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What made you buy an Elgrand?

I just upgraded from the Nissan Largo which I traded my Hilux Surf in for.. (before you kids knew what imports were)
 
Can hardly believe I missed this thread! My own story is that I wanted a vehicle that I could camp in, had 4x4, could tow my boat, and also be a daily driver. To begin with the only thing I was aware of that would do it was a Mazda Bongo, so started searching and somehow came across the Elgrand which simply blew the Bongo idea out of the water!
 
Because unlike the Very Wealthy 🐑 I prefer Style over Fashion, and Comfort, Sophistication and Performance over a badge 🤜
 
Intresting thread and it helped me when I as looking, now I'm an owner, here's my take:
  • Through personal choice, I don't do the mileage I used to, 30-40k per year to around 5k per year, so move from diesel was necessary
  • My 2 kids are getting to an age where they want to go camping and do more road trips
  • Dog is big
  • We live far from family, so when they come, we need seats to accomodate them when we go out... we'll be getting use out of all 8 seats a few times a year but driving it around in a 4 seater config most of the time.
The Elgrand is one of the few vehicles that meets these requirements with most people carriers only offering 7 seats, and even then, they're cramped and not engineered in a way that allows me to customise the seat configeration easily when needed.

Then it came down to the engine, the comfort, the engineering and the build quality. This and the Alphard ( :scream: ) are the only vehicles out there that tick the boxes for me... and my personal preferrence was the Elgrand, a friend of mine got an Alphard and it's great but I don't like the driving position and the feel behind the wheel.

Please don't hate me for bringing the Alphard into this, it's a great car, it's just not an Elgrand!
 
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Adamjones0094 said:
Evening all,

Nice and simple one. What made you buy your Elgrand?

Was it for the style? Japanese engineering? Seating? the engine? Or was it because they are postivley a little treasure trove of little trinkets?? I mean I found a pokemon poker chip! Who'd a thunk it??!??

Anyway, why'd ya do it??

(my own reason is quite simple, capacity for a big family outings. And the fact it's cool as f*ck. Plus it's not just another VW camper)!
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Simple, it's the coolest dad van there is!
 
I just cant stop having kids. Thats my reason.
 
Highway Dave said:
Brave man
I let the wife do that sort of thing :grinning:
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U got me there. We got four and shes nagging for another one. Ive had enough and she currently aint recieving the message. Ill end up having to get me an hiace at the rate she wants to go. I said no after the second one but then had two more....come to think about it they look more like the postman than me ...🙄
 
Gift said:
U got me there. We got four and shes nagging for another one. Ive had enough and she currently aint recieving the message. Ill end up having to get me an hiace at the rate she wants to go. I said no after the second one but then had two more....come to think about it they look more like the postman than me ...🙄
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Lightweight lol
We had three, got them to a certain age and have since adopted three more
Just when you think it’s safe mate lol
 
Needed a van (within budget) to camperise and they just look cool!
 
I bought my 2004 3.5l Highway Star about six months ago and I love it. I was looking for a van to mildly convert into a day van, also to carry one of my vintage motorcycles to shows etc.
Initially I looked at Transit Customs but finding one I could afford that didn't have 200k on the clock and hadn't been used as a builders van proved very difficult.
I tried to think a bit outside the box and found the Elgrand. The nearest dealer was about 60 miles from me so my Son in Law and me drove over to have look at a few. Prices seemed quite high so I started looking in the usual places, online auction sites as they say on the TV. Most were hundreds of miles away but then I looked on Farcebook and found one five miles from my house, 60k miles, recently serviced, four new tyres etc and a really good price. A little haggling and it was mine. I have just about worked out what all of the buttons do, even with the stick on overlays you can buy from said auction site and I love driving it.
Roll on the warmer weather !
 
The fact it's a rear sight for anybody in the UK, thus uniqueness.
 
Dai-San said:
Because unlike the Very Wealthy 🐑 I prefer Style over Fashion, and Comfort, Sophistication and Performance over a badge 🤜
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I literally just had a debate with a VW sheep and he said the Elgrand is so uncool. Made me laugh. VW transporters for work as a van Elgrand for pleasure. Why would I want to drive a sluggish work van.
 
I took a risk getting mine. Me and the wife wanted a nice van/mpv to take my kids to the beach, camping and my boys football away days that can take us literally around the UK.

My old zafira was on its last legs and my wife showed us a Rider 3.5 for a cheap price with only 60k on the clock.

Mot was due on a Monday so I drove from Swansea to Birmingham on the Sunday before and just bit the bullet. Took it to a specialist to have it checked over and it was sound. We'll happy and are now saving up for a newer one and convert my other one to a camper. I literally couldn't drive anything else now. Hate going in a car as they all seem too small and wouldn't go for a VW or a work van.
 
VW phoned us to buy our Caravelle at a ridiculous price we couldn’t refuse.

Needing a 7 seater quick we bought the Elgrand as a cheapish stop gap to get us all about.

kids think it’s better than the VW and both me and the other half love driving it.

looks like it’s here to stay.
 
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