Toyota Stalking, er...um, SPOTTING with Charlie™ (Cars, vans, SUVs, Lexus, Scion, and brochures)!

@shakerhood

I always get excited when I find one of these, and when I found this one shortly after taking pictures of the red Geo Prism in the same parking lot, my reaction was no different; I've had a soft spot for the 1991-1997 Toyota Previa for a while now; The 1994 Previa LE shown below is rear-wheel drive, which from what I've seen is not particularly common in Pennsylvania. Most of the ones I've seen in PA and NJ are all-wheel drive models, and even more surprising is that according to the Carfax report, this one has the naturally-aspirated 2.4L 4-banger instead of the supercharged one...

Non-supercharged Previas made something like 135hp, whereas the supercharger brought power up to a much more competitive 158hp; Based on what I'm reading online, the Carfax report would refer to this van as an LE S/C if it had the supercharged engine. This is not say that the base 2.4L was a bad engine; In typical Toyota fashion, it was incredibly reliable! According to Carfax, this particular van had over 220K miles on it when it passed its annual emissions test in June 2021!

The Previa was first sold in the United State in 1990, as a 1991 model, but the supercharged engine did not become available until 1994 (which is the year of this van); However, even then it was only available as on option on the LE trim (which this example has; Why someone opted to get the top trim, including the very expensive CD/cassette combo that it still has, but not the more powerful engine is beyond me!). Anyway, the supercharged engine was available on all models beginning in 1995, becoming standard on AWD models but remaining an option for RWD models; I believe that by 1996 it was standard on all models regardless of whether it had AWD or not...

The one thing I don't like about the Previa is that it has horrible crash-test ratings; However, if one drives defensively I don't think this is a big deal. My parents had a 2000 GMC Safari, and the Astro/Safari did horrible in the NHTSA crash tests, but I never felt unsafe riding in that van (It would have been nice if the A/C could hold a charge for more than a summer though)!

I don't think there are any unsafe vehicles, only unsafe drivers!

 

The 1994 Toyota Previa LE I saw in the spectator lot at Buck Motorsports Park; 1994 was the first year for the much more powerful supercharged engine, though it was an option that this particular Previa does not have...



Seriously though, I nerd out whenever I see one of these!


September 4th, 2021:

Quarryville, Pennsylvania

 

Is that the ones that have the engine inside?

 

Yup! Though unlike the 1980s Toyota vans, it was partially accessible from under the hood; The 1980s vans had them under the front seats!

 

That is the ones l was thinking of with it being under the seats.

 

I love it when people put wheels from an older vehicle on a newer vehicle of the same make and model; In this case, a 2001-2005 RAV4 is sporting alloy wheels from a 1996-1999ish RAV4...


September 4th, 2021:

Quarryville, Pennsylvania

 

I've only gotten one of those in wild; Technically, it was wasn't even in the wild...

It was at a car show last Halloween!

 

That's not bad looking, certain years even had a V6.

 

2006-2012 I believe; After 2013, they went back to exclusively using 4-bangers, and 2001-2005 was the last year you could get a manual transmission...

 

My ex-fiance almost bought one with a MT back then.

 

She should have! My aunt works for the CDC and lived in Kenya from 2016 to right before COVID started; She bought a late model RAV4 from a wholesaler in Japan and was able to bring it into Kenya for not a lot of money...

When she lived in Zimbabwe from 2001 to 2006, she had a 1996 Honda Ballade, which is similar to a Civic...

 

Normally, I wouldn’t photograph a Boring Beige Corolla, but this was parked across the street from my friend’s house and it was in decent shape compared to other Corollas from the same era that I’ve seen recently…


September 6th, 2021:

Chalfont, Pennsylvania

 

2008 Pontiac Vibe; Another one from the Truck Nationals that I forgot to add...


August 8th, 2021:

Carlisle, Pennsylvania

 

Can it be?!?! Yes! A 2002-2006 Camry that's not only actually in good shape, but has all four of its OEM wheel covers!

I ran the license plate through Carfax and this is a 2002 model (first year for this body style) with the XLE trim...


September 9th, 2021:

Warminster, Pennsylvania

 

I saw this near the Camry; 2004-2005 RAV4 Sport


September 9th, 2021:

Warminster, Pennsylvania

 

Saw a decent Pontiac Vibe at the Fonthill Museum...


September 10th, 2021:

Doylestown, Pennsylvania

 

September 11th, 2021:

Springtown, Pennsylvania

 

2010 Pontiac Vibe


September 11th, 2021:

Springtown, Pennsylvania

 

2002 Camry LE; Amazing! Another one that has all four OEM wheel covers!


September 11th, 2021:

Springtown, Pennsylvania

 

2004 Scion XA


September 11th, 2021:

Springtown, Pennsylvania