Which D4D? if not... Which VVT-i?

[lleiro]

Hello everyone,

It is my first post here and I am not yet a Toyota owner although I intend to be one very soon!

I am on a pickle and I need to buy a budget car in the £2000-2500 region and be able to put about 2000 motorway miles a month on it. I have been doing a lot of research and everything points at Toyota.

Diesel naysayer recommend I should get 40mpg out of a 1.8 avensis although I read horror stories about dramatic oil consumption. At this point I am considering an Avensis either saloon or estate, a Corolla, a Corolla Verso and perhaps an Auris and looking at 2005+ hopefully with under 100k miles on the clock. 

I can maintain and perform significant repairs in my cars. The last one I did was the Head Gaskets on my 2.5 Subaru Outback now sold.

The pertinent question to those who would like to chime in are, which of the D4D engines on those models would you go for. I hear I should stay away from the 2.2 but I am not quite sure of the pros and cons of the 2.0 vs the 1.4. I am inclined to think the 2.0 will be more durable but that is where actual owners can shed light. Also is there a point where the missing oil nightmares stops? Would you consider a VVT-i model with that kind of mileage? I am not a BHP junky and anything around 100 or above will suit my needs.

Thank you very much!

[Heidfirst]

Hi Lleiro, welcome to the forum 

20 minutes ago, lleiro said:

Diesel naysayer recommend I should get 40mpg out of a 1.8 avensis although I read horror stories about dramatic oil consumption. At this point I am considering an Avensis either saloon or estate, a Corolla, a Corolla Verso and perhaps an Auris and looking at 2005+ hopefully with under 100k miles on the clock. 

The oil consumption problem on the 1.8 VVTi supposedly resolved for production after mid-summer 2005. Avensis facelift was mid 2006 so you might want to look at 1 of those.

The pertinent question to those who would like to chime in are, which of the D4D engines on those models would you go for. I hear I should stay away from the 2.2 but I am not quite sure of the pros and cons of the 2.0 vs the 1.4. I am inclined to think the 2.0 will be more durable but that is where actual owners can shed light.

The 1CD-FTV (pre-2006 in an Avensis) 2.0l diesel is essentially bullet proof as long as you change the belt at appropriate intervals.

The AD series engines are chain driven but as you no doubt have read a small % of them pre-2009 production (which month in 2009 depends upon the car) develop a head/head gasket issue which in order to repair in the approved fashion would cost more than the vehicle is worth. It can happen to the 1AD (2.0 l) or 2AD (2.2l) but there may be some link to increased likelihood with increased power. Personally, I think that the 150bhp 2AD-FTV is a reasonable risk (e.g my old 2007 car just passed its MOT again) but I wouldn't buy a 177bhp 2AD-FHV as much for the higher fuel consumption/DPF as any increased chance of head failure.

 

[oldcodger]

Regarding oil burning problems, same with the Corolla so I understand , all fixed after 2005.

Have a 1.6 petrol  which has plenty of power when needed;  it uses virtually no oil, running smooth at 97k miles, 40 - 42 mpg  mixed driving, totally reliable so far, apart from a replacement clutch which was showing early signs of slip.

Had the Mk1 Avensis previously  ,1.8 petrol and that was a lot of mway miles, no oil problems,  again 150k+ before I got the Corolla.

Both should last you well, though if doing 20k +  a year , think I would prefer the extra driving comfort of the Avensis.

[lleiro]

1 hour ago, oldcodger said:

Regarding oil burning problems, same with the Corolla so I understand , all fixed after 2005.

Have a 1.6 petrol  which has plenty of power when needed;  it uses virtually no oil, running smooth at 97k miles, 40 - 42 mpg  mixed driving, totally reliable so far, apart from a replacement clutch which was showing early signs of slip.

Had the Mk1 Avensis previously  ,1.8 petrol and that was a lot of mway miles, no oil problems,  again 150k+ before I got the Corolla.

Both should last you well, though if doing 20k +  a year , think I would prefer the extra driving comfort of the Avensis.

Thanks! What year is your Corolla? I will be doing mostly Motorway miles back and forth from Reading to London 4-5 times a week.

[lleiro]

3 hours ago, Heidfirst said:

Hi Lleiro, welcome to the forum 

 

Thanks! That is really helpful! I am seriously considering the 2.0 D4d but with the MPG mentioned by oldcodger I should think carefully. A bit lost in the old dichotomy between petrol and diesel

[oldcodger]

1 hour ago, lleiro said:

Thanks! What year is your Corolla? I will be doing mostly Motorway miles back and forth from Reading to London 4-5 times a week.

Mines Sept 2006 registered, just 6 months before they stopped production and the Auris came out.

They  say if you are doing over 20k per year then the diesel becomes cost effective.

However, think thats going to change now its seems the polluting diesels are out of favour and the EU regulations make it so difficult for any new diesel engines.

Suppose for your budget you should get a later model Corolla, though some of the high mileage reps Avensis can still be a good buy, partic if they are leased and have a full service history.

You will have to be vigalent when buying as clearly 10 year old cars may well have problems, think finding the right seller is equally important, eg a good home where the owner has looked after it properly.

Took several months of searching autotrader to find mine, thankfully was the good one I thought it was.