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Comments
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Mackabee
Overall, it worked as advertised. You set both a speed AND a distance, and the system works to give you the speed while maintaining the distance. If you approach a vehicle that is going slower than the speed you set, your vehicle will slow down to match the speed of the vehicle ahead. If that vehicle speeds up or goes away, the system increases your speed gradually back up to the point you set.
Once a large truck cut in front of me, cutting the distance suddenly, and also going slower than I was, so the distance was also decreasing (now why would he do that? Another story). The system cut the throttle and applied the brakes, and also beeped and flashed, indicating that I needed to take over. Just as it was susposed to.
My impression is that the system will be useful in situations where cruise control is feasible--i.e., reasonably light traffic on highways. It will take away the need to continually make small adjustments to keep a safe distance from the car in front. However, it will NOT eliminate the need to pay attention to what is going on, i.e., it is not an "auto pilot".
Yesterday I test drove a Touring (no vsc) and an XLS (w/vsc) back to back within a half hour of each other and took each on a familiar 25mph off ramp and found that the touring's handling is only marginally better (I do mean marginally), but only up to a point. In the touring I had to brake hard and scrub off speed at 35-37 mph to prevent a too-close encounter with the guard rail because the rear tires were breaking loose (fishtailing). However, with the xls, I took the same line on the same off ramp, and sailed through the turn at 40 mph with little drama and fanfare - safe and secure.
No, I do not attempt to drive the Avalon like that on a regular basis, but how else can one determine a car's emergency handling traits? That having been said, I've decided that I cannot purchase any car without vsc. I took a BMW 3-hour driving course in which I was asked to try and flip an X3 suv with vsc and could not do it.
What a nice car the Touring would be with with the safety benefit of VSC. Oh well.
Deannie
Hope this helps.
All I meant to do was point out that many on this forum seem to be paying several thousand more for the new model than what the street selling price will be by the summer if not by late spring.
As to your trade-in, it's true that cars depreciate every day, but I doubt that by the summer you'll lose several thousand dollars in depreciation on your '03 Sienna, even when accounting for slightly higher monthly payments (maybe) due to slowly climbing interest rates.
No, I do not believe all who paid at or near MSRP are overzealous or irrational, but I have to believe that the number of such on this forum is not insignificant.
Point of note: Remember those over-MSRP Nissan 350z's, Subaru WRX's, and Infiniti G35's et al? They do not exist anymore. All of the above can be had for little above invoice, as the Avalon will eventually be.
Regards,
Deannie
Yes, a day trip is worth saving thousands off of MSRP. Good job, and well-bought given the current market conditions.
Regards,
Deannie
Regards,
Deannie
Please see post #3098 which is an apology to all for my harsh words, and is also a response to another post. P.S. I'm a guy, but I understand the mistake given my feminine-sounding nickname.
Regards,
Dean
: )
Mackabee
Bottom line (no pun intended): get the XLS with VSC, don't ever turn on the seat heater, and you'll be sittin' pretty.
dajab
I am going to write a letter to Toyota and tell them about the legroom/headroom issue. Maybe they will realize they are losing sales unnecessarily and adjust models in a year or two. Funny, we owned a Celica and Camry many years ago and I could fit in both. I can no longer fit in either car, and I have not gotten any taller or bigger around the waist.
I'm very very impressed with this car !
Doug
We need to get away from the personal confrontations. If any of you feel there is an issue with a posted message, please email me. But everyone needs to keep in mind that civility and respect in posted messages are requirements of your Membership Agreement. Making personal confrontative challenges to other members in the manner I've seen here recently does not comply with that term.
Feel free to email me with any questions, but let's get back to the car and lose the focus on each other...
Thanks.
Re: insufficient legroom for driver....IF one could just unbolt the front seats, (or even just the driver's seat) , unbolt the track, drill a few new holes in the pan, re-position the track, then, "VOILA!" the longed-for legroom appears!
It doesn't take long to get used to new technology. I have been driving a rental car for a few days and really miss the keyless starter I had on my FX45. I've had nav systems on my last four cars but can't wait to try the voice activated nav on the Avalon.
I am beginning to believe that this car will be the first one I have owned which will meet all of my expectations.
Anybody had any experience with perforated leather seats? With pets? Regards - Bushka
People are talking about the perforated seats. Are there any inherent problems with them, I have never had them. Do the ivory perforated seats look okay? They don't look junkie do they?
Anyone drive in the snow yet ??
I have some brand new Nissan 17" tires from a 350Z I'd sell real cheap!
Actually moving the seat tracks back is not the problem. The problem is that in some cars, doing this 1) puts the seated driver too close to the center pillar such that the seatbelt no longer achieves proper tension across the driver's torso and/or 2) positions the seat-mounted side airbag too close to the center pillar, interfering with its proper deployment.
I don't know if either of these situations would actually exist in the Avalon if the rear seat was moved back from its standard travel; it all depends on the position of the center pillar relative to the rearmost position of the seatback. But I sure would find out before messing with the seat track. I'm one of the big guys who would love more legroom, but I would never risk reducing the effectiveness of seatbelts or airbags to get it.
One small dog short term. No problems!
I've seen all the exterior colors, which are clearly labeled on the window sticker. But the interior leather color is not described in words, like Light Gray or Graphite, but by a code, such as LA16. Can't find the info to translate the letter code into word description, so I don't know if I've seen Light Gray or Graphite or what.
Anybody out there know how to read the interior leather color off the window sticker? Or how to translate the strange letter code?
Max
This might prevent or at least reduce the coditioner getting down into the perforations.
Several people have posted a comment about the perfs catching dirt and accumulated cleaner over time. The lighter the color, the more this might be visible. Mine is light..looks fine after two years. No problems.