I had a 2004 Camry that I put after market XM radio in. I first mounted the antenna on the roof right above the rear window, then with some reception problems moved it to the leading edge of the trunk lid right by the center stop light. This was a lot better but not as good as I had hoped. I bought an 06 limited in October. It did not come with factory XM so the dealer put it in and mounted the antenna as you describe which is exactly according to Toyota specifications. NO RECEPTION PROBLEMS AT ALL. I would get used to the antenna and enjoy the radio.
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.
It would be truly nice if we lived in a society were people were always honest. But that is just not the case. Some people are just out there to cause trouble. If there are people in here just making up stories then all that does is make this forum completely useless because then people are basing their opinions on their false truth. All I can say is that I have been watching this forum for awhile and my head is truly spinning because I don't know what to think as I am sure many other people feel the same way. Please be honest if you are going to be post here and then we can be intelligent informed consumers. Thanks
Now, wouldn't the manufacturers simply put the antenna inside themselves if it always works fine mounted inside even where there are no terrestrial repeaters available and there is no benefit to installing outside? 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.
jaxs1 - C'mon, you're looking at this thing too rationally!
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
Yes, many large cities have these repeaters on the ground to boost the signal that may get blocked by buildings. 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.
Has anyone thought of painting their sat. antenna to match color of the car. I imagine that toyota sells cans of factory spray paint that would match. Or you could find a color from aftermarket that would match closely.
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.
If you Google a painted satellite antenna, you will get some hits. There is a company which has been discussed on this board which provides an aftermarket painted XM antenna, which I am told, is very nice. Frankly, the more discreet the antenna is, the better I like it.
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.
Hi, 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.
Welcome! Highly suggest you look back through the past 200+ or so postings...you'll see lots of positives & negatives re the new Avalon. DO NOT let any of them influence you with your new car. Drive it and experience it for yourself and form your own opinions.
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.
I have had my 06 Avalon XL for 3 months with 4300 miles on it. At the first, I did have couple problems. My steering wheel had a vibration and my speakers were rattling. I took the car to my dealer and they have fixed those two problems a while ago and now I just love my Avalon! Such a nice car to drive. If any of you guys are looking into the Avalon, I would say go for it!
guys i think theres another rattle it comes somtimes and on very bumpy road it comes from my right side ! anyone go it ? i think its the passenger seat or rear seat right side cuz i already fixed the rear shelf rattle but this is new one !
The rattle could be from the seat belt's clip. Lower the adjustment "bar" and the clip will be more secure & won't rattle. This has been discussed many times in the past.
One possibility to check is on the passanger side seat. If the head rest is fully extended, I notice an occasional rattle when no one is setting in the seat. Lowering the head rest resolved the problem.
I have an 06 Limited with 7500 miles and am very pleased with it. However, I have a problem that someone might be able to help. The Nav system will calculate gas mileage, but it resets every time I turn off the ignition. This makes it practically useless because I can't even check one tank of gas (unless I am on a long trip). I was a very dissatisfied 04 Maxima SE owner before the Avalon, but even it did not reset until it was done manually.
" . . . dealer said they didn't put any coating on the leather interior but instead tried to sell me an overpriced "option" for that. Could someone recommend a treatment for the leather interior?"
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! ) and car seats, it works great. And at a small fraction of the cost of what the dealer will charge. My '06 Avalon got the treatment within a few days after I picked it up.
Just ordered a 2006 limited Titanium Metallic for my wife . We had to order it because I wanted every option under the sun and the dealer install price was double the factory price. My question is where is the XM antenna installed by default? I had not given it any thought because my other car a 2004 Avalanche is too high off the ground to see it really. I know that I don't want a black box on the hood of this car so I would like to get another option installed by the dealer before we pick the car up. This site has been a great source of information, we are trading a 2002 X-Type Jag for the Avalon and it is truley an upgrade. The Jag ride is hard and noise is just too loud, add to that we have a two year old so the trunk was too small also, oh and I'm 6'3" 270 so all family trips are done in the truck. Looking to getting this car and updating our adventure in the Avalon.
I have an '06 Limited with the factory install of XM radio. Mine was built on September 13th. As the post above mentions my antenna is located in that rather odd location of right-side of the deck lid. Have to admit it bothered me at first but in the three months I have had the car it's become less of an issue. When it warms up in the Spring I may move it. I thought that at least one poster recently mentioned that the latest builds had moved the antenna to a much more reasonable location? Anybody remember this?
Greetings, 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
Rather than rehash much of the info already discussed on this board in the past, suggest you use the search feature and type in simply "xm"...you will get a multitude of hits discussing everything from placement of antenna, lack of a scroll feature and just about everything else positive (and negative) about xm. Try doing the same thing with "sirius"...you can educate yourself fairly quickly. zekeman1
All I can say is...thats NOT my experience with my 2004 Avalon XLS. Its been reliable and the transmission is fine. Best car I have ever had. I think the Lucerne is a nice car, but the Avalon is a better one.
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.
To clarify zekeman1's suggestion, let me explain that there is a "Search This Discussion" box just above the first post and just below the last post on the right side of the page. It's something that some folks seem to miss. That's what he's talking about when he says do some searches.
What DVD players in the headrest, is that factory because I never saw that. Or is a dealer option that they have set with a local installer...just curious.
Check this web link and it will show you step by step instruction on installing XM or Sirius radio. For you it will show how to remove the head unit from your dash...Good luck
Could be a dealer option. It was around $2k for two monitors in the front headrests & the player was in the dash. Didn't look into it too much as it was something we just wouldn't use.
Picked up 2006 LTD in November. The factory installed XM radio had the antenna mounted on the inside rear deck next to the high brake light. The antenna is also much smaller than the trunk mounted antenna.
The 2004 is not of the new system. The first year new was 2005. The 2002 avalon and 2004 are the same and were good cars. This new one is like driving a chevy from the '60's-70's. 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 $4-5K.
The only things I like are the power and interior room. All else */*^$.
"According to JDP the Buicks do well, better than Toyota."
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.
Since the JDP data includes the RDZ, which has more than its share of problems, that lowers the Buick scores. Fair? Unfair? But it's a factor to consider in the comparison.
Looks like both are doing well in providing what _their_ buyers want.
He's not wrong about most Nav systems being difficult to use. Example: I have two acquaintances who each own Mercedes E-Class sedans.($75-90K a copy!!) Both are equipped with nav systems. Neither one of them has EVER been able to use their system because they haven't been able to figure out how!! They laugh about it, but it is truly frustrating for them.
Thanks, that might do the trick, I first need to investigate the ports on the JBL Radio. 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
I am trying to figure out how to take off the cowling on my 2006 LTD to tape on a lexan cover to protect the glass lens of the Laser Cruise Control module. It was easy on my Sienna. But on the Avalon it seems like there is a screw holding it on. Has anyone taken off the cowling? If so how did you do it - does it just pop off or do you have to take off the cover below the bumper to get to the screw? The local dealer had no idea how to take off the cowling.
If you have a toyota dealer that will not sell you a part tell them to kiss off. I would call around to other dealers and check with them. You may even try out of state or out of town and they may even sell it to you and arrange delivery.
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.
Instead of all the emotocons, maybe a sympathy card might help? 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?
Once again, we ALL need to accept the fact that while our car might be absolutely perfect, someone else's may not be. And if someone else's is not, and several other someone elses' are not, there is absolutely no reason to assume those other people are all the same person.
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.
OK, Pat. You make the rules but I think what many of us are saying is that this forum, in it's current state, is not working for us.
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.
How much do you want for it? I may find you a buyer if you are so dissatisfied with the car. Give me the specifics and e-mail them to me. My e-mail is in my profile. :shades: Mackabee
I'm moving the Bottom Line up here to the top: My Avalon a very comfortable car with a lot of passenger room and power at a good price. While I really like my Avalon a lot, I'll never mistake it for a high-end luxury sedan.
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 , I'm cured of any desire to own or lease a car like a 745i again. I really can't stomach spending that kind of money on a car any more. So I'm a happy Avalon owner.
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 , something I've had the displeasure of experiencing on more than one occasion). I believe the Avalon gets to 60mph in 6.5 seconds. That feels about right to me. Both cars are more than fast enough for the kind of driving I do these days. I will say this about the 745i: I once took it to 145 mph, and it felt rock-solid. That's something I would never attempt in an Avalon. The 745i is built for it, and the Avalon isn't. Of course, do you really want to pay tens of thousands more on the off chance you'll have a chance to play Mario Andretti on a track? If you really thought you were going to end up on a track, you would be better off with a Z06 anyway, not an Avalon or a 745i. Let the Avalon be what it is -- a very quick, comfortable, high-content family sedan.
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.
jc now that the engine hesitation forum got locked to a read-only -- is it possible to ban disruptive users from posting rather than closing a discussion forum?
That forum should have been closed a long time ago. There was absolutely nothing useful anybody was saying. Just the same tired rhetoric of how bad Toyota cars are. When a forum outlives its usefulness and degrades into name calling it should be closed.
"While I really like my Avalon a lot, I'll never mistake it for a high-end luxury sedan."
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.
I posted occasionally at that forum until recently. 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.
hi there 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
tstrick - This forum has actually helped me in a number of ways with my 05 Touring (one of the first 6000 Avs built) including a recall that I wasn't aware of on the steering column, sources for discounted Toyota parts, and even some of that endless tranny talk which now has changed the way I drive the car. However, don't think it is realistic to expect this (or any other) car forum to be all about warm and fuzzies - actually the opposite more likely - such is human nature. I think you will find posters on all forums just out to create some controversy, some that may not even own the car just out to get some jollys or satisfy some other agenda. Unfortunate product of a public forum? 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.
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.