talldave

I'd try changing the glow plugs if it doesn't start well when the engine is cold.

I've only done 176,000 in my Mk 1 1998 1.8 petrol auto. Would have done more but now working at home due to lockdown.

I wouldn't bypass the oil cooler. To state the obvious - the oil cooler is there to cool the oil and so without it the oil my get too hot.

Harry Carri - you're a man after my own heart. I think we have similar experiences. Here's a summary of mine: Avensis Mk 1, 1.8 petrol auto 1998, bought in 2005 at 49,000 miles. Now done 168,000. Always serviced it myself and had other work done at my trusted independent garage (£50 per hour here too). No real problems - just wear and tear. New O2 sensor in 2012, complete new exhaust in 2016, new radiator this year. New tyres (Michelin Energy) as required. Original brake pipes and auto gearbox - no problems with these yet. I change the gearbox oil as per service schedule.

If it was me I'd change the oil and filter - even if it hasn't done many miles - this is fairly cheap and easy to do. Also you then have an annual service history when you do come to sell it.

Glad to hear you got it sorted - and not too costly - on the scale of these things.

I had a similar problem with my 1998 Avensis 1.8 auto a few years ago. The problem was that the cable from the gear selector to the gearbox had become detached (at the gear selector end). The RAC came out and made a temporary fix to re-attach it. I drove to my local garage and they re-attached it properly (and charged for 1/2 an hour labour). Hope your problem is as easy to fix as mine was.

Don't know if this helps but I on my 1998 1.8 7A-FE auto I have a Halfords HCB013 (Calcium) battery. 540CCA, 60 Ah. No problems with this at all.

I fitted a Denso O2 sensor to my Mk1 Avensis. As Perfection says - that is what was originally fitted. I've had no problems with it.

I wouldn't be put off by the age. I have a 1999, 1.0L petrol Yaris that's done 108,000 miles and is no problem at all - passes the MOT every year and hasn't cost much to run. A common problem is the anti roll bar drop links needing replacing - but this is fairly cheap to do - about £80 when my garage did one side for me. That and a new exhaust is all that that I've had to have done over the last 4 years.

I have a 1998 1.8 auto - so not directly comparable as it's an auto. My normal mpg averaged over all driving is about 34mpg - but this includes a fair bit of town/country road and very little motorway. When I have measured it on the motorway on a single run I can get around 48 mpg which I think is pretty good.

Yes - I agree about the warranty bit. However my cars tend to be so old that there is no warranty - so I guess I have a slightly more relaxed attitude.

I agree with the above 2 posts. Service intervals are arbitrary thresholds. A few hundred (or even thousand) miles either way doesn't make much difference. The main thing is to have enough oil in the engine - hence the advice to check the oil level.

Hi Deakin - I've got a 2009 2.0 diesel verso. Had it for 4 years. It's only done 63,000 but no problems with it at all. Suspension seems OK to me. It is a bit harder than my 1998 Avensis Mk1 - but then that's pretty soft!

I swapped the front and rear wheels yesterday. I suspect that the drivers side front tyre might be slightly out of shape - but it was hard to tell. Anyway as a result the wobble has gone away and the steering is much better. Does anyone have a view on whether it's OK to leave the out of shape tyre on the rear?