First Toyota, First Avensis.. and most likely not our last

[Echoesz]

Hi everybody!
Nice to meet all of you.

My name is Sander and together with my family (wife, two kids and a dog), we want to say 'Hi' from the Netherlands.
Since little over a month, we are the new and extremely proud owners of a Toyota Avensis Wagon, Executive Business, 2.0 D4D (with DPF) from 2009.
Currently the Avensis has a bit more than 260,000km (around 160k miles) on the clock.

Our previous car had to be replaced due to big upcoming maintenance, which were too expensive for the car itself.
We only had three demands for a new car. Better fuel consumption, bigger bootspace (with the backseats up) and engine must have timing chain. The last one is probably more between the ears, but I just prefer a timing chain instead of a belt as they tend to have a longer life.
After searching only two cars really ticked all the boxes.. a Mazda 6 Sportbreak or a Toyota Avensis. While being not really fond of the Mazda, and the Avensis being known for its reliability, the decision was made in a split second.

The search for a Avensis began, the first idea was a petrol car. As it is cheaper to run in the Netherlands due to taxes and gas prices these days. But after the third Avensis 1.8 VVTi being sold even before I contacted the dealer, my wife said 'Why not a diesel?'. So we made some calculations and based on our driving, just over 30,000km/year or almost 20k miles/year (main home-work-home, 90km/55 miles to work and back to home each day), taxes, insurance, a Diesel Avensis was being cheaper than our previous car! So we began searching for a diesel. Luckily for us, nobody wants a diesel anymore these days in the Netherlands, meaning we get much more car for the same price as petrol car. After a few days continuously browsing car dealer pages and market place, driving my wife mad with every new car I found.. I found this gem. An Executive Business model with all options ticked when it came out of the factory; leather seats, sat nav, cruise control, heated seats, tinted back windows, parking sensors.. the lot! I planned a test drive and almost instantly fell in love. And so.. here we are.

Coming from an Nissan Primera Station 2.0 Petrol from 2003, this is a big step up. Not only in driving (first diesel for us), but also in class. Where the Primera felt like a dinky toy, this is much more car.
I had some adjusting to do in driving-style, as the Primera was quite happy in very low rpms, where this wants to have a bit more RPMs before shifting gear.
Still finding out what the best moments are to shift gear and at what RPMs the engine is at its happiest (best l/km - mpg and still having power enough to put your right foot down and not waiting ages before something happens).

Nevertheless he's running like a charm and I am loving every single km/mile with this legend.
I am pretty sure, this is not our last Toyota.

[Stivino]

Hi Sander, welcome to the club.

I hope you enjoy your Avensis and that it proves to be reliable for you.

[Echoesz]

7 minutes ago, Stivino said:

Hi Sander, welcome to the club.

I hope you enjoy your Avensis and that it proves to be reliable for you.

Thank you very much Stephen!

[Big_D]

Hi Sander. Welcome

[Echoesz]

23 hours ago, Big_D said:

Hi Sander. Welcome

Thank you 😊

[Bper]

Hi Sander, welcome lots of good advice when you need it and always welcome when you give it. Congratulations on your Avensis.👍

[Eddie G]

Welcome to TOC Sander.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Hello Sander - welcome to Toyota Owners Club.

[Echoesz]

Thank you all for the warm welcome 😊