Toyota Avensis T4 Tourer Diesel

[flango]

Seeking the opinions of the panel yet again

I have been test driving cars this weekend, was going to get something to tide me over for a year but decided to go with new test drove a few things to confirm my est drives of earlier in the year so test drove the BMW 320D & 520D M SPORT tourer and they are a complete load of sh*te. also test drove the C 250 cdi estate and E320 cdi estate and to be completely honest they are both on a par with the BMW's.

As this is my daily driver it does not have to be anything flash, so I had a look at the following estates Vauxhall Insignia, Citroen C5, Ford Mondeo, Toyota Avensis.

Anyway long story short, the Avensis is about to have a facelift next March and as such they are throwing everything on the run out models, after a bit of negotiation I have been offered what I consider a stunning deal on a T4 tourer factory spec'd to what I want the discount would more than cover the depreciation I would suffer so no sense not buying new with this deal.

Has anyone ever run the 2.0 D4-D Toyota in either the Avensis or other models if so what did you think? The dealer is lending me a car Thursday for 24 hours so I can get a better feel for it.

As always All opinions welcome

 

[bolide]

Why buy a new car for a year and suffer all that depreciation?

Nick Froome
the independent Mercedes Estate specialists

 

[Dieselman]

Why buy a new car for a year and suffer all that depreciation?

Why change at all, just keep the Vulva..

 

[flango]

Why buy a new car for a year and suffer all that depreciation?

Nick Froome
the independent Mercedes Estate specialists

Sorry Nick it wasn't a very clear post now I have re read it. I was going to buy a second hand car to tide me over for a year however I have now decided to buy a new car which I will keep 3 - 4 years depending on the mileage I rack up, I agree a new car for one year no sense at all hope that clarifies my original post

 

[flango]

Why change at all, just keep the Vulva..

Need to change now before it's worth nothing and with a bit of luck it's already pre sold to a work colleague.

 

[Dieselman]

Need to change now before it's worth nothing and with a bit of luck it's already pre sold to a work colleague.

The rate of depreciation slows with respect to age irrespective of mileage. If it's being sold at a decent price then fair enough, otherwise keep it and run it into the ground...especially as you get free workshop time.

I've always fancied doing uber miles in a car, but don't do enough mileage now. it would be fun to see 1 Million miles on a car.

 

[developer]

so test drove the BMW 320D & 520D M SPORT tourer and they are a complete load of sh*te. also test drove the C 250 cdi estate and E320 cdi estate and to be completely honest they are both on a par with the BMW's.

That's a high bar you've set Ian.

 

[Dieselman]

That's a high bar you've set Ian.

Certainly quite a bit higher than an Avensis.

The Avensis is a typical Toyota. it does what it does very well, but is about as exiting as a washing machine.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

When I was looking for a pick-up 3 years ago, the Toyota Hi-Lux Invincible was the top of my list. Until I looked at the interior which was from an Avensis.

It was hideous, I had one for 48 hours and the interior and dash looked like they belonged in a Yugo.

Other than that, the Avensis will be like all Toyotas; reliable yet bland.

 

[wemorgan]

I bet there are some cracking deals on Saab 9-5 right now. Being a derivative on the Insignia it should be on your list too.

 

[A210AMG]

How many miles do you do?

What's your budget?

If you think the 520d / C250 / E320cdi were no good not sure why you think a toyota is better?

Do you need an estate / hatch etc?

 

[Aswall]

I have to say I'm puzzled. You call the 520d Touring, generally agreed by most people who've driven it to be one of the most complete all-round cars in production, a load of sh*te and prefer one of the most tedious cars ever made. This does tend to suggest that your subjective opinion is so far removed from most car enthusiasts that there really is no point asking what anyone else thinks.

If you just want cheap and reliable then maybe it's good buy for you, though there's probably something Korean that's even cheaper?

 

[davidjpowell]

I bet there are some cracking deals on Saab 9-5 right now. Being a derivative on the Insignia it should be on your list too.

I'm not sure on this - the production line has been shut for months I think. I suspect there are very few actualy made.

No experience of Toyota, but never much rated them personally. I would suspect a step down from the Volvo.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I have to say I'm puzzled. You call the 520d Touring, generally agreed by most people who've driven it to be one of the most complete all-round cars in production,

It's nothing special, I've driven it.

The one area that Mercedes has always had the march on BMW and other car makers is the estates.

 

[flango]

I have to say I'm puzzled. You call the 520d Touring, generally agreed by most people who've driven it to be one of the most complete all-round cars in production, a load of sh*te and prefer one of the most tedious cars ever made. This does tend to suggest that your subjective opinion is so far removed from most car enthusiasts that there really is no point asking what anyone else thinks.

If you just want cheap and reliable then maybe it's good buy for you, though there's probably something Korean that's even cheaper?

I had high hopes for the BMW but without the adaptive suspension kit it is sh*te, yesterday I put the car very hard into a left hander at around 65 mph and lost the back end easy to correct but far too easy to break away, the Volvo will handle that corner and does regularly at 80 mph that was enough to cross the BMW off the list completely. RWD VS FWD I know but not good.

I never said I prefer the Toyota I haven't driven it long enough yet to pass an opinion and I don,t want something cheap and cheerful budget is up to £40k if necessary but I'm not prepared to spend £35k on something that can't corner as well as a £24k Volvo

If you have driven one you are entitled to you opinion if you haven't then please don't express the views of others in the media in order to justify your comments I can read for myself, constructive comments are what I am after, having being a test and race driver and professional motorsport competitor for the last 30 years I am well qualified to judge a cars handling and performance thanks

 

[flango]

How many miles do you do?

What's your budget?
£40k if necessary but £30k or less would be better

If you think the 520d / C250 / E320cdi were no good not sure why you think a toyota is better?
I don't I havent driven it long enough to form an opinion which is why I am seeking the panels

Do you need an estate / hatch etc?
Yes definitely has to be an estate

Hope that answers so opinions can be expressed.

 

[A210AMG]

^ How many miles do you do?

I agree no point at all paying more for something just as it has the 'badge' I'm just suprised you found the BMW and Mercs 'that' bad. I have the older S211 and I can hammer on quite nicely, I would like to think the sport versions of the new ones only better?

what are your requirements? does it have to be a diesal? I guess so? given what you drove.

How about the Audis or newer volvos? or the XF jag.

 

[flango]

Certainly quite a bit higher than an Avensis.

The Avensis is a typical Toyota. it does what it does very well, but is about as exiting as a washing machine.

I would probably agree but only had a 15 min test drive so can't really form an opinion,it just did everything right and felt right but will not have chance to put it through it's paces until Thursday, the we'll see on "Velcro Bend"

 

[Aswall]

I have driven one and owned and driven earlier versions. I wasn't referring to others in the media, mainly other car enthusiasts I know. I have also driven a Toyota Avensis.

My comments were not meant to annoy you, as they obviously have, just to point out that you are unlikely to find someone who matches your taste in what you want out of a car by the sound of it, so how valid would their comments be to you? We all like different things, if you're unsure, probably the best thing to do would be to ask someone who knows you really well and vice versa?

MY neighbours have just replaced their Avensis with a Skoda Superb Estate which I was very impressed with as a passenger and has a huge loading area, though I haven't driven it yet.

 

[flango]

^ How many miles do you do?

I agree no point at all paying more for something just as it has the 'badge' I'm just suprised you found the BMW and Mercs 'that' bad. I have the older S211 and I can hammer on quite nicely, I would like to think the sport versions of the new ones only better?

what are your requirements? does it have to be a diesal? I guess so? given what you drove.

How about the Audis or newer volvos? or the XF jag.

Depends on where work is the Volvo has done 80k in 3 years so I'm working on that as I drive in Europe quite a lot.

Has to be diesel if I buy new, Audi A6 Avant has only just come out and prices are high with no discount and difficult to get your hands on to test drive and I would then be going against one of my philosophy's never buy version 1 of anything

New Volvo V70 and V60 are both good but it would be my 6th Volvo if I went this route and just fancied a change