Advice Sought on Hearse Cars

[LordElrond]

So I’ve owned most of the conti cars I wanted to own in my life, sold the last one upon reaching 10 years old.

After taking GRAB for several months I thought the hearse cars are really comfy: Voxy, Noah, Veilfire. I want to strike a balance between cheap and comfort, forget about handling, torque, power etc cos those concepts are history, done and dusted for me.

Anyone care to share which is the best balance between budget/comfort?

 

[Dr Christopher Cheok C S]

I have tried Toyota VellFire and Nissan Serena.

You need a chauffeur to enjoy VellFire, feels like business class. Otherwise, it is an overkill.
If you are the driver, Serena is quite comfy and almost the price of Camry.
Some PI do bring these models into Singapore too.

You are right to consider Japanese for such cars. The German ones have weak aircon and less durable. The Korean ones are so expensive that local distributors don't feel like selling them.

 

[LordElrond]

I have tried Toyota VellFire and Nissan Serena.

You need a chauffeur to enjoy VellFire, feels like business class. Otherwise, it is an overkill.
If you are the driver, Serena is quite comfy and almost the price of Camry.
Some PI do bring these models into Singapore too.

You are right to consider Japanese for such cars. The German ones have weak aircon and less durable. The Korean ones are so expensive that local distributors don't feel like selling them.

That’s true… I enjoyed it probably because I wasn’t driving! Can let wife be chauffeur then haha. But isn’t Serena more like Estima?

 

[eatshitndie]

"hearse"? are you kidding? this is the most comfortable hearse car - 1980 toyota crown hearse. "occupants" in this hearse hardly (no pun intended) get disturbed and perturbed, thanks to rigor mortis.

 

[LordElrond]

"hearse"? are you kidding? this is the most comfortable hearse car - 1980 toyota crown hearse. "occupants" in this hearse hardly (no pun intended) get disturbed and perturbed, thanks to rigor mortis.
View attachment 120754

This can be converted into Anantara makeshift resort

 

[LordElrond]

I have tried Toyota VellFire and Nissan Serena.

You need a chauffeur to enjoy VellFire, feels like business class. Otherwise, it is an overkill.
If you are the driver, Serena is quite comfy and almost the price of Camry.
Some PI do bring these models into Singapore too.

You are right to consider Japanese for such cars. The German ones have weak aircon and less durable. The Korean ones are so expensive that local distributors don't feel like selling them.

Some considerations include ability to fold the seats / walk around if you have a large dog, that’s the reason I looked into these hearse cars

 

[Dr Christopher Cheok C S]

Some considerations include ability to fold the seats / walk around if you have a large dog, that’s the reason I looked into these hearse cars

Mazda Biante is a cheaper option.

 

[Dr Christopher Cheok C S]

That’s true… I enjoyed it probably because I wasn’t driving! Can let wife be chauffeur then haha. But isn’t Serena more like Estima?

Actually, Serena is too decent.
Estima is a bit uncle now.

 

[LordElrond]

Mazda Biante is a cheaper option.

Indeed there are options beyond Toyota, I’m out of touch

 

[Dr Christopher Cheok C S]

Indeed there are options beyond Toyota, I’m out of touch

VellFire design is cool and perfect for making love. If you are young, imagine u drive a car full of chicks in it.

Don't consider the 8-seater variant, 7-seater more atas.

 

[LordElrond]

VellFire design is cool and perfect for making love. If you are young, imagine u drive a car full of chicks in it.

Don't consider the 8-seater variant, 7-seater more atas.

I’m not young
I always wonder how the dark windows pass LTA… but it’s the darkness that makes it look nice. It puzzles me why the Japanese, who is so good in making beautiful things, cannot make the front of these cars look nice. Just look at this!

 

[Dr Christopher Cheok C S]

I’m not young
I always wonder how the dark windows pass LTA… but it’s the darkness that makes it look nice.
View attachment 120764

Dark original JDM glass is borderline case for LTA regulation. The car company will replace the extremely dark ones for you to meet the regulations.

I strongly discourage anyone for going against the rules. It involves safety (vision) and so technically having non-compliance glasses allow insurer to void all claims (like drink driving).

 

[Dr Christopher Cheok C S]

It puzzles me why the Japanese, who is so good in making beautiful things, cannot make the front of these cars look nice. Just look at this!

It depends. You see in recent years, Lexus changed their front grille until so ah-pek, even my rich ah-pek friends felt old driving it. Now, they got to lelong. BMW and Audi prices went up, Lexus went down.

Lexus Fields Complaints From Longtime Owners Over Spindle Grille​

https://www.thedrive.com/article/17...ints-from-longtime-owners-over-spindle-grille


Resale ES 250 also lelong because the rear undercarriage kept getting damaged by kerbs after parking in peasants' location (HDB, Wet market carparks) because the design is too low.

Lexus is a durable car but now affected by the front grille design and arrogant Borneo Motors staff.

 

[glockman]

The Subaru Forester XT. I had a lot of fun in it, it was the only Jap car I ever owned. Powerful and spacious SUV.

The latest iteration is a bit "loud", seems bigger too. Boxer NA engine.

 

[glockman]

 

[nirvarq]

Alphard/Vellfire is a pleasure to drive no need chauffeur big solid and wide enough good road holding and people notice you and siam too because you're big.

The interior is luxurious and many or actually all the best function and high tech of Toyota, cruise control, track skid assist etc etc... It's only price other than that perfect.

New cars windows are dark enough LTA approve. Inbuild windows retractable shield, air ionizer, back TV, many USB charge points front and back. Beautiful console etc..

3rd row seats can totally folded giving you huge space.

Ironically the center seats for bosses sucks the views are blocked. Front seats are the best. Driving it is a breeze, a pleasure. :P <3

 

[LordElrond]

Looks like no one has experience with the cheaper siblings? This is what I read:

 

[zeddy]

Alphard/Vellfire is a pleasure to drive no need chauffeur big solid and wide enough good road holding and people notice you and siam too because you're big.

The interior is luxurious and many or actually all the best function and high tech of Toyota, cruise control, track skid assist etc etc... It's only price other than that perfect.

New cars windows are dark enough LTA approve. Inbuild windows retractable shield, air ionizer, back TV, many USB charge points front and back. Beautiful console etc..

3rd row seats can totally folded giving you huge space.

Ironically the center seats for bosses sucks the views are blocked. Front seats are the best. Driving it is a breeze, a pleasure. :P <3


View attachment 120772

Very comfortable and spacious. I drove an Alphard belonging to a Malaysian friend in 2017 while on our road trip from Johor to Kedah. Agree with you. Really a breeze driving this beast

 

[LordElrond]

Very comfortable and spacious. I drove an Alphard belonging to a Malaysian friend in 2017 while on our road trip from Johor to Kedah. Agree with you. Really a breeze driving this beast

Yeah… have never heard of anyone saying anything negative about Alphard so far

 

[nayr69sg]

"hearse"? are you kidding? this is the most comfortable hearse car - 1980 toyota crown hearse. "occupants" in this hearse hardly (no pun intended) get disturbed and perturbed, thanks to rigor mortis.
View attachment 120754

I didnt click on this thread for the longest time because I thought TS (didn;t realize is you @LordElrond ) was asking about this type of car too!