2005-2007 Toyota Avalon

future1

Yeah, Avalon looks very nice in these pics -- much better than in those photo op posted previously.

 

mcclearyfl

We have two cars, the 03 Avalon XLS and a 2002 Saab 9-3 5-door. The Saab has an enormous trunk. When you put down the rear seat you can carry a small refrigerator. In spite of the Saab's load-carrying convenience (or because of it), the lack of a fold-down seat on the Avalon has barely been noticed. The pass-through seems to suffice for most purposes.

negative

I would definitely notice the lack of a fold-down rear seat. My Camry has one. With the seat folded, I remove the front wheel of my bike, put it in the trunk, and drive to the bike trail a few miles away, on a regular basis. I don't use a bike rack, don't want to, and won't buy a car that requires me to. As a matter of fact, I AM looking at wagons, too, for that reason. (But not a Dodge Magnum. I prefer to see out when driving.)

johnclineii

You might also want to look at the Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego. HUGE trunk and the back seats go down---AND so does the front passenger seat. An eight foot ladder fits easily...or eight sets of golf bags in the trunk alone (not that eight passengers are going to fit!)

future1

Umm, why not a Ford truck? You can fit sixteen sets of golf bags in there. Wouldn't it also be wonderful if Avalon had the same towing capacity and the ground clearance? I could also use it as a dumpster next time I rebuild my deck.

johnclineii

Drive anything you think you might be interested, then decide. When I buy a car, I test everything from Celica's to DTS's. You'd be surprised the variety of vehicles I have owned, many of which I didn't think at first I would even be interested in.

 

It's your money. Spend it as YOU wish!

callmedrfill

Against the 300 Touring, the 500, and the LaCrosse (I think). I know the Avalon lost, and the 300 won, who was 2nd?

 

  An AWD 500 with 250HP (I guess will come in '06) would seem to be a srong value (If resale value isn't a big deal 2 U). I'm not a big fan of superpowered FWD.

 

  This Avalon should take a nice healthy chunk of Maximas bydnis, as if it hasn't been emasculated enough with the Amber Info Display and Mohawk!

 

  I'm not in love with new lights and grille. Dig the line down it's flanks. Not in 300 class, outside, but the inside is clearly butter!

 

  DrFill

bartalk2

What issue of MT? Didn't notice it. Are you sure it's not R&T?

johni

Here's the link to MT article. Of course, it's the 2004 Avalon that was tested.

 

http://motortrend.com/roadtests/sedan/112_0412_mojo/index.html

future1

Hmm, interesting. In the Feb 05 issue of the "Consumer Reports", 24 family sedans were rated. The Chrysler 300 Touring ended up #16, Ford Five Hundred #7. The last two places were given to Pontiac Grand Prix and Dodge Stratus.

 

The first two places? Toyota Camry XLE and Honda Accord EX V6.

larryt22

For the past couple of months I have been going to Google about once per week and doing a search on '2005 Toyota Avalon'. Most webpages get noticed by others and their links are quickly posted here, but this one seemed to get published with nobody finding it. I assume it wasn't suppose to be found until January 10th, but that is just my speculation.

bklynguy

The pictures look nice, I just hope the vehicle handles better than the current model (and not just the touring model).

bartalk2

Thanks for the link. Somehow I assumed it was the new Avalon that they tested. Wonder why they bothered rating a car that's going to be replaced in a matter of days/weeks. Sometimes these car mags seem to test whatever cars or configurations drop into their lap or are just available from local dealerships. It's kind of a slipshod policy.

larryt22

I assume it will handle better than the current model but I don't expect it to be very sporty. That just isn't how Toyota engineers their sedans. Hopefully we will get to check them out soon as I assume some dealers will begin getting their first car in just a few weeks.

 

I saw a report elsewhere that a dealer in Tennessee had a car at his dealership. I don't know what the circumstances were as I doubt they have actually started shipping them from Georgetown yet, but that was encouraging never the less.

 

The styling still seems to be typical Toyota conservative as well, but at least it has more style than the current version.

 

Pricing is the item that concerns me the most. With all of the neat features available, I am just afraid they are going to price it too high. Until the new Lexus ES comes to the market, the Avalon will have a significant feature advantage over it. I will be really interested to see how it is priced in comparison to both the current Avalon and the Lexus ES.

 

The next problem will be the old supply and demand story. If the vehicle is priced right and the dealers don't try to scalp the customers, I predict Toyota will have a hot seller here. The problem then becomes one of whether or not Georgetown can keep up with the demand. For some reason I just think Toyota will continue to produce the new Avalon at the old Avalon production rates in order for dealers to demand full sticker price (or more).

 

The other thing that bothers me is I still have not seen anything to confirm or deny whether or not you MUST use premium fuel. If you must, the car will automatically be scratched off of my list of potential vehicles. I refuse to buy a vehicle that requires the use of premium fuel. I don't want to start a long debate on this topic, but the ability to use lower grade fuel is more important to me than the price of the vehicle.

 

Is it January 10th yet? I can't wait to get all of the details and to seem more pictures.

seapirate

Considering buying a 2005 Avalon,or Lexus ES 330,or 2005 Camry.Do all of these cars have the same hesitation problem with the transmission.With the Avalon 2005 as it is not out yet should have said the 2004.Thanks for any help.

callmedrfill

The '04 Avalon has the most rear leg room of them all. I've sat in one back seat and was duly amazed at how far the fronts seat was from me (I'm 6'4"). Quite cavernous!

 

   I don't think the new Avalon will be much more fun to drive. Faster, yes.

 

   The interior seems to blow the others away. The Ford's wood is noticably cheap and cheezy (as in the F-150 Lariat). The 300 is OK, but the surfaces are fairly hard, with many lines and sharp angles. Not exactly friendly, going for a macho feel. A mans touch. Lot of buttons in the LaCrosse.

 

   The FWD bothers me. But the exterior is getting better, and the interior is there. It's not another Maxima.

 

   DrFill

future1

seapirate: Considering buying a 2005 Avalon,or Lexus ES 330,or 2005 Camry.Do all of these cars have the same hesitation problem with the transmission. Thanks for any help.

 

We've discussed this issue at some length. It's scattered between posts #677-#728 and #774-#781.

tiny361

I have a 2001 XLS, but I haven't looked on this forum lately so please forgive me if this subject has already been heavily discussed.

What's stopping Toyota from offering a 4WD/AWD option for the Avalon? The company certainly has the technology from its SUV lines.

More and more attractive sedan models from other makers -- from Infiniti, Cadillac, Audi, Acura, etc. -- offer this, a very attractive option for those of us in snowy states. Avalon's lack of this choice is soon going to make it look very "Nineties" against its competition. I'm going to look very hard at the Infiniti G35 before my next purchase.

teereeves

tiny361,

 

Infiniti, Cadillac, Audi, and Acura are all luxury divisions. Toyota is not a luxury division, that belongs to Lexus. Toyota may have plans for its Lexus division sedans to have 4WD/AWD option in the near future. The new Avalon with VSC and other technology should suffice somewhat in a snowy climate, unless we are talking about off road in the snow, then we are not talking about a sedan but a SUV.

coug2

What about ford 500 and chrysler 300? Both are offered with AWD options and less luxurious. I too, would like an AWD option. Regardless, if the car drives as nice as I expect, my wife will likely decide that's the car she wants, and we'll still have my suv for trips when its snowy.

spencer327

Previously owned 2000 XLS, presently own 2003 XLS

both have factory installed side moldings. Sure hope the new ones have this feature. Saves alot of door dings. If Toyota corrects the shortcomings of the 2003, will definitely buy one. like what I see so far. Transmission is my biggest concern! I am living with 2004 HL 5 speed.

bluesman3

AWD is becoming more popular, although at the expense of fuel economy.

mackabee

The production rates and what the dealers sell the cars for have no relation to each other. Once the factory sells the cars to the distributors it's out of their hands and they could care less what the dealers sell them for.

                   Mackabee

future1

The production rates and what the dealers sell the cars for have no relation to each other.

 

I've been told otherwise in my Economics 101 class. If the factory produces 10,000,000 Avalons a year, they will flood the dealers lots and there will not be enough buyers, forcing the dealers to sell for less. In the other extreme, if you have only 10 Avalons produced per year, you will probably have to pay around $200K to get one, even if the factory sells it to the dealer for $20K. If the supply/demand curve hold for everything else, why would the cars change its shape?

cove148

From all the pictures I have seen, I have never seen any indications of side moldings. That and getting the transmission from the ES330 are my two concerns, everything else looks great. Interested to see how they price the car..

spencer327

I think thats too simplistic, since there are many other factors including all the competition My general rule is dont be the first on the block to have one. The dealers will tell you of the great demand and look for MSRP. By the end of 6 months the prices will have moderated and deals will be had. You also have a better selection since the early cars are loaded.

ederzawiec

AWD in the newer vehicles does not carry much of a price or MPG penalty. On the Ford 500, which I was considering for some time, it is about 1 MPG and $1500 MSRP

 

Even though I live in Maine, I can easily go either way on AWD. I've heard it really doesn't do that much for you in the snow, and I'm a bit concerned about increased maintenance costs.

 

I wouldn't mind if the new Avalon offered it, but it certainly isn't a deal breaker for me.

buckwheat

Toyota began researcing this program back in 1998 referred to as "Customer-Oriented Production", a no fee program to custom order any of Toyota's North American built vehicles.. It is an 8/03 article that states the program would be nationwide in 2004 - now that it is 2005 it should have proved itself one way or the other.

 

http://autoweek.com/printwindow.cms?articleId=101&pageType=ar- ticle

bluesman3

I'm interested to see that, I know availability is a problem on some models, of course this means they can charge MSRP if they want to.....

buckwheat

Very true! But if this has been around for 2004 there must be someone who can attest to the value & worthiness of the program. You still have to go through a dealer..

williamt

It used to be, and I doubt has changed, that no auto manufacturer made cars on speculation--they could not flood the dealers because they did not build one vehicle that was not ordered by a dealer. This is probably modified some during a "launch," such as the Avalon is about to have, but basically I'm betting it is the industry norm.

johnclineii

Well, that is NOT the way it works.

 

Else, Chevy would not be looking at a over 300 day supply of its roadster....

bluesman3

GM builds cars because they have to, not because they want to. They ceased being about cars long ago, their current purpose in this world is to be a healthcare provider. Otherwise they wouldn't be giving huge incentives to move cars, so they could keep the factories pumping out more.

 

They have something like 1.1 million people on benefits and pensions........

mackabee

My point was that the factories don't say "Ok, guys let's build these many so the guys down on the dealerships floor can charge full sticker for them" There are such things as projections. Ultimately the market demand determines the selling price. I wouldn't expect any discounts right off the bat on the first cars coming off the car carriers.

                  : )

               Mackabee

pmcb48

Considering all the competition (Buick Lacrosse, Ford 500, Chrysler 300), and the plummeting sales of the current Avalon, I would think dealers would be interested in getting some cars out on the streets and having happy customers talk about the great deals with their co-workers (like all my fellow doctors! :-) ). After all, this isn't the Sienna we're talking about here (7x number of posts vs this string). Give me a reason to come and see you, Vic! At MSRP I can go anywhere. I don't line up at midnight to get the first Harry Potter books, and I won't be anxiously pacing behind the truck when the first Avalons pull in. Besides, my wife likes Manicure Day at our Sienna dealer :-).

toycash

With Toyota, the regional offices do the actual ordering of vehicles months in advance. Then, the dealers are allocated vehicles generally based on their share of the regions sales and their sales of each vehicle line.

bluesman3

See I'll be anxiously be pacing behind the truck just to tease all the salesmen, then I'll wait 6 to 12 months........

 

I love cruising through the car lots just to watch the sales force come scattering out the doors and around the corners.

buckwheat

So toycash are you saying, to your knowledge, there is no such thing as a custom order - via a dealer - of a North American made Toyota?

bluesman3

I forwarded that article to one of my dealers, let's see what they say.

buckwheat

I look forward to it!

mackabee

I gave you plenty of reasons to come see me for your Sienna xle Arctic Frost with HO package and you never showed up!

                      : )0< Vic

buckwheat

Can you comment on the custom order post#849, is this for real?

pmcb48

reasons blur in my (getting older) memory. Ended up with XLE Limited. Since consensus (at time) was MSRP, even more so for a custom-ordered Limited, and since I hate negotiating anyway and hate wasting people's time even more, ended up flipping a coin as to where to go. But then it's another year and another (Avalon, this time) Limited. Maybe another coin, too! :-)

mackabee

Maybe next time. I was doing $500-1000 off MSRP at the time but only when I had a bonafide buyer in front of me. May do the same with the Avalon.

              ; )

               Mackabee

mackabee

No such thing. There was at one point a few years ago some discussion about being able to walk into your Toyota dealer and pick and choose options and voila! 12 weeks later your new Toyota would be waiting at the dealer. Nothing official ever came of it. Toyota's "Just in time" production system does not allow for it.

           : )

            Mackabee

larryt22

That is really disappointing to hear. I am reaching the age where my next vehicle purchased could potentially be the last new vehicle I ever purchase. I want it to be my dream vehicle speced out exactly as I want it. Zero exceptions! I can't tell you today exactly what that is, but if Toyota can't produce the vehicle I want, I WILL go elsewhere if I can get what I want somewhere else. I know Toyota doesn't really care about losing one sale to me, but I have to feel there are many others out there that feel exactly the same way.

buckwheat

mackabee, thanks for the response..

 

larryt22, I share your disappointment..

wesg

I agree with larryt22 (post #867). I drive an 89 Camry (265,000 miles) and a 97 Camry (78,000 miles), so a new 2005 Avalon very well may be the last new vehicle I purchase. We'd like to have a very nice vehicle to tour the United States and visit our old Air Force towns where I was stationed...and would like to have specific items, ie., all the goodies without the navigational system. I intend to purchase a Garmin Street Pilot in lieu of the factory option. So..it would be nice to be able to specifically order factory installed items and to leave some out. Guess time will tell..and maybe there will be a hint on January 10.

jdeib

I have to say that my car was a custom order. I say this because in the fall of 2001 when the new Camry came out I wanted a 4 cyl SE with cloth seats, fully loaded. The problem was Toyota was not building them with the ABS and the Side Airbags. The option list stated that this was possible, but the factory wasn't producing them. My dealer called their supplier (Mid-Atlantic) and confirmed that nothing like this was on the schedule for production. They received approval to have this car built to how I wanted it. It was not simply waiting for a future car that the factory was scheduled to build with those options, it was an order. Simply put, if I didn't specify this particular car, it never would have been built. I'm sure Toyota doesn't encourage doing this, and it will be at least a three month wait if you are truly asking for something special. But it is possible. Good luck!

fsv

That's sort of depressing! Be positive, we'll live forever. Hopefully.

 

Anybody knows when the car hits the dealerships?