Buying Advice

[Adam Zapple]

I'm a new member on here and I'm looking to buy an Avensis. Could anyone give me some tips on what to look for when buying one? I'm looking to spend up to 4k so I'm looking at the previous model. My requirements are, it must be a hatchback or estate, petrol and with a manual gearbox. I'm only going to buy one with full service history - Toyota main dealer if possible- and low mileage would be nice although I'm told by some people that low mileage on a nine or ten year old car is possibly not as desirable as a higher mileage model (I'm told engines need to be worked to stay healthy). Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Duggerz]

I don't think you'll find anything at a main dealer, if you're considering petrol, check at this site about oil burning and how to check for it, I think the 1.8 vvti is affected. You'll be looking for the previous generation, more likely to find at an independent dealer. Although it's nice to get low mileage, be more concerned about the history of the vehicle.

[Heidfirst]

Hi John & welcome to the forum. :)

Iirc the oil burning issue on the 1.8VVTi should be fixed on 2006 cars which is also when the facelift came in so I would be looking for a facelift model if I could.

I had a diesel so can only go by that but the headlights aren't great (but can be improved with upgrade bulbs), the brakes don't have a lot of feel (but again can be improved with better pads/discs). If it's the same gearbox as the diesels then 2nd is often obstructive until warmed up.

If getting an estate then the lugs on the tonneau cover often break & they are not available as a separate spare part - a new tonneau is hundreds of pounds from a dealer!

[Adam Zapple]

Ah! I read about the oil burning problem on the early Celicas. Same engine of course. Thanks for that tip.

I know the Avensis isn't going to get my heart pounding but the truth is, for me, a car has to be a tool first and foremost. I was quite tempted by things like the Toyota MR2 and the Mazda MX5 but they're really just toys. I need a car that also acts as a small van because I have things I need to lug about from time to time. But having a boring image isn't all bad because from what I can gather, most owners are sensible types who look after their cars. You don't see too many boy racers in a Toyota Avensis!

Another thought - the Avensis was a favourite among taxi drivers. Best avoided I'd have thought. Is that correct?

[Konrad C]

I recently bought a '09 Mk3 Tourer TR 1.8 with 50k miles and full service history for £5600. I was looking at the Mk2 at close to that price, and there were some close in price I paid. £4000 should bet you a good spec 1.8 T4 with reasonable mileage.

You are right to go for petrol, so long as they are late 2006 onwards. This avoids the earlier oil burning issues. Make sure you get T3-X, TR, T4. I am not sure if you can get T-Spirit with the 1.8 engine.

The reason I went for the Tourer is that I sometimes carry large loads. The hatchback is very flexible but, as you know they don't do Mk3 hatchbacks.

It takes a bit of luck to find the right car.

[Adam Zapple]

I don't think you'll find anything at a main dealer, if you're considering petrol, check at this site about oil burning and how to check for it, I think the 1.8 vvti is affected. You'll be looking for the previous generation, more likely to find at an independent dealer. Although it's nice to get low mileage, be more concerned about the history of the vehicle.

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I meant full Toyota service history, I didn't mean I wanted to (or expected to) buy a car from a Toyota dealer.

Thanks.

[Adam Zapple]

I recently bought a '09 Mk3 Tourer TR 1.8 with 50k miles and full service history for £5600. I was looking at the Mk2 at close to that price, and there were some close in price I paid. £4000 should bet you a good spec 1.8 T4 with reasonable mileage.

You are right to go for petrol, so long as they are late 2006 onwards. This avoids the earlier oil burning issues. Make sure you get T3-X, TR, T4. I am not sure if you can get T-Spirit with the 1.8 engine.

The reason I went for the Tourer is that I sometimes carry large loads. The hatchback is very flexible but, as you know they don't do Mk3 hatchbacks.

It takes a bit of luck to find the right car.

T3-X, TR, T4 - Sorry to be so dumb but what's the difference between them? Is there a website that shows the differences?

[Heidfirst]

These are trim levels. Those trim level designations & what was actually included under those levels changed over time. e.g. a very late TR would have had as standard things that earlier were only included on models further up the range (such as electric folding mirrors, sat nav etc.).

I wouldn't be bothered about getting satnvav on any - even the latest version on a T25 would be 7+ years old technology & car manufacturer map updates are expensive. For the same cost as an update for an older car you can buy a much better modern Garmin/TomTom with free "lifetime" updates.

The Avensis T25 was popular with taxi drivers precisely because it was reliable, cheap to run & comfortable/roomy - why would you not want those qualities? You don't have to buy an ex-taxi (most of which will have been diesel) - plenty of them also sold to the general public. :P

[avensisd4d786]

Why would you avoid a car thats favourited among taxi drivers if your looking for reliability. They have rely on their car day in day out and keep costs maximising profits. Another reliable car is the octavia but in the 1.9 tdi. I will get you a link for a brochure later of toyota website with trim levels.

[avensisd4d786]

Yes konrad no t sprit in 1.8. In 2.0 yes. No cruise control in 1.8 either.

Spec list for t25

T2/ colour collection

T3-s

T3-x

TR only in face lift

T4

T spirit

T180 only in 2.2 diesel

[alan333]

Spec wise... The T2 has everything you NEED (like air con, remote locking, height adj drivers seat, front elec windows), but none of the things you WANT. The T3-S has an almost identical spec to the T2 but includes alloys and a pretty crap (but functional) sat nav. By the time you get to T3-X you get the nicer things like climate control, centre arm rest, leather steering wheel, climate control, auto wipers etc. If you want cruise on the petrol it's not available on the 1.8 - you need the 2.0.

The gearbox on my (previously owned) T25 1.8 petrol wasn't obtrusive, but the clutch gave a bit of judder sometimes.

I wouldn't necessarily only buy one with full Toyota history...rather I'd look for documented history irrespective of who did it.

There are plenty 1.8 petrols as taxis around here with high miles still going strong, even the pre-facelift ones with the potential engine issues.

Some of my spec details might be diffent with the facelift model coming to think of it, since my T2 and T3-S were both pre-facelift.

[Adam Zapple]

Why would you avoid a car thats favourited among taxi drivers if your looking for reliability. They have rely on their car day in day out and keep costs maximising profits. Another reliable car is the octavia but in the 1.9 tdi. I will get you a link for a brochure later of toyota website with trim levels.

No I didn't mean I'm avoiding an Avensis (it's the car I'm looking to buy), I meant I don't want one that's been used as a taxi.

[Konrad C]

Spec wise... The T2 has everything you NEED (like air con, remote locking, height adj drivers seat, front elec windows), but none of the things you WANT. The T3-S has an almost identical spec to the T2 but includes alloys and a pretty crap (but functional) sat nav. By the time you get to T3-X you get the nicer things like climate control, centre arm rest, leather steering wheel, climate control, auto wipers etc. If you want cruise on the petrol it's not available on the 1.8 - you need the 2.0.

The gearbox on my (previously owned) T25 1.8 petrol wasn't obtrusive, but the clutch gave a bit of judder sometimes.

I wouldn't necessarily only buy one with full Toyota history...rather I'd look for documented history irrespective of who did it.

There are plenty 1.8 petrols as taxis around here with high miles still going strong, even the pre-facelift ones with the potential engine issues.

Some of my spec details might be diffent with the facelift model coming to think of it, since my T2 and T3-S were both pre-facelift.

Alan, you are spot on with spec details.

The one thing is to get the correct car with the accessories you want or can easily add. My case in point was that I installed a Bluetooth/USB adapter for £52. That was easy compared to adding something like electric folding mirrors. Most spec is based on the quality of the trim.

Here is what I found for the Mk2: http://www.lease2u.co.uk/brochures/CARS/TOYOTA/avensis.pdf

[Heidfirst]

I thought that the T3-X didn't have satnav? Although as I have said any 7+ year old original equipment satnav is going to be rather antiquated by current standards.

[alan333]

Sorry Heidfirst - my bad, you're correct the T3-X didn't have sat nav, although the lesser spec T3-S did. Maybe that was the only selling point for the T3-S? I looked for differences between my two and could only find added alloys and sat nav in the S, although strangely my T2 had a height adjustable passenger seat where the (better specced?) S didn't.

[Heidfirst]

afaik the -S stood for satnav. Can only imagine that -X stood for Xclusiv :P

[avensisd4d786]

Why would you avoid a car thats favourited among taxi drivers if your looking for reliability. They have rely on their car day in day out and keep costs maximising profits. Another reliable car is the octavia but in the 1.9 tdi. I will get you a link for a brochure later of toyota website with trim levels.

No I didn't mean I'm avoiding an Avensis (it's the car I'm looking to buy), I meant I don't want one that's been used as a taxi.

Yes never buy a ex taxi, dont care how looked after it is, the miles do not help the car.

I have a t3-x too it has sat nav unless it was a optional extra

[Heidfirst]

Depending upon age could have been an extra but also the trim levels never sleep :P - what is actually included at any level gets upgraded over the life of a car model.