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Comments
Sounds like Microsoft is involved with this problem, remember windows 98 ?
Sorry couldn't resist being an IT tech
limiteddriver
The incline was about 4 to 6 deg. I have been doing about 45 mph constant when the shuddering happened. It felt just like it would if you were going up a hill with too high a gear. I will try to duplicate and report.
dydiddy - Minneapolis, MN
I'm in CA and having the same problem. My local dealership has some XLS's and Touring models in stock, but Limited, in any color, is an order only item. I did get to look first hand at a white one on site and being delivered. I was very impressive. I'm told that the dealer can look at their allocation and "reserve" a unit for me with a modest retainer.
I'm getting quoted around $35,000 for a Limited with an MSRP of 38,100. Now I just have to off load my 04' BMW 325i SMG as the dealer wants to pay $2,500 under what Edmunds/KBB says trade in value should be. Yes, I know it's a numbers game...give a little, take a little.
Oil filter- I change my own oil/filter but wasn't expecting the multi-step process to get at the element. The filter instructions refer to a special tool- anyone out there change the filter yet that can provide some tips? Sure miss the old screw on-off cartridge! I have the laser cruise control and the car automatically downshifts/accelerates agressively when increasing speed and on long trips it has to reduce mileage- any comments?
http://toyota.autowebaccessories.com/store/toyota-avalon-accessories-cat385_1207.php
Welcome feedback.
I took the car in for my 3000 mile oil change and was going to get this checked out. On the way there, I could not duplicate the problem. I mentioned the issue to the service manager and said that I couldn't duplicate the problem any more. He said they would check it out anyway just to see if they could find anything wrong. They didn't find anything wrong and he said there was a service bulletin that indicated that a sulphur smell can occur during the break-in period. I tried again to produce the problem after the oil change and could not. Since the issue appears to have gone away, I guess that it was just related to the break-in period. Thanks for your feedback. I'll provide an update if this issue resurfaces.
The best place for you to research what others are paying for the new Avalon is the discussion at this link: Toyota Avalon: Prices Paid & Buying Experience.
Hope this helps - keep us posted!
Hey rhack,
Since you have a Limited, you have the JBL sound system. The Toyota (Pioneer) XM receiver is designed to work only with the JBL head unit. It will display through and be controlled by the head unit and steering wheel controls in a fully integrated fashion. Any other XM unit will have its own control panel. The Toyota/Pioneer XM unit is available through your dealer as a part, and can be installed by anybody. There is also a harness that needs to be plugged in between the JBL head unit and its feed harness.
If you will do a search on this forum for "XM", you'll find details in prior posts. "3puttmax" had a nice installation done with the Toyota unit and a very unobtrusive Terk antenna on the dash.
sward
In early April I bought a Phantom Gray Pearl XLS w/vsc, JBL 12-speaker/6-cd changer stereo, glass breakage sensor, carpeted floor/trunk mats, wheel locks for $30,557, which also included the mandatory $540 or $590 delivery charge, and an approx $500 advertising charge. This price did not include sales tax (5% here in MD) or a $100 bogus dealer "processing fee" or approx $200 for mandatory (in MD) two-year DMV registration fee.
My total was $32,399.84 out the door and in my driveway. With strong bargaining and a dealer with an overstock of Avalons, you might be able to do better than my deal by as much as $500 or so. Unless you are in Florida, your offer of $31,100 seems high (assuming it doesn't include sales tax). Also, if you belong to a credit union or are employed by a medium to large company, you may be eligible to purchase your Avalon through a buying agency which would give you a pre-negotiated (and very favorable) price. Good luck.
Regards,
Deanie
I have the laser cruise control and the car automatically downshifts/accelerates agressively when increasing speed and on long trips it has to reduce mileage- any comments? "
Retired7, I gently used a pair of channel lock pliers on the cannister to start screwing it off. A "special tool" wasn't really required. This type filter IS harder to deal with and Toyota charges you more for it. And they say they went this route to be better for the enviroment. If you do you're own filter changes check out www.toyotapartsworld.com for filters. I find that they have the best combination of price and S&H.
As to the laser cruise I don't find that it accelerates agressively and only deaccelerates agressively when forced to by another vehicle that cuts sharply in front of you. The LC does take a bit to get used too.
MikeS.
XLS and paid 30,800 plus taxes and processing fee, with the options you mention above. The dealers are not budging on this car. I also got financing at the credit union at 4.65%. Dealer was a lot higher. Just no incentives right now.
Good Luck...I also own a 98 Avalon.
Thank you.
Sorrydog
it's important to remember that an automatic is a compromise between not having to shift gears and the downside of not knowing what gear you're in...BUT...there is a solution: with time, and some patience and a keen ear and butt, you can learn when your transmission will shift...both speed and rpm's...this will aid you in knowing when the transmission will downshift and under what conditions.
without "learning" when your transmission shifts then the driving experience will be diminished, imo. jackg 90seville 97k
+ Carpet Mats/Trunk Mats + Window Tinting
My opinion of the 05 Avalon is as follows. A really great car, very quiet, powerful, comfortable and stylish. I am getting approx. 24 MPG doing suburban/city driving. I use only premium gas. I really do like the laser cruise control, XM radio, driver's seat extension and strong acceleration I would not purchase the remote start again it doesn't work all that well. The navigation system is also of limited use. If you stray from large metro. areas there is no coverage. I also have the uneven exhausts.
\
Overall, I consider this to be the best automobile that I have ever owned. One final comment, I did experience a couple of erratic shifts during the first few hundred miles but this has not occurred for quiet some time. I expect that the computer has adjusted itself to my driving habits and has programed itself accordingly.
ri
While driving to church this morning, something hit the windshield. I now have a crack that extends about 12 inches in a curved L and looks like it's getting longer. My initial thought was to call my insurance company to have them arrange to replace it and pay the deductible. However, the Limited has a special sound reducing windshield that the typical windshield repair shop probably wouldn't have. The dealer may be the only one that can get this windshield. Not sure if there is anything else special about this windshield.
Please see post #5913.
Bakeroid
Please see post #5913.
Bakeroid
Just curious--how old are you?
What don't you like about the remote start? Do you think an aftermarket one would be better than the factory one?
Is the Nav easy enough to program? I have one in my 300M and it's not that difficult to do once you get used to it--takes maybe 90 seconds to input an address--sometimes its a bit slower as it accesses the data on the disc.
I believe all dvd nav systems use similar software and have similar coverage areas. I live in Boston and hardly ever have a problem with coverage and I travel throughout Eastern Massachusetts in my work. I use the Nav in my 300M every day and love it. Couldn't do without it now.
Ditto for the erratic shifts. My Infinitis had simular issues off and on ..... same kind of computer control.
I have had a Volvo V70, Infiniti G35 & FX45, Nissan 350Z, Cadillac Seville, Volvo 960, Audi A6 Wagon and a Lincoln Town Car, and my Avalon LTD is also the best car I have owned in the past ten years. My Volvo's were great cars but the 960 had to have the transmission replaced under warranty. My Cadillac was a constant problem. The Audi was really nice but under powered. I still have the 350Z but it is only good for smooth roads in the summer.
Does anyone know if this Gulf States charge is for real or it is fabricated? I am trying to determine the correct invoice price before making an offer to buy the car.
I'll put my two cents in here.
As for color, it's like picking a wife--what is beautiful to you may be ugly to others and the reverse is true. If it is beautiful to you, who the hell cares what others think.
I think black in all cars makes it look regal and classic. But keeping it clean is another matter. We selected the desert Sand Mica because we live at the end of a dirt road. The dirt is very light colored tan. We have tried ivory colored cars and it helped, except they had black bumpers and by time we got to a paved road, the black was almost tan. So we get a car color close to the color of the dust here.
As to the '05 Avalon, we got the color I mentioned and the Limited. My wife and I looked at and test drove the Jaguar and the Lexus 330, 300 and 430. She eliminated the Jag, the Lexus 330 and 300. The 430 she liked. When I asked her if she would feel right driving a 64K car on our dirt road, she agreed that it wouldn't be practical. We looked at and drove the Avalon Limited and they had the color we wanted so that is what we got. Neither of us have regretted our decision. We like the car and all of the bells and whistles that are on it. So you will know where we are coming from, our cars over the past 10 or 20 years have been a Cadillac, 4 MB and a Volvo S80. This Avalon is probably the most all around car that pleases us the most. The Caddy was a dog, the MB 240 was as dependable as a pig iron ingot, the MB 190 was a car in miniature, the MB 300 ( a four door hot rod) was very good but a fortune to keep it up, the MB 320 was the same as the 300. The Volvo S80 was very comfortable car to drive and very good on mileage per gallon but a bear to keep the maintenance up.
We are both pleased with the Avalon Limited.
Now, if she will just get use to the fact that she doesn't; need the 'key' in her hand to start it, she will have made a major step forward in technology.
After a little over 1K miles in our Avalon, we are very pleased with the Avalon 05 limited. We had looked at an Avalon in 99 when we bought the Volvo. We did not like the 'amenities' and finish of the insides of the '99 Avalon. The '05 has corrected what we did not like in the '99.
I might be old in years (75) but I'm still young at heart. The black is beautiful, but in our case, the desert sand is more practical.
Have a drink to the ability to have a choice.
Southeast Toyota adds a $699 "smoke and mirrors" charge to all new Toyotas. It thoretically includes security window etching (the Florida Attorney is currently investigating this over-priced rip-off), a "protective coat" on the paint, undercoating (just what you need in the south), and a couple other equally useless extras. If you live in Florida and want to avoid this rip-off, please see posting #5913.
Bakeroid
Thanks for the information. The "smoke and mirrors" charge will be explained to me tomorrow at the dealership. I have always bought cars for a specific dollar amount above invoice price, but we have a dispute over the "invoice price."
garry4
GodFthr
I am 71 years young. My main complaint with the remote start is the range. I park my car in a detached garage and the remote will not work at that distance. I have no experience with aftermarket units.
This is my first nav system so I am just learning. I live in the tidewater Virginia area and do not use it locally as I'm familiar with the area. I am planning a trip to Ashville, NC next week and had planned to use it there but the manual doesn't show that area as being served. I will try to use it when I get there.
Love my Avalon so far after 2000 miles. Transmission is very smooth shifting during all phases of normal driving, but it is very aggressive when shifting up or down in laser cruise mode. The RPM's jump way up when resuming speed or it brakes much harder than necessary when slowing down. This is very annoying and seems like it should be able to do both much smooooother. I have turned to using normal cruise control most of the time instead. A software fix, maybe?
My nav covers all of the United States and parts of Canada. Does the Toyota nav also cover that area?
From what I have heard about the laser cruise control, I think I may just avoid that option. What I like about the remote start is that you just use your car remote to start the car instead of having a second remote. My car would be parked about 20 feet from my house , so I would be able to start it through window on those cold winter days.
I just wonder if an aftermarket remote would have a greater range.
What kind of security system comes standard in the Avalon Limited. My 300M has a chip in the key that I start the car with and the car can't be started by jumping wires as it needs the signal from the chip in the key before it will start. Does the Av have this type of security? Does it use an alarm or just beep the horn and flash the lights if someone tries to enter the car without a key?
The Camry is high on the list of stolen vehicles. I would hope that the Av, with less popularity, would be lower on the theft list which would keep the insurance more reasonable.
Very popular cars are high on theft lists because there is a demand for used parts. On the Camrys and other cars, it is actually the older models that are in the most demand be car thieves.
Cars can be stolen by towing regardless of anti theft devices that prevent the car from being hot-wired and driven off. Just avoid high crime/theft areas and get insurance.