Meet the Fleet- 1998 Toyota Avensis AKA “the backup”

Here’s a stalwart of the fleet- my parent’s long term favourite car- a 1998 Toyota Avensis 2.0 CDX auto.

Bought back in the early 2000s, this has served as a dependable daily driver for many years- and was oftentimes loaned out to ourselves as backup car whenever our latest piece of (cheap) exotica failed.

An early model, it is a top level CDX version, and benefits from some high end equipment:

Leather Interior

Multi mode Autobox

Air Con

CD player

16” alloy wheels

Remote control central locking

2.0 engine

Driver and Passenger Airbags

All options not to be laughed at on a 1998 Japanese car- especially one built in Derbyshire

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

What it makes up for in equipment, it lacks in driving.

Overly assisted steering coupled to springs/dampers designed to be more appropriate or a 7.5tonne truck lead to a detached front end- little or no feedback is forthcoming. To the rear, the firm springing does, however, endow it with a similar load carrying capacity to the afore mentioned commercial vehicle.

Although the 2.0 engine is willing, and has over 130 horses, they are hobbled by a 3 speed autobox. First and second get you to 60mph, then third has the unenviable task of dragging it up to (and beyond) the prescribed limits.

In its defence, it has been as reliable as sunrise- never failing to start, and happily providing an easy 40mpg on a run. As a daily useable car, it is pretty much all you could ever need. Its taken us to countless interviews (always getting the job) Hell, it even provided motivation for fixing whichever one of our broken scrap it was subbing for.

About 2 years ago, it was retired from active duties due to the degeneration of some parts. Since then it has been languishing under a cover- waiting for some resurrection and de-rustification. Evidence of the key areas of concern are displayed below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An edict from the BIG BOSS (aka the Maw) has enabled the re-awakening of the Avensis, and the costs and works involved in recomissioning. Once finalised, and approved, we’ll be giving updates as the work progresses. Its likely to be fairly involved- and should see it returned back to as new.