2005-2007 Toyota Avalon

ronn

IMPARTIAL......I think you need to find another car since you dislike the Avalon so much!!! Don't think that Lexus and BMW (BIG MONEY WASTE) are free of little details. I have friends that can prove that!!!

just__me

Hi RONN. You will enjoy this. I stopped by my dealer today in Savannah to check out their parts department. As I was leaving the Sales Manager brought this guy over who bought the Touring Avalon today and was taking delivery of it. He saw my car in the lot, and went to the S.Manager and asked about the bumper guards. End of the story is the S. M. took pictures of my front and rear, the car, not me, LOL, called the parts Department head honcho and they asked me to send the link to them where I purchased them. All three said it definitely added a nice touch to the bumpers and this guy is going to have it done by the dealer once they come in. It was a good feeling. Have a great weekend Ronn.

ronn

Great news about the bumper guards.. Maybe they will consider putting them on future models. JUST ME>>>did you purchase the all weather mats? I am wondering if I should? I am trying to keep these nice, but with all the rain, it is hard to keep the drivers side like I want it.

RONN

just__me

HI AGAIN RONN. No I didn't get the all weather mats. I got the mats from the same people who I bought the bumper guards from. Here is the link. http://store.perfectcar.net/7701-line.html The ones I got are called
"Ultra Carpeted Mats" They are a combination of rubber and carpet. I felt they were better value than anything I saw in Walmart because they are also slightly bigger, same for the rear ones, much longer going under the front seat when so many don't. I got them in black. The nice thing about them as well, was in the drivers seat where we have that little notch in the Toyota carpet mat to secure the mat, I put a very little cut in the rubber on the drivers side mat and secured to the provided hook and my mat stays in place. Good luck whatever you do. I vacuum them at the end of every day, sometimes twice if they got real dirty. I don't like the all weather mat, if I were a trucker or lived in the snow belt, maybe.
WE BOTH AGREE, THE STYLING OF OUR AVALON IS ELEGANCE REFINED AND WON'T GO OUT OF STYLE.

just__me

RONN, I didn't have to trim the mats. They fit perfect on top of the Toyota carpet mats and so far keep those clean.

ronn

Thanks JUST ME for that great link... I hope others will see them too. They look like great mats at a reasonable price. I will probably order some this weekend.

RONN

just__me

Thanks RONN, My pleasure.They are good mats for the price, and I like where the rubber is for the heel, the combination is nice. Good Luck

just__me

RONN, there shipping charge is legitimate as well, not overcharged like some sites who might give a low price on product than give a high price on shipping. They are legitimate.

libertie

My dealer has been servicing my old Toyotas and is now substituting synthetic oil for the "real" oil I have been using in those cars for over 100,000 miles (no oil being burned between oil changes on either car). I am now getting a new 2005 Avalon and understand that the factory ships all cars with the "real oil." Any comments on the inevitable dealer changeover to synthetic oil (that's now all they have in their shop) when oil change time rolls around??

carzak

Perico1,

I have noted the same problem. I had to set the settings preferentially to rear speakers to get some sound from them.

I do have the base music system.

billyg

Thanks Boatsman for letting me know about the Toyota Site "mynewavalon.com" which contains a copy of the Owners Manual. After reading reading all of the conditions under which the Laser Cruise Control does NOT work, I think I'll forget it. I know that it is no substitute for good driving, but it sounds very unreliable.

BillyG

gschultz3

Impartial: Why do you keep looking at the Avalon? If you believe the Avalon is in the same class as BMW and Lexus you should buy one and straighten the pipes ..........you saved $20,000 compared to the others.

johni

While synthetic oils do have some advantages over conventional oils, they are more expensive. Dealer profit is higher with synthetic oils. Many, if not most, customers are not willing to pay the higher cost for synthetic oil. If customers "push back", your dealer will have to make conventional oil available, or you can get the oil changed somewhere else. Synthetic oils have been a growing, but still small part of the automotive engine oil market. For these reasons, I don't think it's "inevitable" that dealers will eliminate conventional oils.

For those willing to pay the price, synthetic oils can keep the engine cleaner, allow longer drain intervals (can be a concern with warranty), provide slight mileage improvement, provide better cold starting, better handle high temperature (when towing, for example), and may provide less wear. The term synthetic is generic - as with most things, not all synthetic oils perform equally well. For some afficionados, synthetic oil is cheap insurance, as 3,000 mile oil changes are to others.

ronn

Impartial doesn't want the Avalon...not good enough and finds too much wrong with it!! The metal on mine lines up perfect, and my pipes are fine too!

lnt

To gschultz3: From lnt: Bushka isn't the one who had all the problems with his Toyota - I am. I was replying to his post about the extended warranty. I am new at this forum and pretty computer illiterate, so maybe I replied incorrectly. Sorry for the confusion.

mladyroe

I purchased a 2005 Avalon and have a rumbling noise also. I took my vehicle back to the service department and they heard it also but they do not know if the noise is supposed to be as loud as it is. The service manager says he did not have another XL to compare it to but it had put some calls out and would get back with me. That was a month ago.The service manager told me what he thought it was but I have forgotten. It had something to do with an automatic something kicking in. It sort of sounds like a bad wheel to me. I also am not sure that my transmission is as it is supposed to be changing gears. I have not had a Toyota before but the shifting is not smooth in my vehicle.

lnt

Wow! Thanks for informing us about this website whoever it was that found it. I just visited it and found out features about my avalon that I had no clue about! It answered so many of my questions and I had read my owners manual cover to cover several times! THANKS!

mikes.

After 2 months and 3,500 miles I stopped in at Costco Thursday night and had them check my tire pressure. It was at 38psi. Others have mentioned having high pressure when the car was received and now you can add me to that list.

MikeS.

mikes.

I haven't been willing to experiment but with the tip about the Sienna & prius sites... I may have to play around some. That I Agree legalese disclaimer every time has gotten very old..

Darn it, the trial lawyers are always ruining our fun!

carzak

I have also been told that they are not aware what that noise is from. I have lodged a complaint with Toyota. I would advise you to do the same so they get more interested in finding a cause and fixing it. One of the tech speculated that it either a faulty ABS system or transmission issue . Still waiting for them to let me know. Another memeber of the forum has noted this noise.

driven a couple of other cars with ABS including a previous avalon and a lexus e300 but never heard a similar noise. Please keep the forum informed.

zak

tkaz

Sure would be interested in hacking the NAV system to get rid of that annoyiong start-up screen that you have to AGREE every time you start the car. It's annoying on my wife's new Sienna. I'm sure I'll be annoyed with it on my new Avalon.

just__me

If it kicks in after you start to roll in after a couple of seconds when you first turn the engine on, it's the vacuum pump for the evaporator system and is normal. It may go for a couple of seconds and stop,only hear it when you start and roll in the first couple of seconds.

calrisk

For those who may have missed it, the people who cover cars for Forbes magazine have just published their annual review of the best cars. They evaluated by $5000 price ranges, from $20,000 to $80,000 and above. A link to the full article is at the end of this message. But before then, some selective quotes:

Best car in $25,000 to $30,000 price range: Toyota Avalon Quote:

"Toyota's Avalon sedan is one of the great bargains in the auto business, offering a level of comfort and luxury that beats that of some cars costing $15,000 more (read on). It's more reliable than a Mercedes C-Class and has happier owners."

And from the discussion of the Lexus GS, which was the best in the $40,000 to $45,000 range:

"In terms of other competitors [to the Lexus GS], the Jaguar S-Type is also plagued with reliability problems, and an entry-level Cadillac STS is pound-for-pound about as capable and luxurious as a Toyota Avalon, which costs $15,000 less."

Here is the link to the complete article:

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7407441/

ronn

Great article on Avalon....Thanks calrisk...just one more great reason to own one!!!

mackabee

I would not recommend changing over to synthetic on a 100,000 mile car as the seals will get very soft and you'll have leaks all over the place. Belive me, I did it on my MR2 when it had 80k miles and that happened. I just went back to the regular dino stuff. On a new car is different. If you want to go synthetic due it on the first oil change. I did this with my 81 Celica, 85 Toyota Vanwagon, and 92 Camry, all purchased new. The biggest benefit is longer change intervals, better gas mileage, cooler running engine, and less wear too. Car and Driver did an article on this quite a few years back and it did show less wear on the engine and also better gas mileage results. :shades:
Mackabee

mackabee

My last post should read "do it on the first oil change" not "due it"
Mackabee

courtney11

I agree completely, synthetic has many advantges. I live in south Florida and have been using it a few years now. With the heat here, the biggest advantage is that it doesn't break down , it holds it's viscocity, which means it will protect your engine during extreme heat. As for how frequently you change oil, I do it every 5k miles versus 3k miles for standard oil. The cost is $46 versus around $22. While it costs more the savings are made up for in mileage intervels. Use a quality synthetic such as Mobil 1 or Castrol. Well worth it !!!

just__me

HI RONN. I just received my April Issue of Business Week. Guess what? Another great article on our Avalon. The headline of the article is "Are You Sure This Isn't A Lexus". Than its goes on to talk about what it calls a "knock-out of an instrument panel" and speaks well of the contemporary looking exterior. It says the Avalon from the outside looks "substantial and elegant". It says it has crisp lines and edges and is distinctive looking. It says it's quietly stylish, what we here said is refined quiet elegance. They are saying the same thing. I said some time back we aren't seeing a lot of TV adds, and that's because Toyota doesn't have to, to sell the Avalon. Well all these free news stories, like Forbes in the last post and now Newsweek etc., etc, the steam roller effect is on and this car is a winner as well because those that own it mostly praise it and recommend it. The Chrysler 300 has had three recalls already as pointed out in Forbes and why they are recommending the Avalon over it. Anyway my friends, another glowing report. I don't think Toyota needs anymore, they hit a home run with this one. When you keep reading these positive articles, like Forbes, "the Avalon the best bargain" in town which is true for what you get, I have to believe what my Dealer told me, the price will no doubt be up for the 06. So 05 owners, good for all of you and me.

just__me

Click on "Are You Sure This Isn't A Lexus?"
http://search.businessweek.com/Search?searchTerm=Toyota+Avalon&skin=BusinessWeek&x=9&y=4

just__me

Here is another link that takes you to the story directly.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_16/b3929129_mz070.htm

larryt22

My service manager says synthetic is a personal choice. He says read about it and if you want synthetic, he will put it in for you. He recommends Mobil 1 if you are going to use synthetic. His one recommendation is that you stick will regular oil for the first 10,000 miles. He says an engine will not break-in properly with synthetic oil, so he encourages you to not switch to synthetic until the 10,000 mile mark as a result. I am no expert on the matter, I am just passing on what he told me.

ronn

Just ME.....Thanks for another great link...It is great that so many are finding out about this car. I washed and waxed Black Beauty today!
I was at the mall today, and they had cars there. The new Buick Lacrose was there. It was not good looking at all. Looked like an old man's car.
The Avalon just out does most all of the new sedans. The new Lexus is sharp, but a very big price tag.
As far as the Avalon, you can't beat the price with the car you get. Had lots of looks with it today as it was all nice and shiney!!!
By the way, the earlier post about the metal not lining up etc. Mine is fine. I'm not having any noise problems either. I think he needs to look at another car, as he seems to find things wrong that the rest of us don't have!!
Keep those great atricles coming!!!!

RONN

mackabee

Regarding your transmission shifts, check and make sure the shift lever is not on the sequential mode + or - as the car will wait for you to shift it manually and if you don't it will shift itself. This will produce a somewhat "jarring" feel although nothing is wrong with the transmission. Put the shifter on D and see what happens. I have not heard any complaints on the "rumbling" noise from our customers yet if there is indeed any noise coming from the front of the car.

Mackabee

mackabee

Some people need to find fault where there is none. I think it is to justify their denial that they don't want to admit that it is a superior product.

Mackabeel

gschultz3

Oops! Sorry Buska! It must be my age.

just__me

b>Hi RONN and Mac, I agree with you. Some people find the silliest little thing to complain about. After reading so many uplifting and glowing reviews about the Avalon, and the problems in comparison with so many other makes including the Mercedes etc., it's amazing how there will always be people who like to find fault when there isn't any. For instance, I have my leather seats with creases on the back, and when I sit and lean back I'm not aware of them being creased or them bothering me, yet we have some here who must be so delicate they need to have them redone. I'm not criticizing them, just saying you could never satisfy everyone 100%, but fortunately they are in the minority. Incidentally from some of the people I see testing the Avalon at my dealer, many of them are in their mid- thirties. I think the median age will be below 60, I can't wait to see at the years end what the average is.
RONN, I was at a car show today, Antique cars, and one was so shiny as they usually are, I asked the owner what he waxes it with. Guess what, the Mequiars I told you about, LOL. So it must be a good wax like others posted here. Mine shines as well. Also RONN, the picture of the Avalon in Business Week in the actual magazine itself is my Desert Sand Mica, it looks Beautiful. It does look like a Lexus the way they have it positioned. It has that timeless look, not like the Chrysler 300 that will look dated and boring in a year if not already. Go see for yourself in the store. RONN, where is the Edmunds review we wrote, I haven't seen it yet?

gschultz3

My pipes and metal all line up too! Anybody who is looking for a $25,000 - $50,000 sedan should drive the new Avalon before making a decision.

bushka

No problem. I thought you were probably referring to some other post. I really haven't done any further checking on the price for the extended warranty. I've noticed that local Toyota dealers appear to be building up inventories on Avalons, although the supply is still very small compared to Camrys and other popular models. Still, Limiteds seem to be the hardest to find here in the upper midwest, and that's the model that I would buy.

To all the regular posters here ... Thanks for sharing your experiences. If things work out, I'll join you as an Avalon owner. Bushka

agent

That's right ladies and gentlemen. I got my baby and she is one sexy beast! I'll give more info soon.

sward

Hi tinatina,

Thanks for your response to my color choice. The Blizzard Pearl White looks really great with the Ivory leather interior and the light "wood" trim (if you get an XLS or Limited). If you want an XL, you may have to "preference" one through your dealer to get the color and options you want. I did this on mine. It took about 6 weeks to get it, but I got exactly what I wanted on the car. Keep working on the price! Hopefully the prices will be coming down soon, but these cars are still in very short supply. I felt lucky to get $1,500 off MSRP on a Limited, since most of the Avalons in my town are going for MSRP.

sward

sward

You may be right, but what year of Audi first had metallic white paint? I know that Lexus had it in 1990, and if Audi had it before that, then my statement (based on my personal observations!) was incorrect.

sward

miss66

I had planned to purchase an 05 Avalon XL this spring. With gas prices spiraling I'm writing to ask if anyone has successfully used a lower octane in the 05 Avalon. I think the car is listed as needing premium gas.

just__me

You can use Regular gas with absolutely no affect to the engine. The manual states you can use 87 Octane besides also recommending higher Octane.

mikes.

Is anyone else noticing paint chips and even scratches in the paint? I washed my Indigo ink LTD again Friday and found 2 more paint chips. 1 more on the hood (4 total) and a new one on the roof. Plus I found a 1.5" scratch on the roof.

This is my biggest complaint about this car, it is 2 months old today and I've racked up 3,500 miles on it already.

MikeS.

mikes.

For about 5 years now I've bought only Toyota filters and quality oil and provided this to a local garage. They then charge me 10 bucks in labor. I can't get dirty for 10 bucks

A couple weeks ago I received a mailer of coupons from my local Toyota dealer. Inside was a coupon for Toyota oil filters for $4.50 excluding the Land Cruiser. So I took it down to the dealer and asked for 10 filters. This same dealer charged me 6.95 a few weeks ago for the same filter for my 05 Limited. They sold me the 10 and remarked that 4.50 was less then they pay for them. Someone screwed up and didn't exclude our new Avalons.

I'm now set for the next 65K miles, I have 11 filters and 2 coupons for a free oil change. Plan on doing oil changes on the 5's

MikeS.

ososlick

After one month and 800 miles I thought my '05 xls had too harsh of a ride. I checked cold tire pressures and they were 56, 57,57,58 and 57 psi for the spare. I reduced them all to 32 psi. What a difference in ride quality. Called the dealership and complained without getting much satisfaction as expected. I recommend all new Avalon owners immediately check their tire pressures. My left exhaust pipe is lower and also sticks out about one inch more than the right side. Otherwise this has to be the finest automobile that I ever owned and am extremely satisfied even after paying near msrp.
No extended warranty for me. I don't believe in making dealer any richer with my money. I am so far ahead of the game by never taking extended warranties that I would simply pay for any required repair as needed. If I can afford to pay $35,000 for an automobile then I can certainly afford any repairs that may come without loosing any sleep over it. Extended warranty is just a psychological play that the dealer will try to use to coerce you into thinking you really need it. It took me a half hour of talking to convince the finance manager that I really did not want it at any price even after he lowered the price on it three times. He asked me what I would do if I got an unexpected repair bill for $4,000. I told him no problem, I would simply write a check and pay for it, just like I just wrote him a check for $35,000 to pay for the Avalon.(yes I also stiffed him on any profit from financing the deal by paying cash) He finally got the idea. Here is another way of looking at it. I have a home and it is valued at around $400,000 and yet I have no extended warranty on my home or anything in it; so why in the world would I get an extended warranty on a $35,000 automobile that just depreciates? Think about it!!!!!!! I have been driving Toyotas since 1988 and can't recall ever having a catastrophic repair bill.

ski1003

Just past 1500 miles and two months old. I thought I would have a hard time adjusting from my 2000 Chrysler 300M but the longer I have the car the more I'm glad I made this decision vs the new Chrysler 300. I didn't get the deal I would have gotten on the Chrysler but I think the value of this car will keep a lot longer than my Chrysler. This is my 21 car and so far, one of the best. Sometimes I go into my garage at night and just stare at the lines of the car. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but it sure is pretty (to me) just looking!! Going to wax it today for the first time and looking forward to doing this chore.
So far, not problems, pipes line up ok. Didn't need some of the extras that were on (especially remote start). Using regular gas and no problem. Getting around 19-21 miles per gallon around town.

teereeves

Thanks, boatsman for that informative website www.mynewavalon.com. I believe this is the first tutorial user manual in the car industry. As Toyota new tag line says "Moving Forward", this definitely moves Toyota and Avalon above the competition when it comes to online help for a car.

Tee

jrct9454

Nothing unique about this, either to the Avalon or Toyota in general.

ALWAYS CHECK TIRE PRESSURE BEFORE DRIVING AWAY FROM THE DEALER WITH A NEW CAR. They are shipped from the factory with 45-60 psi in the tires to help avoid flat-spotting in transit, and especially while sitting on the dealer's lot. I can't tell you how many new cars I've encountered [either at delivery time, or when test-driving] where the tire pressures have not been reduced to factory specs when put in the hands of a customer. This is supposed to be part of the new-car PDI, but the laughable fact is that the people who are typically charged with pre-delivery inspections at most dealerships are the lowest-paid and least-experienced employees on the lot.

No Toyota sedan should ride like a rock - if it does, the first thing to suspect is the tire pressure.

just__me

Mikes I feel for you. I always got paint chips on my new cars right away. Not now. I started driving defensively. I stay way back of all the cars in front of me like never before especially trucks. I hope I can keep this up because in a way it's also safer. So finally after almost 1350 miles I haven't even one tiny chip on the hood or front bumper. I am enjoying driving this car so much thatI am very aware now of the cars and trucks in front of me that throw back the rocks. So Mike, stay back when driving. I also have no scratches or swirls. I will take a 200 mile drive today into Charleston. Have fun.