The Everyman Van

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The fourth generation Toyota Hiace was such a popular van in NZ during its 15 year production. Most came with little to no comfort options, drove okay, and were likely to be lethal in a crash. But it was bomb proof (if not always rust proof), dependable, and didn’t depreciate like most cars. And due to the nature of the work these vans did, most had rolled over the 200,000km mark in their first five years. However, Turners Hamilton has a 25yo example that is yet to hit this modest milestone in Hiace terms. Read on...

Not many other vehicles held their value like an old Hiace – you could buy one with 200,000kms on it, drive it to hell and back (a distance of around 100,000kms) and sell it for what you paid for it. And you didn’t even need to wash it! These days there’s a few more worthy competitors in the market, but the 4^th gen Hiace will always hold its lofty place in the NZ van hall of fame, should such a thing exist.

This particular NZ new 2000 example has three major attributes: it has a lift in the back, working air conditioning and has travelled a miniscule (by Hiace standards) 174,700kms by 3 owners. Is it mint? Of course not. No Hiace has a cosseted life housed in a climate controlled garage. And while they may be mechanically robust, the body, paint and upholstery was done to a price. The uncomfortably upholstered seats have some wear, the original Alpine stereo is missing, the paint work is showing its 25 years and it has the obligatory tailgate dent where a fence post snuck up on it. But by Hiace standards it’s almost show quality.

If you fancy climbing back into the comfy old swandri that is a ZL 2.8 Diesel Hiace, then get onto this now. More details here.