I don't know much about Mondeos Except that my Father in law had a 2003 one, and lasst year it was virtually worthelss, as it needed a new clutch and new Aircon pump, the cost of which would be almost £2000, approximately the value of the car, so he traded it in.
Whereas I have had 2 New shape ( 2003 on ) Avensis, and both have been excellent, except for one minor hiccup where the Injector had to be replaced on the 2005 one. Both have done almost 90 K Miles with no bother other than the abovementioned. the first one was a 2.0 D4D engine and this was adequate but not a rocket, the second was a 2.2 which was more economical yet significantly faster. In T4 trim it is very well equipped.
The cars are very solidly built, comfortable and ride very well. In many countries they are the taxi of choice, whereas Mercedes E class used to be. Of course if you are a Taxi driver you dont want ANY bother.
I can thoroughly reccomend an Avensis as a no-nonsence comfortable and secure car.
|
Thank you all for the for the interesting avensis info and pitfalls the taxi driver I spoke preferred the Avensis because he goes for diesel and his toyota D was quieter than the Mondeo D he had prior to it.
But I'm going to go for a petrol automatic preferably 2004-2006
I'd have thought there would be more Mondeo drivers here than avensis
|
>>I don't know much about Mondeos......had a 2003 one, and last year it was virtually worthelss, as it needed a new clutch and new Aircon pump, the cost of which would be almost £2000, approximately the value of the car, so he traded it in.
>>
I recently had a NEW compressor, a new drier etc fitted plus of course regassed and other A/C work done to a high standard on my 98 Mondeo.
At south East prices that would leave £1500 + for a clutch.
Either much more work was required or I know what conclusion I would arrive at :-(
|
Opens up an interesting debate though. In any event, if one chooses, for whatever reason, to run any high mileage or older car, the cost of a repair to it may well equal or even exceed its market value.
It does not necessarily follow that it is not then worth repairing it. Take the scenario of, ok, lets say a Mondeo which has reached an approximate market value of £2000. Supposing it needs a repair of the same financial magnitude. It then goes on for again lets say, another two years with only routine maintenance. It will have depreciated a bit more, but not significantly in the scheme of things and its user has had two more years of budget motoring for a total extraordinary cost of £2000.
If the owner had traded in in at the time while in need of ( to use the above EG ) a clutch and an AC repair it would only achieve a nominal trade in price. Add on the balance cost of its replacement and it will almost always be more expensive to replace the car than to repair and continue to maintain the existing one.
To take just one example. If the owner of the alleged £2000 car needing a £2000 repair trades it in for £1000 against a £5000 car it costs him/her £4000. The "new" car will not necessarily be faultless either. The new one has more depreciation risk in it and will lose proportionately more in the next two years than the old car which had less equity in it in the first place.
At this end of the market, sometimes you are better with the devil you know.
|
I think you both make good points, however in this instance the devil I know is far too small for my imminent requirements.
I brought up a parallel buying issue in this thread age v mieage
it began as a mondeo orientated enquiry but along the way I began to consider the Avensis.
Therefore I thought it best to start a specifc Mondeo v Avensis thread prior to harry hotfoot making some very pertinent comments about the two.
ie ithe decision might come down to what is available, Auto Avensis's with climate control that also haven't been taxi's are few and far between in my neck of the woods
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?m=897166...e
Edited by Will Marshall on 27/08/2009 at 20:34
|
I chose an Avensis, and rejected a Mondeo, partly on the basis of size. They both have a decent amount of room inside, and big boots, but the Avensis is smaller outside.
|
Auto Avensis's with climate controlthat also haven't been taxi's are few and far between in my neck of the woods
I'd have thought they'd be rarer than hens teeth.
The previous shape Avensis wasn't available as an auto Diesel if i remember correctly, and i'd have thought few taxi companies would plump for a petrol engine.
As an aside, if you can wait a little while the new Avensis Diesel auto is a lovely gearbox to complement a very good car...the only fly in the ointement being the electric handbrake...wonder if we'll see that gearbox finding it's way into the IS Lexus, about time.
|
I can't wait more than a couple of weeks really. I'm happy to go with petrol, so as you indicate that would be the most liikely way of weeding out the ex-taxis.
This evening we decided against a Mondeo because my wife had a chance to be a passenger in one and she doesn't get on with the design of the front seat, she has a hip problem and she found the Mondeo's aggravated it.
However she does get on with the Avensis and - new discovery - Passat (ouch! they hold their value rather too well)
So really this thread should be retitled Avensis v Passat v whatever else I can get lol
Edited by Will Marshall on 28/08/2009 at 00:37
|
As an aside if you can wait a little while the new Avensis Diesel auto is a lovely gearbox to complement a very good car
Indeed, but isn't it a case of two steps forward, and one step back?
Two steps forward = provide not only a diesel auto, but a good one at that
One step back = stop producing a hatchback option in an attempt to go "up market".
Why are saloons "up market" any way. This is just "Saloonacy"!
Come on Toyota, give it back its hatch, and really put the wind up your rivals.
|
Just to add my comments after owning an Avensis !!! I liked the Avensis very much and makes a very comfortable car to drive and cost effective to own !!
Toyota dealers quite often offer reduced service fees for older vehicles
It is not free from problems it has as another poster has said oil burning issues which start at about 40,000 miles I believe this did not effect the 2-0 litre engines , the steering racks can be problematic and the headlight bulbs had problems with melting in there holders all problems were sorted out in the warranty period but if you buy an Avensis these things you should check
I believe the later cars did not have the oil burning issues
|
Thanks for the tips, I don't suppose the oil burning can be determined until one finds it happening, (I've read 1 litre per 1000 miles is to be expected on an Avensis anyhow)
When you say "later cars" what year onwards?
Aside from leaks is there an easy way to determine steering rack condition when test driving one?
|
|
The oil issue was sorted by Toyota by 2004 I believe. what happened was a sudden onset of oil consumption, not drastic - but noticeable.Until it happened my Avensis used little or no oil between services. As Toyota replaced foc the affected engines there shouldn't be any risk in buying one. As far as steering racks are concerned, listen for squeaks and similar noises when driving.
|
I'll be all ears!
Thanks I'm after 2004 onwards.
|
Got one !
First impressions:
The Avensis sure is solidly built and it has great front seats and a lot of space around them with a high ride position which I like. The Mondeo feels low and cramped in the front by comparison.
The steering is a lot lighter than I expected and the 1.8 engine nippier than anticipated for that body. I thought it might be underpowered but it isn't.
Edited by Pugugly on 29/08/2009 at 18:23
|
Got one !
Nice one WM, hope it gives the usual good service, and yes i find them very light to drive with light easy controls typically Japanese which to me is a very good thing, also i like the way the doors and boot shut on Toyo's just a light push will close them properly.
Tell us a bit more, colour, gearbox, mileage etc if you would.
|
I can speak for the Avensis only. Mine is a 1.8 vvti petrol (TX3) on a 07 plate which I picked up from a main dealer with just 5k on the clock and 18 months old.
Plus points:
- Comfortable and refined, but better for motorway cruising
- High spec
- Economical (49 mpg if dreiven sensibly) and cheap to service (£99 and £199 for 1/2 year services respectively)
- Solid build quality and switchgear; no sqeaks/rattles unlike FiL's 08 Vectra
- Slick gear change
- Reliable (so far!)
- Excellent boot with hidden storage compartments
- Excellent audio system (but no MP3 jack)
Minus points:
- Spongy, vague brake pedal (a characteristic of this car apparently)
- Radio aerial built into rear window can result in poor reception
- Digital clock housed in rev counter and is difficult to read
- Headlight bulbs simply not bright enough and (like many cars these days) are almost impossible to change without shifting engine components
- Electric window master switches poorly illuminated; windows can't be operated when with key in ignition and engine off after 30 seconds
- Optitron speedo/rev counter mean that when ignition is switched off everything is blank, including the clock
- Fiddly front/rear fogs stalk can be confusing to operate in on/off mode
- Rain sensing wipers can trip into full speed mode in drizzle and are erratic; no intermittent wipe option
- Only one transponder key, standard spare triggers alarm
- Design flaw means that rain water can pour into the boot on opening; similarly on main doors
|
|
|
Made me laugh - nothing went wrong. It had a new engine at 50K!
|
|
I know, the irony of the statement struck me as I typed it! However, the car was nearly five years old and well out of warranty. It took one week and one phone call to arrange. Toyota lent me a car while they put the new engine in. It didn't cost me a penny, I wasn't inconvenienced one iota. So yes, in the grand scheme of things, nothing did go wrong.
|
|
Yeah I get what you mean - just the way it read :) Guess thats the difference of having good customer service.
|
I wasn't inconvenienced one iota. Soyes in the grand scheme of things nothing did go wrong.
Why can't Toyota or any other maker who stands by their product win.
Compare to another maker who's cars are breaking their camshafts just outside warranty period at usually low mileages.
That maker's responses have been severely lacking and i daresay a goodly number of us have noted accordingly.
To be fair to Toyo they didn't try any quick rebuilds or reconditioning affected units they scrapped the offenders and plonked new engines in...ok that may well have been easier, but they could probably have saved a lot of money doing the other.
Was humourous though..;)
|
|
Just to add that the last 2 recalls which were quite a while ago now !! the car came back valeted with £10 fuel added to the fuel tank !! and the next time valeted with a bottle of champagne to compensate for the inconvenience
|
|
|
