【True Story】The Real Decision-Making Process of a Family Who Decided to Purchase a New Toyota Alphard

While considering the replacement of our beloved car, which has exceeded 70,000 km, we surprisingly chose the Toyota Alphard. The deciding factors were the features, comfort, and the timing of "being able to get it right away."

Transfer timing, the target is decided on the Toyota Alphard

“If I were to replace my car, it might not be now…” With that thought in mind, my beloved car finally exceeded 70,000 km, and the tires were wearing down… Moreover, it coincided with the timing of a battery replacement.

“Maybe it’s time for a reset,” we discussed as a family, and finally decided to make the switch. The next car must provide comfort for the family to travel without stress. The answer that our family, which often goes on outdoor trips and long-distance travels, arrived at was the Toyota Alphard.

Although orders for the Alphard new model were supposed to be on hold…

When I actually started searching, the situation was more severe than I had imagined. At the first dealership I visited (March 2025), I was told, “Currently, orders for the Alphard are on hold.” With uncertain delivery dates and postponement of new car orders, I considered removing it from our list of options.

However, a turning point came on April 7 when I visited another Toyota dealer. At that newly opened store, there were actually 3 Alphard vehicles in stock, and one of them was equipped with all the grades and options I hoped for. In a situation where orders were unavailable nationwide, this encounter… not wanting to miss the timing, I decided on the spot.

By the way, this Alphard's grade is the Z hybrid, 2WD/E-Four, and the optional color is Platinum White Pearl Mica. Just having this grade is miraculous.

Let’s go for a test drive! Everyone in the family is satisfied from the seats to the interior space.

What I first felt during the test drive was the comfort of the second-row seats. It felt like sitting on a high-quality sofa, with a spacious footwell. Just that alone made me intuitively think that weekend trips would be easier.

What was even more impressive was the quietness inside the car that I noticed as soon as I started driving. The engine noise and the rumbling noise from the tires on the ground were hardly noticeable, making me feel that “long drives are less tiring.” For my family, which wanted to prioritize comfort during travel, this quietness was also one of the deciding factors.

No compromise on equipment! The reason for my immediate decision was miraculously “because everything was in place.”

This time, what I purchased was classified as a so-called stock vehicle, but I heard that it was not a "display test drive vehicle" or a "vehicle that had been stored at the dealership for a long time," so I was able to consider it with peace of mind. In fact, the specifications were already confirmed, and it was a brand new car that was just in production, so we as a family agreed, "Then we can feel safe about it."

Furthermore, it had all the equipment I hoped for, such as universal steps, a digital inner mirror, advanced park, and a panoramic view monitor, and the body color was white (Platinum White Pearl Mica), just as I envisioned. We discussed as a family, "There’s no reason to ask for more than this," and it was more than enough to be the deciding factor for our choice.

The price of the vehicle purchased was 6.42 million yen, which is the so-called list price. Since it is the 2024 model year, this list price applies, but currently, it is an additional 150,000 yen for the same grade. The total payment amount, including options and various fees, exceeded 7.5 million yen.

I had researched beforehand that the Alphard is a model that is difficult to discount nationwide, so "no discount" was expected. However, having a vehicle available for immediate delivery at this time was miraculous.

The reason for not financing and paying in cash all at once

The dealership offered a loan as a payment plan, but I chose to pay in cash all at once because I thought, "It’s a waste to pay interest." The reason was that I had the funds to pay the amount presented and I wanted to keep the payment simple. The sales representative told me, "To be honest, a loan would be appreciated, but many people in this area purchase with cash," and I was able to complete the procedure comfortably.

Driving and family time become easier. The Alphard was a bundle of comfort

I was satisfied with the minivan I had been driving, but the Alphard brought a different kind of surprise. When I actually drove it, it was a distinctly different experience from before.

Of course, the spacious rear seats and ample cargo space are impressive, but above all, the driving itself is just so easy. On the highway, the adaptive cruise control maintains a safe distance automatically, covering acceleration, deceleration, and stopping and restarting as well. Moreover, the lane tracing assist keeps the vehicle centered in the lane, significantly reducing stress even on long drives.

Not only does it allow my family to spend time comfortably, but it also gives me peace of mind while driving... I truly felt that it is a car that is kind to the whole family.

The comfort of travel that the Alphard provides

Choosing the Alphard with the focus on "ensuring the family can spend time comfortably" has made our daily travel simpler than I imagined. The spaciousness and quietness of the rear seats, along with the sense of security while driving and the support from the features, makes it the greatest charm that everyone can enjoy their time comfortably.

Choosing a car that allows the whole family to spend time comfortably feels like it enriches our lifestyle just a bit.

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