02-03 Avensis (Old Model)

klinkywhy

Hi guys, im just looking for some advice as i have a fairly limited knowledge of cars. Im currently driving a 98 toyota corolla saloon and im thinking of upgrading to the 02-03 1.6l old style avensis. Im just wondering is there anything i should look out for when buying one of these cars and realistically would i be able to get one for €2000-€2500?

Also im going to sell my corolla privately and im just wondering how much i should ask for it. its got 158,000 miles on the clock but is in perfect condition. I just have to get 2 new front tyres and get a droplink replaced on the back. apart from that its been regularly serviced and its body work is almost perfect bar one or 2 very minor dents. would i get €700 for it? I shold also mention its got NCT until August.

thanks in advance

colm_mcm

I'd be getting a Mazda6 1.8 like this one

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2845595

The Avensis was pretty much a revised CarinaE which came out in 1991.

klinkywhy

thanks colm, i was looking at the mazda 6 alright but would the 40mpg as stated be realistic? im doing a fair amount amount of driving (not enough to switch to diesel) so im looking for something that is reasonably good on petrol.

Ardennes1944

That 1.8 petrol will not get 40mpg or near it. If you are doing town driving you will be seeing about 30mpg. They are thirsty engines even for a 1.8, but very reliable

colm_mcm

If you're doing a lot of driving you won't like the avensis seats.

Cmar-Ireland

I bought a '02 1.6 Avensis a fortnight ago. 75,000 miles on it. I find it comfortable, quite and economic. It's doing around 45mpg average. I'm getting over 550miles/850km to a tank.

I got mine for €2500.

colm_mcm

550 miles to a tank?

I'm only getting slightly more than that on a 2.0 TD and I thought I was doing well.

Cmar-Ireland

Yeah, I'm a bit surprised at the mpg, but I am an easy driver, usually sit around 110kph on the motorway.
My driving is probably 80% M-way 20% urban.

bazz26

I had one of these in 1.8 VVTi and at best managed around 380 miles from a tank and I am not a hard driver either. Are you going off the obc or actually calculating from between fills? They are a light car but 550 miles sounds too good to be true to be honest from any of the petrol models.

johnos1984

I had a mk1 avensus 1.6 and regularly got 550miles out of a tank with VERY careful driving. I was broke at the time and didn't have much choice

MugMugs

I can't get that out of a D-4D. Off to petrol with me so

klinkywhy

johnos1984 wrote: »

I had a mk1 avensus 1.6 and regularly got 550miles out of a tank with VERY careful driving. I was broke at the time and didn't have much choice

if i could get that kind of mileage out of it id be very happy . is there anything to watch out for when buying one of these?

gb153

I have a 2000 Avensis estate. Its 1.6 and I get 500 miles per tank mixed driving with not much of an effort to be economical.

With regards to the seats it depends on what you are comparing to. I downgraded from a 01 BMW 530d sport. My back is in much better shape after long journeys since I got the avensis!

bazz26

The early VVTi petrol engines burned excessive oil and Toyota replaced alot of the engine blocks if they were experiencing excessive oil usage. Like any car nearly 10 years old judge it on it's present condition.

Limited edition Luna old model was introduced in late 2002 and ran until March 2003. It had air conditioning, velour seats, alloy wheels and colour coded bumpers.

klinkywhy

bazz26 wrote: »

The early VVTi petrol engines burned excessive oil and Toyota replaced alot of the engine blocks if they were experiencing excessive oil usage. Like any car nearly 10 years old judge it on it's present condition.

Limited edition Luna old model was introduced in late 2002 and ran until March 2003. It had air conditioning, velour seats, alloy wheels and colour coded bumpers.

thanks bazz, i presume the limited edition model would be a bit more expensive? not really bothered about having the extras anyway as i cant really afford to go above €2500

maidhc

We have got 42mpg from an 02 Avensis D4D for the past 10 years and 170k miles!

It is a comfy car I find.

colm_mcm

klinkywhy wrote: »

thanks bazz, i presume the limited edition model would be a bit more expensive? not really bothered about having the extras anyway as i cant really afford to go above €2500

Only slightly more expensive, there was always a Luna model on the avensis, just when they were running the model out they made them cheaper and more available.


On a pedantic side point, the Luna 02 didn't have velour seats, it was one of the only specs to have proper cloth seats.

Cmar-Ireland

This is the one I bought. It's the Aura spec. Front elec windows, cd, sunroof, no aircon. It's basic enough, but reliable.
It does suffer from the boot leak issue tho, common enough on that shape avensis.

It leaks through the rear lens gasket and the seam from rear wing to rear panel. I'm going to get new lens gaskets and try a waterseal paint on the seam.
@colm_mcm: have you come across this and do you have any tips?

bazz26

The Aura model came with the option of either an electric tilt/slide suroof or air con. Air con model cost more than the one with the sunroof.

2 stroke

I've driven a 2000 1.6 avensis over christmas, very impressed with fuel economy. I havn't put petrol in it since december 18th & I've driven at least 450 miles. Downside, low roof & small mirrors.

CJhaughey

bazz26 wrote: »

The Aura model came with the option of either an electric tilt/slide suroof or air con. Air con model cost more than the one with the sunroof.

I bet it uses more fuel too.
I think all the little parasitic loads like aircon belts make a difference to economy, the less the better IMO.
I had a Carina E with the 1.6 4AFE, great motor with good economy and a good size inside. The Avensis was a bit smaller in the back AFAIR.

Cmar-Ireland

I think you would want to be doing serious mileage to warrant a diesel one TBH. The 1.6vvti is simple to maintain and fairly frugal. Should easily pick up a good one for around €2500.

Something like this maybe?

colm_mcm

Jeekers, I hope you got a good discount, 2950 for an 02 petrol avensis is loolah money

Cmar-Ireland

colm_mcm wrote: »

Jeekers, I hope you got a good discount, 2950 for an 02 petrol avensis is loolah money

Got it for 2500, thats with tax till 08/12 and nct till 01/13. Only 75k on it.

colm_mcm

I've got the leaky boot syndrome too. pack the ****e out of it with silicone and leave the bung on the spare wheel well off

Cmar-Ireland

colm_mcm wrote: »

I've got the leaky boot syndrome too. pack the ****e out of it with silicone and leave the bung on the spare wheel well off

I'm going to replace the rear lens gaskets on both sides and put some chemical metal along the seam where the water might be getting in.