I just saw one of these the other day. Pretty amazing, especially for the price. They are made in Kanagawa and are a first-party conversion through Toyota Mobility Kanagawa. They're only available in Kanagawa, but of course people come here to buy them even if they live elsewhere. One thing to be aware of, though, is that since it's legally a commercial vehicle, you have to do shaken (shah-ken, the annoying, expensive Japanese car registration maintenance tune-up) every year. Taxes are low, though, since it's legally a commercial van. The only advantage of the HiAce that I see is that you can have the refrigerator and the sink together. On this, you can have one or the other, because they occupy the same space and on the HiAce they can be installed in a row. The two vehicles are basically the same width, so even though the HiAce is considerably longer, you're not going to sleep more people. Basically only 2 in either case. Also, of course, the rear seats in camper vans are atrocious, so they're not great if people actually have to sit back there for the trip. The TownAce is aimed at couples, and I think that'd be just right, because you could both sit up front in the real car seats, and then just use the back for eating/sleeping. I recently bought a new Subaru XV (CrossTrek in the US... and now also in Japan), but it drives me nuts with all its hoodads and warnings and beeps and bongs... When I saw this TownAce the other day, the manual window crank brought tears to my eyes, I swear. Whodathunkit? A window you can open with the engine off! What sorcery is this? Very cool little car.
@LawrenceCamera Жыл бұрын
Thanks for all the information! After I finished making the video I talked to the sales person again he explained that it's licensed as a commercial vehicle but that the annual test is cheaper and easier than the shaken. Do you know if you don't need to get the test for the first 5 years? Maybe I'll stop by their factory one day since I live in Kanagawa. Every time I went by their booth it was quite busy on the weekends as a lot of young families were very interested in the van.
@cikgurebel4050 Жыл бұрын
Nice
@dailee59492 жыл бұрын
No refrigerator?
@laurenrosato17312 жыл бұрын
Very Cool
@amtb-o6v2 жыл бұрын
Excellent!
@lindabourketempleton4040 Жыл бұрын
Where is it filmed?
@LawrenceCamera Жыл бұрын
I was at the Konan in Ofuna, Kanazawa-ken. I think the dealership is based in kanazawa and they also convert the high ace.