Toyota HiAce...that IS what I saw.  It is not at all like the Toyota
minivans you see in the US..It has the ground clearance of a Vanagon and the
approximate headroom, with the pop top closed.   I have always been
interested in a Toyota Previa as a 4x4 alternative van costing much less to
buy and to drive than a VW Syncro..The Previa AWD wouldn't be as
backcountry-ready as a Syncro, but for winter driving or daily driving...it
would certainly be much easier to live with...gas wise and maintenance wise
and also they are said to handle very well, indeed..at highway speeds.
  But the HiAce I saw....Wow.  Impressive looking and if it works like most
Toyotas, it would be easier to keep than a Vanagon, I bet.
  Anyhow, sorry for the off topic on not Friday..I'd just not seen one
before.  I also saw a smaller diesel rear drive rear engine BC (Canada)
camper van just yesterday.  I wonder if an American could buy some 'non-US
approved' vehicle like that in Canada and just keep it registered up
there..maybe go back once per year to renew the plates?  Our Gummint
sometimes makes no sense with some of it's rules on things like the cars we
are allowed to own here in the US..

  Don Hanson

On Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 7:06 AM, J Stewart <fonman4277@comcast.net> wrote:

> Still do, if you can call it that, the Sienna. More car like than van,
> though. Toyota's first mini van sold in the US (1983?) was cool looking, it
> too was Vanagon like only smaller, and even came as a 4X4. Mitsubishi had a
> nice looking small van back in the 80's as well.
>
>
>
> Jeff Stewart
>
> Sorry, left off the link originally. Here it is:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Hiace. According to this, the Toyota
> Hiace came in a camper version. Of course, Toyota sold vans in this country
> from long ago. Must be something other than emissions control that kept
> these from being marketed here.
>
>
>
> mcneely
>