Big family (with 5 kids) driving home from Tofino, and minivan conks out for the second time in two months (same problem). Limp into Canadian Tire in Port Alberni, only to discover that the part needed is a $3 spring... and the closest one is in Edmonton. Seriously, they had to fly a $3 spring in from Alberta.
Act 1: Van Shopping
Look at vans while waiting in Nanaimo for our car to be fixed. Nothing seems "just right." All the same old boring minivan. Get back home to North Van and talk with friend visiting from Mexico. He moved his family down there to build houses for poor families on the Baja. He needs a skookum 4wd, and owns a Landcruiser. He tells us if he could do it again he would get a Hi Ace or a Delica. "What are those?" we naively ask. And the love affair begins (cue violins).
Act 2: Forget Van Shopping. Let's go JDM Shopping!
Finally. Something unique. Something that because it doesn't care if it's not cool, is actually cool. Pondering between Hi Ace and Delica. Like the Delica-look better, but really like the Hi Ace dealer. Kids like first Delica we drive (Exceed, I think), but it sold. They like the Hi Ace too, but it doesn't have back shoulder straps. Look at a Chamonix - not us (kids found the seats uncomfortable...). Look on-line at Super Exceed with karaoke (only in Japan can you go 4x4ing while the kids sing karaoke in the back), but don't trust importing on our own with our lack of knowledge. Keep doing our research and more and more like the idea of one of these vehicles.
Act 3: We Lock Eyes Across the Internet
Dealer (Japanoid - great guys!) emails us with a Delica still in Japan: 93 Exceed (darn, no karaoke
), 64,000km, Crystalite, etc. Get pictures and looks mint. It's the one. Japanoid works with us in our pickiness, desire for pristine car and engine, and price. Plus throws in some extras. Incredible - not like when we bought our last minivan. *cough* budget used cars *cough*Act 4: To be written...
Yeah. It's still in Japan and won't be here and serviced until the end of May. Oh the pain.
Now i have to learn about diesels and delicas. Thank goodness for this forum. I've already become a Delica evangelist, and I don't even have one in my driveway yet. I'll upload some of the pics we were sent, if I can figure out how...
Oh, and hi everyone. Nice to meet you.
), although clear communication wouldn't hurt. But we're disappointed because it means our delica won't be ready to drive away until early June. Don't know if we want to wait that long. We're trusting that our van will last that long (see first post). *sighs* 
I can only look at so many pictures of our delica. 