the van truly shine. Ample GC, torque and visibility keeps the driver happy, while the space on offer, being able to carry and access anything that your heart desires and ability to get box office views of nature keeps the passengers entertained.

A few pics from some of the journey undertaken:

Firstly, my daughters absolutely love this vehicle. They call it 'Pug' for some reason.


Setting up our lunch table somewhere in Chitkul:


Waking up inside the van:


Witnessing snowfall in Palampur, of all places.


Proved its mettle on the ride to Spiti.



We started our journey for Manali from Kaza at about 4am. This pic was taken at about 7am just after the turn for Chandra Taal.


Stopped at this site on the way from Kaza to Manali. It was almost winters, but one just can't ignore the sight of a clear stream running down a mountain.


Finally a picture when we spent a comfortable night on the highway. The awning can be turned into a room and we were carrying folding beds. It was winters and if you are to travel to Punjab, winters is the time. The crispiness in the air and the very smell of winters is just intoxicating.


I have also put the van to frequent hard use, and it hasn't disappointed.


Current State and repairs needed

• The external body has suffered a few hits, mostly while parking. It did take me a while to get a hang of the dimensions.
  
• The front suspension needs an overhaul. (Unknowingly drove to Spiti with worn lower ball joints).
  
• The real defogger has stopped working.

I want to get these repairs done only from someone who has the experience of working on old Toyotas, and hence the delay in getting these sorted. I had contacted a T-Bhp member and ideally want the repairs to be done in his garage, but am scared to cross into Delhi – the police has gotten really strict nowadays. Sooner or later, though I have to make a decision.

Finally, hope our relationship is like this cheesy the line written at the back of the bus:

(Treat me like a queen and I will turn you into a king )

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[Samba]

Wow! This is a pleasant surprise! Never expected an ownership report about an old Hiace. Great to see, this car is going to places like Spiti and on other road trips as well.
Congrats for owning this beauty. Loved reading the ownership review! RATED 5*.

Will love to see this thread being updated from time to time.

India deserved this car! Am quite a fan of this van! The only reason it was not launched in India maybe because Toyota can't price it right to pitch this van against the Force Traveller or the Tata Winger. Though undoubtedly it's a superior car than those two.

Originally Posted by rrsteer

I had contacted a T-Bhp member and ideally want the repairs to be done in his garage, but am scared to cross into Delhi – the police has gotten really strict nowadays. Sooner or later, though I have to make a decision.

You can consider taking it on a flat bed or a container truck.

[SteeringWheel]

Congratulations. You found a great vehicle at a great price. Finding a rare vehicle in great shape is really difficult. Your HiAce is great and in original undisturbed condition. Many such vehicles need a lot of time and effort initially to make them acceptable and reliable. Feels like your can continue to serve you for more than a decade without needing much attention. It gives me Qualis vibes which goes on and on without complaining. Enjoy the Van.

[Haroon]

Wow. Congrats on buying a wonderful vehicle and sharing the beautiful journey.

This is a workhorse in the Middle East & Africa. People & goods mover. They last a lifetime! Besides, without too much electronics and time tested Toyota reliability you dont have to worry much on maintenance.

Wishing you many many happy miles with this unique vehicle on Indian roads.

[RaviCar]

I believe I had a ride on HiAce in Kazakhstan (2017), from Almaty to Saty to Kolsai Lake to Charyn Canyon then Back to Almaty and then to Altyn Emel National Park in a four wheel drive version of this (am I correct? HiAce does have a 4*4?) and the ride quality was amazing. Even in the last row where I spent lot of my time(20 hrs+). We drove many a times on non existent roads or dried up/shallow rivers beds creating natural roads.

I found this more comfortable than any other rides I have taken. I have always wondered why was this never launched in India?

P.S. How can we drive these old vehicles now in NCR legally? Is there a way.

[Bibendum90949]

Wow! This is indeed a surprise. Congratulations on your new ride. Being a van lover myself, I can relate to few of the points you made there, especially squeezing in and out of traffic. With vans, one can actually give the three wheeler drivers a taste of their own medicine, the length of the car be damned.

Driving a van is fun of a different kind. I love the driving position and the high degree of visibility it offers while at the wheels. The ladder on frame construct, RWD and hydraulic PS adds to the lovely mix. And you literally know where your tyres are and what they're upto. It all comes together to deliver you a driving experience and enjoyment of a different kind. They're best driven and enjoyed at 70-80 kmph as you rightly mentioned. That's the sweet spot for those lovely bread boxes. Those who have never driven one should try it once to really know what I'm trying to convey.

Did your Hiace come equipped with a hydraulic PS or an EPS?

Just few weeks back, I bought this much more accessible and affordable van which had gone under the radar for many. I'm still trying to figure out how it flopped. Hoping that I can pen down the details sometime. Omni is the other van in my garage.





Now your post has triggered few thoughts and i've something to set my eyes on

Wishing you many more vantage miles with it. Do update this thread often. I'll be glued.

[careind]

If I remember correctly, you bought a Carnival after dabbling with the idea of buying an Innova, right?
You sure have got a thing for Vans/ mini buses!

Most people would have one van at the most. What was the incentive for getting another Van?

[rrsteer]

Originally Posted by Samba

Wow! Loved reading the ownership review! RATED 5*.

Will love to see this thread being updated from time to time.

India deserved this car!
You can consider taking it on a flat bed or a container truck.

Thank you! I too agree the Hiace should have been sold here. This was definitely a miss from Toyota. I have explored that idea of driving the van upto a point and then hiring a flat-bed, its just that for some reason either the logistics or the timing is not working out. But now I have stretched the situation too far, and plan to correct things sooner than later.

Originally Posted by SteeringWheel

Congratulations. You found a great vehicle at a great price.

Thank you and you are right, its very similar to Qualis in how it drives. It shares many parts too with the Qualis. Infact the engines are from the same family.

Originally Posted by Haroon

Wow. Congrats on buying a wonderful vehicle and sharing the beautiful journey.

Wishing you many many happy miles with this unique vehicle on Indian roads.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by RaviCar

I believe I had a ride on HiAce in Kazakhstan (2017), from Almaty to Saty to Kolsai Lake to Charyn Canyon then Back to Almaty and then to Altyn Emel National Park in a four wheel drive version of this (am I correct? HiAce does have a 4*4?) and the ride quality was amazing.

P.S. How can we drive these old vehicles now in NCR legally? Is there a way.

Yeah it was sold with 4wd as an option. I have watched countless videos of how these van are used for travelling in the northern mountains of Pakistan. The Hilux and Hiace of this generation truly imbibe the qualities that Toyota is so famous for. Also, I dont stay in NCR, so don't have to worry about the ban on old cars.

Originally Posted by Bibendum90949

Congratulations on your new ride.
Did your Hiace come equipped with a hydraulic PS or an EPS?

Just few weeks back, I bought this much more accessible and affordable van which had gone under the radar for many.

Thank you! and many congratulations on your new Venture (pun intended!) It looks so cool in that white color! Wish you many happy miles with it. Please do share more about it. It would be great if you can put up a thread on it. To your question, the Hiace in question has a hydraulic PS. The feel of the steering is very much like the old Innova.

Originally Posted by careind

If I remember correctly, you bought a Carnival after dabbling with the idea of buying an Innova, right?
You sure have got a thing for Vans/ mini buses!

Most people would have one van at the most. What was the incentive for getting another Van?

Yes, I replaced the Innova with the Carnival. I just like vans. I think they offer tremendous value. Compared to a SUV, vans are much better to drive, offer much more space and have a higher utility value. The only draw back is looks. But since mostly we are sitting inside, so for me its what's inside that matters. As for GC and rough use, I think a video was shared in some thread, where the Crysta either outdid or equaled the Safari and XUV7OO in offroad trails!

[///RMan]

Brilliant thread ! Like I mentioned earlier, have gone through your previous thread umpteen times and always hoped to get a van of my own, which finally happened early this year.

Good to see an update on the ownership experience. 22k is a lot of usage!

I agree these cars offer immense practicality, hope to get work on mine sorted so I can start using it as often as I can.

[ajayc123]

That was a stall deal. Congrats. Do you use this van for sleeping in the night during your vacations ?

Waking up inside the van:

How do you handle the security aspects in such situations?

[rrsteer]

Displaying its versatile nature, I used the van for a task generally reserved for tractor trolleys. Neglect and rains over the past few weeks had caused the Bougainvillea to grow wildly. The quantity of pruned twigs was such that they couldn't be disposed off by hand, while calling a tractor for the task seemed an overkill. So I pressed the van into service. We used a 'tarpal' or a large plastic sheet to ensure no scratches to the roof and the seats and otherwise too, took care while loading to keep scratches to a minimum. Although we succeeded, but at the expense of ourselves - the thorny twigs didn't spare our skins and clothes. There are leaves all over the place inside the van and it smells like freshly cut grass. So, I know my Sunday is booked!




Back home, I got this parking mirror so that I park it as close to the garage door as possible, keeping it well inside the open parking space allotted to us.

Originally Posted by ajayc123

How do you handle the security aspects in such situations?

I would stop only on popular all night, well lit dhabas that are spread over a large area. Also,I wouldn't attempt this anywhere outside of HP and Punjab (which is where we roam). I am being biased or maybe just because of familiarity, I feel these are safest states to travel in India.

[Bibendum90949]

Hello, What's the latest on Hiace? Hope she's running as well as it should. Do update at your leisure. Thanks

[rrsteer]

Originally Posted by Bibendum90949

Hello, What's the latest on Hiace? Hope she's running as well as it should. Do update at your leisure. Thanks

Thanks for asking! All is well with the van - touchwood!
Haven't used the it for any outstation trips, but weather permitting (no fog), we've been doing regular impromptu late night rides to highway dhabas just outside city limits to enjoy the winters as much as we can.

Sharing a few pics -

This is from this past weekend


As I mentioned in the opening post, it feels really nice to drive this thing at speeds around 70kmph or so.


Exploring highway dhabas!

It has not been all play and no work for the van. Had to get a room painted with very high cieling. Given the house is in the middle of nowhere, I was finding it tough to transport a 10 feet ladder. Ultimately loaded it on top of the van and got the job done. Ofcouse while transporting I was driving at a snail's pace.

[supercars]

I tried to dm rrsteer but it says that his inbox is full and doesn't accept replies in email. I wanted a front windshield for the hiace. Where did you get one? Please give me details