In a quandary about changing car...

[Newgrass]

I'm currently driving a 2008 TR D-4D which for me does everything I need from a daily driver, accept it's not ULEZ compliant.

So, I like the overall size, with seating suitable for 4 adults and a terrific boot size.

I'm currently getting just over 50mpg which I think is pretty good for my daily town and dual carriageway driving.

My budget is limited to a max £10k, would love to spend under that.

So can anyone recommend a Toyota model to start with or maybe something away from Toyota, I appreciate that the Avensis shape isn't that popular anymore 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Why not go for another, later Avensis if you like them ......  

[NeilAvensisT]

I changed a few years back from a TD to a 2010 1.8 Petrol Avensis estate, great car, get 45-50mpg generally. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

[Cyker]

Personally I'd recommend a Mk4 Yaris, but I'm not obsessed with them or anything

It would be a lot less comfortable than the Avensis and a lot more expensive than £10k tho'...

If ULEZ compliance is something you need, I'd look at a hybrid of some sort, as you can bet your donkey the ULEZ will get more and more restrictive over time.

Otherwise, if you like the car, I'd keep it - There are very few newer cars which are as both comfortable and reliable and generally nice as that Avensis. Most newer Toyotas are just as reliable but nowhere near as refined or comfortable, and german cars have the refinement and comfort but not the reliability. You can still get both with Lexus, but who wants to pay that kind of money?  

 

[Mojo1010]

Auris hybrid is zero road tax pre April 2017 and it will be better mpg. It all depends if smaller size and boot really matters. Or the Prius. 

[TonyHSD]

£10000 does not buy much of car these days unfortunately. Perhaps a newer Avensis estate 1.8 petrol, these are good one and try to avoid any diesel Toyota except pick up trucks. Auris hybrid TS also ok. Other option but you need to stretch another £5000 at least is Corolla TS 1.2T. This is really good car and fun to drive! It does have new tech with an old school manual transmission and nippy turbo engine., mpg thought will be around 40, for more hybrid are better, and they are more suitable in heavy traffic. 

[2009joe]

5 hours ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

Why not go for another, later Avensis if you like them ......  

I'd say wouldn't go for one newer than the ones comes with the Toyota engines not the BMW ones though 

[Konrad C]

If you need to be ULEZ compliant, it will need to be petrol for Avensis (T25/T27), unless you get the later BMW diesel. The Auris in petrol form was available in hatchback and estate. You might find hybrids within your price band, but many may have been used as taxis/minicabs so have high mileage! 

Other brands to look at are Hyundai  i30/i40, Kia Ceed/Optima, Mazda 6.  All will be within budget and be ULEZ compliant, especially when looking for Euro 6 diesels.

Vauxhall are not bad and the Astra uses the common place 1.4T engine. Avoid Fords with the 1.0T Ecoboost engine. The wet belt is a disaster waiting to happen!

Other brands like VAG are okay but pricey and less kit for the money. 

[Newgrass]

Many thanks for the replies, I have seen a Mazda 6 I liked the look of but it's had 4 past owners which set alarm bells running. It's all food for thought, wish I could just bung a petrol engine under the bonnet!!

[2009joe]

19 hours ago, Newgrass said:

Many thanks for the replies, I have seen a Mazda 6 I liked the look of but it's had 4 past owners which set alarm bells running. It's all food for thought, wish I could just bung a petrol engine under the bonnet!!

Would you not be tempted with a Toyota petrol hybrid they should be cheap road tax .tbh I was chatting with a guy who has one of those Toyota petrol hybrid and by the sounds of it they have expensive insurance to do with Battery or way they made god knows 

[Mojo1010]

Can understand the reason the OP would want a Mazda 6 diesel as it's big and got good fuel economy, especially the manual. I do miss the diesel torque, though are happy with the little Yaris hybrid MK4.