I’ve become an Estima owner!!!

Published by F31roger

Van History

It’s no secret that I love vans. I have a 95 Toyota Previa that I had the engine rebuilt and even got some JDM pieces for it. Unfortunately, some old guy hit me in 2017 and I paid out of pocket for repairs. I had to get a GOOD van for the family, so we got a 2014 Toyota Sienna. I am also a distant VanKulture associate (I don’t have a fully hooked up van).

 

Every summer, we have been going to Canada and there was a point in time where I thought about getting a JDM van just because we were there frequently and always had to rent. I’ve also had my VanKulture Canada brothers in BC be very close to me every time I go there. I love older vans, so I was looking into a couple.

 

2019 Richmond (BC)

 

2019 beach bbq at Spanish Banks (BC)

 

 

But my love for vans goes way back! 2003 in Yokohama

 

2016 – I was at the All Japan Estima meeting!

 

 

In early February 2023, I had to go to the Philippines emergently for family. While there, I started to fall in love with the Nissan Urvan. Older, MT and diesel, but relatively cheap. Not only that, we always need a van to rent when ever we are there… So the idea of getting an Urvan crossed my mind. This would most likely stay in the Philippines.

Nissan Urvan!!!

 

Something amazing happened….

I’ve been to Saitama 6 times. My VanKulture Japan brother Taguchi-san has came from Nagano to hang out in Saitama 2 times.

 

2023 visit

I was visiting my friend Suenaga-san. We haven’t seen each other since 2020, but always stayed in contact. When I arrived, he had an MCR30 Estima Aeras at his place. He said mark the stuff I wanted and he would take those parts off before he would crush it.

I started to look at the Estima thinking that I could probably try to do a front end conversion… but when I looked how clean the exterior and interior was… I was overcome emotions of building it. I then asked does he have all the paperwork (which he does) and I asked what’s wrong with it (thermostat went out) and I asked when he got it (he said yesterday the thermostat went out and the owner said he didn’t want to deal with it). Right then and there, my brain started to churn.

WHAT!!!!!

Suenaga-san said that the van is an Aeras, which is top of the line and had the OEM body kit on it. Additionally, it had coil overs and blinker mirrors!

 

I looked at him and said, If I could save it, would you let me have it and he said of course!

 

I immediately start sending off messages and trying to learn how to navigate something like this.

I started to think where I could send it to. Most likely Canada since it is a 2004. Before I can even send it to Canada, I want to do a fully cooling system refresh so that it is good to go. I am sending money to put the papers in my name and also my friend Tadashi-san to look over the Estima and see what else is needed. I might pay for a full tune up and diagnostics. Change brake rotors and pads too.

I asked Eiji-san (my buddy in Osaka) and he said he can figure out how to do RoRo for this. Only thing is he is in Osaka while the van would most likely go to Tokyo for shipping.

I’ve also asked my buddy Alex at Checkpoint about his importing of the van and he has helped me so much as for the Canadian side along with recommended brokers!

Check out their website!

Checkpoint

 

Closing

Besides that repair, I’ve already started to get a few more things. If I can have it held there for a bit, I might get some wheels, aero updates, new rain guards and even more. Estimas were HIGHLY tunable back in the days.

 

I actually have a few Estima friends that have some aero parts that I might be able to get (Topline, Fabulous, Admiration…). But I’m super excited for this to happen!

A few more things that popped up in my head.

Mid wing by Fuji Planning