Hi everyone

[David Bird]

Never even considered a Toyota thus far although i know them to be fantastic vehicles. Got Octavia at present and delighted with it its done 270k miles without and issues other than general servicing and maintenance. Recently drove the Avensis and got to thinking should i do a repeat Octavia or try Avensis  it would be an estate .i just wonder what model is best i dont want to pay a great deal prob £3000 so a car probably 2005 - 2008 are they all dual mass clutch ? i dont want dpf so am i safe with age mentioned.

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Hello David - welcome to Toyota Owners Club.

Moved to the Avensis club for responses.

[Heidfirst]

Hi David, welcome to TOC 

Don't know how much you know about the Avensis? Avensis is a wee bit bigger than an Octavia. The Avensis T25 ran 2003 - 008 & was facelifted in 2006, being replaced by the T27 in 2009.

It's a diesel that you want? Bearing in mind that the government & some cities/towns are on an anti-diesel warpath ... The 1.8 petrol can be surprisingly good depending upon your usage. The more that you can tell us about your intended usage the more that we can help.

The older 1CD 2.0l diesel engine is essentially bomb proof (as long as you change the cam belt at appropriate intervals), the later (~2005/6>) 1AD (2.0l) & 2AD (2.2l) are chain driven but are more complicated (similar to the VW 1.9 PD being replaced by a more complex engine).  You should be aware that a small % of the 1AD/2AD develop a head/head-gasket issue which can be very expensive to resolve.

The 1AD & 2AD cars are certainly originally DMF-equipped. To be sure of not getting one with a DPF you don't want any of the 177bhp versions of the 2AD & nothing badged as D-CAT (I believe that there were a very few 2.0l D-CATs sold in the UK at one point as well as the D-CAT 2.2).

[m456an]

I got mine for 2000 at 89000 miles. I think it is chain belt and it's oil level has stayed at the same level for the few months I had it. The only problems I had with it was the starter motor going and over reving that was fixed by cleaning the pcv valve. Very nice looking car even with the scratches it has. Though the satellite map thing needs north and south Co ordinate, but it does work, but it has a very good sounding Cd and radio player - good bass and mid range which makes it good for classical and rock music. It does have one recall for an air bag, but no turbo or dpf to worry about or egr to clean.

[Heidfirst]

4 hours ago, m456an said:

Though the satellite map thing needs north and south Co ordinate, but it does work

If it's a TNS700/B9010 then it has postcode ability & 1 of the firmware updates (these are on the DVD disc along with updated mapping)  improved it to full 6 figure postcode.

[Husbandofstinky]

They aren't that bad motors but my one has not been to be honest.

For many years I had Pug diesels (until the early 2000's) and then moved onto VAG. I still have a 2004 PD150 Leon Cupra and a 2013 Skoda Superb (CR170). Both of which are mapped.

I have had both the Leon and Superb since new and can't fault them at all. Bar routine maintenance the Seat has only had the window regulator replaced in coming up to 14 years. To be honest I dread to see the day when that goes into the great scrapyard in the sky.

I have a 2004 Avensis which I have known since almost new and was run by a mates Mrs all that time. I knew what it did and was hoping it would be fine but it has been a bit of ball ache in 18 months.

Would I have another Avensis? - believe or not - yes - as I think I have just been a little unlucky. They are a solid car and coming from VAG it won't feel too alien either. The MIL has a 13 plate Octavia estate and they don't feel too dissimilar in size. I do know Octavia's well and despite the Golf platform they are a large car. The Superb obviously feels bigger.

Out of choice I would go for a T25 (facelift) 2006 - 2008 2.0 litre. Quite simply due to cam chain. I have the earlier belted version and at this age of vehicle cambelt costs are not something you want. To be frank this is at the disposable end of motoring. Historically I also believe that facelift's tends to iron out the little niggles of the Mk1. I wouldn't necessarily go for a 2.2 as they aren't that economical (a few moans from owners) and there were of course plenty of head gasket issues. The DPF on the T180 isn't great so I would avoid that. I would avoid anything with a DPF if you can help it. That of course is a different story and becoming much harder now.

The cars also have a DMF with the clutch as you would do with virtually all diesels. Personally I do not know of any diesel cars straight off the production line with an SMF rather than a DMF. No doubt someone will correct me on this. As you might have read in another post, I paid £450 for a complete LUK clutch and DMF so it wasn't that prohibitively expensive. Yes it would be cheaper with an SMF but we are not talking megabucks. Knowing what I have read both on here and VAG forums, I would not convert to a SMF anyhow.