05/06 Toyota Avensis 1.6 Petrol

Mac Taylor

Thinking of buying an 05/06 Avensis 1.6 petrol. Is there any obvious issues/problems that I would need to watch out for?

Thanks for the replies!

Grahamb23

Mac Taylor wrote: »

Thinking of buying an 05/06 Avensis 1.6 petrol. Is there any obvious issues/problems that I would need to watch out for?

Thanks for the replies!

I sell a lot of these cars and never have any problem with them coming back with issues. Once they have been getting serviced at a Toyota dealer or by a very trustworthy mechanic you shouldn't have any bodder. Make sure you have someone that knows about cars drive it and make sure the clutch is good.

JohnBoy26

Gearbox bearings is a very common issue in them. Also( in my expierience anyway) window regulators give problems in them. The regulator itself is flimsy and weak in them.

ofcork

I have an 04 1.6 petrol and never had a problem with either window regs or gearbox bearings,as others have said a fully serviced car will see you right.

shooter88

Toyota is always a good choice,check it has been maintained and you shouldn't have a worry.

Conmaicne Mara

Mac Taylor wrote: »

Thinking of buying an 05/06 Avensis 1.6 petrol. Is there any obvious issues/problems that I would need to watch out for?

Thanks for the replies!

I bought one in October, a 05, and to be honest I can't think of anything to watch out for.

Do have a mechanic look it over before buying though.

ba_barabus

UK cars generally come with a lower ride height and better spec so worth keeping an eye out for one. Make sure it has a service history and you get a background check done however

shooter88

ba_barabus wrote: »

UK cars generally come with a lower ride height and better spec so worth keeping an eye out for one. Make sure it has a service history and you get a background check done however

I never knew UK cars had a lower ride hight..any particular reason?are they much lower? Interesting one

ba_barabus

shooter88 wrote: »

I never knew UK cars had a lower ride hight..any particular reason?are they much lower? Interesting one

It's called the rough road pack and means models have a slightly jacked up suspension to avoid bottoming out

bazz26

shooter88 wrote: »

I never knew UK cars had a lower ride hight..any particular reason?are they much lower? Interesting one

It was actually a modification to Irish models designed for our less than perfect roads. Done away with now since the Co2 based VRT system was introduced as it pushed cars into a slightly higher tax bracket. Last model Avensis was only every sold in the UK in hatchback and estate and the smallest engine was 1.8 litre.

OP, would you not look for a 1.8 litre over the 1.6 litre, fuel economy is similar and the 1.8 has a bit more grunt to it. Most of the 1.8 litre models sold here tend to be the higher spec Luna models. Luna model also has more comfortable seats and a front arm rest than lesser models.

Gearboxes can give trouble on them, had a 1.8 litre Luna from new back in 2003, passed it onto my father and the gearbox bearing eventually went in it but there was well over 200k miles on the clock so very little complaints. Other things to watch out for are the headlights, on alot of them the rear of the headlight could melt and Toyota replaced alot of them back then.

Mac Taylor

Thanks for the information. I know a bit about cars but have a buddy who is a mechanic who does very good second opinions!!
Baz26, never thought of the 1.8. Used to own a few 1.6 carinas and found them bullet proof. I cannot remember ever been let down by one.

Leonard Hofstadter

bazz26 wrote: »

It was actually a modification to Irish models designed for our less than perfect roads. Done away with now since the Co2 based VRT system was introduced as it pushed cars into a slightly higher tax bracket. Last model Avensis was only every sold in the UK in hatchback and estate and the smallest engine was 1.8 litre.

The saloons was available in the UK too, it's just that in hatch loving Britain, very few were sold, so they're hard to find.

I would agree with everyone regarding the 1.6, the 1.8 is actually a bit underpowered (I have driven a 2000 model 1.4 Corolla and truthfully there is hardly any difference between a 1.4 2000-2001 model Corolla and a 1.8 Avensis.

The 1.6 runs at very high revs on the motorway so is heavy on fuel too, and is also quite noisy as a result. Also, all the 1.6s are quite basic, with acres of shiny black plastic and were not available in the higher specs.

One point that seems to have been overlooked is that the petrol engines are noted for having problems with burning oil, the majority of them don't burn oil, but it's worth checking nonetheless.

I would recommend that the OP also considers the Mazda6, Honda Accord and Ford Mondeo (as long as it's the facelifted model that was introduced in the middle of 2003, as earlier models may have problems with burning oil) as well.

Mac Taylor

Grahamb23 wrote: »

I sell a lot of these cars and never have any problem with them coming back with issues. Once they have been getting serviced at a Toyota dealer or by a very trustworthy mechanic you shouldn't have any bodder. Make sure you have someone that knows about cars drive it and make sure the clutch is good.

Grahamb23, what kind of money should one budget for? I was thinking 4.5k to 5.5k (assuming reasonable mileage and a FSH)

George Dalton

We sold a nice clean 2005 1.6 Strata with 135,000km on it for €4k a few weeks back so you should certainly be able to find a decent car within your budget.

Grahamb23

Mac Taylor wrote: »

Grahamb23, what kind of money should one budget for? I was thinking 4.5k to 5.5k (assuming reasonable mileage and a FSH)

You should be able to pick up a 05 / 06 for that kind of money

00833827

i have an 05 1.6. Its on its 2nd engine, first one died due to oil starvation but as other pots point out, this was due to poor maintenance (i know this as I got the car from a family member) - i sourced a replacement engine and have done about 10,000km on it since, going well although this engine uses oil also. its very comfortable, but more basic than others in the class (i perviously had an 05 Honda Accord for 4 years, its a much better car than the Avensis) -

they are not regarded as anywhere as bulletproof as the old carina E you had (dont think anything is, i have one of them too;-) ) - but in my area at least, nearly every taxi is an Avensis , and that to me is a good indication of reliability.

I replaced a screen washer pump in this, doubt its a particular problem in these, it was probably pumping washing liquid thru it rather than screen wash all its life, so maybe that killed it. was only a tenner from the breakers and i fitted it myself in a short time.

i get about 7litres/100km on my commute of 60 miles a day - its half 100kmph/half 80kmph roads - when i bring it on the motorway as pointed out above, this does rise, probably 8.2litres/100km, somehting like that.

Pros:
plenty of them around
very comfortable
pretty reliable

Cons:
Can use oil(think this is particular to the 1.6 3zzfe, not the 1.8 1zzfe - but give a bit of research to this urself)

ofcork

Thought the 1.8 was the heavier user of oil as my 1.6 barely uses any.As an aside got a letter from toyota for a recall for splines on the steering shaft hardening over time getting it checked on thursday.

JohnBoy26

00833827 wrote: »

i have an 05 1.6. Its on its 2nd engine, first one died due to oil starvation but as other pots point out, this was due to poor maintenance (i know this as I got the car from a family member) - i sourced a replacement engine and have done about 10,000km on it since, going well although this engine uses oil also. its very comfortable, but more basic than others in the class (i perviously had an 05 Honda Accord for 4 years, its a much better car than the Avensis) -

they are not regarded as anywhere as bulletproof as the old carina E you had (dont think anything is, i have one of them too;-) ) - but in my area at least, nearly every taxi is an Avensis , and that to me is a good indication of reliability.

I replaced a screen washer pump in this, doubt its a particular problem in these, it was probably pumping washing liquid thru it rather than screen wash all its life, so maybe that killed it. was only a tenner from the breakers and i fitted it myself in a short time.

i get about 7litres/100km on my commute of 60 miles a day - its half 100kmph/half 80kmph roads - when i bring it on the motorway as pointed out above, this does rise, probably 8.2litres/100km, somehting like that.

Pros:
plenty of them around
very comfortable
pretty reliable

Cons:
Can use oil(think this is particular to the 1.6 3zzfe, not the 1.8 1zzfe - but give a bit of research to this urself)

The Carina ii was a more reliable car than a carina E. It was also better built.

Leonard Hofstadter

Carina Es were still phenomenally reliable though. Toyota reliability dropped once VVTi came along (in saying that VVTis are still more reliable than many other makes of petrol engines), these days they're not really all that much better than rivals. Certainly they're not better enough to put up with the nasty interiors, poor driving manners, poor refinement and ultra low spec that comes as standard in most of them. A modern day Honda or Mazda (once it's not a 2.0 diesel) will be nicer in every conceivable measure than a Toyota and will be at least as reliable, if not more reliable. A Ford will also offer good reliability but will be far nicer to drive and to be in.

JohnBoy26

captainspeed wrote: »

Carina Es were still phenomenally reliable though. Toyota reliability dropped once VVTi came along (in saying that VVTis are still more reliable than many other makes of petrol engines), these days they're not really all that much better than rivals. Certainly they're not better enough to put up with the nasty interiors, poor driving manners, poor refinement and ultra low spec that comes as standard in most of them. A modern day Honda or Mazda (once it's not a 2.0 diesel) will be nicer in every conceivable measure than a Toyota and will be at least as reliable, if not more reliable. A Ford will also offer good reliability but will be far nicer to drive and to be in.

Not the UK built Carina Es. Even the Jap built ones, though very reliable wern't as good as the II.

Apart from the handling and driving dynamics I think an avensis is actually better than a mazda 6. The Accord on the otherhand is nicer than both imo.