Also I have to be careful publishing anything unfavourable, please stick to indisputable facts. I get more complaints about this page from angry traders than from disappointed buyers. - Dave Mason, Editor.
Check when any model + VIN was built
Auction Grading System (go to bottom of page)
Towance Nutters' listing or here
Toyota megacruiser 4WD (Japan)
Canada (Armstrong, British Columbia): See Barry's website.
Imported Car Traders Ltd. Units 2 & 3, Guardian Road, Norwich.Tel. 01603 664266. This is the local garage I use. The proprietors' name is Shaun and he is very experienced in dealing in, and working on, Japanese import vehicles and often has three or four Townacesfor sale. I've used him since owning my Ace and found him most knowledgable. Hedoes an excellent job and charges very resonably. - Simon Green - 3 Jan 2003
www.Townaces.com Dorset. Get the exact spec of Townie you're after. Terry Hayes of Townaces.com requires a fairly large deposit up front
Dealer - Poole. The Imperial Car Company, 494 Blandford Road, Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset BH16 5BN. Tel 01202 631500. "We sell a lot of Townaces & have a large clientele of happy owners - Martyn Gough".
Dealer - Bournemouth. I was impressed in May 2001 by Southern Motors, 118 Cranleigh Road, (Christchurch), Bournemouth. 01202 434611 (Nigel or Alvin). I made an offer on one there but was too mean. - (#2104) Dave Mason, 5 Feb 02
www.webcars.net or webcars.net/carssale or carssale-uk or sp-ttownace.htm I cannot praise Art at webcars enough for his efficiency in finding what I required - and at half the price they were at the time on the dealers fourcourts - (#2105) skippy, 5 Feb 02
Dealer Kbc ltd JapanI had dealings with kbc ltd Japan in the past. After my experience with them I would not advise you to buy anything from them. Their prices are often too good to be true and like the old saying goes ..... 2 good suppliers seem to be IBC Japan or Angel Motors. - (#6887) Mark, 20 Jan 03
Dealer - Cardiff. I would like to warn potential buyers of "Townace's and the like" of a very Troublesome company (I'm in the process of trying to get compesation) - the "townies" that they sell are of good quality but alas as I've found out they have a poor understanding of the word "Customer Satisfaction" - JPS MOTORS LTD,nr CARDIFF - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!! - (#5737) adam hortin, 8 Oct 02
Dealers near Dublin or Co. Down Plenty in Dublin. Try on the East Wall Road, there's another at the Red Cow. There's one just at the border at Ravensdale, then in Down, try L&R in Banbridge or Grahams of Saintfield. - (#3268) david miller, 8 Jun 02
Exeter. Discount Imports/XL Autos. We are based in Exeter, very near to the main railway station, St David's. We specialise in selling Townace's, selling approx 30 per year from old shape super extra's to new shape royal lounge Townace's. I can supply to order, Royal Lounge or Super Extra models for around £3500 with average mileage, and still offer new MOT, cambelt service, valet, and 3 months in house warranty on all parts. Our website has all our details on, but I must warn you, the website is quite out of date with stock, we cant keep on top of it! - - Mark Powell - 16 May 2003
Dealer - Farnborough, Hants. BSG Car Sales, 10 Queens Road. Good selection of Townaces and Liteaces. Helpful, and very enthusiastic about Toyotas. We spoke to a few other Townace owners before we bought ours and we were recomended to BSG as they had had good service from them. - Mike Knowles, 10 May 04
Dealer, repairer, Lincoln. We bought our Townace from The Limit Corporation at Faldingworth Near Market Rasen, the import them through Ireland, they also do repairs. I WOULD NOT now recommend this garage to anyone. I have had repairs done to my townie by them and I am not happy. If you want any more info please contact me. - Sandra, 20 Oct 2003
Norwich. Imported Car Traders Ltd. Units 2 & 3, Guardian Road. Tel. 01603 664266. This is the local garage I use. The proprietors' name is Shaun and he is very experienced in dealing in, and working on, Japanese import vehicles and often has three or four Townacesfor sale. I've used him since owning my Ace and found him most knowledgable. Hedoes an excellent job and charges very resonably. - Simon Green - 3 Jan 2003
Toyota main dealer Credit where it is due for sevice that goes way above what could be reasonably expected. The dealers name is West End Toyota Preston. - (#2376) phil elliott, 1 Mar 02
The Toyota Main Dealer at Waterlooville, WKB Toyota, is also very good indeed. They do carry alot of spares for the TownAceThey will not however work on the car. They have said that it is a contractural policy. If they have the car and need to replace some of the parts and they are not instock, they are obliged to give you a courtesy car. Since the parts may come from Japan, this may take ages so this is the reason for them not working on our cars. - (#2738) Andy Stancliffe, 21 Apr 02
My view is that, for the money, the Townace/Masterace is an excellent vehicle and, compared to the specification of the more "ordinary" MPV's, it is way ahead. In fact, to obtain another comparable vehicle, as fully equipped as the Townace, you would probably have to pay up to three times as much. I know examples of the very high costs involved when things go wrong with, say, Espaces, Galaxys, Serenas etc so, irritations and high maintenance costs, are not reserved for our type of vehicle. My view is that the low initial price (of Townaces) does give the owner some advantage when having to spend out on repairs.
Having said that, I don't think that the Townace is an ideal vehicle for the faint hearted and, they do require more owner involvment than many other vehicles. The name "Townace" indicates what Toyota were aiming at with the original design and it is a vehicle which is not intended to be used for prolonged high speed, or constant motorway use, unless the owner understands it's limitations and treats it with care.
As a very satisfied owner of a Masterace, who has spent a bit of money and much time in putting things right, my advice, to any prospective purchaser, would be to get the engine and cooling system thoroughly checked by a mechanic who is REALLY conversant with this type of vehicle. The cooling system, or rather it's neglect, is the Achillies Heel of the Townace and, provided that this receives knowledgeable attention, and regular checking, the vehicle can provide very reliable and spacious transport. Once the engine has overheated, the alumininum head really suffers and the, sometimes, 10 years old head gaskets cannot maintain the integrity of the cooling system and all sorts of problems result.
If buying from a dealer, INSIST on an engine & cooling system report and, if needed, be prepared to pay a bit extra to have the cylinder head removed, new bolts and gaskets, new thermostat, radiator check/repair and you will be a long way down the road to having a reliable vehicle.
If you buy privately, and there is no evidence of these essential checks/repairs being done, walk away.
I sympathise with the difficulties, yes, head gasket problems ARE common but, it is unfortunate when your "mechanic" is not able to indentify what was, I think, a minor problem can turn into a major one. My view is that the "common" gasket problem is brought about, more by neglect than faulty design. Air locks in the cooling system are sometimes the start of coolant loss at the cylinder head or with one of the hoses. - (#3270) John Davis, 8 Jun 02