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XLE base with 17"" wheels and tires
XLE base with 18" wheels and tires
XLE premium with 17" wheels and tires
XLE premium with 18" wheels and tires
And so on.
Naturally you could limit the choices to certain models but the effect would be the same, a loss in economy of scale and added production costs per unit.
Lexus charges more per unit for much the same car and offers more wheel and tire choices but the customer pays for the extra choices. Think I am wrong?see if you can find a ES 350 that list for $32,000.00 with full leather seats.
Skip
Anyway, I know this is just one opinion, but the Avalon used to be the benchmark in just about everyone's opinion, including Motorweek & Consumer Reports, in the large sedan, non "luxury" category. It's a disappointment to Avy lovers like me, and probably Skip too.
As much as I didn't like it, there's NO way in hell, I'd purchase a Ford, Chrysler, Dodge or Maxima over the Avalon, no way.
Now the Azera É maybe. The Impala, not sure.
I look at longevity, resell, RELIABILITY, and resale and I don't think many of these would or could compare.
Skip
Most folks, most magazines agree, this is not the correct title for the current model.
Many have said, "Premium Luxury Sports Sedan" and or Premium Sedan, but NOT Luxury.
Skip
Personally, I love the handling and ride of my 2013 Avalon Limited V6 -- it is close to a sports sedan and for me that is vastly preferable to the Beautyrest Mattress-on-Wheels ride of prior Avalons (as well as prior Buicks et al.) With the powerful V6, it is an exciting car that is fun to drive, and I have found it very well-appointed and comfortable as well. It's darn good-looking, too.
There is a clear trend toward stiffer, better handling suspensions throughout the auto industry, here and abroad (consider the transformation of Cadillac, and even Buick (!), for example.)
Robert N.
Skip
Again I say, they could have simply made the LTD for folks who want ride and comfort, while not selling less, but in fact selling more, and this won't have cost them much if anything at all.
- Replace the shocks with other $?
- Softer seats $?
While this would have been a big enough change for me to keep the car, there were other things I didn't like, BUT could have lived with.
And in hindsight I do wish I had waited and test drove a Hybrid, as I might have lived with all the things I didn't like, for the great MPG.
Oh well.
Skip
I know Toyota designed and built for a younger buyer . If I want a stiff sporty ride, I will buyer a....... not an Avalon. I had a corvette for that ride.
Sales have improved triple digits over 2012, but will never approach the numbers achieved when they introduced the 3rd generation. They sold 95,318 in 2005 and sold 88,938 in 2006. This year they will hit 70,000 (64,778 thru Nov.) for 2013s. I bet that will go down every year as this model gets older just like it does with most cars.
As has stated here, they should make a Luxury Limited model to retain us who bought Avalons for room, luxury,cushy and comfort.
Keep the large trunk opening, the reclining rear seats (or gone with fold-down), keep the large spacious interior and made one of the 5 or so models (Let's say LTD), for those who got this model to where it is today.
LE, SE, Touring models, could have what they have, no changes, and they would have still sold has many young folks, and with the LTD being setup for me and others who want a quiet, comfortable driving Luxury Sedan - they would sell MORE!
4 Avalons later, (2008, 2011, 2013) and I have a 2012. There is a reason for this.
You, and others are right, the numbers will go down. Yes it won't be until they have sold a ton of them, it's just to bad they forgot about us, because they could have sold a ton more.
Skip
Bring back more comfortable seats, as in my new car, and a less harsh ride and I may come back to the Avalon too.
Is anyone aware whether there has been a recent (June 2014) $250 increase in the MSRP for all 2014 Avalon models? "Build & price" websites such as edmunds.com (and others) all seem to reflect that new higher MSRP, but Toyota's own website doesn't yet, nor have I found any news of a June Toyota price increase on any automotive websites.
I am afraid I must concur with numerous comments posted here. I have a '07 Touring that I absolutely LOVE. Soon going to hit the 200K mark. Thought I might trade for a new one but the "upgrade" makes a 2014 Avalon nearly indistinguishable from a Hyundai Sonata. Okay, I am not a "spring chicken" but I still have a number of driving years left in me and I was hoping to do it in a conservatively designed and priced sedan. Apparently it will not be a Toyota. That's so sad.
You might want to look at the Impala, Taurus, or the Chrysler 300.