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Discussion Starter · #1 ·




This is the Toyota Probox (and its twin the Succeed). THey are commonly used as delivery vehicles in Japan and taxis in south Asia and some South American countries.

The latest update to the van keeps the back 2/3s the same. Don't mess with a good thing, so the saying goes. At the front there is a new grille and headlights. There is also a new 94 hp, 1.3-liter engine that should get 43 mpg using Japanese mileage testing.

Many of the changes to the Probox come in the cabin. Added features include a rack to hold notebooks in the glovebox, a fold-out table, a tray for clipboards, and a shallow storage tray just below the signal stalk. Other changes include a revised front suspension and speed-sensitive power steering. The price starts at $12,900.
 

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I've seen kids deliver pizza from a Pontiac Fiero but that hardly made it a van.

Looks a lot like a station wagon to me. Obviously it can be used to haul people or cargo like a Transit but personally don't see how it can compete in same vehicle class.
 

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I have to agree with Chance on this one. I recall a conversation with my local Toyota dealership owner's daughter (she works admin-office). I asked her if she ever misses having vans as part of the lineup (they are a dodge dealer also and had the early sprinters). She said; "We have a van, the Sienna". I just politely acknowledged she had spoken and went on my way.

Oh, and Nissan has a "Van" too. But if i drove the hightop version of that thing i would be driving alone. That rig is a recipe for single-forever rig-ugliness IMO. Just sayin'

PS on my PS... i am a Toyota owner and have been for 35+ years. They make some great cars/trucks... Full size van? Not yet.
 

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....cut....

PS on my PS... i am a Toyota owner and have been for 35+ years. They make some great cars/trucks... Full size van? Not yet.
Toyota makes full size vans but for other markets (I think it may be called the HiAce in some of the markets). They also make a minibus that is 7 meters long that is often converted for camping. I think that one may be called the Coaster.

A few years ago a family member who traveled to Japan gave me a Japanese RV book with many Japanese-market Class Bs. Many were based on Toyota full size vans. I was surprised how many large vans are made that we don't get here at all.
 

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...I was surprised how many large vans are made that we don't get here at all.
Yea crazy! Since my first inroads researching "Overland Vehicles" a decade or so ago (in earnest, as in; I WANT ONE!) i too was surprised at just how shallow the US offerings are in this category.

Thom
 

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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
Is the Probox more like the Transit Connect Wagon though? I was under the impression that the Probox was fairly large sicne it said it was used as a delivery van. What is it similar in size to?
 

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....cut.... What is it similar in size to?
Reported outside dimensions suggest it's tiny compared to full-size Transit, and much smaller than Transit Connect too. It's much smaller than a Honda minivan also.

One site shows wheelbase at around 100 inches, overall length at only 165 inches, width at 67 inches and height around 60 inches. It may very well be an excellent vehicle and there may be a demand for it, but I just don't see it competing with Transit. At least not in US.
 

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[QUOTE=Chance;. "I was surprised how many large vans are made that we don't get here at all."

Its all because of the "chicken tax" when LBJ was the president.
If these could be imported without the tax, there would be alot more, trucks also.
 
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