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Comments
Well, there seem to be a lot of opinions on this. My experience has been that the antenna at the base of the windshield works fine both in the city (Los Angeles) and out on the highway (I-5 between LA & Seattle).
I'm sure there is a performance penalty compared to roof-top mounting, but in practice the reception rarely cuts out. Mine sometimes cuts out driving under a thick blanket of trees that overhang the road, or in a deep forested canyon, where you can't get a direct line of sight to the satellite. Bottom line - this happens so rarely that the overall experience is just fine.
Max
I have heard a lot more people post they tried installing it inside and they thought it was working ok until they drove out of range of the repeaters.
I've been a big fan of XM for a long time; after I got my LTD and found where they installed the antenna, I was very vocal about it. I called the 800# at Toyota and bitched to them about it in addition to writing a letter. They pacified me by giving me $250 toward service. Then I read about switching the antenna out with a micro Terk antenna and it's been working fine since. I didn't want to install it on the trunk lid or roof since my car is Blizzard Pearl and over time, I'm sure the antenna will fade color beneath it. If I ever remove it, I believe I might have an outline on the finish (maybe/maybe not).
I installed an aftermarket XM in my Lexus ES-300 and put the antenna inside the car on the rear package deck. Again, strong signal - never lost it. You mention "terrestrial repeaters"...I've never heard about such repeaters for XM or Sirius, so can't comment on them. Are you sure they exist? Why would a repeater be necessary for a satellite? I've certainly heard about cell phone repeaters, but for satellite radio???
zekeman1
The side effect is that the boosted signal coming off the repeaters ends up being strong enough to work reasonably reliably through glass. Once you are out in an area outside the range of the repeaters, you have to rely completely on the much weaker signal coming directly from the satellite. Without any tall buildings around, it still works well enough when the antenna is outside the car.
Many cities have several XM repeaters on the ground, but the exact number and locations are not disclosed to the public.
It would not affect the reception and i bet it would look fairly nice and not too noticeable. Plus I have heard, as I plan to install SIRIUS this month, that they mount the antenna inside the vehicle on the windshield.
Honda installs a very nice antenna painted to match the car - a real class act. Why Toyota doesn't do the same mystifies me.
I'm quite pleased with the hidden appearance and the flawless operation of my indoorantenna.
It wouldn't even need to be repainted.
Just found this site and thought I would join up. I just purchased a 2006 Avalon Limited, w/Navi, Dynamic Laser CC in Phantom Gry. I have been looking to buy a new car for about 3 months now and I test drove the Avalone twice before today. It just seems like a great car. I am moving up for a 2004 Honda Acord EX w/Navi. I have done a great deal of reaserch on the Avalon and I have not read much negative about it at all. So far I just love it and look forward to many miles driving in comfert. If anyone has any little tidbits of wisdom or special secrets they have learned I would love to hear them. I will look though the old post and see what others have had to say.
I look forward to meeting some new friends here.
Thank you,
James
If you're looking for minutia on different topics, this is definitely the place. Interesting at times as well as boring, especially when one topic is picked to death. But then that's my opinion & you will undoubtedly see what I mean.
At any rate, I have an 05 LTD and like all the rest of the Toyota's I've owned, am 110% pleased.
Again, welcome to the board!
zekeman1
We too bought one just like yours, color & all. It seems like the only option we didn't get was the dvd players in the headrests.
We've been going through the owners manual and such trying to figure it all out.
I've been a reader & lurker here for a while, but now will join in the fray!!
chris.
thanks
3M Scotchgard Leather Protector. It comes in a small brown spray can. This stuff is, IMHO, the BEST of the "Scotchgard" line - I've used it on leather coats, boots, purses (no, NOT mine!
Mike
I have a 2005 Avalon LTD with Nav but no Satellite radio.
Would like to install aftermarket Sirius Sportster Replay and hard wire it directly to the stereo. Anyone have documentaton on removal of the Stereo and available inputs?
Many Thanks
LJS
zekeman1
The Nav system is a frustration, but I wouldn't base my decision to keep a car or not on one feature. I think most NAV systems are hard to use.
http://www.x5portal.com/05_Avalon_XM_Tuner_Installation.pdf
chris.
I have looked at the new Lucerne and as soon as I can will drive one. However, I'm already liking it from and appearance and on technical issues.
This Avalon LTD I have is a disaster. The engine now sounds like a diesel and now a rattle has started on the left side of the dash. I now hate to drive the car. You are wrong on most NAV systems. I have used one in a newer Accord and it is far and away better than this clunker.
I swear they found the worst possible NAV system for these cars. I don't find myself using it and have gone back to using Microsoft streets for maps for a trip.
The wind and road noise are worse than my 2002 XLS.
I sure hope I can find a gullible person to buy this from me and maybe only loose $4-5K.
The only things I like are the power and interior room. All else */*^$.
Just curious about the authenticity of this statement.
Is there a link to JDP comparison between Buick and Toyota?
Which models are being compared in making this claim?
to be honest I am over here only because the Host on the Lucerne forum asked an Avalon owner to check out this forum and basically stop riling up the Lucerne forum and I thought I would take a look. I probably will not be back here though.
But anyway, there was a question asked.
Per 2005 J.D.Power 2005 Vehicle Dependiblity Study the average 3 year old toyota vehicle owner had 194 problems per 100 vehicles. In other words about 2 problems per car. The average Buick owner had 163 problems per hundred vehicles. The average for all industry vehicles is 237. So both Buick and Toyota do very well. The Buicks in this study are the 2002 Century/Regal/LeSabre/Park Avenue/Rendezvous.
For 2005 models after 3 months of driving the Toyota brand had 105 problems per hundred vehicles and Buick had 100. Not a lot of difference. The average for all industry vehicles is 118. The Buicks in this study are the 2005 Century/LaCrosse/LeSabre/Park Avenue/Rendezvous/Rainier.
For 2005 vehicles the APEAL score for Toyota was 857 based on a 1000 point scale and Buick was 854. The average for the industry was 855. The Buicks in this study are the 2005 Century/LaCrosse/LeSabre/ParkAvenue/Rendezvous /Rainier.
I'm afraid I do not have the websites anymore. I am looking at printouts.
Looks like both are doing well in providing what _their_ buyers want.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Anyone know where I can get hold of the nylon panel removal tool?
Toyota SST# 00002-06001-01
Dealer would not aquire it for me unless I purchased the whole system from them.
Like I posted earlier, I'm just trying to hard-wire a Sirius Sportster Replay so I don't have to use the fm transmitter.
Many Thanks
LJS
Might find it on ebay but not likely. On the other hand I plan to buy the system later this month and install it myself in Jan. If I buy the tool, and i probably will, I would be willing to sell it to you, at my cost, at a later date...just a though.
zekeman1
I feel sorry for the guy--he's obviously bummed out about his ride, but how many times do we need to be reminded? :confuse:
An off topic question for our Host: Is it possible for one person to post at Edmunds with different usernames and email addresses? If so, can Edmunds do anything about it?
The personal comments HAVE to stop. If you don't believe a post, fine, just skip it and read the next one. If you have some comment to make about the poster, either email it to me, or keep quiet.
We are NOT going to continue bashing people because they say they have a problem. We also are not going to discuss this here. My email address is in my profile.
I don't have a problem with people relating their experiences with the 2005-2006 Avalon both good and bad. However, I do get tired of hearing from people who are over the top in both extremes. I'm also frustrated by the interminable, tedious, niggling discussions about 268 vs 280 hp and whether to change oil at 2999 or 3001 miles. A little of that goes a long way and doesn't do much to help me understand the Toyota Avalon I'm thinking of buying.
Two weeks ago I took over an hour to post a detailed "review" of my experience renting a 2005 Avalon. I tried to address, fairly, the issues I had seen discussed here and hoped it might encourage a more productive discussion. That post got ONE response.
A few days ago I posted my experience with visibility in the new Buick Lucerne which has been discussed by many as a alternative/competitor to the Avalon. That post received NO responses.
We continue to argue about horsepower, oil changes, XM radio antenna placements and other minutia that, frankly, won't have much bearing on whether I buy an Avalon.
I am quickly losing interest in this and probably won't hang on much longer. I realize you cannot, and should not, directly control the content of the forum but I think you have to face the fact that it is rapidly becoming a "club" composed of a very few, very vocal (and some virulent) participants.
How many unique visitors do you have? How is that number changing? What will that do for Edmunds' ad rate on the site?
You have the ability here to create forums on any topic and it would be relatively easy to "prune" this forum to keep it on track. If I want to spend hours reading about oil changes I'd rather go to a forum dedicated to that. But I was hoping that THIS forum would be about the 2005+ Toyota Avalon. I would also hope that people contribute their experience and move on. "Ranting" is unproductive and wastes my time.
That said, I will now shut my mouth on this subject.
:shades:
Mackabee
After three years in a 745i, I now drive a Toyota Avalon. I used to be a car nut, but between the high cost, frequent visits to my service department, and turning 40
In terms of quietness, ride, engine smoothness, and gadgetry/technology, the Avalon is a step below high end luxury cars like the 745i, the S-Class, and the LS430. As well it should be at half the price! To be sure the differences are small, but I do notice them. Then again, I'm pickier than most people I know.
So, after 500 miles, here's what I think of my Avalon:
1) The Avalon is a very quiet car when sitting inside with the doors closed. It's not as quiet as a $75k luxury car, but I think the Avalon is among the quietest cars in it's class. It's quiet enough for my picky ears, anyway. When standing outside the car it's a little noisy, but not excessive. The Avalon engine is reasonably smooth, but you'll never mistake it for a V8. Sorry -- I know there are people who will read this and say the Avalon's engine is as smooth as an x, y or z V8. I think the Avalon's engine is really smooth for a V6, but it's not in the same league as a $75k luxury sedan V8.
2) The Avalon is a smooth-riding car. On well-maintained pavement, it's a lot like the 745i. On pavement with small bumps and undulations, the ride "bounces" a little more than the 745i. It's difficult to put a finger on what's different, exactly. Bumps can be felt in the 745, just like any other car -- they just seem to "unsettle" the Avalon a little more, causing subtle "bouncing" effects. Should the Avalon ride as well as a $75k luxury car? I don't think so. A lot of engineering and technology goes into those $75k luxury car suspensions. As with all automobile technologies, high-tech suspensions will eventually find their way into the Avalon and other mainstream cars. It's pretty unrealistic to expect the Avalon to behave just like a car costing twice as much. Besides, the differences are very small.
3) The Avalon is fast. I'll bet it's among the fastest cars in its class. If I remember right the '02 745i got to 60mph in ~6 seconds (when it's not in limp-home mode
4) The Avalon is a very roomy car. It's significantly more roomy than the 745i, and probably about the same as the 745li. The lack of a rear-seat drive-shaft hump is welcome in the Avalon, as are the reclining rear seats. The front seats are comfortable, and the leather is soft. The Avalon's trunk is on the small side. I will take my wife's Town and Country if I want to get four golf bags and players to the golf course. If you want to take a family of four on a two-week vacation in an Avalon, pack light!
5) The Avalon handles OK, but it's no sport's sedan. Then again, I don't need or want a sports sedan -- the 745i cured me of that. I never encountered an emergency situation that required the handling prowess of a BMW, and I don't expect I'll ever need it in the Avalon.
6) I had a love/hate relationship with my 745i's gadgetry. Programming the NAV system was a long, tedious process that I came to despise, but I really liked it once it was programmed. To my ears, the Avalon's stereo is superior to that of the 745i. FM Reception is better too. The 745i's I-Drive system is an ergonomic nightmare. Push the joystick forward, press down, turn the dial, press down, wait, wait, wait for it to respond. You get the idea. It looked cool, but it was painfully slow, and I don't miss it in the least. The 745i's voice command system misinterpreted my voice commands so often that I quit using it. And don't get me started about the electronic gremlins which mysteriously disabled the entire sound system, or rebooted the car's computer (but never in the presence of the BMW Service Department). There's a reason I bought a Toyota this time around. It's called the BMW 745i.
Other things I like about the Avalon:
* Gets good mileage, especially considering how powerful it is (I get around 22 on local streets. I haven't taken it on an extended road trip yet)
* I really like being able to fill up with regular gas.
* Front-wheel-drive is so much better in the snow.
* The tach and speedo have a high-quality look. In fact, the entire dash/console has a high-quality look and feel.
* The heater is quick to warm up the car. Bun warmers help too.
* I look forward to owning a relatively reliable car!
* I like the extra delayed wipe I get when I use the windshield washer-fluid. It always gets that last little bit of fluid dribbling down the middle of the windshield.
Things that could be improved on:
* HID headlamps should be an option on the XL/XLS. It's a safety thing.
* I wish the sound system had an AUX input allowing an ipod or portable satellite receiver to be used with it.
* Torque-steer. Coming from a RWD car, it takes a little getting-used-to.
* It's too easy to spin the tires on this car. Traction seems to be on the low side. I'm already thinking about better tires.
* It would be nice if I could close the center console when my phone is in the cradle
* Transmission is very reluctant to downshift sometimes.
* The climate control should be capable of moderating temperature and fan speed no matter what mode it is in. For example, there doesn't seem to be a way to put it in AUTO mode and DEFROST at the same time. Maybe I'm missing something. If so, I'm sure someone will correct me
* I wish the trunk didn't require require so much force to close. It always makes me wonder if I'm eventually going to break something.
This is an example of a post that I find most helpful. Honest assessment of our Avalon without excessive praise or criticism (this car is perfect or a piece of crap etc.) Well said markhampton.
It was a decidedly anti Toyota discussion, with frequent very rude and insulting comments by some of the regulars there.
It had the potential to become a truly interesting topic.
As a result of it being an unpleasant place to visit, I made the decision to avoid participation and become a passive onlooker.
It comes as no surprise the the forum was closed. It certainly deserved to be.
Disruption was SOP there, mainly because the forum was dominated by that group of 6 or 7 regulars.
They collectively seemed to feel it was their proprietary right to run anyone off who didn't support their common topic, ie, all Toyotas were death traps with a chronic hesitation issue, a solution to this terrible design flaw has to be found, etc., etc.....!
Anyone who questioned their contentions was accused of being a Toyota "Shill", an "Employee", or any number of less polite suggestions. There were some really emotional outbursts from time to time--much like I've seen in this forum.
Looking over this topic from a passive perspective, I see the hesitation issue often flares up here, as do a couple of other recurring issues.
It would be a travesty if the same style of discussion happens in this forum.
Some exchanges have become almost as acrimonious as in the hesitation topic.
The host has had to step in and quiet things down, and rightly so.
Bottom line folks, is that any of these discussions is a two way street.
I would hate to see this one closed because of a lack of civility, or be turned into a platform for negative propaganda like the hesitation forum was.
I urge all participants to try and understand there are bound to be divergent opinions and ideas in discussions like these.
Using ephitets or intentional derogatory remarks to describe your car or other participants only serves to anger others.
Repeatedly touting your Avalon as the greatest thing since sliced bread doesn't help either.
Offering abrasive opinions and uncomplimentary remarks over and over again don't help to keep things civil at all.
At the end of the day, try to remember we're talking about cars, not capital murder.
There are more important things in life to talk about than cars, especially at this time of year.
The Best Wishes For The Season to Everyone.
actuly the avalon runs 6.1 in the 60' go to toyota site and watch the vid
also it has been proved here its faster than 745 and 645 for ur info
cheers
I appreciated your post about your 'velvet rocket' simply because it pointed out to me (and others, perhaps) how good the Avalon really is, notwithstanding sometimes legitimate and/or minor concerns we might have.