2007 Avensis

maidhc

Toyota definately are the masters of subtle!

http://imgs.pravda.sk/sk_aaktual/A060513_P21_AVENSIS07-01_V.JPG

Any word when we will be seeing them in Irish showrooms?

Tipsy Mac

Very mild facelift, I think the proper new one is coming in 2009, the new Corolla is out in 2008.

bazz26

maidhc wrote:

Toyota definately are the masters of subtle!

http://imgs.pravda.sk/sk_aaktual/A060513_P21_AVENSIS07-01_V.JPG

Any word when we will be seeing them in Irish showrooms?

Your link seems to be dead but I have seen a few pictures from a Toyota website a few months ago:




As far as I know it goes on sale at end of June. Major changes under the bonnet are that the 2.0 D4-D engine goes from 116bhp to 122bhp or 125bhp. Mp3 reading cd player and possibly IPOD Aux port upgraded sound system. Front headlights have been completely redesigned as they had alot of issues with the originals. Not gone on the new front grill myself. I'll wait until I see it in the flesh though.

ek942

I think they need some new blood in the design room or something.What a boring looking car.

colm_mcm

it's a minor change on an existing car. they could hardly go nuts could they?

nothing worse than facelifted models being overly tarted up to keep it fresh looking, the Avensis facelift is different, without affecting the residuals of the existing Avensis,

bazz26

ek942 wrote:

I think they need some new blood in the design room or something.What a boring looking car.

Your not going to get a major change to a model that will be replaced with a complete new car in about 2 years time.

ek942

The existing one is boring looking too so why bother with a facelift at all if it's not that much of an improvement.

bazz26

ek942 wrote:

The existing one is boring looking too so why bother with a facelift at all if it's not that much of an improvement.

Not too many interesting looking cars in this market segment anyway. Passat, Mondeo, Vectra, etc all bland designs too. The Mazda 6 is probably one of the better looking cars in this class but it is getting on a bit and let down by poor interior plastics. At the end of the day they are family cars that do exactly what it says on the tin.

maidhc

ek942 wrote:

The existing one is boring looking too so why bother with a facelift at all if it's not that much of an improvement.

I would agree with bazz. It is at least as good looking as:
Passat,
3 Series,
Mondeo,
Citroen C5,
Audi A4,
Saab 9-3,
Octavia,
Jetta,

Parents will probably buy one later in the year or early next year. Despite the few problems they have suffered with the present one it seems the customer service makes up for it! As well as the fact they hold their value so well.

unkel

Looks like it has indicators in the side mirrors - copy cat Mercedes, which is a good thing. Apart from that it looks even worse and more bland than the original Avensis II imho. That said, it will probably be extremely reliable. Why else are so many continental taxi drivers switching over from Mercedes to Toyota (or Skoda, Nissan, etc.)

unkel

maidhc wrote:

It is at least as good looking as:
Passat,
3 Series,
Mondeo,
Citroen C5,
Audi A4,
Saab 9-3,
Octavia,
Jetta,

Sorry mate, I fail to agree with you there. It is way worse looking then any car in your list by quite some margin. The worst in your list gets a 6 out of 10 from me. The Avensis would not even get a 4. In my humble opinion of course. Beauty and beholder and such

bazz26

unkel wrote:

Sorry mate, I fail to agree with you there. It is way worse looking then any car in your list by quite some margin. The worst in your list gets a 6 out of 10 from me. The Avensis would not even get a 4. In my humble opinion of course. Beauty and beholder and such

Ah Unkel you just don't like Toyotas or Jap cars in general do you? They must have pissed you off or something in a previous life.

colm_mcm

It's quite a well proportioned car. not overly fussy, and it will date well. can't see too much wrong with that.

dubtom

I would go for one, I drive a taxi and it's not so much the looks but the reliability that attracts. Actually it kinda looks like the 96 Jap Camry I drive at the minute although a little curvyer.

unkel

bazz26 wrote:

Ah Unkel you just don't like Toyotas or Jap cars in general do you? They must have pissed you off or something in a previous life.

LOL, must look up reincarnation in the dictionary again. Or see a shrink maybe?

I admit, from a looks point of view alone, that I'd give a 6 out of 10 or higher rating to the majority of European cars and the minority of Asian cars

That said, I have a lot of respect for some Asian car makers, like Toyota, now the biggest car manufacturer in the world, who produce ugly but very reliable cars

bazz26

unkel wrote:

LOL, must look up reincarnation in the dictionary again. Or see a shrink maybe?

I admit, from a looks point of view alone, that I'd give a 6 out of 10 or higher rating to the majority of European cars and the minority of Asian cars

That said, I have a lot of respect for some Asian car makers, like Toyota, now the biggest car manufacturer in the world, who produce ugly but very reliable cars

Becareful so or you may come back reincarnated as a "reasonably priced" Suzuki Liana on Top Gear.

Curran

bazz26 wrote:

Becareful so or you may come back reincarnated as a "reasonably priced" Suzuki Liana on Top Gear.

That wouldnt be so bad - could be worse - could be a Liana on the back roads of Mayo

Nothing against people from Mayo, its the roads I'm on about....just to clear that up!!

unkel

bazz26 wrote:

Becareful so or you may come back reincarnated as a "reasonably priced" Suzuki Liana on Top Gear.

LOL

Just as well I don't believe in reincarnation. I'm an atheist. Thank God for that

G Luxel

The Corolla for Hong Kong has been featuring those indicators in the door mirrors since last year as a standard item. Looking at the Avensis estate, it reminds me of a Morris Marina or Ital estate from the 70s/80s. The outline of the design is very similiar. The fact that the Avensis is made in Britain may be showing off Toyota's attempt at showing the "Britishness" of the car.
Although I notice that the hatchback and the estate are rarer here than the saloon. Is there much of a price difference?

maidhc

G Luxel wrote:

Is there much of a price difference?

When we bought the mk1 hatch there was €600. I think the estate was another €400 again.

The hatch is worth the extra money IMO.

colm_mcm

Estate is a dirty word. Toyota prefer "Tourer"

€600 extra for the liftback over saloon, justified as liftback currently also adds a wiper, a folding rear seat and a rear armrest.

The fairest comparison between saloon and tourer models price wise is the 2.0 D-4D Aura. On this you pay a premuim of €1,650 for the tourer body.

The resale value on the hatchback won't be higher than the saloon, and in many cases it is a slower second hand seller than the saloon. That said, a dealer never has a used one sitting around for long.

maidhc

colm_mcm wrote:

Estate is a dirty word. Toyota prefer "Tourer"

So it is.

I don't know why there are so few around and why people have such a negative image of them. It is probably the best looking Avensis too. I didn't realise the premium was so high though.

Saloons are a curse if you are trying to carry anything apart from the shopping.

knifey_spoonie

The new Corolla is due out early 2007 (end of january).The salon will be called the corolla while they will change the name of the 5dr and 3dr, just to give the car a younger image.

The new facelifted avensis should be in dealers by next month, as far as i know it will lose the tape deck, thats all i can remember.

colm_mcm

In South Africa they call the hatchback the RunX. the late 80's Corolla still on sale there is called the Tazz.

Apart from losing the tape deck. it gains an MP3 player, Trip computer moved to speedo. folding rear seats, new Optitron gauges, and new rear suspension. also better plastics in the interior

digitaldr

maidhc wrote:

I would agree with bazz. It is at least as good looking as:
Passat,
3 Series,
Mondeo,
Citroen C5,
Audi A4,
Saab 9-3,
Octavia,
Jetta,

Parents will probably buy one later in the year or early next year. Despite the few problems they have suffered with the present one it seems the customer service makes up for it! As well as the fact they hold their value so well.

Where's the Accord??

bazz26

maidhc wrote:

When we bought the mk1 hatch there was €600. I think the estate was another €400 again.

The hatch is worth the extra money IMO.

The Avensis hatch is about €600 more than the saloon. Unless you really need the practicality of the hatchback I don't think it is worth the extra money, come resale time you will get the same trade-in value as the saloon. Also the hatchback looks a bit odd from certain angles.

The estate (Tourer) is almost €4k more expenisve than the basic 1.6 saloon, the smallest engine available is a 1.8 litre. Both hatchback and estate don't sell in big numbers in Ireland as Irish people generally prefer saloons. Quite the opposite in the UK where 95% of cars sold are hatchbacks.

bazz26

digitaldr wrote:

Where's the Accord??

The Accord is priced above the Avensis type class and below the junior executive class of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, etc.

colm_mcm

bazz26 wrote:

The estate (Tourer) is almost €4k more expenisve than the basic 1.6 saloon, the smallest engine available is a 1.8 litre. Both hatchback and estate don't sell in big numbers in Ireland as Irish people generally prefer saloons. Quite the opposite in the UK where 95% of cars sold are hatchbacks.

Like for like it's not a big difference. if you consider that the 1.8 has stability control. and if you compare 1.8 with 1.8 or D-4D with D-4D. not exactly fair to compare 1.6 with 1.8

bazz26

colm_mcm wrote:

Like for like it's not a big difference. if you consider that the 1.8 has stability control. and if you compare 1.8 with 1.8 or D-4D with D-4D. not exactly fair to compare 1.6 with 1.8

Sorry I was only comparing the basic models.

Anyway found a few more photos for anyone interested. Not gone on it myself:

Henry Ford III

Devoid of inspiration. Dull as ditchwater.

Future chariot of choice of minicab drivers.

Driving a fridge freezer will be more exciting

bazz26

Henry Ford III wrote:

Devoid of inspiration. Dull as ditchwater.

Future chariot of choice of minicab drivers.

Driving a fridge freezer will be more exciting

Perfect alternative to the Mondeo man (no conection with Mondeoman on this forum) then.

maidhc

Henry Ford III wrote:

Devoid of inspiration. Dull as ditchwater.

Future chariot of choice of minicab drivers.

Driving a fridge freezer will be more exciting

I have never driven a Mk2 , but they are supposedly alright (bazz, you have one?).

I don't think it is any duller than anything else in the segment, and apart from the mondeo probably drives as well as any of them.

But most importantly, it makes a lot of sense for someone who does big miles. It has a fine (if slightly thirsty) engine in the D4D, it is very comfortable if it is anything like the Mk1, it now has decent spec levels, and most importantly it isnt hard to shift a 3yo one with 100k on the clock and not loose a fortune.

Henry Ford III

bazz26 wrote:

Perfect alternative to the Mondeo man (no conection with Mondeoman on this forum) then.

None whatsoever.

Henry Ford III

What sense does a slightly thirsty diesel engine make?

maidhc

Henry Ford III wrote:

What sense does a slightly thirsty diesel engine make?

It's still better than the 1.6 and has more power than the 2.0? about 43mpg is what the trip computer is showing at the minute, though my mother has it mostly and she never drives in the right gear.

Don't get me wrong, I love Fords and have a Ford focus, before that a mondeo, 4x Ford tractors and a ford digger, but if I was buying a new large family car I would go with an Avensis before most other cars in the segment for the reasons mentioned above.

Henry Ford III

Each to his own I guess.

I reckon the Avensis is obviously a good product. It's always had tremendous reliabilty. The 1.6 engines are not strong enough.

I just find them dull beyond belief.

road_high

Henry Ford III wrote:

Each to his own I guess.

I reckon the Avensis is obviously a good product. It's always had tremendous reliabilty. The 1.6 engines are not strong enough.

I just find them dull beyond belief.

Hmmmm.And cars like the current Fusion, Fiesta, Focus (they ruined the looks completely), Mondeo are all such inspirational designs from Uncle Henry are they??Give me the avensis anyday!Seems the buying public agree too.

maidhc

mfitzy wrote:

Hmmmm.And cars like the current Fusion, Fiesta, Focus (they ruined the looks completely), Mondeo are all such inspirational designs from Uncle Henry are they??Give me the avensis anyday!Seems the buying public agree too.

The S-Max is nice, and the signs are good for the new mondeo after the Iosis concept car.

Its just depreciation is the killer with the mondeo, it is probably a better car than the Avensis, it just doesn't make as much sense to own from new. For instance I saw a 2004 diesel with 26k on the clock for sale last week for 16k. What a great buy s/h though!

Henry Ford III

maidhc wrote:

The S-Max is nice, and the signs are good for the new mondeo after the Iosis concept car.

Its just depreciation is the killer with the mondeo, it is probably a better car than the Avensis, it just doesn't make as much sense to own from new. For instance I saw a 2004 diesel with 26k on the clock for sale last week for 16k. What a great buy s/h though!

Couldn't agree more. Depreciation is hard on a new Mondeo. Lightly used they make a great vlaue buy.

Henry Ford III

mfitzy wrote:

Hmmmm.And cars like the current Fusion, Fiesta, Focus (they ruined the looks completely), Mondeo are all such inspirational designs from Uncle Henry are they??Give me the avensis anyday!Seems the buying public agree too.

Fusion isn't up to much I agree.

The rest of them are fine cars. Looks are a personal thing. Mondeo remains the best handling car in it's class. Focus is market leader by some distance and with plenty of justification.

As I said above each to their own.

You are most welcome to your Avensis. Best of luck with it.

colm_mcm

Henry Ford III wrote:

What sense does a slightly thirsty diesel engine make?

48.7mpg combined is hardly thirsty, and the new 125bhp is set to be better, with the addition of a 6 speed box.

hiscan

Tipsy Mac wrote:

Very mild facelift, I think the proper new one is coming in 2009, the new Corolla is out in 2008.

maybe not until 2010 when they are also bringing in a new landcruiser as far as i know

colm_mcm

New Avensis due in 2009, New Cruiser also 2009

EIN

maidhc wrote:

Toyota definately are the masters of subtle!

http://imgs.pravda.sk/sk_aaktual/A060513_P21_AVENSIS07-01_V.JPG

Any word when we will be seeing them in Irish showrooms?

whats the story with toyota? if you go for an avensis other than a bog basic one then you gotta wait 3-4 months for delivery!! seems mad

like the new avensis estate toyota cant say when they will have any in ireland for sale!!! they wont give definate dates..why put stuff in the brochure if you cant supply it within a reasonable time!

also
how the hell do they expect to sell cars if they dont have any demo models in their show rooms to show you what ur actually buying...

also the avensis 1.8 auto luna is a special order...3-4 mth lead time...
they are loosing customers by not holding some of these models in stock.

colm_mcm

I think Toyota are fairly happy with the number of cars they're selling. There's very little point in concentrating on importing Tourers and Automatics, when there's such demand for saloons with 1.6 or 2.0 D-4D engines.

EIN

colm_mcm wrote:

I think Toyota are fairly happy with the number of cars they're selling. There's very little point in concentrating on importing Tourers and Automatics, when there's such demand for saloons with 1.6 or 2.0 D-4D engines.

they told me that they stock what they sell the most, and that they dont care if they miss the odd order.(avensis high spec) . they lost a few cash sales from me so far in the last 2yrs.

their normal spec cars aura, terra, are bog basic and dull.

why advertise cars in their brochure if they are not going to be able to supply one in a reasonable amount of time...

i have owned many new toyotas in the past and found them reliable , but because toyota were not able to supply what they advertise after waiting 4 mths!! i went elsewhere...

another thing,, why is it that if you ring a toyota dealer, and ask for a cash price ,,, they all seem to give the same price!

colm_mcm

EIN wrote:

they told me that they stock what they sell the most, and that they dont care if they miss the odd order.(avensis high spec) . they lost a few cash sales from me so far in the last 2yrs

.
It's not that they don't stock high spec models. They stock a good range of cars, what they don't do is build cars that they won't sell.

EIN wrote:

their normal spec cars aura, terra, are bog basic and dull.

Any base model will by its nature not be as exciting as more expensive versions, it's not unique to Toyota!

EIN wrote:

why advertise cars in their brochure if they are not going to be able to supply one in a reasonable amount of time...

Some people don't mind waiting for a special order.

EIN wrote:

another thing,, why is it that if you ring a toyota dealer, and ask for a cash price ,,, they all seem to give the same price!

Maybe because all dealers buy in the cars at the same price, advertise them at the same price and have the same amount of margin. lots of trades give a certain percentage of a discount. You'll find price differences between dealers anyway.

knifey_spoonie

EIN wrote:

another thing,, why is it that if you ring a toyota dealer, and ask for a cash price ,,, they all seem to give the same price!

Hmm, good point....................why is it that when you buy the paper its the same price, go'on now have a guess, its called cost price

And that statement that all dealers quote the same price is a pile of bull, How about when eddie hobbs went and got an avensis for €1000 cheaper than any other dealer and all he had to do was pick up the phone, so maybe if you might pick up the phone and dont be so lazy as to just ring your local dealers you might just find that all dealers dont give the same price

im sure toyota ireland are really bothered that you have not bought 2 cars be cause your impatient

After all there are 222,652 toyota's on the road, but im sure those 222,652 people all drive manual cars with basic spec

maidhc

EIN wrote:

whats the story with toyota? if you go for an avensis other than a bog basic one then you gotta wait 3-4 months for delivery!! seems mad

like the new avensis estate toyota cant say when they will have any in ireland for sale!!! they wont give definate dates..why put stuff in the brochure if you cant supply it within a reasonable time!

also
how the hell do they expect to sell cars if they dont have any demo models in their show rooms to show you what ur actually buying...

also the avensis 1.8 auto luna is a special order...3-4 mth lead time...
they are loosing customers by not holding some of these models in stock.

All the above is exacly my experience.

Toyota have the Irish market cracked. Large cars, low spec, low capacity engines, inoffesive style and a reasonable price for all the above.

When I was considering a Corolla diesel, I could only get the terra spec and they didn't have one to test drive.

colm_mcm

You can't blame them for selling what people want.

EIN

colm_mcm wrote:

You can't blame them for selling what people want.

or not selling what people want