Toyota Avensis Hatchback (2003 - 2008) 2.0 D-4D T Spirit 5d (2003/53) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
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Summary
What does this car say about you?
This car says you focus more on substance over style... whilst the Avensis was not an ugly car, it wasn't as good looking as rivals like the S-type Jag and such.
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
Everyone loved its comfort and that 2.0 D-4D engine gave plenty of comments for its smooth power delivery and top-end grunt.
Would you buy this car again and why?
I would buy another Avensis of this version or the successor as overall it was a fantastic car to drive, and was supremely comfortable... just worry too much about Toyota's current reliability concerns.
What are you likely to buy next?
Not sure.... Jaguar is a strong possibility or an A5 Audi.
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Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Franchised
Did you buy this car new?
No
What price did you pay?
£8,500
When did you buy the car?
September 2009
Did you get a good deal and why?
Received a good discount off the list price without much arguing.
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
Toyota's bulletproof reliability (at the time), comfort levels and specification.
What was the dealer like?
Friendly, stayed open longer than normal to allow me to get there from work and any issues I had subsequently were dealt with very quickly.
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Driving it
What's it like to drive?
It was a superb car to drive, had plenty of power, comfort, space... what more could be asked for in a big car?
What's it like to park?
Light steering worked light a treat, shame the clutch was so heavy that it could cause slight issues.
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Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
It needed a new clutch despite only doing 50k miles and whilst on a drive in Ireland it lost all power and driveability, which was put down to a loose bolt on the gearbox mount. The brakes squealed constantly when used, even with a new set and it going back three times to be resolved. The clutch itself never loosened up, it was always stiff and required a lot of pressure to manipulate.
What's most practical about your car?
The size of the boot coped with 4 people's luggage to Ireland for 2 weeks as well as the suspension coping.
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
The sat nav and leather interior were fantastic.
