I was framing up to shoot the two little guys in the back, when this Previa taxi rolled by. So I decided to pull the trigger anyway. I’ve been meaning to do a proper story on these for a while; as there are so many of these in Eugene, perhaps more of them than any other type of taxi. How appropriate is that, given how old Toyota vans seem to congregate here? Oregon Taxi started accumulating used Previas years ago, and built up quite a fleet of used ones, but that seems to have peaked; probably hard to keep finding them anymore in California. I should call them up and see how many miles the most-traveled one has.
We get a lot of this model converted into camper vans for the Euro backpacker trade.
The minivan makes the most sense as a taxi.
In Cleveland, a number of independent cab companies have played with the minivan-as-taxi concept; mostly it hadn’t worked very well. Dodge Caravans didn’t hold up, when one company tried it, in the late 1980s. Ford Aerostars, likewise. The Chevrolet Astro was used with more success by Yellow and it’s captive independent suburban companies (they have several) but drivers don’t like them, preferring the Crown Vics.
One little cab company I worked for in the mid-1980s, favored Chrysler M-body cars. Actually the owner preferred the Dart/Valiant; but by this time they were getting rare. So he went with Aspens and Volares, as he could find them. By 1986 they were slim pickings, too.
So it was the verisimilar M-body. So similar, in fact, one wrecked-but-sound Volare wound up with a LeBaron front clip, painted in the company livery.
But, the point I’m making is: These were a bulletproof chassis; totally suitable for low-overhead fleet operation. The owner would buy New York City police cars at auction, once a year; he’d take about six drivers with them, put them all up, and have them drive the cars back to Northeast Ohio.
And those cars, bought for a few hundred bucks, would last 2-3 years as cabs.
Obviously, this cab company found the same qualities (less the cheap purchase price) on the Gen2 Toyota minivan. Buy them used, and run the snot out of them. Cheap operating costs, and if all the cabs are the same model, parts are mix-n-match.
It sounds like a wise plan and a good deal.
Last time I was in NYC in November, my rough eyeball showed about 45/45/10 taxi cabs Crowns/Escapes/Camrys respectively.
Previa is never wrong/incorrect!
I’m the original owner of an 84 Toyota Van (5 speed!). I still hope to one day get my hands on a 5MT Previa. It’s going to be nearly impossible since I live in NE Ohio and anything pre-1995 is going to be rusty for sure! And of course due to the very low number of 5MT Previas made in the first two production years before auto-only
How often does this site get two people from Cleveland posting in succession? probably about as often as I see a 5MT Previa for sale!
My roommate bought a 91 Previa 5 speed a few years ago. Great rig with lots of power for what it was. He regrets selling it.
REMINDER: CC get together at Sam Bonds Garage in Eugene Oregon tonight at 6pm.
In my damage appraisal business, I had an assignment one day on one of these Oregon Taxi Company vehicles. Not a Previa, but a 2011 Corolla IIRC. Thing was beat to hell already. And the ‘U of O’ colors were painted over a red body…….. no jambs painted, of course.
There are quite a few Previas even around here, though most of them are pretty worn-out.
And speaking of “spoiled shots,” last summer I was taking pictures of a cool old school that was in the process of being torn down, when this bus passed right in front of me. I think it turned out rather well. Pretty appropriate, too!
you shot a pic of a 95 caprice lowrider YEAR AGO in eugene oregon is there anyway you can tell me were you shot it at ???? i live here would like to go see if they wana to sell it. i ben trying to track that car for awile.
I just sent you an e-mail.
Few of these Previas made it to Ireland because the cost was prohibitive, but we did get quite a few of the JDM Lucida versions as s/h imports. The main diffference was the Lucida was narrower, to suit Japanese tax laws, which also made it more suitable for narrow Irish backroads. A friend loaned me one once to move my daughter and her belongings to her first University accomodation – a 400 mile round trip. Driving the Lucida was quite an event. It was the turbo-diesel version, with all wheel drive thrown in for good measure.Between the whine from the motor, the whine from the transmission, and the whine from the turbocharger, all playing different tunes, it felt a bit like being in a Boeing.
Are you sure about the narrow model we have new Previa and used JDM everywhere and I cant see the difference Lucida, Emina, whateva, same van popular as camper conversions and as large family beaters petrol/diesel take yore pick.
The narrow body Lucida has a different nose treatment to the Previa/Tarago, something like the Soarer/ Lexus SC300. I’m also horrified that I know this.
The Japanese versions are just under 1700mm wide as per the tax bracket, which is 110mm narrower than the standard Previa/Tarago according to wikipedia. I have seen a few and I think they are visibly narrower.
No, you can’t see the difference – tho’ maybe you could if you parked one of each side by side. The difference is about 4 inches, I only realised it when I read it somewhere.
I guess it took when the Siennas came out in 1997 that Toyota decided that cab over wasn’t a preferred design.
I keep seeing a way stretched Mini limo with a CRX hatch grafted on the back.
I have no attraction toward these things but was “wowed” when I saw one on its side at the scrapyard. Pretty interesting layout.
A very painful layout with a drive shaft coming from the front of the engine to drive the accessories. I’ve only really worked on one and that was enough. Sure I’d to brakes but I wouldn’t touch another one for AC or any other work remotely related to the engine.
A friend of mine had a Previa…his needed an A/C condensor and charge at just under 200,000 miles, due to debris damage.
Aside from that, NOTHING! The van had its original accessories, radiator, master cylinder, and exhaust ahead of the muffler(!) when sold with 260,000 miles. It’s still going, four years later. These vans were built at, IMO, the absolute pinnacle of Toyota quality and reliability.
I would love a non-AWD blower Previa.
A friend of a friend ran one of these for years. The engine compartment runs very hot, which bakes every rubber and plastic part in there. It’s pretty interesting how they leaned over the 4-cylinder – take a look at one if you ever get the chance.
Did these still have the party fridge in the front like the ToyoVan did?
The Nissan Van had the fridge but I don’t think that Toyota ever offered one.
Toyota Van had a cooler….about the size of a six pack and 2 small ice trays. It had it’s own AC condenser (which would make 3 systems when you count the separate hardware for front/rear).
Previas, to my knowledge, didn’t offer these in the US. Almost certainly overseas, but not for US models
I’ve had several of these, both US and JDM versions during my military tours in Japan – they are absolutely indestructable. Toyota made the 2.4 liter engine even more tougher than usual as it is tucked up in the underside. The timing chain is good for the life of the engine and doesn’t require changing. I’ve had over 200K on two and they were still running fine.
The Estima is still sold in Japan – a very attractive design.
It is now a conventional transverse V6 drivetrain though
Quite true, however in Japan four cylinder versions are available and a hybrid version also…..
I once asked my mechanic about one of these. He said it was a fine vehicle, but selfishly speaking, said he hoped I wouldn’t buy it because they are so nasty to work on.
As best as I can tell, one of the two or 3 cabs in Klamath Falls is a Previa. At 20,000 people in the city and 60K in the county, we don’t get a big fleet of taxies…
Not the greatest critter to drive on ice or snow slick roads.
70 mph on flat land, no wind, auto tranny… an honest 30 mpg.
Known as “The Bean” by those who adore them.
My bought-used 1991 beast was solid and with the rear seats removed offered ample sleeping room.
The Previa is still one of the most beautiful minivan designs ever, IMO. A good friend has owned two,one of which he started to convert to a pickup variant (but lost steam and eventually sold off). His son still drives the second (turbo) one while at university.
To change the spark plugs, you have to remove the passenger seat and the floorboard/access plate underneath it. On the plus side, the ball joints were the easiest to replace.
My next door neighbor had one, beaten but still whole. Just shortly before his wife told him to go live somewhere else, I asked him how many miles he had on his. He said 395,000 and he had just put a used engine in it. Since he doesn’t live here anymore I’ll never know how long it lasted.