1996 Toyota Hiace

more enjoyable. The center stack is within reach and features a digital dual-zone climate control system. Easy to operate, with dedicated rear heat, cooling, and rear passenger controls, this van is set up for year-round use. If the cold A/C isn’t your thing, and you prefer more natural ventilation, the power front windows retract, the rear side glass pops outward, and the three moonroofs can be opened for a breeze. The front unit is manual, and the two rear units are powered assemblies. Sleeping under the stars is a must, as the massive middle panoramic roof slides back for a view of the heavens above. The middle row swivels 180 degrees and can also lie flat to connect with the front and rear seats, creating a humongous sleeping surface from the front of the van to the back. Entering the rear is easy, as the door opens wide, and soft-closes to prevent the battery from draining. The seats are upholstered in a soft blue and gray cloth. They lack any major rips, stains, or tears and are soft to the touch. Aftermarket audio supplies tunes through the cabin to supplement the turbodiesel soundtrack. Aside from some vinyl damage by the rear sliding door and some light discoloration of the passenger airbag cover, the cabin is in good nick, and the door cards, headliner and carpets have withstood the past 25 years without sustaining major wear and tear. The mid-engine, full-time 4WD layout pays dividends for driving dynamics. Despite the HiAce’s tall profile, it handles better than you think with its low center of gravity. The 1KZ-TE. Fresh off an oil and filter service, the 3.0L churns to life immediately. To keep the battery charged, a new alternator was slapped on! A new fuel filter aids this engine in running seamlessly, and one of our trained techs replaced the leaky valve cover gasket with a new one. We also resealed the transmission pan, too. Mated to an automatic transmission, the four-banger provides enough power to get up to highway speeds without breaking a sweat. To slow down, new front brake pads and new rear brake shoes have been installed to reduce stopping distances. While we were attending to the rear brakes, we also performed a right rear axle seal replacement. We also replaced the front left outer axle boot to shore everything up! The ride quality is decent thanks to four brand new shocks. The front torsion bars are jacked up a bit to match, and new front upper control arm bushings were replaced while on the lift. New lower ball joints give the suspension a new lease on life, and new front and rear sway bar endlinks were also taken care of. A fresh alignment was performed so that this Toyota goes right where you point it, and the Goodyear all-terrain tires are knee-deep in tread!