I was sitting at my computer this afternoon when my mother pulls into the driveway. However today she wasn't driving her usual rustbucket Corolla wagon, but in fact a (drumroll please)....

1989 Toyota Van LE!! (yeah that's right, the model name is "Van" )



Now the first thing I thought was "oh man, what a piece of junk, I can't beleive she just bought this thing"
But that was before I looked inside.

Sure, she's definitely not the prettiest on the outside, but
wait till you see the interior. Let me tell you, this baby's loaded! It has some features that I didn't even know existed on any car, let alone a late-80s Toyota.
It helps that interior is in near-mint condition too.

One of the coolest features, swiveling rear bucket seats! (How dare Chrysler say they invented "Swivel and Go" seating on their 2008 T&C )




Rear A/C That's a really nice feature when you have summers like there are here in Michigan.




And the coolest feature of all, an actual ice maker, IN THE CAR! Who would have ever thought?? And it doubles as a cooler too, so it can keep your drinks cool, and that's nice too






Also, not really a feature but I thought it was kind of cool anyway, the engine is under the front seats! In fact the hood doesn't even open, this is your only access to the motor.




The motor itself is a 2.2 4-cylinder that puts out 101 HP and 133 ft-lb of torque, mated to a 4-speed automatic trans with overdrive.

And of course being the facy model, it has power windows/mirrors/locks and all that kind of fun junk.

Of course, it's not the fastest, but the brakes and handling are pretty good considering its model/age. I like drivng it, but it's even more fun to ride in the back. The seats are really comfortable and there's tons of room. I just love how the seats swivel too. I could even get all my friends together and we could have a party back in there

I don't know, I guess I'm just not used to having a minivan, but this one I really like, even though it's not the best looking

Some more pics:






Also, if I'm correct, a version of this van is still sold in other parts of the world, marketed as "Hiace"?

Oh yeah, and my family's leaving for a vacation to the beach tomorrow (we're taking the Van ) so I'll be gone from the forum for a few days, just to let you know

Oh and something else I just realized! Now my family has a 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 model year car!

That van as you say may not be the prettiest car but still seesm quite comfortable, minivans always are, even the worst ones, they just have more space than a normal car and its nice to travel in them.

What's the small buttom in the automatic change stick by the way?

Are you suggesting that this is the worst?
Becuase I like it



Overdrive

Never heard of it? It's on our '88 Camry too btw
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overdrive_(mechanics)

No, not at all, i was just saying that mpvs are comfortable in general, even the bad ones are, so its good you have an mpv now

They bought it all of a sudden by the way?





So it is just to let the engine get less revolutions?

You are somewhat correct. The Toyota Van was sold in other parts of the world as the Toyota Townace (http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_133515-Toyota-TownAce.html), an updated version of which is still being produced (http://toyota.jp/townacevan/index.html).The Hiace is a larger van, that is still in production. It has gone through several stying changes, of course.(http://toyota.jp/hiace/).

Yeah, pretty much. We had been talking about buying a new car, but we were looking at mostly just Corollas and Camrys, not this thing at all. They even drove almost 100 miles to get it, too.





Yes, which yields better fuel mileage

Nice. I like the Ice Maker. And the van is in mint conditon too, which is always good.

It multiplies the last gear... somehow, so it's higher. It's like having another gear, but cheaper. Pretty common on automatics.
My Delta 88 (and many GM cars, in my experience) has another position on the shifter instead of a switch like this (so there's Drive (overdrive allowed) and Drive (no overdrive)).
I loved that switch on my Supra, when you turned overdrive off, the engine would be right at the start of the powerband at 60 km/h. Just a little nudge on the gas pedal and the car would take off. Pretty fun, because the engine wasn't in great shape and it was an automatic, so that's about the only time it was fast.
The really cool way to do it (this doesn't) is if the overdrive unit is an independant thing that multiplies the gear ratio, it can make a 4-speed into an 8-speed! Sort of. Since you've only got 4 real gears and one multiplier, the gears can't be as useful as if you had 8 real gears.
This is sort of how semi trucks/tractors/prime movers/lorries/whatever have 18 gears. Instead of just overdrive on/off, there's a whole additional transmission (I think it's actually just a really tricky multiratio differential. Same effect though). Like having a 12/18/21 speed bike, 2 or 3 gears on the crank and 6 or 7 on the cone.

I've always like those. As a kid I always thought that if the driver slammed on the brakes that the whole front of it would dive down, the rear would lift up and the driver would go through the windshield.

Mmmm... you have a Delta 88? Not something I would expect from someone who also has owned a Toyota Supra
Anyway, what year is it? Is it the old big one or the littler downsized one? Either way...

Also, I'm surprised an 88 has overdrive, always thought that kind of thing was for smaller/sportier cars

Why? Because of the insanely short wheelbase?

It was free .
It's an '86, first year of the FWD H platform. I wouldn't call it little though, it's longer then GM's new(ish) U platform minivans (well, the SWB ones. But still, it's a coupe!).

Like I said, overdrive is cheaper then adding another gear. Even when GM finally started making 4 speed autos, overdrive makes it a 5 speed.

I should never have overlooked this thread. Yes, I had one in the past. It drove like a truck, which is a good thing. Here's a hint, for anybody who doesn't know; the battery can be found behind the driver's seat. Here's another; That ice maker was a genuine option, not some aftermarket add-on you'd find in the J.C. Whitney catalog.

When I see the news about the Iraqi war, I'd swear I've seen that style van cruisin' around in the background....

It is a sweet ride..... Let us know what kind of gas mileage you get on your vaction. Drive safe and have fun!

Gas mileage was no too good actually. Only about 20 mpg, but of course it had four large people in it, was full of luggage, had the air on full blast, and was traveling at 75+ mph