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I actually wasn't sure when I got mine, which wood I would have, as my Limited had already been made. I ask for a loaded Black Limited with gray interior, and hoped that it would be the dark wood. When it came, it had it!!!!! Maybe you will get a surprise too!
Best of luck with yours..enjoy the car. It's awesome!!
1. at the factory
2. at the port
3. at the dealer using factory emblems
4. at the dealer using independent contractor
Of these four options the first three use the factory emblems which at the present time are not available for the 05 Avalon (not yet anyway),
Option four is done by the independent contractor and you can request just about anything that can be gold plated to be plated. For a nominal charge of course. I have noticed in my experience that the factory emblems have a deeper gold finish and tone and are brighter than the plating done by individual contractors which looks lighter.
: )
Mackabee
You assume wrong, the replacement headrest contains the DVD player as well as the LCD. Yes Vizualogic is the 3rd party and A-1000 & A-2000 are model numbers, reread my original post, please.
Both models come as either a single DVD player or a double DVD player system. Single system sends the DVD to the driver side & the passenger side. The passenger side can optionally play a game unit like game-boy if they don't want to watch the DVD. Or they can turn off the monitor. The setup comes with 2 IR headphones and a multi-channel FM broadcaster for use with the car audio.
I didn't find any other company selling a headrest with the DVD built in. Be careful of what you buy, even Vizualogic sells LCD headrest only models. Their A-1000 & 2000 have the DVD built in.
Cheapest I found was $1,130 USD off the net out of Georgia.
www.vizualogic.com for the company or Google it for wholesellers & retailers.
MikeS.
1. at the factory
2. at the port
3. at the dealer using factory emblems
4. at the dealer using independent contractor
Of these four options the first three use the factory emblems which at the present time are not available for the 05 Avalon (not yet anyway),"
Mackabee, if/when these come available PLEASE post that info here.
Does any1 here know of an independent contractor doing this in the Northern Virginia area? I might go that route.
Thanks,
MikeS.
With all of the posts regarding MSRP, invoice price, option packages, etc., I was hoping that this recent post would elicit some responses. However, none have been noted.
Purchasers have indicated NAV, XM radio, laser cruise control, etc. in order to provide a basis for the price paid, but not many have clarified the Toyota accessories.
I was wondering more if there was a discount from Toyota on the XM price if one moved a preexisting subscription to the new radio.
I will let you know when it's fixed.
The new ES will be available next year.
Thanks. Can you possibly get a more detailed answer. Many times, as you probably know, the tranny and frame have as much to do with it as power. Besides that, and maybe weight, I am not sure and don't have enough knowlege.
It does seem very odd, and that is why I thought maybe it was a misprint or soemthing.
very strange. The increase torque in the new engine, more than hp would be welcome, as my 02 trails very nicely, but much better when taken OUT of OD, and left in the first three gears. It doesn't hunt between 3 and 4th on hills trying to match up.
Anyway, probably not a big deal to most, but I never thought I would be towing so much every week to the Lumber yard.
abfisch
I don't recall all the dealers; you can obtain them on the AAA site if you are a member. I remember calling Newark, NJ, Sloane in PA, and a few others. The responses were the same: we're selling at MSRP. One, I can't recall the name, told me that for internet customers, he was discounting $250 below MSRP. I wasn't impressed.
Like you, I don't relish the process of car buying. Although I don't know all the details of your car, I think the price you paid doesn't seem terrible. Believe me, in the past I have done a lot worse.
I have been trying to play the "Bad guy" on this forum but I am getting beat up by fellow brethren Avalon owners and non owners with all the HYPE of the new car without sitting back and letting the leaves fall.
There are many things that the 05 is and is not. I try to bring out the bad, kinda like Darth Vader. Besides my rule of 5's, never ever buying a NEW MODEL year car, no matter what, these people continue to get caught up in the mix. And, from what I have seen, the host doesn't really welcome negative comments. So much for free speech.
Not only did they take away my bench seat, but, they took away from sound dampening, towing capacity, still don't have break away mirrors on the side view mirrors, XM antenna is an afterthought, etc.
I couldn't try to say unless you absolutely need a car, and this is the one, STOP and wait a year or so, till the 06 model comes out and the bugs are gone. Ofcourse, CR's data typically shows, the first model year to be the worst of the five, usually, not always, but usually and Toyota nor Honda is any exception. Look at the new Accord and Subaru posts when the vehicles first came out, andd the problems with brake rotor warpage. Terrible for the first year people.
Climb aboard. This should get some good responses.
abfisch
Prior to buying the car, I found that the on-line Toyota Brochure (PDF) listed some accessories that you couldn't find on the printed brochures, e.g. license frames of various colors. The salespersons were not aware of the on-line brochure, and I had to provide and excerpt to them for an accessory(license frame) I wanted.
Morale: What are you getting for your money???
abfisch
Not terrible missed though, but would have been nice. Use the extra dummy switch for a set of PIAA driving lights so made something out of it.
What it out and get what you want. The Touring model without the sunroof would interest me the most.
Good luck.
abfisch
Not meaning to insult your intelligence, but could it be that you are putting the transmission in 4th speed (that is, out of overdrive)? With the gate-type shifter, if it's like the Sienna, it is very easy to flip it to the non-overdrive side. Look at the anunciator that shows what drive range you are in. That's sure what it sounds like.
Thanks, RONN
T Reynard
Regards,
RONN
Come on now. This forum is for all comers, who have Avalons, love Avalons, work on Avalons, etc. It is not for only those who are proud to drive an Avalon. I didn't see that in the title of this forum, but maybe the host can start one, called " Proud Avalon Owners ONLY." For some of us, we have been contributing to this forum since way back in the day, before some would have even considered Avalons. Since some have alot of experience with Avalons, both good and bad, that is what the word FORM brings to mind.
In addition, I would be very cautious of being a corporate loyalist, Toyota or otherwise.
The Avalon is a good car and some, who haven't bought an 05 might want one now, might want to wait till the 06, may not want one at all, or might want another vehicle.
Thanks what makes this FORUM so great. We plan to speak our minds here, unless censored otherwise.
Perhaps the host would consider another forum for "Happy Avalon Owners ONLY."
abfisch
RONN
If I stepped on your toes, or anyone elses, I'm sorry.. I don't think we need to go to a HAPPY AVALON OWNERS ONLY forum. I think we have it here.
Umm, maybe the host can rename this forum to "Toyota Avalon 2005+ Proud Owners" for the promoters and create another one, "Toyota Avalon 2005+" for the consumers.
On a side note, my dictionary defines pride as "a sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect". I am now thinking that I need to drive an 18-wheeler to boost my sense of dignity. Anything less than that would be disrespectful to myself.
A few tips for the DIY'ers:
1. You don't have to remove the radio to install the XM Y-connector (as specified in the installation guide). Just remove the glove box and reach behind the radio to pull out the harness. It's the 2nd harness from the right side of the radio (bottom of radio). Plug the harness into the Y-harness from the XM cable and plug the other end of the Y-harness connector back into the radio. Wrap the cushion tape around the connectors and tie the XM cable to the chasis behind radio.
2. You don't have to remove the rear seats to run the XM cable to the trunk. Just remove the doorsill in the rear passenger side and run the XM cable through there, under the rear seats and the access hole into the trunk.
3. I mount the XM antenna on the middle of the trunk and get excellent reception. I was afraid that its being near the glass of the rear windshield would affect the reception but having been listening for a week, its reception is second to none. However, be noted that you may have some interference depending on where you live. So, don't adhere the antenna to the trunk yet, just leave it on the trunk (it has a magnetic base) until you're satisfied, then remove the adhesive and stick it there permanently.
4. If you are paranoia about rattles, go to Joann Fabrics or Michaels store and buy a sheet or two of the felt adhesive paper. Then cut it into small rectangular pieces and cover the wires/harness behind the glove box, under the front and rear doorsills, and inside the trunk where the XM cable is routed. Two areas that I put these felt tapes are the doorsill on the front passenger side (below the white plastic clamps) and under the rear passenger's side doorsill.
Email me if you still have questions. It's frontgear@hotmail.com and make sure your subject has XM radio (or something to that effect) or it will get deleted by hotmail spam detector.
>> the host doesn't really welcome negative comments. So much for free speech.
Edmunds.com is a private entity. There is no such thing as a "right to free speech" here; there is only the Membership Agreement to which you all agreed or you would not be posting.
With that said, there is nothing wrong with negative comments about the vehicle. If a post complies with the MA, i.e. doesn't attack someone, doesn't use profanity (masked or outright), isn't promoting something for personal gain or something illegal, or is not otherwise in violation of that agreement, it is fine! I'm not sure why you think that I have an issue with negative comments - you should see some of the other discussions I host!
>> this forum is for those of us who are proud of our Avalon
Actually, this forum is the place to discuss the Avalon. There is no requirement that everyone here be a proud owner, just as there is no requirement that every post be positive. I realize and very much appreciate how enthusiastic so many folks are about this car, but this discussion is here for everyone to discuss anything they want (within reason, of course) about the Avalon. This includes criticisms. If you bar criticisms, you have to bar them from owners as well. (Which isn't going to happen.)
>> Those who would deny others the opportunity to pose honest, even difficult questions are diminishing the value of forums like this one. In my view, this IS the place for hardball questions ... not just cheerleading praise.
This is correct! The only caveat here is that it is always best to use the Search This Discussion feature to look up previous posts on any give topic before asking folks to repeat what's already been posted (the "hardball questions" - or even the "softball" ones).
>> ... continue to repeat the same thing over and over again which is your right, but after awhile it becomes stale.
This was said in reference to negative comments, but back up a second and look at it from another angle - it also can be said of positive comments that are repeated over and over.
See, it doesn't really matter when points are repeated. Some saw them the first time (or six times or whatever) around, others have not. If you've seen something before and it doesn't interest you, it's easy enough to go to the next post without paying attention to it. It can't be okay to post reruns of positive comments if it's not okay to post reruns of negative comments. And if we barred both, we wouldn't have a whole lot left to discuss!
Now, I don't want you enthusiastic owners to feel like I'm coming down on you, because I don't mean to be doing that at all. Personally, I really enjoy seeing your enthusiasm bubbling up all over the place here and I very much want it to continue.
I just think some of us need to be careful about defining the rules here, because everyone is welcome, owner or not, enthusiast or not. And most importantly we should recognize that we do not have to read every message posted. We can just skip the ones we find annoying.
If there are any questions, I'll be glad to discuss this further in email, but I think we need to not sidetrack this conversation any further.
I hope I've helped ... at least somewhat ... and sorry for the length of this, but I think these things need to be said.