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How did you end up with a Elgrand ?

I was in the market for a JDM minivan plain and simple, admittedly I had my initial sights set on maybe an Alphard or Veilfire but the dealership I was planning to buy from mentioned they had a low mileage Elgrand.

Admittedly I knew someone with the E51 series and also someone who owns a Hybrid Alphard, test driving the Alphard was the bug bite that made me take the leap, and after the dealership showed me a video and photos of the E50 I just had to have it.

Now I’m using Celestia daily as was intended way back in 99, missing trim and there’s blemishes on the paint etc, but otherwise clean and mechanically more solid than the newer SUV I gave up. I find it ironic that all the gadgets on a 25 year old minivan work better than a SUV from 2014, smaller but yet more versatile and can genuinely fit 8 adults, I prefer the E50 styling I have to admit.
 
we needed a larger car for our ever expanding family - looked at VW multivan and Marc V class but the value of Elgrand was just insane
 
I’m a Gardener and needed a new vehicle after I had yet another DPF go in my diesel car. I wanted another diesel but non DPF which meant getting an older car, pre 2009 in most cases. I couldn’t really find what I wanted which was a low mileage truck back pick up so went back to looking at vans. There are so few petrol vans that I got annoyed and started reverting back to what I live which is Japanese cars and remembered the Elgrand and Alphard.

The Alphard seemed a little higher quality but is ugly as sin and I really liked the clean lines of the E51. Now I own a super low mileage E51 in Pearl White that’s just lovely to pootle round to each customers house with a great stereo system and in comfort and in Winter the heated leather keeps clean and warms me up!
 
I will admit, it was my wife's choice. I'm more of a fan of smaller cars - lower fuel consumption. But she liked the idea of being able to put a larger number of people in it!!!
 
I needed to replace my old and ailing Mitsi L200 with something more suitable for a 70 year old. Cancer surgery 5 years ago has left me needing to be near a bathroom so we were looking at vans with an idea of installing a portable loo in the back - but neither of us like the spartan nature of vans. A bit of research discovered the van that was really a car - and what a car! The XL version with its curtains was ideal and the 4 wheel drive useful for our rural location. So we now enjoy our 3.5 litre V6 portaloo very much!
 
Had two VW T25/T3's when the kids were very young. First was a 1.9petrol with bench seats that was very tatty but did a job. Eventually took it to the scrap yard. Was most surprised to drive past it 6 months later on the road, being used by the scrapper with an obviously dodgy MOT... Second one was a 1990 T25 Carat with captain seats, auto
Box with a 2.1 injection engine which proved how versatile a bus could be. Auto box gave up, and welding needed, so sold it to a specialist for what we paid. Started looking for a replacement. Decided on an E50, but when we went to look, the boss said she preferred the look and feel of the E51. We only realised after paying it wasn't a diesel like the E50..Over 10 years later and 100% happy with it. Will likely replace it with another when the time comes.
 
I'm part of a small EUC (electric unicycle) community and one of our older riders has a large sprinter van that he stays in when we go on riding trips to save a bit of coin on accom, but also for convenience, I joined him on a few adventures in my Subaru outback, but it was pretty cramped to sleep in with a couple unicycles + gear, he was always saying "you need to get a van"

One quiet day at work I was looking at carsales at very expensive hiaces, only 2wd, so I filtered by 4wd, found some elgrands at great prices, ticked a lot of boxes -JDM look -4WD -small size
Sent a text to a seller "is this still available" not expecting a response, and he called me 5 mins later, the rest is history

1998 e50, WIP but already taken me on a few adventures

TLDR: needed a van for electric unicycle adventures
 
We have had many Jap import cars over the years, but I have always wanted a Van.

It was between the Alphard and Elgrand, but I couldn't decide.

I was always drawn to both whenever I saw them out and about, and the option to use as a day camper, and then possibly convert was a bonus.

My dad died in February, and I bought his car off my mum as she didn't drive, and it meant that he was with me in some way on my adventures.

Sadly, it didn't take long to realise that the CX-5 was a disaster waiting to happen, so I had to sell before any problems developed. The Skyactiv diesel engines came with so many issues.

Gutted, I continued my search for a "sensible" car, until by chance I came across an E51 2.5 at a local van dealership..... it was meant to be. Great spec, and the right money.

Currently working my way through what needs doing.

Getting it undersealed next week, and then I think I am going to go for a full sport cat exhaust.

I am also researching the best tools for me to properly clean and buff the paintwork.

I just wish that my dad could have been here to see it, as it had been my dream for many years.

I absolutely love it, and can't wait for our 1st trip away in the next couple of months.

Working from home, I have on many occasion taken the laptop out, and worked from the Van... and the dog loves it.

As soon as I get in it, it makes me smile.

Everyone on this forum has been super helpful.
 
My wife decided we needed something large enough to take all of our grandchildren (6 at the moment) out.
It started as a joke but the more we looked into it, it seemed like a good thing to do for our family.
Precious times are more valuable than pretty much anything.
 
It seems like a looong time ago now, but I was deciding whether to continue getting a new car every three years through the Motability scheme or buy something else that would suit our needs better. I was having serious heart problems at the time (Heart Failure at level 4) but was improving so was OK to continue driving. Our son got a job in the Highlands - just past Inverness - and we wanted to visit him and use his house as a base to explore the Highlands. I thought that a Campervan would be an ideal choice because in Scotland you can stop almost anywhere for as long as you like and that would suit our needs if I didn't feel well.

I started looking online (for months) until I found a camper in Glasgow that looked good with F/F cruise, 4WD, 48k miles and made an offer that was accepted and I picked The Floozie up a few days later. Simon converted it to run on LPG (when it was 48p a litre) and we put 80k miles on the clock without it costing too much.

I'm pleased to say that my health continued to improve so we didn't have to use it as a camper as we had expected. We only stayed overnight in it a couple of times but it was so versatile and comfortable that we kept it for eight years even though our son moved from Scotland after a couple of years.

I'll be eighty soon and not as fit as I used to be, added to which wife has dementia, so I decided that it was time to go back to getting a Motability car so that I didn't have to do anything other than drive the car as everything is taken care of by Motability, servicing, repairs, tyres, insurance, breakdown cover at the highest level etc. The Floozie was sold a few weeks ago.

An EV seemed like a good idea as the newer ones will do 250+ miles on a charge so we would be able to do the 200 mile round trip to see our youngest daughter who lives between Penrith and Carlisle and running costs are negligible because we can usually charge the battery at home.

I miss The Floozie.
 
By chance really,

Got a phone call about a month ago from a guy who I brought in to work under me at my last job, asking if I’d be up for swapping my old Volvo v70 for his Dad’s Elgrand. No brainer for me, firstly my car had no MOT and a smashed rear window and the Elgrand has 9 months MOT, secondly I’ve got two young kids and wanted some thing to play with!

Now the proud owner of a 2001 E50 HWS!
 
I was a carer for my mother. Long story short between my health and hers, I needed something comfortable and practical where I could pack in the things she needed etc. Unfortunately she only got to ride in it once when I picked her up from hospital.
It's been almost a year since she passed away.
EDIT: Due to circumstances, I was time limited and could not travel too far, so the only 'decent' option was a car dealer in the Glasgow. Their initials are JGM and I cannot recommend them at all.
 
I've had few Toyota/Lexus models over the years, Celica GT4 and Lexus IS200 UK models, and Toyota Celsior (Import LS400 before there was a domestic LS400) and a MK1 Toyota Estima Emina (bargain as it was manual and rwd).

My previous car a run out model sSangyong/Daewoo Musso TD auto had done me nearly 4 years excellent service. I was running it regularly on veg oil for cancer treatment runs at a local outpatient department, lumpy poor handling slow agricultural but relatively comfy inside and reliable. Transmission started slipping so I got the fluid changed. The day I found out the palliative treatment wasn't working and I was being out forward for an experimental trial we were heading over to the mother in law's to break the bad news. On the motorway something was wrong, it was slipping again, getting worse dropping in and out of drive. I had to limp on, luckily had a down slip to exit crawled along the 2 miles of local roads even holding up tractors. Managed to turn around at hers and realised either the trans cooler line or the cooler itself had burst. The last of the new fresh and expensive fluidfluid had pumped out in front of hers. During the 4 hour wait for recovery, the doubled insurance quote came through.

I was loaned an Audi TT on temp cover by a family friend. It was hell.

I was informed if the trial didn't work I would have about a year. So I wanted something fun and quirky, screw sensible.

I started looking at Alphards, nothing remotely affordable.

A friend suggested an Elgrand as he loved his. Looked them up and figured why the hell not. I wanted low mileage, black, all the toys, late as possible, black leather maybe Rider all the optional toys

I ended up taking 3 trains and a tube from Warrington to Ramsgate to see a series 1 Silver HWS, high mileage l, no history, almost no toys from a dodgy mechanic Ukrainian with a Lithuanian passport (so dodgy my bank held the transfer until I confirmed I had seen the vehicle and wasn't being pressured to send money).

Managed to haggle £100 of the price. Used it all in fuel for the drive home.

The drive home took me through hell including twisty lane in Rural Northamptonshire do to various closures.

Then the fun of finding insurance began and as my previous cover had expired in the mean time it cost me a big chunk of my soul to find anyone who would cover a mid 50s man with low mileage and a very boring sensible part time job under £3k.

It's needed work, rear suspension and brakes all round (I've since discovered they are only just good enough at best when standard) and rest shocks, springs and drop links all round.

I also discovered the front wishbones already have purple polybushes already and the "it doesn't work" LPG, in fact does work. I've fitted a set of tatty 19" chrome Work Euroline DHs with ok tyres for half than a good set would have cost bare, from another Elgrand local owner. And the AC regassed ok last summer.

But, it passed the last MOT but needs rust converter and underseal before the next one. Quite extensive surface rust but no penetration Infront of the rear axle and on the LPG tank. It lived by the sea.

I need to sort that and I need to fit my ATOTO 2din to replace the Alpine that they forgot to install the dab, gps and I think FM antennas, and the hands free microphone so only streams Bluetooth music, I need to underseal and I need everything serviced as it's done 130k miles.

But 15 months on after being told I might only have a year, and everyone else on the trial has since passed, both me and Beelzebus (it did cost me my soul) are still around with serious damage progression.

I since have it on disabled tax have a motability Kia Sportage so the mileage is down a lot. Insurance halved moving to JapCover at renewal time and I'm loving it every time get to drive it.

Thank you for reading my epic tale of woe and obsession 🤣😂

Now to head to Bearded Theory in Derbyshire in May and Dave Day in Barrow in June.

I'm using the Black Kia for the Ozzie/Sabbath gig and for Whitby Goth Weekend in October. They are costing me enough without big fuel bills, they are on my "F£&kit" list. Like a bucket list but without the advanced planning. As in we can't afford it, "f£&k it, get it booked" and bend the plastic.
 
Last edited:
skraggy_uk said:
I've had few Toyota/Lexus models over the years, Celica GT4 and Lexus IS200 UK models, and Toyota Celsior (Import LS400 before there was a domestic LS400) and a MK1 Toyota Estima Emina (bargain as it was manual and rwd).

My previous car a run out model sSangyong/Daewoo Musso TD auto had done me nearly 4 years excellent service. I was running it regularly on veg oil for cancer treatment runs at a local outpatient department, lumpy poor handling slow agricultural but relatively comfy inside and reliable. Transmission started slipping so I got the fluid changed. The day I found out the palliative treatment wasn't working and I was being out forward for an experimental trial we were heading over to the mother in law's to break the bad news. On the motorway something was wrong, it was slipping again, getting worse dropping in and out of drive. I had to limp on, luckily had a down slip to exit crawled along the 2 miles of local roads even holding up tractors. Managed to turn around at hers and realised either the trans cooler line or the cooler itself had burst. The last of the new fresh and expensive fluidfluid had pumped out in front of hers. During the 4 hour wait for recovery, the doubled insurance quote came through.

I was loaned an Audi TT on temp cover by a family friend. It was hell.

I was informed if the trial didn't work I would have about a year. So I wanted something fun and quirky, screw sensible.

I started looking at Alphards, nothing remotely affordable.

A friend suggested an Elgrand as he loved his. Looked them up and figured why the hell not. I wanted low mileage, black, all the toys, late as possible, black leather maybe Rider all the optional toys

I ended up taking 3 trains and a tube from Warrington to Ramsgate to see a series 1 Silver HWS, high mileage l, no history, almost no toys from a dodgy mechanic Ukrainian with a Lithuanian passport (so dodgy my bank held the transfer until I confirmed I had seen the vehicle and wasn't being pressured to send money).

Managed to haggle £100 of the price. Used it all in fuel for the drive home.

The drive home took me through hell including twisty lane in Rural Northamptonshire do to various closures.

Then the fun of finding insurance began and as my previous cover had expired in the mean time it cost me a big chunk of my soul to find anyone who would cover a mid 50s man with low mileage and a very boring sensible part time job under £3k.

It's needed work, rear suspension and brakes all round (I've since discovered they are only just good enough at best when standard) and rest shocks, springs and drop links all round.

I also discovered the front wishbones already have purple polybushes already and the "it doesn't work" LPG, in fact does work. I've fitted a set of tatty 19" chrome Work Euroline DHs with ok tyres for half than a good set would have cost bare, from another Elgrand local owner. And the AC regassed ok last summer.

But, it passed the last MOT but needs rust converter and underseal before the next one. Quite extensive surface rust but no penetration Infront of the rear axle and on the LPG tank. It lived by the sea.

I need to sort that and I need to fit my ATOTO 2din to replace the Alpine that they forgot to install the dab, gps and I think FM antennas, and the hands free microphone so only streams Bluetooth music, I need to underseal and I need everything serviced as it's done 130k miles.

But 15 months on after being told I might only have a year, and everyone else on the trial has since passed, both me and Beelzebus (it did cost me my soul) are still around with serious damage progression.

I since have it on disabled tax have a motability Kia Sportage so the mileage is down a lot. Insurance halved moving to JapCover at renewal time and I'm loving it every time get to drive it.

Thank you for reading my epic tale of woe and obsession 🤣😂

Now to head to Bearded Theory in Derbyshire in May and Dave Day in Barrow in June.

I'm using the Black Kia for the Ozzie/Sabbath gig and for Whitby Goth Weekend in October. They are costing me enough without big fuel bills, they are on my "F£&kit" list. Like a bucket list but without the advanced planning. As in we can't afford it, "f£&k it, get it booked" and bend the plastic.
Click to expand...
Here's to many good adventures for you and Beezlebus.
 
Went to look at camper conversions based on grey imported Japanese minivans. Did all of my research on the Nissan Serena, Honda Stepwagon and Toyota Alphard/Vellfire. Once I'd had a look at these three I found the Serena and Stepwagon felt too narrow, and the driving position of the Alphard was all wrong. They had an Elgrand there, with the rear camper conversion being almost identical to the Alphard, I could sit comfortably in the driver's seat and it was many thousands cheaper than the Alphard. It was also the best looking of all four vans, not that this was a factor in my decision. SOLD!
 
looking for a mpv but couldnt find anything affordable within my range. Then come across a nice white rider s autech e52, low mileage and I'm very happy :) time will tel how it goes
 
I was on the look out for a 6+ seater and while working in London, seen an Elgrand. A few years go by and the time came to change vehicles. I’ve got 4 kids and with my wife and me we needed the extra space, so the versatility of the Elgrand is appealing. The 3.5 engine can be thirsty but the comfort and drivability of the automatic transmission is worth it. Everyone likes the vehicle and they always want to know more about it. This has never happened with my previous vehicles!
 
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