2000 Avensis 1.8 - Few Qs?

[ninty9er]

Hi guys,

first real post here.

I am currently considering a 2000 Avensis 1.8 VVT-i Auto which has been imported here from the UK. I have a few questions to ease my mind.

• It has 68000 miles on it and that seems extremely low. Would the DVLA be able to confirm the mileage on final disposal (export) or would I have to run a full HPI on it??
  
• It being a UK import and having had experience of the issue previously, is there much of an issue with corrosion from salted roads (we grit here)???
  
• Is the 1.8 just pure dangerous on oil or will it run forever if topped up regularly? (Read a few posts about oil issues) Is there a particular batch affected??
  
• Does it run on a belt or a chain?...(can probably check that out myself when I go back for a 2nd look)
  

Any help at all would be gratefully appreciated

[talldave]

Hi ninty9er,

1. 68000 doesn't seem low for a 7 year old car to me (about 10000 miles a year on average).

2. I don't think that salt is a real issue - most modern cars don't seem to rust these days.

3. Personally I think the oil burning problem is an issue - I decided to buy the older 1.8 7AFE engine rather than risk the problems of the 1.8 VVTi. Of course the one you're looking at may have had a new short engine. Still I wouldn't buy one.

4. It has a chain.

[Beagh1958]

To ninty9er,

I would go for the 2ltr D4D, when your driving it back you can watch the Sat/Nav- Trip Meter ticking away at 46mpg even touching 50mph at a nice steady rate (a nice thought) i know it will hurt paying the resultant 30% VRT. But remember it is RIP of IRELAND & after the budget details regarding tax in the future, your car tax will be based on emmisions & not engine size. Nip into Hogans & arrange a test drive, i would be pretty sure you will be very happy with performance of D4D. Engine wise not any major problems to report, maybe a few electrical problems now & again ie: glow-plugs but thats about it. If you can find the right dealer in UK, they have many a bargain they have to clear the forecourts for new 08 plates. Friend just picked up an 07 plate Amazon with 17 miles on the clock pre registerd via Toyota in Sep for under £33000. On the HPI side don't touch anything without HPI check & if your going to purchase private its buyer beware, if seller evasive walk away. Toyotas just as popular in UK as Ireland, whoever you deal with if they cannot answer questions about car or supply full history in paperwork, same as Ireland just walk away. Hundreds more cars to choose from.

[shroud]

I have a 1.8 vvti 2001 with 99k.

Oil i need to top up about 1-2 litres every 10k, so not a real issue.

gearbox bearings have been done and i think gearbox in general is not great, but acceptable.

car seems reasonably good for the money and i guess that you can get this car for not much more than about £2750, so quite a lot of car for the money.

[ninty9er]

2. I don't think that salt is a real issue - most modern cars don't seem to rust these days.

I drove a 00 Yaris from the UK when I was buying my current car and the mechanic said the salt damage made the car a complete write off in the sense it would cost more to sort than the car was worth, even the alloys were showing signs of corrosion. I was surprised too, but it does seem to be an issue with a good minority of UK imports here.

To ninty9er,

I would go for the 2ltr D4D, when your driving it back you can watch the Sat/Nav- Trip Meter ticking away at 46mpg even touching 50mph at a nice steady rate (a nice thought) i know it will hurt paying the resultant 30% VRT.

I'm after an auto, which is why it's a rare find...there's very few around, my uncle is a Toyota main dealer and can't find one for me for my budget of around €7500, might just hold out until the depreciation hits with the new taxation system, otherwise it's an Omega or Maxima.

[Beagh1958]

I'm not so sure about salt on the roads being a problem towards the southern counties of the UK, if anything winters seem to be milder each year resulting in general public complaining about lack of salting if ice appears. Now Scotland is a different matter they do have proper winters, I have an uncle up on the Morne Mountains & they have had series snow allready. If family member with Toyota & still finding it hard to find Auto I wish you all the best.

[Beagh1958]

To ninty9er, Try this following link, has all the top quality auction sites in uk http://www.fleetdirectory.co.uk/auctions/ Manheim Auctions being one of the better ones. Have a friend with Mercs at watford & they put cars straight through there (not that you would want to buy a box of electrical problems on wheels) as do quite a few other dealers & the more reputable lease companies.

[ninty9er]

Cheers guys. I'm gonna check out Mannheim and I might have my granduncle pop along, he was a dealer near London for a few years so he'll know what to look out for

[ninty9er]

anyone know whether it was the 1zz or 2zz engine blocks that were causing trouble....also where is the vehicle(chassis) id plate under the Avensis bonnet?? looked at 2 yesterday and couldn't find the plate.