Toyota Caldina any good?

peasant · 29-03-2006 1:49pm #1

Warning extremely unexciting thread !

I'm on the lookout for a large-ish estate car. My search so far has been hampered by the following factors:
For tax and insurance reasons i don't want to go over 2 liter
The boot with the seats up has to be min 1 metere long (big dogs)
I dont want to spend more than about 8k, preferably less
I want something reliable that will keep going for a few years without fuss

On Kangoos and Berlingos the boot is too short, same goes for Astra
Focusses are too expensive (if in a decent state)
Mondeos ...I just don't like the old shape
In general estates in my price range have gargantuan mileages

Had a look at some Merc E 200's ... great reputation unfortunately doesn't hold up in the flesh ... neglected, rusting heaps, all of them

So my eye fell on Jap import Caldinas.
Most of them seem to be two liter diesel Automatic and comparatively expensive but with low mileage of around 50 k.

Has anybody any experience with them? What else are they besides utterly boring and yawn enducing?

Toyotas really "the best built cars in the world" ...even the Jap imports?
Will they keep driving forever? How about maintenance and parts ...will i get that here without probs?
I heard that Jap mainland cars sometimes have no underbody rustproofing?

Would be grateful for any and all input on this truly uninspiring topic:D

dahamsta · 29-03-2006 2:35pm

It's Carina.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Alun · 29-03-2006 2:40pm

Ken Shabby wrote:

It's Carina.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

But then again, maybe not?

http://www.batfa.com/new_car_toyota_caldina.htm

DukeDredd · 29-03-2006 3:16pm

Ken Shabby wrote:

It's Carina.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Nope - it's Caldina alright. As you say yourself many, many times on boards: have an old Google for yourself there!

Kersh · 29-03-2006 3:28pm

Its caldina in Japan, Carina here - same way fairlady/300zx, and Eunos/mx5, or corona/corolla.

peasant · 29-03-2006 3:30pm

here's the kind of thing i'm talking about;

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=347068

dahamsta · 29-03-2006 4:36pm

I was joking, you muppets.

prospect · 29-03-2006 4:39pm

Ken Shabby wrote:

I was joking, you muppets.

I Don't think you were

peasant · 29-03-2006 4:42pm

so ...anyone any ideas if this would be a good buy?

(besides the fact that it is a boring, soulless car and you wouldn't be seen dead driving it)

BTW ...how does one verify that a Jap import hasn't been clocked ?

DukeDredd · 29-03-2006 4:42pm

Ken Shabby wrote:

I was joking, you muppets.

As yes i get it now. NOT!

Why is it that whenever you are wrong about something it turns out that you were joking all along? Hmmm.

prospect · 29-03-2006 4:54pm

Hi Peasant,

Yes Toyota are very reliable, and in alot of cases very boring.

In terms of parts, they are mostly the same, but carry different part numbers at times.
Alot of dealers will not supply parts if you give a Jap Import chassis number. So you'd have to get your hands on an Irish chassis number to make your life easier.

maidhc · 29-03-2006 5:49pm

You will be getting a Carina/Avensis depending on the year I guess. The 2.0TD is a nice engine (really quiet) but quite a few have given head problems causing them to overheat. I'm sorry I cant be more specific, but our '99 Avensis did overheat, and toyota said the head was modified in 2001. Give the gearbox a good run too before you buy it. Make sure it goes into gear easily.

Other than that I suppose they are ok. The panels are very light but very difficult to dent.

It is a comfortable car!

colm_mcm · 29-03-2006 6:56pm

The engine in the 99 and 01 are two different units (2.0 TD and 2.0 D-4D)

Should be a good car, and usually very high spec too.

maidhc · 29-03-2006 7:41pm

colm_mcm wrote:

The engine in the 99 and 01 are two different units (2.0 TD and 2.0 D-4D)

I didn't mean the D4D, just the 2.0TD being modified to eliminate whatever flaw was there. Again I had nothing much to do with the whole transaction, so I'm not sure about the precise details.

Would the Caldina have the D4D?

bazz26 · 29-03-2006 10:12pm

peasant wrote:

Warning extremely unexciting thread !

I'm on the lookout for a large-ish estate car. My search so far has been hampered by the following factors:
For tax and insurance reasons i don't want to go over 2 liter
The boot with the seats up has to be min 1 metere long (big dogs)
I dont want to spend more than about 8k, preferably less
I want something reliable that will keep going for a few years without fuss

On Kangoos and Berlingos the boot is too short, same goes for Astra
Focusses are too expensive (if in a decent state)
Mondeos ...I just don't like the old shape
In general estates in my price range have gargantuan mileages

Had a look at some Merc E 200's ... great reputation unfortunately doesn't hold up in the flesh ... neglected, rusting heaps, all of them

So my eye fell on Jap import Caldinas.
Most of them seem to be two liter diesel Automatic and comparatively expensive but with low mileage of around 50 k.

Has anybody any experience with them? What else are they besides utterly boring and yawn enducing?

Toyotas really "the best built cars in the world" ...even the Jap imports?
Will they keep driving forever? How about maintenance and parts ...will i get that here without probs?
I heard that Jap mainland cars sometimes have no underbody rustproofing?

Would be grateful for any and all input on this truly uninspiring topic:D

colm_mcm · 29-03-2006 10:15pm

maidhc wrote:

I didn't mean the D4D, just the 2.0TD being modified to eliminate whatever flaw was there. Again I had nothing much to do with the whole transaction, so I'm not sure about the precise details.

Would the Caldina have the D4D?

the D-4D came in in 2000, don't know if the Caldina got the D-4D

css · 29-03-2006 10:17pm

There a 4wd 2L turbocharged 280bhp variant of the caldina to be had... not so boring.. look into it.. .:D

colm_mcm · 29-03-2006 10:19pm

something like this?

peasant · 29-03-2006 11:50pm

bazz26 wrote:

How about something like these as alternatives:

VW Passat Estate TDi

BMW 320i/520i Touring:

Peugeot 406 Estate:

Subaru Legacy:

Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagen:

Believe me ...had a look at all of those. (except for the 3-series beemer ...just fail to see what all the fuss is about ...hopelessly overrated/overpriced IMO)

Unfortunately, most of my driving consists of pootling around narrow country lanes ...forking out the insurance premiums for subaru twin-turbos / perceived "luxury cars" like the 5 -series just doesn't make sense when there is no opportunity to actually enjoy the perfomance. (plus a 5-er with two litres only ...that's just cruel ...the amputated ultimate driving machine ...couldn't do that to myself) (drove my bosses 520 a few years ago ...that engine just didn't sound happy at any speed ...always just that bit strained)

Passats and Peugeots sub 8k usually fall under the gargantuan mileage bracket and sadly, sadly the Alfa Sportwagon just doesn't hack it as a doggy taxi (size DOES matter

)

Guess I'm getting old ...:(

I need something sensible, reliable that I can drive for a few years on bad roads without breaking down and without costing too much ...

EDIT: but the price on that blue Passat at least somewhat reflects the mileage ... should be worth a looksee ...

bazz26 · 30-03-2006 12:23am

peasant wrote:

Believe me ...had a look at all of those. (except for the 3-series beemer ...just fail to see what all the fuss is about ...hopelessly overrated/overpriced IMO)

Unfortunately, most of my driving consists of pootling around narrow country lanes ...forking out the insurance premiums for subaru twin-turbos / perceived "luxury cars" like the 5 -series just doesn't make sense when there is no opportunity to actually enjoy the perfomance. (plus a 5-er with two litres only ...that's just cruel ...the amputated ultimate driving machine ...couldn't do that to myself) (drove my bosses 520 a few years ago ...that engine just didn't sound happy at any speed ...always just that bit strained)

Passats and Peugeots sub 8k usually fall under the gargantuan mileage bracket and sadly, sadly the Alfa Sportwagon just doesn't hack it as a doggy taxi (size DOES matter )

Guess I'm getting old ...:(

I need something sensible, reliable that I can drive for a few years on bad roads without breaking down and without costing too much ...

EDIT: but the price on that blue Passat at least somewhat reflects the mileage ... should be worth a looksee ...

Fair points but the vibe I got from your original post was that you were not happy with this type of car even before you looked at it. You didn't sound convinced imo. That is basically why I suggested a few alternatives and just to show that there are a few interesting estate cars out there. Granted I would not fancy some of those alternatives as practical every day load carriers either.

In general I think most Jap imports of this nature are as overpriced as any other. €6K or €7K for a 10 year old Caldina is crazy money imo irrespective of the spec and low mileage.

Did you consider going to the UK for a car? A bit of hassel alright but a much better choice over there and generally cars are kept in much better condition. Even with VRT and price of flights/ferries it may well work cheaper. It might be worth doing a bit of research into.

G Luxel · 30-03-2006 2:13am

The Caldina is the carina/avensis Mk I estate in Japan. This years caldina is a totally different car, more a sportswagon. The Avensis estate is exported
to Japan from the U.K. And remember that the Carina estate was still being
built up to 2003 for the japanese market as a van with windows. So they
will probably come here soon as imports. The car is extremely basic, it doesnt even have hubcaps or a roof rail.

peasant · 30-03-2006 9:03am

Fair points but the vibe I got from your original post was that you were not happy with this type of car even before you looked at it. You didn't sound convinced imo. That is basically why I suggested a few alternatives and just to show that there are a few interesting estate cars out there. Granted I would not fancy some of those alternatives as practical every day load carriers either.

In general I think most Jap imports of this nature are as overpriced as any other. €6K or €7K for a 10 year old Caldina is crazy money imo irrespective of the spec and low mileage.

You're spot on on both accounts ...I'm not happy with the idea of the boring Toyota and I would agree that they are overpriced as well.

Perhaps I will have to look in the UK, because the state of Irish cars is dismal.
Whatever about servicing and looking after of "normal" cars ...where there is a pretty poor standard ... estate cars just seem to get no love whatsoever.

I'm yet to look at one that has anything anywhere near resembling a service history ...never mind an interior that was cleaned and looked after at least once in its life before the dealer had it valeted and glossed over.

What doesn't help is the fact that I've already got what I need ...sort of ...

The current Suzuki Jimny, with the back seats down and the dog guard and load tray, does the job perfectly. Its great on narrow roads, its great around town, it doesn't mind being attacked by at least twenty potholes every day, it's reliable and very economical to run. (plus you can get it out of the ditch without having to call a tow car)
The 90% of the time that I drive it alone to work and back, its' absolutely perfect, and I love it
But the 10% that I drive it full up with wife and three dogs, or long distance, it's so cramped and uncomfortable that I want to throw it away there and then.

But whenever I look at a bigger estate car, there is always something not quite perfect about it (too expensive, too high miles, too tatty, questionable reliability etc) that I have to ask myself: Is the extra cost of running this instead of the Suzuki going to increase my "satisfaction rate" significantly over 90%? Or am I even going to come out lower?

I guess, what I'm really not happy with is the fact that I have to be so sensible and boring. How I'd love to just say feck it, get that 280 hp Subaru twin turbo and be done with it ...I could probably afford it as well ...it just doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Like the Rolling Stones said ....It's a drag getting old ...

Toyota Caldina any good?

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