Avensis Estate For 5? Petrol Or Diesel?

[shamzo]

I've just found this site and it seems full of useul advice and opinions so I thought I'd give it a whirl......

At the moment the family wagon is the trusty (mainly*) 1.6 GS Carina E Estate (1996). Now the 3 kids are growing out of child seats we need a car with 3 diagonal seat belts in the rear with lots of space etc, and of course be cheap second-hand (£6-8,000) The logical step is the Avensis Estate (Verso too expensive), which for some reason seems to depreciate pretty heavily and I've seen some very good prices in car supermarkets. The other practical (and affordable) alternative is the Citroen Berlingo Multispace or Renault Scenic. Anybody owned one of these, and is the Avensis reliability all its cracked up to be?

Secondly, if we go for the Avensis, which engine do we go for? I've been impressed by the economy, and performance of our 1.6 lean-burn (accelerating uphill on the motorway 5-up with full load of luggage!). I still prefer petrol and I suspect the 1.8 would be the best bet. Am I right?

*The Carina has started to fall to bits inside, accelerated by 6 years of ferrying children about. I suspect the build-quality of this (the first?) british built Toyota was not as good as a Japanese job. I hope the Avensis is more hard wearing, or I'll just have to stick the children in the roof box!

[sjrainsford]

Sorry, british build quality strikes again! They last for ever, are ultra reliable but yes - plastics a little crap! Highly recommendable though. All engines are pretty good on fuel, even the 2.0. As far as diesel options go, it has to be the D4D not the original diesel, that was mega slow. Try parkers.co.uk for a write up. Being sensible though, they aren't the best estate on the market...

[Coyote!]

Well, I'm new here too.

I have a 98 Conona ( Carina or Avensis in Europe), it's a turbo Diesel one and with wonderfull results. If you are looking for fuel and oil economy, this is for you. The best mark that I got it was 26 Kilometers per litre of diesel (like 16 miles per litre). Also a gooood top speed, 185 Km/h, remember it a heavy car with a 82 cv engine under the hood.

This is my second Toyota, the first Japanese and the second British, no difference at all!.So, it's up to you the choice, Economy or great performace....

Does anyone know how to tune the Turbo? Im thinking of adjusting the wastegate to let more preasure. But for that Im still looking for a turbo preasure gauge ( not to blow the engine out!!!)

;)