I'd agree with PhilF, as good a bet as any modern car, i would make sure the gearbox oil gets changed when required but i can guarantee without looking that there is a proper service regime for the gearbox.

Toyota have never been so blase with their customers purchases as some prominent German and British makers, who fashionably at the time, suggested their auto boxes never needed (they did) oil changes and were (they weren't) sealed for life, they quietly dropped that idiotic idea later.

The only reason we don't have an Avensis tourer on the drive is the electric parking brake, i'm simply not having one in any car i own, ever, but thats me, however if anythings going to give you an expensive bill during the life of the vehicle then the EPB is going to be it...i don't have clue why but Avensis parking brake if used manually works opposite to every parking i have ever used all my life, stupid idea and incredible Toyota should have approved it, its a silly little push/pull button hidden in the dash, push ON and pull OFF, if ever there was a recipe for disaster then this is it.

The mileage you are expecting is nothing, its the long life that you can help, IMO by doing your part to keep the underside cleaned and lubed as much as possible, again with the EPB i don't know how the calipers will fare after 10 salty winters, VW Passat EPB caliper rear covers seem to start cracking up long before 10 years leading to salt water ingress and rapid failure, i don't suppose Mr T's effort will be much better.

I'm watching with interest to see if Toyota extend warranty/goodwill on EPB issue as they do for other recurring problems that should not have got past the designers waste bin.

The electronic parking brake is easy enough I thought, maybe because it's the first car (13 plate D-4D hire car) I'd driven with one. It's position could be better (to the left of the steering cowling) but it does disengage automatically and applies automatically when you switch the ignition off. I've used them on several cars since but would prefer a proper handle like my 63 plate Civic has.

Edited by Sprice on 18/04/2014 at 12:03

Having had an extended warranty from toyota I wouldn't pay for one, as they didn't cover a non wear and tear failure and toyota customer service couldn't give a toss.

I know theres a toyota love-in sometimes on here but I've found them as good/bad as every other manufacturer when it comes to honouring their warranty.

I've had Ford, Vauxhall,Jaguar (after some threats!), Renault and VW honour their warranty, toyota ironically being the only ones who didn't want to help. I'm possibly buying a second hand Honda, but they won't discount the car and take off the warranty because TBH I'm sick of persuing warranty claims!

Thanks for the responses everyone.

It looks like I'll need to test drive one anyway before making my mind up. The EPB issue does really concern me, though every car I'm looking at seem to have some sort of expensive (common?) issue, such as EPB failure, DPF issues, injectors needing replacing etc.

Having not had to do this for 9 years (and with double the budget of my previous car) I'd hoped this time round it would be easier!!!

You are clearly very unlucky having had to make a warranty claim on at least 6 vehicles.

Not really, this is spanned on over 40 cars!