Avensis T180 £2k

[MrMister]

Looking for a safe solid family car to replace my wife's 59 plate 130k 1.4 Mini First (yes a first, so not even air-conditioning!!)

Anyway, T180 Avensis, I had one 7 years a go albeit a 2.0 D4D and loved it, for what it was - took up to 135k

Now, the T180 is pretty huge spec like this one...2.2 chain driven I believe?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

What are people's opinions, and yes I need diesel as I do 20k a year, as she will be using my 318d which I ai t selling.

[Countdown]

They’re good.

Loads of space, very reliable, takes 5 suitcases, quiet and torquey on the motorway, steering was quite light on the petrol that I had, and seats aren’t German-hard. You probably know already that they dont enjoy being hustled around bends and roll/understeer when pushed. My cousins had a DMF problem with his at 150k

Having said all that, if I was buying a £2k diesel, THAT would be the one I bought.

[xstian]

The t180's have head gasket problems. A bit of googling soon brings this up.

[MrMister]

Countdown said:

They’re good.

Loads of space, very reliable, takes 5 suitcases, quiet and torquey on the motorway, steering was quite light on the petrol that I had, and seats aren’t German-hard. You probably know already that they dont enjoy being hustled around bends and roll/understeer when pushed. My cousins had a DMF problem with his at 150k

Having said all that, if I was buying a £2k diesel, THAT would be the one I bought.

Yes, they do not like to be hustled, but they do go along in a normal brisk fashion, thats what it main job will be, literally just motorway work all week then parked up at weekend. Yeah DMF issues is a diesel problem in general, and have only ever changed one in any diesel I have ever had (118d).

[MrMister]

xstian said:

The t180's have head gasket problems. A bit of googling soon brings this up.

Yep seen this, this does put me off a little - but how bad is it compared to for example the N47 BMW problem, as gone through two of these with no issues?

Anyone got any real world advise on the HG issue?

[MrMister]

It was either a vansis T180 or a Accord 2.2CDTI Touring, these have sneaked under the <£2k limit, again alot of car for the money, any advise on these?

[xstian]

Is that the Accord that has the clutch issues?

[MrMister]

xstian said:

Is that the Accord that has the clutch issues?

What modern derv doesn't have clutch or DMF issues? Seem more reliable than alot of other cars?

[anonymous-user]

xstian said:

Is that the Accord that has the clutch issues?

This is the problem I have when looking for cars, I find something that looks good value for money and start doing some investigation. It is not long before I discover it has some achilies heel and I go off the idea.

E90 4 Cylinder petrol and diesel. Both have timing chain issues, the petrol has random impossible to fix engine warning lights
Audi/VW - Burn oil, older Audis have the multi chronic gearbox problems.
Jaguar XF 2/7/3.0D - DPF failed regens cause the oil to be diluted by diesel causing problems.

Honestly it is so bad now that I am almost scared to buy anything other than a £1k shed incase it suffers the reported problems.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say go for it they represent good value & the head gasket issue isn't as bad as the BMW one.

There's also the slightly smaller Lexus IS220d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[MrMister]

Joey Deacon said:

This is the problem I have when looking for cars, I find something that looks good value for money and start doing some investigation. It is not long before I discover it has some achilies heel and I go off the idea.

E90 4 Cylinder petrol and diesel. Both have timing chain issues, the petrol has random impossible to fix engine warning lights
Audi/VW - Burn oil, older Audis have the multi chronic gearbox problems.
Jaguar XF 2/7/3.0D - DPF failed regens cause the oil to be diluted by diesel causing problems.

Honestly it is so bad now that I am almost scared to buy anything other than a £1k shed incase it suffers the reported problems.

Yup, I have ran X2 N47 engines, that should of failed long ago...nothing! Im actually keeping my 318d N47 113k as second car, just want something equally big and wafty - Accord seems to be better than the T180 Avensis, alot newer cars - if I google 1998 Corolla Petrol, I am sure to find problems

[MrMister]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say go for it they represent good value & the head gasket issue isn't as bad as the BMW one.

There's also the slightly smaller Lexus IS220d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

This is the sort of answer I want, dont know how any one would buy a car if we all googled it, put off everything - Thanks for this, but I actually prefer the practicality of the T180 Avensis being a hatchback

[ZX10R NIN]

MrMister said:

This is the sort of answer I want, dont know how any one would buy a car if we all googled it, put off everything - Thanks for this, but I actually prefer the practicality of the T180 Avensis being a hatchback

All modern cars have one issue or another, you can google issues on pretty much every brand it just depends on how prevalent the issue is.

[loskie]

treat yourself and take a look at a Volvo S60 D5

[shake n bake]

xstian said:

The t180's have head gasket problems. A bit of googling soon brings this up.

Most were fixed under warranty.

[MrMister]

loskie said:

treat yourself and take a look at a Volvo S60 D5

Yeah I have looked at these, but bit too big for me in reality

[Jag_NE]

I’d have a look at insignias and mondeos. Loads on the market to choose from, parts probably a lot cheaper than the Toyota too.

[MrMister]

Jag_NE said:

I’d have a look at insignias and mondeos. Loads on the market to choose from, parts probably a lot cheaper than the Toyota too.

Good point, you can get even 5 year old Mondeo's for £2k for similiar mileage....interesting

[Countdown]

MrMister said:

Jag_NE said:

I’d have a look at insignias and mondeos. Loads on the market to choose from, parts probably a lot cheaper than the Toyota too.

Good point, you can get even 5 year old Mondeo's for £2k for similiar mileage....interesting

I wouldn’t.

At that age/mileage I would expect stuff to be going wrong with Insignias and Mondeos far more often than the Avensis.

[Jag_NE]

Countdown said:

MrMister said:

Jag_NE said:

I’d have a look at insignias and mondeos. Loads on the market to choose from, parts probably a lot cheaper than the Toyota too.

Good point, you can get even 5 year old Mondeo's for £2k for similiar mileage....interesting

I wouldn’t.

At that age/mileage I would expect stuff to be going wrong with Insignias and Mondeos far more often than the Avensis.

Perhaps, but if you can get a newer/lower mileage mondeo or insignia it can level out, I’d expect parts and maintenance to be cheaper too. To be honest 2k cars are a bit of pay your money take your chance whatever you go for.