Cvt Avensis

[noisyhen]

As yet I'm not a Toyota owner but am looking at the possibly of buying an Avensis 1.8 petrol auto - which is actually a CVT.

Toyota are unable to supply a car for test drive, apparently I have to order one to get a test drive!

Has anyone on here any experience of the CVT gearbox, fitted to this Avensis, who could provide any feedback?

Thanks

[Crustynuggets]

I have this car (estate.) I have to say it is one of the best cars I've ever owned in 20 years of motoring - even better than the brand new Audi A4 I bought 3 years ago!

It's super smooth, so no jerkiness usually associated with typical automatic gearboxes, and as the engine is always at the optimum revs for the speed, it's really good on fuel. In sport mode it's pretty quick too!

My missus loves it too, and she's an advanced police driver, so it must be good! B)

I wouldn't hessitate in recommending it!

[t-spiritpete]

As yet I'm not a Toyota owner but am looking at the possibly of buying an Avensis 1.8 petrol auto - which is actually a CVT.

Toyota are unable to supply a car for test drive, apparently I have to order one to get a test drive!

Has anyone on here any experience of the CVT gearbox, fitted to this Avensis, who could provide any feedback?

Thanks

Shame on Toyota for not having a demonstrator model!

With all due respect asking some else what they think is not really the right way to go (even though opinions on here are valued) as one mans meat as they say is .....!?! I really think you should "drive before you buy" in this case and insist Toyota provide a vehicle for you to test drive or it could be a very expensive mistake if you don't like it. If they don't then just walk away or settle for a manual or conventional auto transmission if you do like the Avensis as a car.

Regards and good luck, Pete.

[Crustynuggets]

I agree with Pete. Definitely try before you buy.

The high revving nature of the car isn't to everyones taste, but it doesn't bother us in the slightest.

[Big Kev]

I would phone around until a dealer OFFERS to get you one for a test drive. If you like it, buy from the dealer who arranged the test drive regardless of geographics. Then drive it to the dealer who thought it was a pain to arrange a car for you to test....AND ASK HIM IF HE LIKES YER NEW CAR !!!!!!

What recession?

Big Kev

[Jan&tone]

As yet I'm not a Toyota owner but am looking at the possibly of buying an Avensis 1.8 petrol auto - which is actually a CVT.

Toyota are unable to supply a car for test drive, apparently I have to order one to get a test drive!

Has anyone on here any experience of the CVT gearbox, fitted to this Avensis, who could provide any feedback?

Thanks

That sounds unusual... I could understand it if they didn't have one on site and had to get one from another dealer in the same group... As others have suggested have a phone around, there must be a dealer somewhere that can let you have a test... Before I bought my Prius my dealer let me bring it home to test it would fit in the garage as it is slightly bigger than my gen2 was... So they can be helpful... If the box in the avensis is the same as the prius then it's great, I love it!!

[noisyhen]

Thanks for the replies and yes I totally agree I wont buy a car without a test drive. On contacting Toyota they replied, agreeing with the dealers suggestion, that I should put down a deposit for a new Avensis and when it arrives (possibly in two months time) I can have it to test, If I like it then I can buy, if not I can have my deposit back. Not really happy to do this. I have looked around to see what deals are on offer and I can get the Avensis T4 CVT for £4,000 less then list price from a broker, but of course they wont tell which dealer will supply the car to try an get a test drive arranged through them.

Anyway I believe the car is too big (wide) to get into my diveway, I have driven a manual Avensis and it is a really tight fit, so buying the car may not be the cleverest thing to do.

Having a really difficult time trying to find a saloon car with similar speck to my Accord (petrol) Executive HFT Nav. Original criteria was, to be very quiet (important), room for six footers in front and back, automatic, Sat Nav, Cruise control not too wide, easy for my elderly mother to get into (front and back) and not too far over £20k. Mercedes C Class came close but getting into the back was a problem for my mam and poor headroom for six footers.

So the Toyota dealer gave me a test drive in a Prius. It fills most of the criteria but it is strange to drive for the first time and the trim seems a bit cheap but I understand its to keep weight down.

Has offered to let me have one for a couple of hours if I am interested, so maybe.

Thoughts on a Prius, anything to try on a test that will be helpful to me?

[Jan&tone]

Anyway I believe the car is too big (wide) to get into my diveway, I have driven a manual Avensis and it is a really tight fit, so buying the car may not be the cleverest thing to do.

So the Toyota dealer gave me a test drive in a Prius. It fills most of the criteria but it is strange to drive for the first time and the trim seems a bit cheap but I understand its to keep weight down.

Has offered to let me have one for a couple of hours if I am interested, so maybe.

Thoughts on a Prius, anything to try on a test that will be helpful to me?

I picked up on this post because of the mention of cvt on an avensis - i had 3 carinas and 3 avensis before my first Prius.

I had the gen2 prius (1.5) and now have the gen3 (1.8). On starting to read the above post (that i've picked bits from) my first thought was to suggest the prius and obviously the dealer had the same idea.

I've had my Gen3 since the end of July and frankly it's the best car I've had from Mr T. Yes there are short cuts on it and like everything people will have their own opinions on the car.

I am 6ft 6 and fit happily in the back.

There is room in the back for 3 people to sit (or two child car seats and one adult) in fact i'm not too sure that it's that much smaller than my 2005 t-spirit avensis which was smaller than the current avensis.

The prius drives like a dream, if you hit the pwr button it goes like sh*t off a shovel, if you use the eco button in it everything is cut by 30pct - consumption/power/air con etc , ideal for slow moving traffic, the ev button is great if you want very very quiet takeoff, or to scare the living daylights out of pedestrians in the road

The best thing to do is to take it out, play with it and then go buy one! IMO you won't regret it.

If you're not sure about the size, take it home and try it, my dealer let me test the fit in my garage, so they are flexible about these things....

good luck!

[Crustynuggets]

Having a really difficult time trying to find a saloon car with similar speck to my Accord (petrol) Executive HFT Nav. Original criteria was, to be very quiet (important), room for six footers in front and back, automatic, Sat Nav, Cruise control not too wide, easy for my elderly mother to get into (front and back) and not too far over £20k. Mercedes C Class came close but getting into the back was a problem for my mam and poor headroom for six footers.

Strangely enough, the Avensis CVT models don't have cruise control. I've no idea why (maybe some of the Toyota techies amongst us can shed some light?) but it wasn't an issue for us when buying the car. Our last car had cruise and we never really used it.

[Big Kev]

Jan&Tone...... did the dealer ask you for a deposit to buy one prior to allowing you to try if it fits into your garage????

Never heard the likes of that in my life...."pay a deposit, we'll order you one, no likey, get yer deposit back"....absolute mince.

Somewhere there's a Toyota Sales Manager with at least a relationship with a customer such that he could even borrow it for a potential customer to drive....I would do it.. This "Buy Me and Drive One" is laughable.

Sorry to rant....in Sales all my life, and see the profession being brought bdown here.....

Big Kev

[Thermal]

There is one more thing you should be aware of, in case it applies to you.

A Prius is not allowed to tow a trailer... of any weight.

There is a towing hitch-like appliance available, but for bike carriers only.

A deposit for a test drive ?

Never heard of.

He doesn't want/trust you as a new customer.

Walk away.

[Jan&tone]

Jan&Tone...... did the dealer ask you for a deposit to buy one prior to allowing you to try if it fits into your garage????

Never heard the likes of that in my life...."pay a deposit, we'll order you one, no likey, get yer deposit back"....absolute mince.

Somewhere there's a Toyota Sales Manager with at least a relationship with a customer such that he could even borrow it for a potential customer to drive....I would do it.. This "Buy Me and Drive One" is laughable.

Sorry to rant....in Sales all my life, and see the profession being brought bdown here.....

Big Kev

Kev, Deposit? absolutely not! Why should he, he had my old Prius on his forecourt while I had their 'tester'!

I,m very surprised at the dealer wanting a deposit before a test drive though, I appreciate that dealers no longer keep a big stock, but surely one of each model isn't too much to ask is it??

[Jan&tone]

There is one more thing you should be aware of, in case it applies to you.

A Prius is not allowed to tow a trailer... of any weight.

There is a towing hitch-like appliance available, but for bike carriers only.

A deposit for a test drive ?

Never heard of.

He doesn't want/trust you as a new customer.

Walk away.

Yeah sorry, never towed anything so it wouldn't apply, but that's correct, Hybrids must not tow! Not sure if that applies to the big Lexus hybrids, but certainly for the Prius and probably for the Auris as well... Is that a killer for you Pete??

[Big Kev]

There is one more thing you should be aware of, in case it applies to you.

A Prius is not allowed to tow a trailer... of any weight.

There is a towing hitch-like appliance available, but for bike carriers only.

A deposit for a test drive ?

Never heard of.

He doesn't want/trust you as a new customer.

Walk away.

Spot on Thermal.....that's the VEST suggestion so far....walk away.

Big Kev

[noisyhen]

The trailer wont be an issue for me, but thanks for the advice.

I did notice when testing the Prius that the cruise control didn't keep the speed at the set 50 mph, it went down to 47 then up to 51, was this for any reason to do with the setting I drove at?

Have got used to using cruise control frequently in my last 3 cars.

Just to clarify I have had a test drive in an Avensis (manual) but the dealer (and also Toyota) cannot arrange a test drive in an Avensis CVT as no cars are available thats why they suggested what I said above.

[Thermal]

... cannot arrange a test drive in an Avensis CVT as no cars are available...

Oh, but that's simple then...

Tell the dealer to make a phonecall to the Burnaston factory and manufacture one.

That's next door for you guys, isn't it?

As for the Cruise Control:

I have an after market cruise control, fitted by Toyota from new, on which the range to keep the speed in, can be user defined.

Also the "aggression level", the rate of acceleration, can be programmed.

It now keeps the speed constant within +/- 1 km/h and switches off on inclines as soon as the gear change indicator shows "shift down".

Clever.

[Crustynuggets]

As for the Cruise Control:

I have an after market cruise control, fitted by Toyota from new, on which the range to keep the speed in, can be user defined.

Also the "aggression level", the rate of acceleration, can be programmed.

It now keeps the speed constant within +/- 1 km/h and switches off on inclines as soon as the gear change indicator shows "shift down".

Clever.

Now that's interesting. How much was it if you don't mind me asking?

[Thermal]

Brand name is "Gold Cruise" and is integrated with the Toyota ECU.

The CM25 Command module is installed at the steering column.

It can be rotated to fix- and vary any speed, pressed, and has 3 programmable speed buttons, which I use as a speed limiter for 80-, 100- and 120 km/h roads.

It looks like this:

http://www.goldautomotive.nl/eng/

and for UK prices, look here:

http://www.conrad-anderson.co.uk/cruisecontrols/cruisecontrol-goldcruise.htm

http://www.conrad-anderson.co.uk/cruisecontrols/cruisecontrolkitguide.htm

The system is car specific, and for the Avensis it consists of an AP800 Control unit, a Command module of choice and a model specific wiring harness and mounting kit.

Don't know what it costs, as it was part of the negotiations. ;)

Works perfectly.