Tourists paid $17k for Toyota Hiace but it was undriveable within three weeks

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The Toyota Hiace with 238,527km on the clock was advertised as ready‑to‑use, including a 12‑volt electrical system and self‑containment certification

A young couple on a working holiday in New Zealand got more than they bargained for when they bought a $17,000 van, only to have it break down within a few weeks.

Marcus Laurin and Jane Alex may have lost sleep and thousands of dollars, plus time on the road trying to fix the vehicle's growing list of problems, but they gained friendships and a closer look at the country along the way.

"Yes, our plans were derailed but in the end, we overcame it in a weird way," Laurin told NZME from the US, where the couple had just returned.