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Comments
How's the interior quality and comfort?
How spacious? Is the rear sear headrooom compromised by the new styling?
http://www.hyundaiusa.com/Vehicles/Tucson/Main.asp
Talk about missing the boat........
I just don't understand why the car makers structure options in such a rigid way. Why not let the buyers configure the cars the way they want? Perhaps the thinking is to force the buyer to buy a higher-priced trim, but doesn't it also make the car less attractive compared to other brand where a certain combination of options is available?
I want to buy my car just like I purchase a Dell computer online -- if I am willing to pay for a particular set of options, why not let me do it?
Leaving VSC off the options list of the Touring would be a huge mistake, IMO, given the significant and impressive press its gotten lately ranging from the IIHS to Car and Drivers Csaba Csere. It just seems too huge a mistake to make.
Otherwise, this car looks phenomenal, and I think Toyota has a very strong hit on its hands. Nice to see very minimal price increases accompanied by greater equipment levels.
~alpha
The Touring leather isn't black as originally spec'd, it's dark charcoal.
Hit the link and click on the eBrochure:
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/future/avalon.html
Next, we need some info posted from the real world road tests we all are going out to get.....
It's very disappointing... This seems to be a trend- All newer cars assume all you carry in the rear is a bunch of Kids!
I'll take a look, but I was hoping for a roomier car.
You'd think a company as large as Toyota would put out accruate information?
And is the trunk really only 14.4 cu ft? Thats awful, barely larger than a Corolla, and not close to the Camry's 17+ cu. ft.
Looks like the range tops out at $38,310 for a Limited with NAV, Dynamic Laser Cruise Control, and VSC/BA. Notably, an XLS with VSC is $32,430, about the same as a 2004 model. An XL at $26,890 with no options isnt cheap, but its very well equipped for a base model, and given the signficant upgrades, is a good value, IMO. (All quoted prices include $540 destination).
My personal choice would be the Touring with VSC/BA, but who knows if thats even going to be offered. Shame on Toyota!
~alpha
Beg to differ. This is all IMO, so fire away. Toyota pulls this every new model now, as this is their MO. I agree with you, as in the past, the XL, their base model, is their best value. Unless their marketing has changed, the 10K differnece between the base and the LIMITED, is mostly electronics based, some of which didn't work very well in the old model (ie: auto climate control) and so of it is "FuFu", electronics based gagedtry priced with a huge mark up for what you are getting, unless ofcourse you are a salesperson or everyday you wake up to go to work and don't know where you are going, is a GPS system worth 1K or will a AAA Atlas with large print suffice for $8.95 (member price). We can all wait until the dust clears, and the options are better dileaneated but "buyer beware", especially in the first MODEL year, to those of you who have to have it.
abfisch
Ha, I wish I could pay 1K for the GPS. No way: in the new Avalon, the GPS along will add $2,500 to MSRP. That seems overpriced for me.
I'm still crossing my fingers with regard to VSC, though, for the XL and Touring models. I just dont understand how it makes sense for it to be unavailable, when it can be found on $18,000 Corolla LEs.
~alpha
'04 Prius - Smart Entry and Start
'04 Prius - Voice-Activated DVD Navigation with BlueTooth Technology for hands-free phone use.
'04 Solara - Tire Pressure Warning System
'04 Solara - 5 speed Sequential Automatic Transmission
'04 Sienna - Parking Assist
'04 Sienna - Dynamic Laser Cruise Control
'04 Lexus ES - Power Rear Sunshade
Well this flagship missed a few of those technologies, here they are:
'04 Prius - Voice-Activated DVD Navigation with BlueTooth Technology for hands-free phone use.
'04 Solara - Tire Pressure Warning System
'04 Sienna - Parking Assist
I really love to have the top 2 from the missed list, I don't care to much about the Parking Assist feature. I will not be buying the 2005, hopefully they will add the 2 missing features I care about in the 2006 version of the flagship.
Tee
Doug
Honda has been the master at this game for years.
http://www.detnews.com/pix/2005/01/10/autoswhow/toyotaavalon.jpg
Also, why not offer heated mirrors on the XL? This is standard in most bigger cars today, especially for the "Flagship".
Otherwise it could be a nice car. I don't fall in love with that unusual interior design, but that's just my taste.
When I picked up my Highlander, the sales manager came out with an 18v cordless drill and some sheet metal screws, and "mounted" my plate on the (plastic) bumper that way. As I stood there, slack jawed, he said "this seems to work the best".
Wonder if he knew it was a lease, and he'd be seeing the car again in 36 months (this summer).
They probably think that we all have big SUV's to haul stuff around.
But at least you will have one use for our (despised) older models of Avalon. We will be happy to carry the excess stuff that you can't fit into your 15% smaller trunk
That's right, 10 years of Avalon!
tell another story. Obviously it shows the Touring does have a moonfroof.
And what's the difference between "Integrated Fog Lights" and "Integrated Fog Lamps?" They both are mentioned but the models don't agree.
"newest all-solid state Electronically-Controlled Throttle System w/ intelligence (ETCS-i)"
This clause in the spec seems to imply that the old non-solid state throttle system has been debugged. I do agree with others -- this issue will affect the Avalon fortune (or misfortune) to some degree. It looks like the consumer rating of ES330 would have been near 10 here at Edmunds, if not for that pesky flaw.
Add: and, as they always do!
I don't believe them any more. Too many mistakes recently from CR. Let's not start over this discussion, but most people noticed it.
FWIW, CR did note a reluctancy to downshift in their last test of the ES330 with the 5 speed auto.
~alpha
It may just be a personal hangup, but I refuse to buy a vehicle that REQUIRES premium gas. That is why I will never consider a Lexus because they do not have this self adjusting feature.
Fully loaded '05 Camry XLE V6 with Nav: $26,700
'05 Avalon with Nav & Stability Control: $36,150
The prices above include the 5% tax and are based on the actual price that I am likely to pay at the dealership. $10K difference -- I am having a hard time justifying that premium, even considering the Avalon goodies.
At this point, I am leaning towards the fully loaded Camry XLE or perhaps a bare bones Avalon XL (if it can get it below the MSRP, which is probably unlikely).
Every time I get into a Camry I have the same sense of visual disappointment. I paid a lot more for the Avalon, but have never regretted it. With all the improvements in the new Avalon model the choice would, for me, be even easier.