Looking For An Avensis - Any Advice

[robdodd]

Hi

I currently own a 2005 Corolla, 1.4d T3 its a great car - comfortable smooth and 51 mpg with various driving - mainly from Bristol to Bracknell.

As I have just gone over 100000 miles and I wanted a larger loadspace I was considering either Rav-4 d4d or Avensis d4d Gut feeling is the Avensis will be cheaper to run ( 25k miles per year)

I dont buy new - i have about 7 grand available ( 4 plus a loan) plus the Corolla which is worth about 3500. so about 11 grand max.

I would like cruise control, and comfort is my priority; performance is not an issue. I have heard about some flat running tyres costing a fortune - I tend to prefer normal tyres that I can get anyware!

Any advice when looking around?

Thanks for any replies !

Rob

[t-spiritpete]

Hi

I currently own a 2005 Corolla, 1.4d T3 its a great car - comfortable smooth and 51 mpg with various driving - mainly from Bristol to Bracknell.

As I have just gone over 100000 miles and I wanted a larger loadspace I was considering either Rav-4 d4d or Avensis d4d Gut feeling is the Avensis will be cheaper to run ( 25k miles per year)

I dont buy new - i have about 7 grand available ( 4 plus a loan) plus the Corolla which is worth about 3500. so about 11 grand max.

I would like cruise control, and comfort is my priority; performance is not an issue. I have heard about some flat running tyres costing a fortune - I tend to prefer normal tyres that I can get anyware!

Any advice when looking around?

Thanks for any replies !

Rob

Hi Rob, i have an early 2007 2.2 D4D T-Spirit 150 hatchback and i am very pleased with it so far, it has got everything on it including cruise control and 17" alloys with "normal" tyres. I am getting around 50+ mpg with mixed driving but i don't thrash it. You need to get a car with FSH because the warranty will be void otherwise so be careful there. For that sort of money you should get a 2007 2.2 diesel and if you are very very lucky an early 2008 one .... but maybe not from a Toyota main dealers! My car is very comfortable (mine has full leather seats) on the motorway but has a harder ride on bumpy country roads. The six speed box is very smooth and helps with the mpg i think, the engine is powerful enough for motorway overtaking but it will also plod around town with out changing gear all the time, still smooth at 1500 rpm. If you need extra space in the boot a hatchback is much better than a saloon which has a large boot but it is harder to access that space. The face lift model made after mid 2006 is the best car to buy, a better engine and no cam belt to worry about plus a host of other changes on the car. :D

Regards and happy hunting ... Pete.

[robdodd]

Hi

I currently own a 2005 Corolla, 1.4d T3 its a great car - comfortable smooth and 51 mpg with various driving - mainly from Bristol to Bracknell.

As I have just gone over 100000 miles and I wanted a larger loadspace I was considering either Rav-4 d4d or Avensis d4d Gut feeling is the Avensis will be cheaper to run ( 25k miles per year)

I dont buy new - i have about 7 grand available ( 4 plus a loan) plus the Corolla which is worth about 3500. so about 11 grand max.

I would like cruise control, and comfort is my priority; performance is not an issue. I have heard about some flat running tyres costing a fortune - I tend to prefer normal tyres that I can get anyware!

Any advice when looking around?

Thanks for any replies !

Rob

Hi Rob, i have an early 2007 2.2 D4D T-Spirit 150 hatchback and i am very pleased with it so far, it has got everything on it including cruise control and 17" alloys with "normal" tyres. I am getting around 50+ mpg with mixed driving but i don't thrash it. You need to get a car with FSH because the warranty will be void otherwise so be careful there. For that sort of money you should get a 2007 2.2 diesel and if you are very very lucky an early 2008 one .... but maybe not from a Toyota main dealers! My car is very comfortable (mine has full leather seats) on the motorway but has a harder ride on bumpy country roads. The six speed box is very smooth and helps with the mpg i think, the engine is powerful enough for motorway overtaking but it will also plod around town with out changing gear all the time, still smooth at 1500 rpm. If you need extra space in the boot a hatchback is much better than a saloon which has a large boot but it is harder to access that space. The face lift model made after mid 2006 is the best car to buy, a better engine and no cam belt to worry about plus a host of other changes on the car. :D

Regards and happy hunting ... Pete.

Thanks - I will start my search !

We have a local Autochoice who have a 2007 tourer T-Spirit 180 ( I take it the 150 isnt too much different) but mileage is 74000

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/c...cleRegLetter=07

I may have to opt for a lower model - it seems the "tr" has cruise but no at nav or leather

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/c...cleRegLetter=08

[gordi]

Dont forget the T-spirit has low profile tyres , they feel every bump in the road.

[Heidfirst]

If you need extra space in the boot a hatchback is much better than a saloon which has a large boot but it is harder to access that space.

& for access/load the tourer is better again ...

In January 09 I paid 11K for my ex-Toyota 2.2 D4-D TR (Dec 07 with 15K on it at the time).

Seems to me that the people with 180s whilst they have more grunt also seem to have more complaints (fuel economy, smoke from the cat regeneration) than those with 150s.

[Duffryn]

'TR' model does have Satnav. I believe TR was virtually a combination of earlier T3-X + T3-S models.

[joe59]

'TR' model does have Satnav. I believe TR was virtually a combination of earlier T3-X + T3-S models.

hi,

I was in a similar position to yourself and bought a 2.0 d tourer last september from Brooklyn Worcester (now gone bust). Mine was 56 reg 14000 miles and I paid £10,600.00.

I could not find what I wanted from a private seller and it seemed that the only Avensis 's (?) available were ex fleet cars with high mileage and I still wonder if mine was clocked.

It goes well, is economical, but wish I had waited till I could get a 2.2 or T180 as I tow a caravan and find the 2.0 underpowered.

Beware with eBay. I almost bought an ex fleet car with 25000 on the clock and no record of a service. I was assured it had been serviced and the dealer had neglected to stamp the service record. I did a telephone blag with a toyota dealer and got them to check the database and there was no record of any service on that vehicle.

I wouldn't use a main dealer again. they offer peanuts for part exchange and rip you off with servicing.

Having said that, I think Toyota Dealers are better than most of the others.

Good luck if you're still looking.

[robdodd]

" I wouldn't use a main dealer again. they offer peanuts for part exchange and rip you off with servicing.

Having said that, I think Toyota Dealers are better than most of the others.

Good luck if you're still looking. "

Thanks - I am looking - I plan to sell my Corolla 1.4 dT3 first, I will then get a little runabout and take my time ( well best laid plans ;) ) to shop around

I have a toyota specialist a mile away. They charge about £120 for a major service, and when my ECU came up with a fault after I left lights on and killed the Battery - they analysed and reset it free of charge. Ive used them for a few years and they have always been honest - and never charged when they get first diagnosis wrong, they just call me and explain ( even if its a much cheaper option :) )

There is a minute oil leak from the sump, but because they wrote it on the last service report I feel I should get it sorted. They said they wouldnt normally bother as its so small, but will prob cost about £140 to sort out.

Then I will advertise local and put it up on eBay. Glasses price is £4600 - I should be so lucky!

Thanks everyone so far for your advice - trying to work out my T3, T4 TR T3-X and T SPirits have got me confused !

Rob

[Heidfirst]

TR is as mentioned basically a T-3x & T-3s combined - mine has satnav & cruise (tbh I think that all 2.2 D4-Ds have cruise) . I specifically didn't want leather (otherwise I would now be driving a Vx Vectra Elite 1.9CDTi Estate that I got offered a tremendous deal on ;) ).