53 Plate T-Spirit 2.0 Vvt-I - A Good Buy At 104K?

[markquinton]

Hi all

I have a fair amount of history with Toyota's, namely a Celica GT-Four 'Carlos Sainz Edition', an AE92 Corolla Gti and just recently I had 59 plate Avensis T-Spirit Tourer. The local Toyota dealer bought my last Avensis back off me as I was sick of paying out £300+ per month. I have since had a Skoda Octavia VRS which is an excellent car however i'm looking to downgrade again and use the value of my car to sort my finances out as times are getting tougher.

So I have been on the lookout for a motor that will last me a few years but only cost around 3k. I have stumbled on a 53 Plate Avensis T-Spirit Tourer with the 2.0 VVt-i engine with 104k for £2499 at a local garage. Now if the reports are correct I understand it's not going to have much power, isn't going to handle that well but apart from them the typical comments that most motoring journalists make on the Avensis is it a good option with this mileage?

Is there anything I need to particularly pay attention to with the exception of water in the headlights. The T-Spirit is obviously fairly well loaded so it's good on that front but just can't afford to make a mistake buying a car that is likely to encouter large bills sooner rather than later (I know nothing's guaranteed).

Any thoughts are welcome

Thanks

Mark Quinton

[t-spiritpete]

Hi all

I have a fair amount of history with Toyota's, namely a Celica GT-Four 'Carlos Sainz Edition', an AE92 Corolla Gti and just recently I had 59 plate Avensis T-Spirit Tourer. The local Toyota dealer bought my last Avensis back off me as I was sick of paying out £300+ per month. I have since had a Skoda Octavia VRS which is an excellent car however i'm looking to downgrade again and use the value of my car to sort my finances out as times are getting tougher.

So I have been on the lookout for a motor that will last me a few years but only cost around 3k. I have stumbled on a 53 Plate Avensis T-Spirit Tourer with the 2.0 VVt-i engine with 104k for £2499 at a local garage. Now if the reports are correct I understand it's not going to have much power, isn't going to handle that well but apart from them the typical comments that most motoring journalists make on the Avensis is it a good option with this mileage?

Is there anything I need to particularly pay attention to with the exception of water in the headlights. The T-Spirit is obviously fairly well loaded so it's good on that front but just can't afford to make a mistake buying a car that is likely to encouter large bills sooner rather than later (I know nothing's guaranteed).

Any thoughts are welcome

Thanks

Mark Quinton

Hello Mark, nothing much to worry about with the 2 ltr motor even at that mileage, a full service history would be nice. Just the usual visual checks and tests which with your past history with cars I'm sure you know. 104k to an avensis is no problem .... ask any taxi driver. Try for a decent warranty and make sure you get 2 keys, the owners manual and the satnav disk as the keys and disks are very expensive from toyota dealers ... £160 each item!!

Celica GT-Four 'Carlos Sainz Edition', and a AE92 Corolla Gti ........ 2 really nice motors mate!!

Good luck and regards .... Pete.

[markquinton]

Thanks Pete

Yes they were brilliant and in some ways it's a shame mondern Toyotas don't somehow match the older ones. The Carlos Sainz GT4 was brilliant but very difficult to maintain in terms of access to the engine bay, unfortunately the running costs (£1400 quid for a clutch change) was just too much at the age of 21!

Loved them days though!

Mark

[cabcurtains]

Although i have never driven one a 2.0 VVTi wont be slow, 0-60 in 8.8 aint bad!