Buying A Used Avensis...

[wdoc]

Hi All

Looking for some advice / opinion on the following:

Currently looking at purchasing a used Avensis 1.8 T-3 S Hatchback, 55 plate (30/11/2005) with 19k miles from Arnold Clark Toyota in Linwood. Sale price £8788 before any discounts / trade in etc.

We took the car for a test drive on Saturday (02/02/2008) and everything seemed fine until going up through 3rd gear when it made a "crunching" sound then again on the way down in 3rd gear, but slightly quieter.

We have paid an initial £200 deposit, to "secure" our trade in value for our old car, on the condition that the problem is fixed and another test drive later this week.

We have looked at a few other cars and we really liked this car apart from the above problem.

Our dilema is should we just select another car or if the problem is gone on the second test drive can we be confident that it has been fixed and not just covered up?.

Had mixed reaction from family and friends but none have any history regarding the Avensis.

Any thoughts.

Thanks.

[cmia]

Crunching problem would be the scyro on the gear box.

- Or its cold.. or the clutch was not 100% depressed down.

avensis gearboxs are clunky..

they are good cars.

I would recommend you take it for another test drive..

However this time.. before you start the car..

Select all the gears in the box with the engine off..

If it gets stuck or it cruches.. walk away..

do the same with the car running..

then take it for a test drive..

drive nicly when warmed up..

drive is like you stole it.. :D

abit .. your more intrested in how high the revs are

when you are changing gears..

ie 1st gear 2.3k of revs

2nd gear 2.5k of revs

3rd gear 3.3k of revs..

How does the box feel ?

[wdoc]

thnx for the reply cmia

The gear box felt fine and smooth, except for the "crunching"

sound as it went through 3rd gear.

The second time it happened I made sure the clutch was

fully depressed and as smooth a change as possible but with

still the same result.

We will be taking the car for another test drive on wednesday, but

the more we think about it we will probably opt out of the deal

and try a few other avensis's they had on display.

Thanks for the useful tip / information regarding the gear box will

be trying that on the next test drive and any other.

[cmia]

If this cruching, I wouldnt buy it

toyota gear boxs can be clunky or clumsey..

but only cruch when they have a problem