Toyota Avensis Tourer (2003 - 2008) 2.0 D-4D T2 5d (06) (2007/07) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Practical and sensible. I think it looks quite stylish for an estate - v similar to an audi.

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

Practical and sensible.

Would you buy this car again and why?

If i was buying a car of this size again, I'd consider Toyota, but I'd thoroughly check all the plastic panels and wing mirrors for corrosion or wear before purchase. The high mileage seems to have taken its toll on the plastic exterior trim, but the engine was excellent.

What are you likely to buy next?

Have bought an older but low mileage Citroen C8 as I needed 7 seats and didn't have a lot of money! Needless to say I didn't go back to the same dealer.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£6,000

When did you buy the car?

October 2010

Did you get a good deal and why?

The price was decent but I wouldn't buy from them again.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Needed a bigger car with decent fuel economy. Changing up from an Astra.

What was the dealer like?

It was a glossy 'supermarket' type place. They just wanted to sell cars and didn't care what state they sold them in. The salesman knew very little about the car and spent little effort in showing me around it. Spent a lot of effort trying to sell me a warranty, guard X cover and GAP insurance. When they handed me the car, they gave me only one key - a nasty surprise that set me back a couple of hundred quid. On getting home I found some cosmetic faults with trim and plastic that I hadn't noticed.

What's it like to drive?

Good but not exciting. Gives little feedback from the road but is easy to control. Very comfortable driving position and nice to long journeys. There is plenty of power in the 2.0 litre engine to pull away fast when you need to.

What's it like to park?

It is a long car. Parallel parking might be difficult for those that don't do it regularly. I found some parking spaces in multi-stories tight to get into (e.g. Oxford city centre).

Have you had any problems with the car?

It was high mileage when I bought it (96000). Nothing mechanical or engine related has gone wrong with it apart from brake discs and a steering column fault (which we broke ourselves). However, I have spent money replacing plastics and trims. The wing mirror fell off (it had been badly repaired before). The plastic cover under the engine unclipped and started dragging on the road at low speeds. After that, the plastic wheel arch flew off whilst driving at 60 mph. And the rear parcel shelf clips are flimsy and broke. These cannot be bought separately and a new shelf is 160-200 quid.

What's most practical about your car?

The massive boot.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The steering wheel controls for the radio.