2005-2007 Toyota Avalon

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Comments

  • jl618jl618 Member Posts: 64
    How much did the bluetooth option cost you?
  • donb1donb1 Member Posts: 49
    The recent edition of Motor Trend did a comparison of the Avalon Touring, the Azera and the Passat. The Avalon placed first, the Passat second and the Azera last. THey had good words to say about all 3 but said the Avalon was the best compromise of all the cars.

    They also did a write up on the new 2007 Camry. Some of the pictures sure remind you of the Avalon, esp the center console
  • driekdriek Member Posts: 12
    $299. Seems high, but I REALLY want this feature.
  • bahraini_zuprabahraini_zupra Member Posts: 98
    are they even diffrent ? any pics ?

    thanks
  • bahraini_zuprabahraini_zupra Member Posts: 98
    can u please discripes hows the bluttooth been swaped in ? and how to use it without navi ? also whats the benefits of the bluetooth ?

    thanks
  • hambonerhamboner Member Posts: 12
    I took my car in for the 10000 mile service today, and once again after getting the car back and checking the oil, it was a quart low. I told the service guy that this was the second time that this had happend, and I was not very confident about bringing my car to them again for service. All he had to say was I'm sorry I'll talk to the guys in the back. I hope everyone is checking to make sure the correct amount of oil is being placed in their cars after service.
  • captain2captain2 Member Posts: 3,971
    have found the general lack of familiarity with the Avalon at Toyota service and parts depts. astounding - you would certainly think they would at least know about the oil capacity - the car has been around for almost a year now! Guess they'll have to learn about our engines soon with the Camry coming. There was apparently no specific training given to the dealer folks about the Av.
  • tkaztkaz Member Posts: 69
    The noise seems to be around the window, but only on the passenger side.
  • texasred1texasred1 Member Posts: 20
    A big push-up for your wife on finding the two seal problems. Can you tell me what alerted her to this. Did she notice the seals lose or flat or coming off? Or did she hear excessive wind sound or excessive road noise.
    My new Avalon is very quiet on smooth roads, but does have a little road noise on gravel or roughly paved roads. I have assumed that this was normal for most cars unless you get up in the $40,000.00+ price range for a car. I inspected my doors and windows seals and they appeared to be alright. I was just curious about how your wife found these problems.
    Thanks for any info you can share.
    Texasred :)
  • mdchachimdchachi Member Posts: 275
    I think his post said that it requires navi. As for the benefit of Bluetooth... the benefit is that you can talk on the phone without actually touching the phone. It's easier and safer.
  • aviforever1aviforever1 Member Posts: 8
    Re: 2006 Avalon LtdHi, everyone...I've been reading the messages on this site for a couple of weeks, and found the information enlightening. I traded in my 2005 XLS for the 2006 Limited last night - WOW! What a car!!! It rides like a dream compared to the '05. My Limited is completely loaded, and I paid invoice to boot! The seats are extremely comfortable, noise reduction is amazing, and the NAV system rocks!! I'm able to view the entire name of a song as well as the name of the singer with my factory installed XM radio - in reading other owners' messages about the NAV, maybe I have Toyota's "new" system? If anyone has any info. on this, let me know. It's EXTREMELY easy to use, too!
  • disco340disco340 Member Posts: 17
    Did yours come with Bluetooth as well? I'm really curious to see if Toyota changed their whole Nav system midstream. If possible can you check your Nav system's diagnostic menu to see if it has anything new in their (ie: Bluetooth) and check the parts menu in there as well to see if the part numbers are different (located under Navigation check). To get in there just hold down the "INFO" switch and with your lights in the off position. Turn ON,OFF,ON,OFF,ON,OFF. Big thanks if your able to do this :)
  • usaid98usaid98 Member Posts: 10
    THE TWO SEALS PROBLEMS: ON THE RIGHT HAND DOOR HANDLE THE SEAL AROUND THE HANDLE WAS BROKEN. IT WAS REPAIRED AND NO PROBLEMS SO FAR. ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR THE RUBBER SEAL AROUND THE WINDOW WAS BEING PINCH WHEN THE WINDOW WAS GOING UP. THEY ORDER A NEW SEAL, PUT IT IN BUT I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DISTRICT REP WAS IN THE DEALER SHIP (GOOD LUCK) AND HE IS TAKING THE PROBLEM BACK TO FLA. AT MY DEALER SHIP WE HAVE 3 CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM. CHECK TO SEE IF THE RUBBER SEAL IS GOING UP WITHOUT SHOWING ANY THING PINCHING IT. HOPE THIS HELPS THE GROUP.

    USAID98 : :surprise:
  • aviforever1aviforever1 Member Posts: 8
    I don't have Bluetooth installed. When I read that one owner heard about Bluetooth from his dealer a week ago, I called mine to find out if it was factory installed or an add-on. He hadn't heard anything about it yet, but thinks it will be an add-on. When I read the owner's second message today that his dealer said it was factory installed, I had already purchased the car. I will check the NAV system and see if I can locate anything about bluetooth. I also emailed Toyota to ask about the new Bluetooth, and asked them to tell me whether it will be factory installed or an add-on. I'll let you know if I get a response from Toyota. I'm hoping it's an add-on, so anyone with NAV can get it. It would be a bad move for Toyota to end up losing out on sales for it, with so many owners already having NAV in their vehicles. I'll keep you posted!
  • easyrider300measyrider300m Member Posts: 1,116
    There are aftermarket bluetooth car kits available for all cars and work with most bluetooth phones. Motorola makes a few kits. Another interesting car kit is made by Parrot, a French company. I am planning on getting one for my 2002 300M Special.

    http://www.teptronics.com/ck3200ls.html
  • lntlnt Member Posts: 192
    I have a 2005 limited and it is quiet and rides very well, also. I am curious about the seats, though. Have you sat in a 2005 Limited? If they have changed the seats, I am wondering if they can switch them out. I do not think the seats in my limited are comfortable.
  • tkaztkaz Member Posts: 69
    I have a 2006 LTD but I only get the first 10 letters and spaces for songs with XM radio. I wonder if this is a recent upgrade? Anyojne know anything about this and can an early 2006 be upgraded?
  • jordan7jordan7 Member Posts: 77
    what makes the 06 ride so much better than the 05? is it the LTD compared to the XLS? are the seats different? Is it there are more options? I would think there was very little difference in ride and comfort.
  • harleydnlcharleydnlc Member Posts: 5
    Hello all, I am glad to be reading these discussions on the Bluetooth option for the Avalon. I am a little confused as it appears most of us are. First off, I do not understand what the Bluetooth option and Navigation system have in common. My wife recently test drove a Maxima with Bluetooth. It did not however have the Nav System. The Maxima had the capability to answer your phone from the steering wheel using the car speakers. This seemed like a convenient set up. She liked the idea of Bluetooth and I am hoping it is available in the near future in the Avalon. I do hope that it is set up as nicely as it was in the Nissan though. If it has to come through the Nav. System I don't see this being a hands free convenience though. Hopefully Toyota will set it up as good as Nissan and I will immediately put my order in for one. Bluetooth should be available in any trim and we should not have to purchase the Nav. System in order to get it. Thanks to all who have written here and I will be waiting on hearing exactely how it is set up. We should get a better idea when it comes available in the lower end model Camry due out in a couple of weeks. It should be the other way around.
  • impartialimpartial Member Posts: 19
    THe new Avalon gets pretty high marks from most reviewers, but the reviews often contain snide remarks, like calling the Avalon a "geezer pleaser". Many writers seem to still associate the Avalon with seniors (as in Grandpa). Many reviews snicker that it is Toyota's Buick, not that I see anything wrong with that comparison in most respects. One review called the Avalon "the best Buick that GM never built". Another suggested the Gray Panthers were excited about it. I'm not sure if this presents an image hurdle for younger buyers. What do you think? (PS ... I have an '05 Avalon Limited, and it has been a great car!) Impartial
  • disco340disco340 Member Posts: 17
    Bluetooth has nothing to do with the NAV system. But from what I have seen, Toyota has had Bluetooth incorporated into the NAV/Stereo system. What really sparked my interest was when Aviforever1 said that his XM showed the entire name of the song, not just the first 10 letters. And Driek said he was able to order the Bluetooth on a Avalon built after Feb '01. And from what a locale dealer told me is that it can't be added on, it is only a factory install. That leads me to believe that something changed with the Audio system or the Nav system. I guess only time will tell.
  • harleydnlcharleydnlc Member Posts: 5
    I agree. Most of the posts I have been reading though say that only with the Nav system will you be able to get Bluetooth Technology. As I said earlier, I hope this is not the case. This convenience should be available to everyone, not just people who want the added expense of the Nav. Sys.
  • aviforever1aviforever1 Member Posts: 8
    Hi again! As suggested, I got into the "info" on my NAV system. Parts location states that the NAV is DENSO 0E09. The fact that my NAV system shows me the entire name and singer in much smaller letters on a light green background than everyone else leads me to believe that my system is a newer system. The car was built in 1/06. When the NAV system comes on, it has a light green background color. My '05 XLS without NAV had the rather stark blue color which showed only partial names of songs (if the song title was too long) in huge white letters. My '06 with the NAV is totally different...there's no blue background color at all. Anyone else know what I'm talking about? Anyone else see what I see?

    As for the seats being very comfortable...my '05 XLS was just as comfortable as the Ltd. '06. I never got to test drive a Ltd., because the dealership never had them on the lot to try! I'm only 4'-10" tall, 170 lbs. (woman), and I don't notice the heat and A/C under the seat or back at all. What I do like is the leg extension...even being short, it helps keep my legs more comfortable.
  • aviforever1aviforever1 Member Posts: 8
    Do you have the NAV system in your LTD? If you don't, then maybe that is why you have the blue background with large white letters. If you do have the NAV with the blue background, then mine must be an upgraded version. Even going into the "info" in the NAV did not show me anything in relation to "Bluetooth"; but then again, I saw a lot of diagnostic information that makes no sense to me, either.
  • aviforever1aviforever1 Member Posts: 8
    Okay, everyone...this is what I just from calling a dealer in NC where I used to live. They now have an option for the bluetooth connection, but it is fully integrated with the NAV, and only factory installed. Seems only certain regions are providing it. They are also introducing the "park pilot", which will be an "add-on"...but again, it is not in my region yet. I also asked about the NAV - they told me Toyota just upgraded it a month ago, and mine is the new model. Thought you'd all like to know!
  • harleydnlcharleydnlc Member Posts: 5
    Thanks for the update Avi. Park Pilot has been available in my region. All I can hope for is that Toyota does like Nissan and make the Bluetooth option available for those of us who know where we are going. I mean, we use the phone too.
  • tstrick320tstrick320 Member Posts: 64
    Bluetooth has nothing to do with the NAV system.

    Not quite true. The Bluetooth short range wireless standard lets a properly enabled cell phone "talk" to other devices such as your laptop or car or a headset. It's true that Bluetooth itself has nothing to do with NAV but what we want to DO with Bluetooth has a LOT to do with the integrated NAV/Audio system in the Avalon.

    I don't know what features the Toyota system offers but a fully integrated Bluetooth system should provide call answering, dialing, and phone book integration. All of this requires coordination with and the features of the NAV components. When a call comes in you want the audio system to mute automatically. To place a call you want to press the steering wheel button and speak your request. To peruse the phone book on your cell phone you want to look at the nice, large display in the dash. The Avalon NAV system embodies almost all of the hardware to do this. Adding Bluetooth to this system then just requires the Bluetooth receiver (a $20 item at most) and some $oftware.

    While I'm sure some basic Bluetooth connectivity could be added to the non-NAV head-end display it would either have rudimentary features or would require the addition of some expen$ive hardware.

    And, from a marketing standpoint Toyota probably reasons that there's a good cross between the Bluetooth want-a-haves and the NAV want-a-haves. Why not use a $300 option to leverage buyers into a $1900 one?
  • tstrick320tstrick320 Member Posts: 64
    Just an FYI: I went through "official" channels to get some info on the new Bluetooth option. Here, verbatim, is the response I got:

    Recently you contacted Toyota. Below is a summary of your contact message and our response.

    Subject: Bluetooth Option for 2006 Avalon

    Toyota Customer Experience

    Customer (Tom Strickland) 02/08/2006 08:49 PM
    A user forum on Edmunds.com is reporting that there is now a Bluetooth option for the 2006 Avalon. Can you confirm this? Is the option available as a retrofit for existing 2006 Avalons or is it only available for new orders? If it is available as a retrofit can you provide the part number and price?

    Thank you.

    Discussion Thread Response (John (deleted)) 02/10/2006 05:35 PM

    Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
    We apologize, we currently do not offer a bluetooth option for the 2006 Avalon. However, your interest in this feature has been documented. Your email has been documented at our National Headquarters under file #200602101032. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.



    I don't doubt that the Bluetooth option actually exists -- just find this humorous. Perhaps the first person to actually get the option should call Toyota from their car...
  • kjbctbkjbctb Member Posts: 2
    I purchased a 2006 Avalon XLS in November, 2005 and have been thrilled with such a luxury car. I was the previous owner of two Camry's and it is a huge step up.

    On Friday, February 3, 2006 I was traveling on the longest bridge over water (24 miles), The Causeway to get to my home after work. The traffic quickly started breaking after going 65 mph (the legal speed limit)and I proceeded to quickly apply my brakes as well because I was getting too close to the car in front of me. Suddenly my car went out of control, swerving to the right side of the bridge hitting one side, then swerving to the left side of the bridge and hitting the other side, then bouncing back to the right side and "almost" going over the side of the bridge into the water. After what seemed to be forever I finally was able to stop the car. Thankfully it was a "one car accident" and I wasn't hurt. But my beautiful Avalon is in terrible shape. It has been at the body shop for almost a week now and I should get an estimate on Monday. Some of the things that are damaged are the main axle that drives the car, one tire is completely turned out facing away from the car, the whole right front side is torn up some dents by the driver door (which I almost couldn't open) and various undercarriage and suspension damage. The body shop also stated that there was a whole lot of grease all over everything under the car and it may be difficult to see if something was defective to have caused the crash. Last night I did a little web research to see if there were any defects that my have caused this and I saw the 2005 steering column problem so I thought it sounds awfully suspicious that my car went out of control, because I KNOW that I didn't intentinally swerve to try to miss the other car, I was confident that my brakes would stop/slow the car enough. I was extremely shaken by this whole ordeal, I could have died. If the car had gone over the side of the bridge, I am not sure if I would have been able to think clearly enough to put the window down before the car submerged. I am very thankful to God for not letting me go over the bridge, but I know have so many questions. I love the Toyota products and don't think I would drive anything other than Toyota or Lexus in the future, but I have to know that I am safe.

    On Monday, I will call the body shop and have them investigate the steering column to see if the yoke is welded properly to the steering column.

    Does anyone have any suggestions?
  • aviforever1aviforever1 Member Posts: 8
    That is funny! The NC dealership I called yesterday has the bluetooth connection available as an option on their website when you "build your car". It has a price of $299 (but this is factory installed) - also, they have a "park pilot" available as an option as well, for $399 (the park pilot is available as an add-on)...seems only certain regions have these options.

    I wonder why Toyota.com does not have these options, yet some dealerships do. Why would they keep it a "secret", anyway?
  • endovitendovit Member Posts: 31
    Not sure if the euro taillights are different or not. Haven't been able to find any. My kid had some on her Honda so if they are generally the same, I think they would look really good.
  • texasred1texasred1 Member Posts: 20
    In answer to your question..........I can shed a little light on the subject.
    There are around 5 sections of the USA that Toyota ships cars to. The section that I am in is the Gulf States Region. ONE MAN OWNS THIS SECTION! Any cars that are bought from Toyota in our Region........, go through him in Houston. He offers many add-ons that you cannot order from Toyota or can add options without buying an entire package. At least, this is my understanding of it. And from reading your message, apparantly the NC dealership has available options also. I hope this info will help to make it clearer.
    Texasred1 :D
  • lntlnt Member Posts: 192
    WOW! I am glad you got out of it okay. Do you have VSC? I wonder if that could have malfunctioned???
  • kjbctbkjbctb Member Posts: 2
    I'm not sure what VSC is, can you tell me what that means? I am only missing a couple of items from a Limited, so I am pretty sure I have just about every option.
  • lntlnt Member Posts: 192
    VSC is vehicle stability control.
  • driekdriek Member Posts: 12
    I have a question for owners of the Avalon 2006 Special Edition: do you have any problems with ground clearance on steep driveways or parking spaces with cement parking barriers? The ground effects don't "appear" to be that low to the ground, but I would like to hear from actual owners and their experiences.

    I still have another 2 1/2 weeks before mine arrives!
  • cornfedcornfed Member Posts: 2
    Own a 2001 XLS and will be getting a new 06 Limited in about 1 week. Wifes care, Age 40 and she lovs it. I love it too when I have an opportunity to drive it. going to suprise her witht he 06 for her birthday. is 40 over the hill? Avalon is the best luxerious car out there for the price and more importantly the quality.
  • aviforever1aviforever1 Member Posts: 8
    40 is DEFINITELY NOT over the hill! I just turned 49, and I'd rather drive a luxury car from now on, than a dinky car that has no comfort. As we age, we need the extra comfort, as well as having a "good, heavy, solid car". When you're twenty, you want the sporty stuff - when you're 40+, you want safety and comfort! (Except for the guys that want to feel young again, who will probably want to stay with the "sporty" feel). Anyone disagree?
  • captain2captain2 Member Posts: 3,971
    Since your loss of control was proceeded by a solid jab at the brakes, it sure sounds like your VSC system may be the culprit - you didn't mention anything about a perceived lack of braking response (a common misconception of ABS when engaged. Do not have VSC on my Touring and had a situation a few months back that actually involved a accelerating high speed violent swerve that I'm convinced would not have been possible with VSC - therby avoiding an accident.
    The VSC on your Avalon, as well as most other vehicles, is a computer controlled 'safety' system that will slow throttle responses, apply brakes, and slow steering responses when IT perceives that the car is approaching its limits. The problem is that (with most cars) this system will intervene at a point well ahead of the actual car capabilites and, in the Avalon, this system can not be switched off. My suggestion is that your sudden application of the brakes activated your VSC - thereby turning over control of your car to a computer! In snow country, VSC in combination with traction control can make a car almost undriveable on bad roads.
    Very happy to hear that that you weren't hurt - but, I can't help but wonder what Toyota's (and other mfgrs.) liabilites are when these systems actually cause accidents?
  • jdre86jdre86 Member Posts: 30
    You CAN turn off the VSC and the traction control. It's kinda sorta like entering a cheat code to a video game.
    1. Start the car with the parking brake ON AND your foot on the normal brake (If the parking brake is not ON when the car is started, this will not work).
    2. While holding the normal brake, release the parking brake, set it, release it, and set it.
    3. Push the normal brake twice and on the second push HOLD it.
    4. Release the parking brake, set it, release it, and set it.
    5. Push the normal brake twice.

    If you did this successfully, the VSC light and the traction control indicator light will illuminate. After you turn the engine off and back on, VSC and traction control are active once again.
  • jdre86jdre86 Member Posts: 30
    I saw the pictures of your Avalon, and we have the exact same car (color and everything). In four of your pictures, I noticed that you were able to turn your fog lights on with only your park lights on. On my Avalon Limited, I have to have my headlights on before I can turn my foglights on. Is there something that I'm missing? I like the look of the car with the park lights and fog lights on. Comes in handy when its not quite dark enough for the headlights and also makes the car look great. Thanks for any info.
  • texasred1texasred1 Member Posts: 20
    Hi
    I do not mean to sound stupid, but I have some questions about your situation with the accelerating high speed and violent swerve............did your car accelerate on its own or did you speed up? Did your car swerve by itself for no known reason, or did you swerve, trying to correct a move that you had made. I guess what I am trying to find out is, could I be driving down the highway and suddenly my car speed up on its own and swerve violently, by itself?
    Thanks for any info you can give me.
    Texasred1 :confuse:
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    avi4ever1, you are in the Southeast Toyota region which is one of two privately own Toyota distributorships in the US. The other is Gulf States Toyota. These two regions get the cars from Toyota Motor sales but are free to "offer" anything they wish to add to the cars before they offer them to the consumer. I wish I would have gotten a piece of that action.
    :shades:
    Mackabee
  • rayalonrayalon Member Posts: 3
    Does anyone have any info to replace the cassette player in the 2005 Avalon Limted with an I-Pod set up, where the controls are still usable from the sterring wheel (forward, search, start, stop). Is this avaiable through a dealer or an aftermarket store? I am not at all mechinacally inclined at all! I live in the Cleveland Ohio area. Just a note after one year my Avalon is still performing flawless, have not had anything done or needed to be done except the normal maintenance :) a very happy driver.
  • captain2captain2 Member Posts: 3,971
    to answer your question - no, the acceleration and swerve were quite intentional in order to avoid someone cutting in front of me at low speed on the highway. To my knowledge, there is no 'safety' system that will cause aggressive changes in a car's attitude - only the opposite. What many folks don't seem to understand that a vehicles dynamic capabilities (handling, power etc.) are at least as important to a car's overall safety as these electronic nannies. Kudos to the post about shutting the system down - had I been driving in the NE this last weekend - would have shut it off before leaving the garage!
  • cms1528cms1528 Member Posts: 45
    To my knowledge nother exsist yet, have you looked at the Harman Karman Drive-n-Play. I set it up in my car out of sight has its own control system, nice sound...
  • captain2captain2 Member Posts: 3,971
    You can not find a Avalon down in Texas without 'option packs' that start at $1500.00 and average $2500.00. A full boat Ltd. is right at $40k sticker down here. Largely fluff and unnecessary - obviously an effort on GST's part to profit that much more on a popular car. Dealers and distributors been doing stuff like this for years...
  • aviforever1aviforever1 Member Posts: 8
    I usedto live in NC - now I live in Indiana...I missed the boat on this one...it didn't occur to me to look at the NC dealership on the web before I got my new Ltd. Had I done so, these 2 options might have made me drive to NC to purchase the car there! Oh well, who knows, I made trade my car in a few years, then I'll have the options.

    Too bad Toyota isn't "all one company", so-to-speak.
  • zekeman1zekeman1 Member Posts: 422
    No way I would "donate" my $$ to that region! Well worth taking a trip to another region and saving quite a bit & really getting things you want. Puzzles me why anyone would buy a car there!
    zekeman1
  • avalonbadavalonbad Member Posts: 5
    As an Avalon owner I noticed your feature "Comparison"

    .....this went to motortrend after their recent review in March issue

    I would agree with your assessment, but there is one little quirk in these machines that the reviewer failed to uncover.

    The styling, finish, comfort, ride and handling on this car are superb, but a temperamental and persnickety accelerator pedal can make driving this machine an extremely unpleasant experience. I didn't a have a clue what was causing my problem. when the engine was cold and especially if the temprature was cold, acceleration and transmission shifting was effrotless and smooth as glass, but after driving several miles and the car warms up and (in a sporatic fashion) depressing the pedal would cause migrane inducing hesitation. The engine would over rev to 6k RPMs and floored would not reach 45 MPH. I thought it was the computer but turns out it was not that after all. After a several month long harangue Toyota sent a Field Technical Specialist to test drive with me, He was able to duplicate the problem from observing the angle of my foot while driving. This started me on a quest to figure out what was causing the problem. I discoverd that the vinyl pedal has tip at the bottom that would become flexible after it warms up, as a toe driver my foot woud touch the tip at times and send the drive by wire into a frenzy. I tested this on two other vehicles with the exact same issue. Seems a $20 peice of plastic was causing all this unpleasness. I adjusted my foot to place the greatest pressure high on the pedal and the problem went away. Any comments would be appreciated
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