Fit like.

[Brixsis]

Hi there.
Just bought one of Mr T's offerings so I thought it would be a good idea to join up.
My last car, a Jaguar X Type 3.0 Sport Premium, was going to take a fair bit of time and effort (not to mention expense) to get through it's next MOT and, as much as I loved that car, there comes a time when you have to call it a day.
So, casting about for a replacement,  I used my head rather than my heart and decided I needed something mid sized, petrol, hatchbacked and without the annoyance of a timing chain.   Which led me to a car I'd never seen before, a car with such a low profile as to be almost invisible to the casual observer.  I am, of course, talking about the Toyota Stealth.  Or Avensis, as I think it's officially called.
A 2007, 1.8 VVT-i.  Magnetic/Decuma grey.  A car that generates blank looks whenever I mention it.  It seems to have evaded most people's consciousness.  I wonder if it can be detected by speed cameras and traffic wardens.  Hope not.  Reviews that I've found online bang on about it being worthy but dull, competent rather than gifted but, as I no longer take much fun from being under the bonnet, I was more swayed by the lack of results when I searched for "2007 1.8 Avensis common problems."  Seems like a very reliable beastie and I could use that.
Mine has 102,000 miles on it and, age related chips and scratches aside, feels very new with no squeaks, rattles, knocks or clunks apart from the satisfyingly solid clunk when closing the driver's door.  It's TR spec because I was used to lots of bells and whistles although I would have liked cruise control.  Obviously, there's a lot of adjustment to be made coming down from the Jag but the Stealth is putting in a good showing so far.  And, after three years of the X Type, the MPG figures are a revelation.
I hope to contribute to the forum as often as experience and knowledge permit.
Pleased to meet you all.

Brixsis.

[Heidfirst]

welcome to TOC. 

As a 2007 your car shouldn't burn oil as some of the pre-2006 VVTis did & I have long said that the TR grade in that era was the best value for money - really only lacking leather &  electric seats compared to the grades above (only the diesels had cc).

Maintain it properly & it should go on & on & on ...

[Brixsis]

That's the hope.

Cheers, Scott.

[Heidfirst]

Btw, in reply to your original topic title "Nae bad, loon. Foos yer doos?" 

[alan333]

Watch out for the unforeseen high running costs Bri - I've owned two of these T25's in the past.  The first one, an 05 plate 1.8 vvti T2,  was bought about 4 years old with 56k on it.  I bought it from a Toyota showroom for £4200 with a service history.  However, knowing that some of the larger service items are due at 5 years/60k miles, and knowing I intended keeping the car for a while I decided to renew the 'larger' service items (ie the spark plugs and alternator belt) shortly after purchasing it (£31 and about an hour and a half of my time).  It then got a couple of oil and filter changes when due (at £22 a pop and an hour of my time), and I sold it (traded it in actually) 2.5 years later for £2550.  During that 2.5 years and the 24k miles it covered here's an extensive list of my unexpected running costs:

One rear wiper blade (£4).  One tail light bulb (call it a quid, but I had one kicking about in the garage).

That's it, seriously, not even a tyre, or a brake part, or even a pollen filter - nothing else, nada!

To be completely honest tho - I also: changed a couple of heater panel bulbs (at a rediculous £21 believe it or not [Toyota only part]), had one puncture repaired (£7), and had a new windscreen fitted due to a crack from a flying stone (£140).  I'm sure you'll agree the only part of that which could be classed as running costs against the particular car would be the heater panel bulbs (the puncture and screen were just bad luck and would've happened anyway, irrespective of which vehicle I was driving at the time).

That car was the longest I'd ever kept a car (in around 30 years) and was by far my best one up to that point.  It did, however, develop the 'engine ticking when cold' noise which I reckoned was probably the beginning of the piston problem, which is why I sold it.  I wanted something else equally as reliable so went for a diesel Honda Accord.  I hated that and sold it about 5 months later and bought my second Avensis, a low mileage 55 plate 1.8vvti T3s auto.

I got caught out with a set of brake discs n pads for that one but other than that it also cost me zero, although I only owned it about a year.  It had a hum at certain speeds which annoyed me, and which I (nor anyone else) could find/get rid of.  I changed to the T27 model after that and owned two - a 2.0 diesel manual and a 1.8 petrol auto.  I'd still be driving a Toyota if the autos weren't fitted with a cvt box.

Happy motoring mate, I'm sure you'll have many miles of trouble free blending in with the scenery.

[Brixsis]

I find there's always a little worry in the back of the head when you buy a s/h car.  Have I bought wisely?  Will it turn out to be a lemon?  Is there a ticking timebomb that evaded me at the research stage?  It usually wears off after a couple of weeks but I think this one will fade quicker after your reply, Alan.

 

Very reassuring - thanks for that.

 

Oh, and I've just noticed that, in my original post, I've written "without the annoyance of a timing chain."  Which, of course, should be timing belt.  D'oh!