Toyota Avensis or similar...

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Mon 5 Sep 2016 11:59
Toyota Avensis or similar... - ciaphas

My '06 Avensis seems to have developed a terminal engine issue so I'm keeping an eye out for a replacement. I've enjoyed having a car this size (no family to transport, but plenty of space has been very handy). Can anyone recommend me good alternatives to keep my eye out for (clearly still keeping my eye on Avensis) I'm looking to spend around £3,000-£4,000 and want something the right size and reliable, anything else is a bonus.

It seems like I can find Skoda Octavias for around £3,500 at fairly low mileage 09/10 plates, anything else I should keep in mind?

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Sat 10 Sep 2016 09:12
Toyota Avensis or similar... - SLO76
How many miles do you cover in a year and what sort of driving do you do? If you're not doing regular long runs and it's mostly local stop start running then forget buying a modern particulate filter equipped diesel.

Petrol versions of the Avensis and Octavia are pretty hard wearing if hardly exciting and both a capable of 150k and more as long as you remember to change the timing belt and water pump on the Skoda every four years regardless of mileage. The Avensis uses a chain so there's no worry of a belt snapping but they do need annual oil changes to ensure the supply of good oil to the chain otherwise it can stretch or snap so avoid any without a full history.

Both diesels are good but again particulate filters, particularly on the Skoda are commonplace. The old 1.9 diesel was never designed with this troublesome technology in mind and both need a full service history without exception! Forget any neglected diesels run on a shoestring budget no matter how cheap they seem, there's just too much to go wrong. So much so at this age i'd avoid them and stick with petrol.

Another option is the previous gen Ford Mondeo with the 2.0 petrol engine which is comfortable, cheap to buy, spacious and pretty vice free along with being far nicer to drive than either of the above. Avoid at all costs the Peugeot 1.6 diesel which is notoriously troublesome. The 2.0 diesel is fine but suffers the usual particulate filter problems and failed dual mass flywheels are common beyond 70k costing £1,000-£1500 depending on who's quoting.

I am curious as to what happened to your current Avensis though? It's not common to hear of terminal engine failure on them. I've ran several and sold plenty more and never seen an issue other than failed ignition barrels on Mk I's which was an easy enough fix.

Edited by SLO76 on 10/09/2016 at 09:16

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