KruJoe Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 As mentioned here...http://autoshite.com/topic/19513-heavy-breathers/...I've had my heart set on one of these Estima things for some time. The desired spec wasveg friendly dizzler4WDeight seater (lay-flat bed-mode-capable)curtains (for discreet dogging / Shitefest activities)not termially borked (oft seen with kippered heads)manualtow-barsub-bag pricetagAutomatics outnumber manuals by about 50 to 1, that cut down choice too much, so I thought I'd give an auto a chance.Then I found this one on Gumtree, at £999, the closest one I've seen so far, in Bradford. I thought I'd pop along and see this local one without a tow-bar, have a drive to see if this idea was a good one, make my excuses and leave, waiting for one with full spec, maybe even a manual would turn up. The ad was a bit pants. The title:CAR FOR SALE!!!!!With the main of the five poor pictures being an over-exposed diagonal image of the headlining.But it showed eight months test, and mileage 94,000. But as it counts in km, that's only 58,000 miles. Gotta be worth a look, eh?The Bangladeshi gentleman seller was so lovely and I couldn't find much fault with it, apart from the blowing of oily fumes from the oil filler cap. In fact he was the one to point out a few scuffs, (I'm not fussed about them really).I said the fumes worried me a bit, so I'd go home, read up and have a think. He was understanding and seemed unafraid to drop the price, as I was only the second to come and view it in a month on sale. The first chap wanted brand new paintwork on a 20 year old car.Pics from the first viewing:^There's our man.So we had the Heavy Breathers thread, which put my mind at ease somewhat. But then I got through to an Estima expert at www.gtmotors.co.uk . Big-up to those guys. They told me a blocked breather would have oil spunking out the dipstick tube. We ain't got that here.He said about the fumes from the cap THEY ALL DO THAT SIR. It's due to the lump being laid on it's side, so there's probably nowt wrong with it if there's no other symptoms of trouble.SOAnother call to Mr_Bradford and a plan was hatched with the aid of wor Will... Squire_Dawson, eddyramrod, Junkman and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Oh, dear God, you haven't, have you? trigger and warren t claim 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMC Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Good news on the engine breathing. I have a soft spot for this body style as fatha_brookjm had one of the first UK spec Previas, which he got new after trading in his inca gold space cruiser. Thats what 4 kids does to your car choices! In 1990 it looked from another planet. Does that roof flip up? KruJoe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimothyClaypole Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Just out of curiosity why are all these sort of things on L, N, P era plates? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucketeer Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I like how these look like a massive egg Magnificent Rustbucket, cms206, urpert and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgalour Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 It's the mid-nineties, the nicest (and smallest) girl in our glass invites everyone to a birthday party and we find out her Dad drives a spaceship-egg. It was the strangest thing, all the other parents had things like Volvo 140s, Fiat Unos and Ford Cortinas, we didn't even know what this thing was! I was pretty disappointed when I found out it was a minibus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KruJoe Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 Thanks for your support everyone Oh, dear God, you haven't, have you? Oh yes I have. Second viewing today, with an aim to making a deal. After another poke about with brother Will, it came to the vulgar subject of money... I pulled £700 from my pocket, and Mr_Bradford, still smiling widely, asked if I could manage another 50. Oh ok then And' it's tested 'til mid-October, not August as he'd said before. This helpful guide gave me confidence I wasn't looking at a dog: http://www.estima-motoring.co.uk/Buying%20Guide.htm So I knew how to properly check the cooling and oils. The auto oil looks a bit brown for my liking, so that'll be due a change. The gears work as they should. The coolant was behaving correctly also, but I'll give a good flush and re-fill with the right stuff. The oil level light gave me the occasional flash, but was showing on the MAX line on the dipper, so maybe it's telling me it's over-full. I'll drain a pint off and see. Pics: At Anne's on the way home: (Yes, that IS a comedy cartoon anvil in the back of the 205.) Home. Trailblazers BACK AND FRONT! RobT, UltraWomble, The Moog and 10 others 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 ALLO? MALHAM TAXIS cms206, Cavcraft, KruJoe and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mouseflakes Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I like how these look like a massive egg Oo yes - add that to the list of special titles... Toyota Estima Charme Pleasure Wagon Massive Love Egg Lacquer Peel, HMC, Skoze and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 ps crazy mofo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UltraWomble Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I like how the seats in the back can me made to face each other. GR9 for long distance family games of Scrabble when going on holiday. KruJoe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 You should take up becoming a pub bouncer. Nobody, but nobody, is going to fight anyone brave enough to buy that. Magnificent Rustbucket, NorthernMonkey, Twiggy and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KruJoe Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share Posted February 24, 2015 The following images come courtesy of Explosive_Cabbage: It looks like a giant Impreza estate here: I think he's in love. Junkman, Shep Shepherd, inconsistant and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucketeer Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 The Love Pleasure Egg cares not for red lights or white lines or fawning Wills. mat_the_cat, dollywobbler, KruJoe and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspector Morose Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 You know, I might be warming to those. I must seek medication immediately. KruJoe, Twiggy and Junkman 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KruJoe Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 ..cares not for red lights or white lines ...I knew someone would pick up on it!That stupid filling station in Saltaire exits right into the mouth of a side street with a red light. There's no way to get out from the pez, and stay behind the line without blocking the way for traffic coming in.BRAD-MET: MUST TRY HARDER So, how does it drive?Well, it's bus-like after a so long in a small-ish car, but it's not huge. In fact it seemed about 10 or 15% smaller than I thought it would be from the pictures. It's not at all wide (the Previa UK versions are wider).Visibility is good (apart from the invisible front corners), the seats seem comfy, it's easy to find a nice position, and it's not as sit-up-and-beg as I thought. Ride is nice. I don't normally enjoy the waggly-arsed feeling of a live axeled off roader, and to sit in, you wouldn't know the rear end is so equipped on this. There is some body roll of course, but handling seems neutral and well balanced, and as far as I tested it, the AWD helped the assortment of slightly under-inflated tyres to cling on well in the damp.Thankfully the gearbox isn't dim-witted at all really, I'm sure I'll be less frustrated at it than my 850 auto.The most pleasant surprise is the eagerness of "that hopeless Toyota 2.2 TM DollyWobbler "It pulls hard and long, just the way I like it.SRSLY, it's not afraid to rev. The turbo comes in smoothly with a nice quiet whistle, and feels eager all the way 'round to the red, defying the bulk. I felt the headwinds on Skipton bypass though. The wagon won't be pressed into service immediately, there are others ahead in the line for attention, but after it's had some TLC, I expect to be enjoying its Charmes on a daily basis. drum, gordonbennet, Inspector Morose and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucketeer Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Soz mate.But SRSLY THO, it was really nice of you to buy something I can sleep in when I come to visit KruJoe and Junkman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KruJoe Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 You're welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STUNO Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 KruJoe has made a really practical buy, but a family carrier with all those child seats in it could have given Mrs KJ some thoughts. I hope she was no there when you looked at it ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cms206 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Oo yes - add that to the list of special titles... Toyota EstimaCharme Pleasure WagonMassive Love EggIt's not quite up there with Pete's Yakuza Happy Death Express but certainly less sinister, unless Haroldsan Nagashipman had one in Tokyo while he was offing pensioners. Pillock, Lacquer Peel and mouseflakes 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 They are incredibly comfortable things and a surprisingly nice thing to waft round in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essex V6 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I have heard stories about these being overfilled with oil before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pillock Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 They are incredibly comfortable things and a surprisingly nice thing to wait for the AA inFxd. hairnet and Cavcraft 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_Green Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Very Nice. Especially the face to face back scrabble tournament seats. Could you do me a favour? At some point could you measure the "load height" in the back?. The load height is the distance from the floor to the roof at the highest point. I run mobile office vans and have always wondered if these bubble tops had enough height to be used. I need 136cm or above. Ta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Station Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Krujoe - In this car, I challenge you to find the jack/toolkit. It is hidden! GO! skattrd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Inside the turbo. It'll certainly sound like that in the next couple of thousand miles, anyway. KruJoe, mouseflakes and mercrocker 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 ^^^ LMAO ( stuno) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bub2006 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Anything with a angled down parking mirror is a winner KruJoe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twiggy Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Me be jealous. Me want. KruJoe 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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