Do I Need To Sell My Avensis?

[MalcolmR]

Folks,

I have an 06 plated 2.2 D4D manual Avensis that has just clocked up 120,000. It has been by far the most reliable car I have ever owned. Apart from replacing the brakes at 80,000 and the wheel nuts at 100,000 it has needed nothing except servicing and tyres. Still on the original clutch, nothing except oil and filters have gone under the bonnet, I can't even remember replacing a bulb (lamp). It has been a cracker and I was intending to keep it till it dropped.

However, a correspondant in a national newspaper today reckons that modern diesels are reliant on complex technology to achieve low emissions and that the DPFs only last 60-120,000 miles and the dual mass flywheel only 50-100,000 miles. He says that you could expect £6000 repair bills between years three and six.

What's your experience? Would you expect these sorts of bills in a car that is regularly serviced and not driven by a boy-racer?

So, stick or twist? I'd buy another in a heartbeat if I felt I had to, but why get rid of such a faithful servant if he still has miles left in him?

Thanks in advance.

[Mistermena]

Folks,

I have an 06 plated 2.2 D4D manual Avensis that has just clocked up 120,000. It has been by far the most reliable car I have ever owned. Apart from replacing the brakes at 80,000 and the wheel nuts at 100,000 it has needed nothing except servicing and tyres. Still on the original clutch, nothing except oil and filters have gone under the bonnet, I can't even remember replacing a bulb (lamp). It has been a cracker and I was intending to keep it till it dropped.

However, a correspondant in a national newspaper today reckons that modern diesels are reliant on complex technology to achieve low emissions and that the DPFs only last 60-120,000 miles and the dual mass flywheel only 50-100,000 miles. He says that you could expect £6000 repair bills between years three and six.

What's your experience? Would you expect these sorts of bills in a car that is regularly serviced and not driven by a boy-racer?

So, stick or twist? I'd buy another in a heartbeat if I felt I had to, but why get rid of such a faithful servant if he still has miles left in him?

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to TOC

Now you've opened up a can of worms with the oil burning Avensis! Well I've had 2 new engines fitted to my T-180 estate now due to the dredded head gasket failure thats been covered under Toyota's amazing 7 year 112k extended warranty. I would say keep the car if its been a good one for you. Just do as your doing and change the oil and all filters at before the manufactures interval is what I'd say.

There will be others on here that will say "Sell it" and move on! But I must admit I love my Avensis and the Toyota customer service which is out of this World compaired to the likes of the VAG group of cars. I'm going through an issue with VW regarding my 2 front wings that are corroded. But VW are saying its a mechanical fault even though it has a 12 year paint warranty! How the hell its a mech fault is just beyound me as a !Removed! wing doesn't move!!. I fight on!

[cabcurtains]

I have to agree, our Verso had injectors under warranty with no fuss. My old Passat had a turbo at 48k and 15mths old and it took my fleet manager 6mths to get the cash back on a hire car that was used after the Passat packed in on the Motorway. You decide

[AURISTR01]

Dual mass flywheels or diesel particulate filters are a common failure in modern diesels but its a wear and tear item, you wouldnt get it done at the dealers thats where it may be 6k

A private garage you trust would do it cheaper upto 1k probaly parts and labour if you come to replace the clutch you would be better doing the flywheel at the same time. Turbos fail on higher mile cars as well.

It is obvious the more wear and tear items the more expense with higher mileage on your clutch and turbo, or head gasket are the most expensive items to fix or replace. 2-3K at the most if you had it all done at once.

I wouldnt worry because it dosent mean your next car will be perfect could be a lemon, you know what you have done with this in respect of maintenance so in the long run if your happy to keep it I would replace items as they go.

Always 2nd hand parts available at scrap yards as well.

[Heidfirst]

I tend to agree with the reporter. & petrol engines are going the same way (e.g. look at Ford's Ecoboost range).

How much do you think the car is worth & could you be prepared to write-off that or spend a big chunk of it's value to fix it if something went wrong?

Turbo, injectors, clutch+DMF, are all £1k+ fixes & the head gasket problem (your car is past the unpublicised extended warranty limits for this) to fix properly would be something like £5-6k.

I very much doubt that your car has a DPF.

Personally I would probably be tempted to change it for a 1 or 2 year old car with the balance of the 5-year warranty but that's me & you may be different.

[cabcurtains]

Every time i look at these type of conundrums i always end up at the same place, there are 2 choices:

1. The car is worth 2-2.5k in PX or 3-3.5k if sold privately. So just run it until one of these potential major failures occurs. The depreciation is £500 a year, the maintenance could now be the greater cost.

2. Sell it and pay a lot of cash to upgrade then take the large annual depreciation £3,000ish each year in years 1-5. The maintenance should be pretty low as the warranty covers big stuff.

Its cheaper to take option 1. However if you can afford it and want a newer car you take option 2.

[t-spiritpete]

Keep it,

unless it's a 180 then it won't have a DPF and if the clutch goes then get a good garage to fit a decent clutch. If you get any sign of using water along with pinkish/white spots on the top plastic engine cover (and it's not just the water pump) then trade it in.

Regards and good luck ..... Pete.