# Used Toyota van purchase advice needed

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-toyota-van-purchase-advice-needed/63628>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Tags:** previa, toyota\
**Created:** [April 12, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-toyota-van-purchase-advice-needed/63628 "2011-04-12T01:34:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cucinamaria](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aca169/32.png) [@cucinamaria](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cucinamaria)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-toyota-van-purchase-advice-needed/63628/1 "2011-04-12T01:34:12Z")

</div>

I am looking at a 1990 Toyota Previa with 235,000 miles on it. The owner says it runs very well. That’s a lot of miles - do Toyota vans run as long as the smaller cars if they’re well maintained (which this owner says it has been)? He’s asking $1400, but Blue Book for a 1991 Previa in good condition is $1050. Any advice would be welcome

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-toyota-van-purchase-advice-needed/63628/2 "2011-04-12T03:14:19Z")

</div>

I wouldn’t touch it. Not because it might not have a few good years left, but unlike the Corollas and Camrys, the mechanics were so different than subsequent vans, I’d worry about the availability of parts. I don’t think it is worth the worry, as the reliability of any car that old is a function of care not make. If the owner thinks it’s that good a car and that well maintained, he’d keep it. I’d take it for free…that’s about it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-toyota-van-purchase-advice-needed/63628/3 "2011-04-12T03:21:37Z")

</div>

Whatever “magic” you think Toyota has in comparison to other makes it doesn’t apply to a 20+ year old 235K+ vehicle. If you do a lot of car work on your own, then fine (get a repair manual with it). But if you have to rely on mechanics then I doubt it is a good gamble. It will need work on a fairly regular basis. Old, high mileage cars do no matter who made them.