Need Help In Purchasing

[Concho]

Hope you can help in my decision

My wife is after a new motor....

We are fed up with her slowly corroding....fuel heavy impractical 2006 Mercedes C280 estate and have decided after looking at all the various motors out there to punt for a Toyota Avensis Tourer.

We are going to go for the newer shape Avensis 2009 or maybe a 2010 budget being £10,000. The car must be automatic for a start, do we go for a petrol or diesel? I know that there is little difference in the fuel consumption, but which is chain and belt driven? chain being the better for us. Also does the diesel have a DPF? Also was preferring to go for the T4 as it has leather and we have a little one on the way so leather would be more practical, if you see what I mean. Do they make for a good family car? Also what's this I here about them corroding around the tailgate already, surely this is not true?

Many thanks

Stephen

[Concho]

Sorry for the misspelling in the title ( it wont let me edit it)

[FROSTYBALLS]

Hello Stephen - welcome to Toyota Owners Club.

Title edited.

I've done a search on this forum regarding both 'tailgate rust' and 'tailgate corrosion', and there has only been one topic relating to this - for an '03' Avensis.

There is nothing on tailgate corrosion in the 'Good and Bad' section of the Honest John review either.

[Concho]

Many thanks. Must have been another car that had the corrosion.

[Heidfirst]

If you are going auto get the 1.8 CVT.

There is no real difference in mpg (the only diesel auto is the 2.2 D-CAT which is thirsty & expensive for VED) & the fuel is slightly cheaper.

No DMF, No DPF, no turbo etc. etc. to worry about.

Shouldn't have any problem getting a 2009/10 for your budget. In fact you could possibly pick up a facelift (MY2012 but available very late 2011).

1 thing to note - the 5-year warranty came in June 2010, before that it was 3 years so I would aim for one registered after that.

For me the best value version is the TR but if you want leather that's normally T4 or T-spirit but when I was looking there were also quite a few TRs with 1/2-leather.

I've never seen anything that suggests a problem with the tailgate rusting & Toyota have a good anti-corrosion warranty.

Afaik it's chain-driven & I would think that it makes a good family car. Very safe, big boot.