Any opinions/experiences gratefully received.
I am currently looking for a new motor. Pre-req's are approx 20/21k, well specced, estate, relatively low CO2 emissions, liked by the wife. I wont go into the reasoning behind why I have short listed the Toyota Avensis and Honda Accord, however the last of the pre-req's has a lot of influence. (Tried hard to sell the IS200 and Mazda 6 to her, however without success, plus before you ask, the A4 was knocked out based on price v spec)
I am looking at either the Avensis T-Spirit Tourer, or the Accord Type-S Tourer. Have a few days off at the moment, so today I went out to get some test drives. Neither of the dealers had the engine spec I wanted available, so ended up driving a 1.8 Avensis T3-S Tourer and arranging a drive in the 2.4 Accord Type-S Tourer tomorrow.
Very impressed with Honda dealership - they offered to get a car brought over from another dealer this afternoon, for me to test drive at 9:30 tomorrow morning. Whereas Toyota are going to ring me when they have a 2.0ltr T-Spirit available even though I said quite clearly I am deciding within this week - this may be the deal clincher.
First impressions of the 1.8 Avensis were good. Feels very solid, especially the doors which I guess must have been engineered to give that heavy solid feel. Very well specced, quiet inside, and ride was better (IMHO) than the new A4 which I drove a month or so ago. Salesman was a push over, so got to drive where I wanted, and choose some 'normal' UK roads covered in pot holes / repairs etc - very comfortable ride indeed. The only negative things I can say about it was the 1.8ltr engine has no go at all, plus the I'm not 100% sold on the looks yet.
Apart from the normal superb reliability I can expect from Toyota, does anyone have any experiences of the new Avensis?
The Accord is up tomorrow - I'll see how that fairs.
Kaine
I am currently looking for a new motor. Pre-req's are approx 20/21k, well specced, estate, relatively low CO2 emissions, liked by the wife. I wont go into the reasoning behind why I have short listed the Toyota Avensis and Honda Accord, however the last of the pre-req's has a lot of influence. (Tried hard to sell the IS200 and Mazda 6 to her, however without success, plus before you ask, the A4 was knocked out based on price v spec)
I am looking at either the Avensis T-Spirit Tourer, or the Accord Type-S Tourer. Have a few days off at the moment, so today I went out to get some test drives. Neither of the dealers had the engine spec I wanted available, so ended up driving a 1.8 Avensis T3-S Tourer and arranging a drive in the 2.4 Accord Type-S Tourer tomorrow.
Very impressed with Honda dealership - they offered to get a car brought over from another dealer this afternoon, for me to test drive at 9:30 tomorrow morning. Whereas Toyota are going to ring me when they have a 2.0ltr T-Spirit available even though I said quite clearly I am deciding within this week - this may be the deal clincher.
First impressions of the 1.8 Avensis were good. Feels very solid, especially the doors which I guess must have been engineered to give that heavy solid feel. Very well specced, quiet inside, and ride was better (IMHO) than the new A4 which I drove a month or so ago. Salesman was a push over, so got to drive where I wanted, and choose some 'normal' UK roads covered in pot holes / repairs etc - very comfortable ride indeed. The only negative things I can say about it was the 1.8ltr engine has no go at all, plus the I'm not 100% sold on the looks yet.
Apart from the normal superb reliability I can expect from Toyota, does anyone have any experiences of the new Avensis?
The Accord is up tomorrow - I'll see how that fairs.
Kaine
UK Owners Page 24
My Home Page
Mail me