Model: Toyota Townace Royal Lounge 2.0 TD automatic
Year: 1991
Mileage: 102,000
Tax: September 2010
MOT: April 2010
Location: NE Norfolk
Price: £700
JDM 4WD TURBO NOT AE86 GR2 4 DRIFTING
I'm actually quite fond of this van, but unfortunately it's going to have to go. Ironically it's the only vehicle in my fleet at the moment which doesn't need anything at all doing to it to be useable as a daily driver (apart from the Innocenti, which I'm loath to use too much on salted roads), but although it's been doing a fine job of the commute into work for the last couple of weeks, I really do need to get myself something smaller and more sensible.
I'd never tried one of these before I bought this one, but I've actually been quite impressed. It's lavishly equipped for a 19-year-old van - electric windows, central locking, climate control, automatic variable damping, etc. etc., and it's pretty comfortable too - the soft suspension gives a good ride but the two-stage shocks avoid the comical nose-diving and wallowing over bumps that afflicts the Space Cruiser and other related vehicles. With power steering and the automatic 'box it's very relaxing to drive too.
It has the 2-litre turbo diesel engine, which seems to be less prone to head problems than the later 2.2 fitted to later versions of the Townace and the infamous Lucida. This one certainly seems in good health - the temperature gauge sits rock steady at just below half whatever the traffic conditions. It also starts first heat even when it's -8 outside, and it doesn't smoke excessively. It pulls as well as can be expected in what is a relatively heavy vehicle. The only thing worthy of note with the engine is that there is a slight leak in one of the exhaust manifold gaskets - this doesn't affect the way the van drives at all but it does produce some amusing whistling sounds, not unlike an old-fashioned kettle coming to the boil, which I suppose is to be expected - a kettle whistle works by gas being forced under pressure through a very small hole, which is what is happening with the gasket. The noise doesn't bother me really so I haven't bothered to fix it - it would be easy enough to do if you found it irritating. The exhaust itself doesn't sound noisy.
The transmission is spot on - the autobox works just as it should, including the overdrive, which is nicely high geared for a van - 70mph is just over 3000rpm. The four wheel drive is a very similar setup to my Fourtrak - 4-high is selected via a push button on the dash and can be engaged while moving, 4-low is selected with a lever next to the gear lever, and there are manual locking front hubs. All works as it should, and came in very useful in the "adverse weather conditions" earlier in the month.
Originally this would have been an 8-seater people carrier, but it has been converted into a 2-berth camper, with a fold-out double bed, cupboards, a sink, a small fridge and space for a gas hob - the previous owner removed the hob for her new van. It's also wired up for a 240v hook-up - I haven't tried this but the seller assured me it works, and everything else she's told me about the van has been true so I'm inclined to believe it. It would make quite a useful little van for sleeping in, with the advantage that you wouldn't have to worry about getting stuck in mud / sand - at a fraction of the cost of a T25 Syncro
. It's got the standard curtains still fitted to side and rear windows, although they don't close electrically as they originally would have - I haven't bothered to find out why, I'm more than happy to simply pull them closed the way I do with the curtains at home...
The only other fault worth mentioning that I can think of is that there is a bit of a judder through the brakes so I suspect it might well need new front discs come MoT time. Other than that it's fine - I've done over 1,000 miles in it since I bought it and it hasn't missed a beat. Looking at what these are making on eBay, I reckon £700 is a fair price, considering it's got nearly £150-'orth of tax left on it.
Here's some pics:
Year: 1991
Mileage: 102,000
Tax: September 2010
MOT: April 2010
Location: NE Norfolk
Price: £700
JDM 4WD TURBO NOT AE86 GR2 4 DRIFTING
I'm actually quite fond of this van, but unfortunately it's going to have to go. Ironically it's the only vehicle in my fleet at the moment which doesn't need anything at all doing to it to be useable as a daily driver (apart from the Innocenti, which I'm loath to use too much on salted roads), but although it's been doing a fine job of the commute into work for the last couple of weeks, I really do need to get myself something smaller and more sensible.
I'd never tried one of these before I bought this one, but I've actually been quite impressed. It's lavishly equipped for a 19-year-old van - electric windows, central locking, climate control, automatic variable damping, etc. etc., and it's pretty comfortable too - the soft suspension gives a good ride but the two-stage shocks avoid the comical nose-diving and wallowing over bumps that afflicts the Space Cruiser and other related vehicles. With power steering and the automatic 'box it's very relaxing to drive too.
It has the 2-litre turbo diesel engine, which seems to be less prone to head problems than the later 2.2 fitted to later versions of the Townace and the infamous Lucida. This one certainly seems in good health - the temperature gauge sits rock steady at just below half whatever the traffic conditions. It also starts first heat even when it's -8 outside, and it doesn't smoke excessively. It pulls as well as can be expected in what is a relatively heavy vehicle. The only thing worthy of note with the engine is that there is a slight leak in one of the exhaust manifold gaskets - this doesn't affect the way the van drives at all but it does produce some amusing whistling sounds, not unlike an old-fashioned kettle coming to the boil, which I suppose is to be expected - a kettle whistle works by gas being forced under pressure through a very small hole, which is what is happening with the gasket. The noise doesn't bother me really so I haven't bothered to fix it - it would be easy enough to do if you found it irritating. The exhaust itself doesn't sound noisy.
The transmission is spot on - the autobox works just as it should, including the overdrive, which is nicely high geared for a van - 70mph is just over 3000rpm. The four wheel drive is a very similar setup to my Fourtrak - 4-high is selected via a push button on the dash and can be engaged while moving, 4-low is selected with a lever next to the gear lever, and there are manual locking front hubs. All works as it should, and came in very useful in the "adverse weather conditions" earlier in the month.
Originally this would have been an 8-seater people carrier, but it has been converted into a 2-berth camper, with a fold-out double bed, cupboards, a sink, a small fridge and space for a gas hob - the previous owner removed the hob for her new van. It's also wired up for a 240v hook-up - I haven't tried this but the seller assured me it works, and everything else she's told me about the van has been true so I'm inclined to believe it. It would make quite a useful little van for sleeping in, with the advantage that you wouldn't have to worry about getting stuck in mud / sand - at a fraction of the cost of a T25 Syncro
. It's got the standard curtains still fitted to side and rear windows, although they don't close electrically as they originally would have - I haven't bothered to find out why, I'm more than happy to simply pull them closed the way I do with the curtains at home...The only other fault worth mentioning that I can think of is that there is a bit of a judder through the brakes so I suspect it might well need new front discs come MoT time. Other than that it's fine - I've done over 1,000 miles in it since I bought it and it hasn't missed a beat. Looking at what these are making on eBay, I reckon £700 is a fair price, considering it's got nearly £150-'orth of tax left on it.
Here's some pics:
