Toyota Problems

A HiAce of that period is generally worth between $1000 and $2000, but being rusty and unroadworthy yours is not worth that much. It could be worth a couple of hundred dollars, but I reckon you’ll struggle to give it away.

That's not easy to answer without knowing your situation in more detail, but if shopping new, I'd recommend the Sorento. 

It's a fresher overall design with more smart thinking behind it, and a four-year longer factory warranty. 

It offers the option of diesel if you prefer, but I'd be choosing the petrol for overall performance and refinement, with still decent real-world fuel efficiency. The petrol V6 Sorento is only available in two-wheel drive though. 

Good luck, and keep us posted with your journey, 

It’s unlikely to be in your engine as such; rather it’s probably associated with the engine’s intake system. As it’s new take it to your Toyota dealer and have them fix it under warranty.

In terms of reliability and common faults there is little difference between Mazda, Honda and Toyota. They are all good, reputable brands building cars of a good quality with few reliability issues. Choose the one that best suits your family needs.

Check the electrical connections on the horns and also check the fuses.

You’ve pretty much covered the field there, so it should come down to what you want from your car. Do you want comfort, safety, fuel efficiency, offroad capability, cabin space? If you are mostly driving on the highway, then a diesel SUV is probably the best bet. I would rule out a dual-cab ute because of comfort, unless you need the flexibility a ute gives you. I would rule out a hybrid, they’re not at their most efficient on the highway; they’re better suited to town use. Based on your annual mileage I wouldn’t keep the car any more than 3-4 years, that way you’ll have a decent resale value when you get out of it.

No doubt there are 4WDs available for $3100, but they will be old, worn out, and probably unroadworthy. Try something like a 2000-2001 Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail, Subaru Forester, or Suzuki Grand Vitara, and buy the best one you can find.

It's hard to recommend a car that would suit you without knowing more about what you want to do with it, but I would suggest you avoid sporty models, low-profile tyres, and consider an SUV such as a Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Qashqai, or Renault Captur.