Browsing 2004-06 Avensis Automatics

[Slimkt]

Hello All,

Call me boring but I liked how the Avensis looked like ever since I checked one out in a saloon in 2005. I have got a Corolla during that time for budget reasons, but boy did that car grow on me!

For reasons too long to describe I am now on the market for a used Avensis in the 2004-2006 range, judging by my available budget.

I am eyeing a 2.4 2004 one for sale. I am AWFULLY tempted :D

Does that car sound like a good idea? Has around 100k miles. I am not sure if this engine also has the possibility for excessive oil burn?

Also, what is the reason to have this generation of Avensis (all petrol engine automats at least, the types I am looking at) sell cheaper than comparable Corollas?

All advice would be very much appreciated :)

[FROSTYBALLS]

Hello Tamas - welcome to Toyota Owners Club.

Think the answer is that with cars of this generation, diesels are more popular on the used market due to the better fuel consumption. The larger cars from this market segment (Mondeo, Avensis, Vectra, etc) tend to suffer heavier depreciation than cars from the next market segment down (Focus, Corolla, Astra, etc).

[Slimkt]

that makes sense! To be honest I heard horror stories about the price of fixing old diesel engines so I am not looking at them. That might be silly, as my trusty Corolla was a D-4D and had no problem, ever, but I am not really good at judging a car's condition so chances of running into something nasty are definitely higher than zero.

[Konrad C]

Tamas, you have the advantage of being experienced with the D4D engine. So apart from it having to work just a little harder in a larger body, the Avensis will be similar to your Corolla with the same engine. Any fault may become obvious to you.

The 2.4 direct injection engine is a rare one that came in the top spec Avensis. So long it has been serviced and the auto works faultlessly, it should be okay. I have not heard or read of the 2.4 engine having oil burning issues. May be check on the net to find out. The 2.0-2.4 engines are a different design to the known oil burning 1.6-1.8 engines. I would say any engine issues are wear and tear, especially over 10 years old.

Is this similar to the car you are looking at: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201509026558535?radius=60&onesearchad=used&search-target=usedcars&model=avensis&transmission=automatic&maximum-mileage=up_to_125000_miles&fuel-type=petrol&maximum-badge-engine-size=2.4&make=toyota&postcode=da175dr&sort=default&page=1&logcode=p

[Konrad C]

More searches:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/toyota/avensis/postcode/gu195ez/radius/60/fuel-type/petrol/maximum-mileage/up_to_125000_miles/page/1/transmission/automatic/onesearchad/used/sort/default/maximum-badge-engine-size/2.4

[Slimkt]

Tamas, you have the advantage of being experienced with the D4D engine. So apart from it having to work just a little harder in a larger body, the Avensis will be similar to your Corolla with the same engine. Any fault may become obvious to you.

The 2.4 direct injection engine is a rare one that came in the top spec Avensis. So long it has been serviced and the auto works faultlessly, it should be okay. I have not heard or read of the 2.4 engine having oil burning issues. May be check on the net to find out. The 2.0-2.4 engines are a different design to the known oil burning 1.6-1.8 engines. I would say any engine issues are wear and tear, especially over 10 years old.

Is this similar to the car you are looking at: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201509026558535?radius=60&onesearchad=used&search-target=usedcars&model=avensis&transmission=automatic&maximum-mileage=up_to_125000_miles&fuel-type=petrol&maximum-badge-engine-size=2.4&make=toyota&postcode=da175dr&sort=default&page=1&logcode=p

Thanks! I tried to research the oil burning issue but I wasn't sure if it was confined to the 1.6-1.8 range.

And that is indeed the kind of car I am looking at :)

[Slimkt]

Well I have dropped the 2.4 idea and have found a seemingly nice 2 litres 2006 model.

I am close to committing actually, but one thing I just remembered: the engine seemed flawless, starting in an instant, very even and low noise, etc. even checked where you pour the oil to see if the cap or the oil inside has anything funny on it.

All seemed ok.

Only thing is, the engine wasn't entirely cold when I got there, so I haven't seen it start from a truly cold state.

Before this I viewed another petrol 2006 which was in a rather sorry state, which had a hard time starting and while I let it run it sounded like it was ready to stall and die any moment.

How concerned should I be that the dealer just wanted to conceal something regarding the cold start? As I said the engine seems perfectly fine for me, and there are no worrying notes in past MOTs or service records.

So, the hard-to-start thing with the run-down 2006 I have seen, is that common?

[TomdeGuerre]

I don’t like it myself if I phone a private seller and make an appointment to go and view a car which is not being used and when I get there I find the engine has already been started and warmed up. It can hide things like lots of smoke at start up or low oil pressure and bearings rattling or simpler things like a bad Battery or starter.

With a dealer he’s maybe had it lying in his yard for a few weeks so he’s had to jump start it and warm it up a bit because he wants you to come and start it without any problems, just good business sense really. But the above problems could still apply. See if you can go back unannounced to see what it’s like with a cold start.

[Slimkt]

Ended up buying that 2006 one. It is lovely so far, but a Toyota garage will take a good look tomorrow, I won't start being fully happy until they give me their blessing and the bill. :D

Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it!