Toyota avensis

ianbrennan2000 · 13-10-2007 2:55am #1

Getting a new company car in Jan. Am pretty sure i want an Avensis 2l diesel Luna spec.

Does anybody have any opinions/feedback about this car

And no I do not want an octavia.

Esel · 13-10-2007 3:12am

See what Honest John thinks: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm

macpete · 13-10-2007 10:20am

:)I had 2 ,a 03 avensis d4d strata model bought 2nd hand 65k miles ,kept for 18 mts problems just the head lights had to be replaced [bulb holders melted] out side warranty with mileage, toyota supplyed parts i had to pay labour 120euro.
I traded in for a new Aura d4d model in Jan 06 [only difference alloys and front fogs, wind up windows in back] got what i paid for 03 one after 18 mts and 26k.
Nice comfortable solid cars, steering a little heavy, ok on fuel 46 to 53 mpg depends on driver. overall happy with both cars but i think there is a new model shortly.

Táck · 13-10-2007 10:24am

they cant the avensis away in england coz, and i'd have to agree, its horrible looking. as far as residual value goes, they aint great. not bad if u stick with the brand though becuase of toyota's units over profits mentality...

cantdecide · 13-10-2007 11:13am

Isn't the passat around the same price? VW is far sturdier and refined IMO It makes the Avensis feel like a tin box.

One of our sales reps has an avensis and is lookng to trade in and I suggested vw and he said his son had one and "he couldn't drive it, it's far too heavy, it's like a bloody tank".

My Mother had a courtesy '07 Avensis (when her Passat got a slap of a bus) and it had a very funny road noise. We all thought at different times there was a flat tyre....

E92 · 13-10-2007 11:29am

If it has to be an Avensis, wait till the new one comes. Don't be getting a car that will be replaced in a few months after you've just got it.

Why not a TDCi Mondeo, or Passat, or the all new Mazda 6?

cantdecide · 13-10-2007 11:39am

E92 wrote: »

Why not a TDCi Mondeo, or Passat, or the all new Mazda 6?

OP, don't be one of those guys who ONLY drives Toyotas- they're not that good.

I'm okay now, I'll let it go.

colm_mcm · 13-10-2007 2:20pm

Táck wrote: »

As far as residual value goes, they aint great. not bad if u stick with the brand though becuase of toyota's units over profits mentality...

What planet are you on?

In Ireland, what cars in the same class lose less money after 3 years than the Avensis? (not that it matters to a COMPANY CAR driver)

Also, Toyota is the worlds most profitable car company

ianbrennan2000 · 13-10-2007 4:25pm

well guys thanks for all the replys.

I drove mondeo(new model) and have to say I was not impressed. It just isn't as quiet as the avensis.

One of the other reps has a passat and it is giving terrible trouble so thats out even if I wanted one.

Depreciation is an issue in terms of the more we get for this car in 3 years time the better the car I can get then

Anybody know when new mazda 6 and avensis are coming.

Car has to be replaced in January.

I have an 06 focus van that will have 95-100k km on it when trade in comes.

Ford garages want 20k to change valuing my car at 13800

toyota want 18900 to change valuing my car at 14300. do these prices seem ok

Thanks again

colm_mcm · 13-10-2007 5:44pm

Unusual for Ford to beaten on one of their own brand. Figures sound about right.

cantdecide · 13-10-2007 6:35pm

ianbrennan2000 wrote: »

One of the other reps has a passat and it is giving terrible trouble so thats out even if I wanted one.

You can't have these blanket all encompassing rules. If you don't want one, can't you just say you don't want one and leave it at that? I just gave you an example of Avensis with mysterious noise- doesn't that mean it's now automatically ruled out by that logic??

Is it possible trouble is related to abuse/ neglect? Mid '05s Passats were the first out so probably had teething problems. This too could happen to new Avensis.

Buy your Avensis, you know that's what you're going to do anyway and you'll live happily ever after...

ninty9er · 14-10-2007 12:06am

If it's a Luna it'll be the 2.2 6 speed in the Lexus IS AFAIK not 2.0

ianbrennan2000 · 14-10-2007 4:32am

no sol is 2.2 and also out of my price range.

At cantdecide yes your right passat is 05 and gave trouble straight away so hardly down to abuse.

not defo gonna get an avensis i did test one and I heard no road noise like I did in new mondeo. When I said passat is out of the question the company just wont get another one as we buy cars not lease them and it been more hassle than its worth

Thanks again for feedback

colm_mcm · 14-10-2007 12:02pm

The Luna is available in 2.0 and 2.2 D-4D

The sol is available in 2.0 petrol only, The 2.4 petrol has the same spec as the sol with leather pack (whick all Sols have now) but isn't called a Sol

Sol isn't available in diesel

E92 · 14-10-2007 12:17pm

The 2.2 in the Avensis has less power than the IS anyway.

150 as opposed to 177 bhp for the Lexus.

OP you would be mad to get an Avensis, there is a new one on the way soon, any self respecting dealer won't tell you this because they will be mad to get rid of old stock, but I'm telling you that there will be one on our shores sooner rather than later next year.

The original Avensis came into the country in Jan 98.

The second generation Avensis came into the country in March 03.

Thats 5 years and 2 months. It would not be unreasonable to expect to see a new Avensis around May next year. It might even get in a bit earlier, because Toyota will be mad to sell it in time for the new year rush if they can(50% of cars sold are sold in the first 3 months of the year).

Incidentally I love the way you rule out a Passat because one person had trouble with, one member of this board(Its not me) has spoken endless times about his family's unreliable Avensis.

And cantdecide has also mentioned about a faulty Avensis. Going by that logic you shouldn't be buying an Avensis, because of 1 or 2 cases about a car being unreliable/having faults. If you're ruling out a Passat because of 1 person's experience, then you should be ruling out an Avensis because we've already had cantdecide tell us that his mum had a 07 one as a courtesy car and it was sounding weird.

colm_mcm · 14-10-2007 12:40pm

Who told you there was a new Avensis coming in May?

Also Toyota Europe aren't going to launch a major car like the Avensis early especially for the Irish market.

Longrangedriver · 14-10-2007 12:48pm

ianbrennan2000 wrote: »

well guys thanks for all the replys.

I drove mondeo(new model) and have to say I was not impressed. It just isn't as quiet as the avensis.

I bought a new Zetec 1.8 TDCi, every now & again I lower down the radio to hear nothing, yes you heard me right, and everyone @ work etc whose been in the car says its very quiet.

colm_mcm · 14-10-2007 12:56pm

I've driven the new Mondeo, and I don't think it's noisy.

If Toyota were launching the Avensis next Spring/Summer it would have been at a motor show already.

ianbrennan2000 · 14-10-2007 1:15pm

When I say the passat is ruled out it is not me but the company that is ruling it out. I think they are a fine car I'm just not allowed to get one. I know you can get unreliable cars no matter what brand you buy.

Right Ive taken everything on board I cant wait for new avensis to come out but have heard new mazda 6 is coming out late November so gonna give that a spin as well

colm_mcm · 14-10-2007 1:20pm

the new Mazda6 looks very well,

VERY Lexus IS towards the back.

pburns · 14-10-2007 1:22pm

ianbrennan2000 wrote: »

Right Ive taken everything on board I cant wait for new avensis to come out but have heard new mazda 6 is coming out late November so gonna give that a spin as well

New Mazda 6 has been driven by journalists and gets a stonkingly good review by Autocar:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Mazda-6-2.5/228556/

It's available in 2.0 diesel at launch. There will also be a 2.2 diesel later in the year AFAIK.

colm_mcm · 14-10-2007 1:30pm

Usually the UK motoring press give Japanese cars great reviews before a car is launched and they have "exclusive" test drives, and rave about the build quality and standard spec.
As soon as the car is available to the public, they will do a group test against the usual suspects and suddenly notice all these flaws that they missed while they were thrashing the car around the back roads of Spain.

pburns · 14-10-2007 1:53pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Usually the UK motoring press give Japanese cars great reviews before a car is launched and they have "exclusive" test drives, and rave about the build quality and standard spec.
As soon as the car is available to the public, they will do a group test against the usual suspects and suddenly notice all these flaws that they missed while they were thrashing the car around the back roads of Spain.

Or they'll grudgingly admit a Japanese car is dynamically excellent, 'best in class' etc. Then when the time comes for a group-test, end-of-year review etc. they'll wheel out the Clio, Golf or Mondeo and ignore the Japanese car they praised to high-heavens a few months previously... Either that or they'll dismiss it with the catch-all complaint that it 'lacks character'...:rolleyes:

The European manufacturers must give away more generous goody bags at press launches...

ianbrennan2000 · 14-10-2007 3:33pm

The mazda is nice hadn't seen that before I will defo be considering that.

It also appears that the 2.0l d is going to be around 140bhp.

I just hope the waiting list isn't too long.

E92 · 14-10-2007 5:14pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

If Toyota were launching the Avensis next Spring/Summer it would have been at a motor show already.

When the last Avensis came out in March they only sent it to a motor show at Christmas 02.

The Auris made its European debut at the Bologna Motor Show. It was between the 7th and 16th of December. The Auris was put on sale in March this year.

See the Bologna Motor Show website and Toyota's European website.

The Toyota one says and I quote:

"The 2006 Bologna Motor Show marks the European premiere of the Toyota Auris, few months before its launch across Europe during the first quarter of 2007".

I don't have a Crystal Ball but I do know that Toyota generally tends to bring out cars to the market very quickly after they give them their European debut.

So if Toyota brings out a new Avensis in January next, then it will in all probability be here in time for April.

what_car · 14-10-2007 6:44pm

ianbrennan2000 wrote: »

Getting a new company car in Jan. Am pretty sure i want an Avensis 2l diesel Luna spec.

Does anybody have any opinions/feedback about this car

And no I do not want an octavia.

hi there, i had that car, the new avensis luna diesel sloon, let me say this from experience..i bought it new, and sold it after 6 months.

1. good car, fuel economy great was getting avg 50+mpg. 820km avg per full tank, tested this loads of times...

2. horrible dated looking and boring, horribly boring and dull.

3. good reliability, and space inside and nice sized boot.

i got rid of it as i got so bored of it... its looks like something a priest would drive haha..:D

overall it does exactly what it says on the tin.. but JUST that.... gets u from A to B in the most boring way possible...:D

the problem with toyotas is that you get so bored of them quickly..

i got an accord instead, and its far superior , in looks and to drive, its a more exciting drive...

i would advise against buying the current avensis.. hold off, look at the mazda 6, another good jap car, or the accord, 2.2 diesel, the accord diesel is available in sport spec now for around €39k...

theres a new accord due now soon as well.. but i knew that when i bought mine..no reliability issues with honda.....the accords are built in Japan... and in my opinion, from experience of owning both, the accord is much better put together than the avensis.......

colm_mcm · 14-10-2007 7:45pm

A good clue as to when Toyota are planning a new model is when they start offering high spec editions of the model for less money than usual (Avensis 1.6 Luna (03) , Corolla 1.4 Luna (06), Yaris Strata (05),) This hasn't happened with the Avensis yet.

whatcar: I agree that the Accord is nicer to drive and better inside than the Avensis, but as it costs around €6k more than the Avensis, so it'd want to be!
I think you aimed too low when you picked the Avensis (I remember when you bought it) It's not meant to compete with the likes of the Accord or similarly priced machines.

what_car · 14-10-2007 11:24pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

A good clue as to when Toyota are planning a new model is when they start offering high spec editions of the model for less money than usual (Avensis 1.6 Luna (03) , Corolla 1.4 Luna (06), Yaris Strata (05),) This hasn't happened with the Avensis yet.

whatcar: I agree that the Accord is nicer to drive and better inside than the Avensis, but as it costs around €6k more than the Avensis, so it'd want to be!
I think you aimed too low when you picked the Avensis (I remember when you bought it) It's not meant to compete with the likes of the Accord or similarly priced machines.

isnt the accord in the same size/class as the avensis..?

dont get me wrong, the practical side of the avensis, was nice, its just the way it was dressed........it needs new clothes...and new designers too..
also very little choice, in spec wise.. like for example, why was the estate only available in bog basic spec?... u can get a passat estate in high spec..why not an avensis.. ... why not diesel auto too......... do toyota have a suggestion box? they should spend their money on giving customers more choice, not more poxy tv ads!:D

volvo and honda have already learned, that its easier to include stuff as standard spec...and possibly cheaper too..........

on the subject of choice, i see from nissans new website that theres no sign of the patrol ( i mentioned in an earlier thread that its end of life in ireland) and the primera is gone too.!

is this the sign of things to come, smaller cars?

cheers

colm_mcm · 14-10-2007 11:29pm

The cheapest Avensis is €26,000. the cheapest Accord is €36,500. The Accord is at the premium end of the market. It outclasses the Passat, Mondeo, Vectra etc. which are the models Toyota are aiming for with the Avensis.

The Lexus IS220d is only €2k away from the Accord CTDI As far as I know.

GB15 · 15-10-2007 12:20am

what_car wrote: »

isnt the accord in the same size/class as the avensis..?

The Accord is in the same class as the Camry.

what_car · 15-10-2007 12:21am

GB15 wrote: »

The Accord is in the same class as the Camry.

ok i get you, but wasnt the camry bigger...
anyways i rekon that smaller cars will be the way things go in the near future,
with nissan taking away the primera and patrol. ie manufacturers downsizing/discontinuing their products
with oil getting scarcer,
i rekon small diesels like the 1.4 corolla etc will be more common....

colm_mcm · 15-10-2007 12:30am

what_car wrote: »

ok i get you, but wasnt the camry bigger...
anyways i rekon that smaller cars will be the way things go in the near future,
with nissan taking away the primera and patrol.
with oil getting scarcer,
i rekon small diesels like the 1.4 corolla etc will be more common....

Nobody's crying about the Primera or Patrol being axed.

what_car · 15-10-2007 12:37am

colm_mcm wrote: »

Nobody's crying about the Primera or Patrol being axed.

no but people are crying out for toyota to make cars that arnt so boring or ugly!

take for example the avensis......

not to mention the Auris............ or Arse as it should be called...:rolleyes::eek:
enuf said..
by the way we are way off thread,:p:p

bazz26 · 15-10-2007 1:39pm

cantdecide wrote: »

Isn't the passat around the same price? VW is far sturdier and refined IMO It makes the Avensis feel like a tin box.

One of our sales reps has an avensis and is lookng to trade in and I suggested vw and he said his son had one and "he couldn't drive it, it's far too heavy, it's like a bloody tank".

My Mother had a courtesy '07 Avensis (when her Passat got a slap of a bus) and it had a very funny road noise. We all thought at different times there was a flat tyre....

My uncle has a 07 Passat and it has been back to the dealers with numerous problems more times than my Avensis has been in 4.5 years.

Stupid electronic handbrake has a mind of it's own which took the dealer a week to sort, ECU has been updated with new software twice due to throwing out numerous false error codes. My uncle has lost all confidence in the car and is getting rid of it in January for a Mondeo. I have also driven the car and it is nothing to write home about on the handling front and it certainly doesn't feel a safer place to be than my 03 Avensis. Both have 5 star Euro NCAP ratings too.

VW bomb proof reliability is nowhere near the level their marketing department or commericals would have us believe. Yes they were bomb proof years ago but they have been living off their laurals for the last number of years instead of building on them. Most people seem to overate them imo.

To the OP, I'm not sure that the new Mazda 6 is released in January but if it is it should be seriously considered too. Others on the list maybe the Honda Accord?

cantdecide · 15-10-2007 1:45pm

I'd rather have a Passat needing warranty work than a tin box Avensis needing a soul.

Avensis is strictly a joyless commodity and if your passionate about cars, you'll have no interest.

bazz26 · 15-10-2007 1:59pm

cantdecide wrote: »

I'd rather have a Passat needing warranty work than a tin box Avensis needing a soul.

Avensis is strictly a joyless commodity and if your passionate about cars, you'll have no interest.

I don't know what Passats you have been driving but the ones I have all been as boring as the Avensis.

BTW anyone really passionate about cars as you put it, would hardly consider a Passat either would they? Hardly sets the world alight, a mid range family car just like the Avensis.

colm_mcm · 15-10-2007 2:14pm

cantdecide wrote: »

I'd rather have a Passat needing warranty work than a tin box Avensis needing a soul.

Avensis is strictly a joyless commodity and if your passionate about cars, you'll have no interest.

Have you owned, or even actually driven either car.

From what you're saying, anyone who hasn't been in either car would think the Passat was far better than it actually is.

R.O.R · 15-10-2007 2:27pm

I've driven more or less all the options in that sector, with the diesel engine. Personally I'd be going for the new Mondeo, but I might be a bit biased as I've always had a soft spot for them.

Avensis is a good cruiser and comfy for long journeys, but doesn't handle as well as the Mondeo. Falls in to the same category as the Vectra in my opinion - does exactly what is was built to do and nothing else.

Passat is a nice car to drive, but I'll back up other's claims about reliability issues - doesn't stop them flying out the door though. By far the most popular vehicle in that sector this year, but the Mondeo might push it closer next year.

From week 46 production the Passat Comfortline will come as standard with Alloy Wheels rather than them being an upgrade. Puts the spec in line with the Mondeo Zetec and Avensis Luna.

Mazda 6 looks good and will probably be fairly popular to begin with. Current model hasn't been shifting at all for the past couple of years (at least not to fleets), but when it was launched in '03 it was almost as popular as the Mondeo.

cantdecide · 15-10-2007 2:54pm

Rep-spec Passat is the best of a bad bunch then. You can buy a passat with 4motion, V6's W engines, leather/ tiptronic. Basic chassis from the Audi RS4s
(obviously not same spec). I think that's a measure of their standing.

There's real substance in the Passat, even if it's only the stripped out rep models.

What's the Avensis ever done that's so special? Like I say, it's only a comodity. My dad has a lexus that has done nothing but give front suspensin and brake trouble- that doesn't make it a bad car. It's awesome actually. I've never heard anyone say that an avensis is awesome.

Reliability is ONLY ONE MEASURE of how good a car is- it's important but it's only one. Not all toyotas are reliable- I know a girl tha bought a new corolla that broke her heart. If it's going to have a warranty you may a well buy whichever one you fancy but don't say your heart told you to buy the Avensis.

maidhc · 15-10-2007 3:24pm

cantdecide wrote:

There's real substance in the Passat, even if it's only the stripped out rep models.

There is no substance to the new Passat. It is creaky and rattly and the 1.9 is woefully underpowered. My grandfather has an 06 one, and it has made plenty of return visits to the garage over niggly things. A Mk1 Mondeo handles much better than it too.

I'm no fan of the Avensis mind. I drove one to Dundalk from Cork over the weekend, and apart from having average economy (averaged 50mpg, which in my book is poor), is well worse than average to drive. I had the Mk1 D4D though... the current shape might be a bit better. Even for a 5 year old car it is very quiet though. It is souless, but the passat isn't much better in this regard either.

RobAMerc · 15-10-2007 4:50pm

The only good reason to buy an Avensis is if you don't care what you drive as long as its reliable.

If in your case you seem to care what you drive and you don't care about reliability ( companies problem not yours ) I cannot see why anyone would actually go and pick one over some very fine alternatives.

what_car · 15-10-2007 6:09pm

maidhc wrote: »

There is no substance to the new Passat. It is creaky and rattly and the 1.9 is woefully underpowered. My grandfather has an 06 one, and it has made plenty of return visits to the garage over niggly things. A Mk1 Mondeo handles much better than it too.

I'm no fan of the Avensis mind. I drove one to Dundalk from Cork over the weekend, and apart from havinga veragel economy (averaged 50mpg, which in my book is poor), is well worse than average to drive. I had the Mk1 D4D though... the current shape might be a bit better. Even for a 5 year old car it is very quiet though. It is souless, but the passat isn't much better in this regard either.

i would rate the current avensis ahead of the current passat... that push button hand brake thingy in the passat is a joke, i hear that some of the diesel passats are suffering from early fuel pump failure , and leaving you stranded on the side of the road..

with the avensis luna, they had nice sized tyres on the alloys, so that the bumps on the road were soaked up nicely, and it takes bad roads well... and the avensis is very spacious..compared to others..

ONE OTHER THING IS , THAT YOU GET 3 YEARS WARRANTY WITH TOYOTA, AND ONLY 2 WITH VW AND OTHERS...

the avensis needs new clothes, a new sportier body, etc and its a winner..
( for that price range of car)

i sold mine at 6 months old, ( bought it brand new) and overall not a bad car but boring and ugly.. however a good drive and comfortable...yet so boring..

you can add 4motion etc and all the fancy bells and whistles to the passat, avensis etc but they will depreciate hard.... eg who would spend 43k on a diesel saloon passat auto, when you can get an IS220 D for €43k

maidhc · 15-10-2007 6:09pm

RobAMerc wrote: »

The only good reason to buy an Avensis is if you don't care what you drive as long as its reliable.

Our Avensis has had "Alfa like" reliability... e.g. has spent far too much of its life in the dealership... So much so that we have more or less decided it should get abuse! ...hence it gets used for stuff like carting old washing machines and car bonnets around. It is so unloved in the family I almost feel sorry for it.

what_car · 15-10-2007 6:15pm

maidhc wrote: »

Our Avensis has had "Alfa like" reliability... e.g. has spent far too much of its life in the dealership... So much so that we have more or less decided it should get abuse! ...hence it gets used for stuff like carting old washing machines and car bonnets around. It is so unloved in the family I almost feel sorry for it.

did you buy it from new? ,, serviced regularly?

cantdecide · 15-10-2007 7:25pm

Are we all agreed that the avensis is probably the most reliable then?:rolleyes:

maidhc · 15-10-2007 10:16pm

what_car wrote: »

did you buy it from new? ,, serviced regularly?

We have had it from new, it has been serviced every ~9k as recommended. It is normally driven by my mother and it has had

1) A DMF
2) 2x clutches
3) New tailgate and part of the roof panel replaced (rust.. and it was never crashed)
4) Gear linkages replaced
5) Tape deck is broken now.. although it never was really used
6) Seatbelt inertia reel
7) Battery
8) Lots of the suspension has been replaced (shocks, mountings)

Not exactly impressive for a car with 106k miles up. My mothers last car (which I got at 70k miles and returned to the family) was a 1995 Mondeo is still on the original clutch and only got any money spent on the suspensions this year. That has 200k up.

Toyota avensis

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