Toyota Avensis Hatchback (2003 - 2008) 2.0 VVT-i T Spirit 5d (2004/04) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Mr Average that wants something reliable and safe.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Found it quite boring.

Would you buy this car again and why?

No. It didn't drive great, felt very dated inside and I found Toyota's reliability over-rated. I read about lots of other problems with gearboxes and oil consumption on the forums.

What are you likely to buy next?

Replaced it after a year with a diesel Passat.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£4,000

When did you buy the car?

October 2010

Did you get a good deal and why?

Car was cheap for the spec and age. Part ex was ok on my old Mondeo considering the problems it had.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

After being stung with a rubbish diesel last time, I wanted a reliable petrol with a good spec.

What was the dealer like?

A conman at a secondhand car dealership! During the test drive I noticed the engine management light was on. I didn't realise until later on that he 'fixed' it with black paint over the bulb!

What's it like to drive?

It handled OK but the steering and clutch felt too heavy. The gearbox wasn't that good to use either. The engine felt underpowered and nowhere near it's supposed 145bhp.

What's it like to park?

No problems.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Lambda sensors needed replacing, gearbox started to whine at 100k miles and it used quite a bit of oil. Also noticed that the rear subframe was very rusty.

What's most practical about your car?

Boot was nice and big. Plenty of room inside and easy to get comfortable due to the amount of adjustment in the seats.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Heated leather seats were excellent and very comfortable, auto wipers.