Avensis 05 Questions - New Owner

[AvensisOwnerJon]

Dear all,

Firstly, this is my first post here - been a watcher for some years. Until recently, I owned a 98 plate Avensis 1.8GSi... which I had for elevent years - eleven hassle free motoring years that is. It was a good car and I was happy to sell on privately.

I replaced it with a 05 plate Avensis T3-X 1.8 vvti... which seems fine. I've come to realise that there are potential issues with the engine, so I'm keeping an eye on the oil level... but it seems fine so far... but then I've still to do serious mileage in it. It's gotabout 57,000 on the clock.

I had no quarms about this engine as we also own a 05 plate Corolla Verso 1.8 vvti which we got new - and the engine in this has been fine. In that, the engine is quite revvy and pulls from stand very quickly. The engine in the Avensis seems to lack that initial snatch from pulling away, but responds very smoothly throughout the rev range - I'm not sure if thhey're geared differently?

Anyway - to my question - born through frustration. On opening the hatch (lift back call it what you will), if there's any rain water on it, it runs over the edges and seems to flow very nicely into the boot. My old Avensis (Mk 1 - also a hatch) used to channel water so that as it ran off the hatch, it caught in the gutters and didn't enter the boot area - whereas this one does. I've looked at the seals alongside the edges of the glass and can see no problems and just wondered whether this is design issue that I'll have to get used to - or a one off. I keep a tarpaulin on the boot floor to protect the carpet and this catches the water... but it's a little annoying.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for any suggestions/help offered.

Jon

[bestseany]

I've noticed this too, think it's just bad design unfortunately.

[Adam786]

On the note that the car isnt snatching from standstill as quick as your corolla verso may have been because the clutch is not as good or maybe worn a bit.

[Konrad C]

Further to the Corolla Verso v your Avensis, The Verso may have lower overall gearing - Standard Corolla's were geared at something like 20mph per 1000 rpm, whilst the Avensis is geared at 23mph per 1000 rpm.

That could be why the Verso is more revvy compared with more relaxed Avensis.

The Verso and other people carrier like cars are geared lowish for petrol engines because of the lack of torque that may be needed when carrying a large load. Vauxhalls Zarifa's 1.6 & 1.8 petrols are geared at 19mph per 1000 rpm.

Adam's comment about the clutch is a major point, because the Avensis has had 5 years use when you bought it.

On to the water in the hatch, I cannot give an answer about your model of Avensis, but as an owner of a mk1 hatch you are correct to a point about the water running down the channels. I get some water dripping into the boot area when I open the hatch. My car is well polished so the are beads of water all over the car. When I open any door, I get a drip or two onto the seats.

The only solution I can find is to wipe the excess water before opening the hatch, which is not always practical.

[AvensisOwnerJon]

Thanks all for your comments. I did wonder about the gearing and will test this when I get a chance - get on to dual carriageway and note rpm at 70 in both cars etc. The clutch doesn't slip - it pulls fine, just doesn't have that instant response to the accel that the Verso has - maybe me just getting used to it - I've not really driven it too far as of yet... but it seems fine and on 15 mile to/fro work daily so far I've got her up to 45.2 mpg (about three weeks since fill) so I'm happy enough with that.

As for the hatch - thanks Konrad... my Mk1 avensis was great in this respect - the water ran off nicely into the boot side channels and drained away with hardly a drop getting into the boot - and that's why I'm a little disapointed with this mk2... rather than the metal edge to the rear window of the mk1, on the mk2, the glass goes to the edge and there's a rubber seal that interfaces with the rear wing area on closing - and I think its this that the water lips onto and rather than dropping straight - onto the channels, drops and curves under the seal.... and thus into the boot (fume/seeth). Seal seems intact and checked another one at a large dealer as I was crossing their forecort this afternoon - it's the same... so std desing - unless there was a later standard?

Anyway, thanks for the comments.

Jon

[bobbyn49]

On my third Mk2 Avensis and yes they all have had the problem of water dripping into the boot when the hatch is opened - undoubtedly a design fault - similar in the snow or a very wet day when the water/snow falls onto the front seats as the doors are opened. Otherwise a great car.