Faults:

Clutch.

ABS.

Sub-frame rust.

General Comments:

Avensis - a very reliable car. But in all honesty those are the only positive things to say about it! The car is otherwise as average as you can get; if you want an example of a generic car, this is the one.

Exterior looks ugly in my opinion, but I can live with it. I would prefer a darker color, but mine was bought used so I had no choice and it is silver as most cars from this time period are. Does nothing for it. Alloy wheels are nice looking though.

Inside very dull grey and functional. Perfect example of a 2000's Japanese interior. It is comfortable though and inoffensive. Pretty quiet and smooth though. Spacious in the front and rear. The clutch placement is weird however, and I hate using the fiddly climate control.

1.8 VVTi has plodding performance and does about 36 - 38 mpg. The car is OK to drive, nothing exciting as expected.

At 17 years old and higher mileage it won't last forever, but I am happy to use this car for another couple of years. They are expensive on the used market because they are known for reliability. It is worth it I would say, they are better cars overall than the Mondeo and Vectra if you can live with the dullness of the Avensis. But I would buy the newer 2009 onwards model if buying again; this generation is getting too old and rust is becoming an issue on these cars.

Faults:

Brake discs on the front warped.

Oil changed approx every 40-50 thousand km.

This car costs me nothing. Boring to drive, but built to last forever.

General Comments:

Will buy Toyota again, but won't need one for a while. I drive it as a taxi, and expect to get a million km before I change it.

Faults:

Battery failed due to faulty contacts.

General Comments:

I bought this Avensis as a replacement for a new shape Mondeo TDCi Zetec, as the Mondeo was too wide for my new workplaces parking spaces, and unbelievably this shape of Avensis is about 13 cms narrower.

I think I was spoilt by the Mondeo, the Avensis definitely feels like the last generation of this class, which of course it is compared to the current Mondeo. The Mondeo rode and handled better, has more steering feel, and had less engine and wind noise.

However, the Avensis does feel better built; not surprising bearing in mind Toyota's reputation.

I was impressed with the kit count; sat nav (very old tech display though), rain sensing wipers, auto lights etc, though I did miss an aux connection for my iPod, down to the car's design age I guess.

The auto wipers seemed a bit slow to react though, they're far better in my new car, a Vauxhall Signum, and a real bugbear for me was nowhere to rest my right foot when the cruise control is on; the Mondeo was great for that, and my Signum is good too.

I got about 42-43 mpg on average, mine had the 150hp 2.2 diesel, and performance was actually pretty brisk, but it always felt like you had to cane it for mid-range acceleration, whereas my Mondeo with less power and more weight always felt like you didn't have to try as hard; maybe it's down to gearing?

Good size boot and good rear space, although felt a bit narrow inside for class of car, my wife's Skoda Octavia is actually slightly wider, I can't moan too much as that's partly why I bought it though!

Bodywork looked like it'd last forever, and I like this shape of Avensis, I think the exterior has aged less than the interior.

Overall, a functional, slightly forgettable (even boring?) car which did the job. I can understand why so many taxi drivers use them.

Replaced now by a 2.8 V6 turbo Vauxhall Signum in a fit of madness!!