Toyota Avalon 2008-2010

smuook

Well, if I was a betting man...

The Avalons have followed the same pattern since inception. Each of the first two generations lasted for five years. On the fourth year, the Avalon got a face lift with changes to the front/rear fascia.

The third generation is doing the same thing so far. The 2008 (being the fourth year) is getting a face lift. My guess is you'll see the next generation in 2010.

The Camrys have followed a similar (but not exactly the same) pattern also.

lizard7

I tried the link you suggested MAchabee, but wiht no luck. Can oyu, or aomeone else, recoomend another source for information on the new Avalons? :confuse:

smuook

gthomp38

OK, I give up where is the picture at? Did I miss something?

burl

I don't know how to send the link but this supposed is supposed a 2008 Avalon

Go to: http://thehollywoodextra.blogspot.com7/07/2008-avalon.html"7/2008-avalon.html

Looks like what we We were expecting it to be about like this........so must be accurate

smuook

burl

Sorry I can't get this to work again either But......

This seems to work: thehollywoodextra.com

Weird deal but there is a picture in this mess under 2008 Avalon

coach06

Please visit the Toyota pressroom web site for new info.

2008 Avalon

jmbklj

From this Toyota press release, it says...

"Interior changes include a new dark wood grain trim and eight-way power front passenger's seat with power lumbar support on XLS and Limited models. The Touring model features a new aluminum-style interior trim."

I have been waiting to hear if Toyota would do away with that awful orange-looking blond wood trim, and from the above, it sounds like that may be true. If so, thank goodness. Now if anyone knows where I can what the new dark wood grain trim looks like, please let me know.

tjc78

My '06 XLS has the darker wood. It has always been available with the Graphite interior color. The Beige and lt grey have the light wood which I'm not a huge fan of either.

davidinnv

Woo-hoo!!!

golfnut5

It sure would be nice if the car would just drive itself. :P

mackabee

Should be at dealerships later this month.

Mackabee

p.s the two "new" colors are Classic silver and Magnetic gray, replacing Titanium silver and Phantom Gray.

jmbklj

Part - but not all - of the Toyota site is updated. It shows '08 pictures.

davidinnv

This is certainly true.

It is clear that when you go to the toyota.com site, there is SOME 08 Avalon information there, but much of what is under the "08 Avalon" heading actually pertains to the 07 Avalon.

Looks like it will take them a little while to catch up. And it also looks like it will take a little while for any of the new-car pricing services to have all the latest prices available, listing such things as MSRP, invoice prices, holdbacks, etc.

davidinnv

The 2008 Avalon E-Brochure is now available on the toyota.com website. The brochure lists base prices for each model, along with pricing for options packages and accessories.

One thing I found interesting is that the exterior color choices seem to be carrying the same names as on the 2007 models. This means that they either decided to continue the same color names or neglected to reflect the new names in the brochure.

captain2

DTE is no more valuable than your fuel gauge - my Av an 05 now with 60k that has averaged a confirmed 26.6 mpg given that my driving is about 70% highway. Even on a long strictly hwy trip of about 1500 miles when the car did get 29-31 mpg did the DTE even register over 400 miles despite the fact that my actual mileage driven per tank was over 500. And never has my DTE ever gone up (unlike my wife's Nissan) because FE on a particular tank is better than what the conputer 'anticipates'. It simply stops going down nearly as quckly seemingly making these corrections after approx. 1/4 or 1/3 of the tank is gone. I have found the computer calculated FE generally right but only after correcting the odometers (any of the 3) to actual miles driven - about that 3-4 % difference mentioned on other posts. Keep in mind also that our trip computers also assume a realtively large reserve (about 2 gallons/50 miles) - so that your DTE can never approach what you might really be able to do. This is further complicated by early pump shutoffs with these vapor recovery nozzles so that the 'tank fuel' condition might really be a gallon or two short of it. In 60k miles, I have never been able to get more than 17.5 gallons of gasa in my car despite driving it well past '0' DTE. All in all, don't expect anything terribly accurate especially on DTE calculations, it has about the same 'meaning' as those 'instantaneous FE' (and DTE) on some other cars - nothing!

lnt

I'm wondering if they added any padding to the seats in the limited and if we can order the 8 way power passenger seat to put in our 05's? I've thought about ordering the darker woodgrain kit and having it installed in my 05 but then it wouldn't match the steering wheel. Oh well, Guess I'll have to live with that yellow -never really liked it - but am getting used to it.

pat

Here's the link: burl, "Toyota Avalon 2004 and earlier" #3427, 24 Jul 2007 11:33 am

markandjanet

any one know when a 08 Avalon can be ordered and how much the ever present price increase will be.

dzier217

The new wood was a great change. Now they need to get rid of the cheesey looking gray/silver plastic. Geeze that looks so out of place. Why are they stuck on such cheap looking plastic in an otherwise beautiful car!!!!!!!

baccus49

Any opinion on which model to choose between XL and Touring. I've priced them both out with similar options and the Touring is about $925 more (I would add leather to the XL). As far as I can tell, the only difference is:

1) Aluminum door scuff plates in Touring
2) sport tuned suspension on Touring
3) no ability to upgrade radio in XL
4) Leather wrapped steering wheel in Touring

Is the touring worth it?

nnnnnpatel

I would get the touring because of better suspension

np

smuook

The touring interior has a different visual "feel" inside due mainly to the aluminum trim look. Other than that, it's all about the suspension. It's really a matter of preference... I wouldn't consider the touring a better suspension, just "sport tuned" and mildly so. If you think an Avalon is going to handle like a 3 series BMW you are kidding yourself. The Avalon is not a sports car. The Touring basically gives less body roll when cornering and removes the "floating" that can happen on the highway over dips. It also removes the plush American car-like ride. Some people on other forums have offered to trade their touring suspension for a limited or xls suspension... it's all about preference. My advice is NOT to take my word for it, or anybody elses for that matter. Give them both a good test drive under various road conditions and you decide if it's worth it.

tjc78

Aside from the suspension there are also the HID headlights. I wish my XLS had them. I hate the way all manufacturers group options. Why shouldn't the HID be at least an option on the XLS if the Touring and Limited have them as standard equipment?

P.S. I think I can answer my own question... to make people buy the Limited.

nnnnnpatel

The Touring sedan has a tout suspension, identical to Camry SE. It will never match any sports car handling (BMW, Acura, etc...), however you will recongize difference between touring and xls sedan.

burl

Sport tuned suspentions "handles quicker and better in quick turns" also means rougher riding car ....No way around it

I'm pretty sure that you can upgrade radio in XL

NO..... Repeat: No leather available on XL Maybe next year as they have done it before in the last 1-2 years before model change.

Wife and I drove 2008 XLS yesterday
The front end change while SUBTLE Is quite a suppriseing improvement..... Wife Liked it a lot.

Car drove fine and the 6 speed trans worked ....... very Smoothly and showed no kinks at all..............Lets hope the rest of them are the same
Dash board looked great and I really liked the Lexus colors on the gages.

The Brakes are a huge improvement ......No air in the break line feeling , I really liked them, the bigger brakes were noticeable also.

I actually like the car more than I though I would.

It Is A Keeper...... Not perfect but really likeable car

Burl

strephen

Does the 2008 XLS have the same silver/gray plastic housing on the console (surrounding the shift)?

Thanks for your help

burl

The one that we drove was an XLS ,but I don'tremember for sure

But my memory says yes,, I think maybe

popsavalon

You mention NO leather available on XL. I have an 07 XL with leather interior (listed on invoice as L2-dealer installed option). It was in the car when it came off the hauler??? I assume this same option would be available in 08.

I wanted an XL, but did not want cloth interior. My dealer said no problem to order leather.

dcallies

Today I traded in my 2005 Avalon for a new 2008. After 38000 miles I would say I had a good experience with my 2005. My 2005 was returned to the shop for 2 repairs. The first was for the egg smell which would occur due to my heavy foot on the gas. The second was for an oil leak. Two times is more than I would like but I knew on a 1st year redesign it was possible. The gas mileage was great averaging 25+ and as high as 32. Yes, I ran the premium since it was only a dime more and paid for itself in mileage.

Toyota has shaken up the option/packages this year. Heated seats came along with the VSC in 2005. No more... Looking at the options on toyota is not very clear. I would say use caution. Normally they only change the packages with new redesigns, which is not the case for the 2008's I ended up studying the cars on the lot to understand what was going on.

I look forward to finally having bluetooth and a cd player that can handle mp3's. I only wished they put an off on switch for the VSC.

tjc78

"I wanted an XL, but did not want cloth interior. My dealer said no problem to order leather"

By the time you add leather to an XL wouldn't it just drive the price up to the area of a Touring/XLS. I know you can get an XLS w/o the JBL (in some areas) and that would sticker around 33K what did your XL with leather come in at?

popsavalon

Sticker was exactly 30K. I didn't want the funky wood interior in the XLS, liked the brushed metal look better. Also, I believe that leather in the XLS is packaged with sunroof...didn't want that either. Also didn't want the slightly stiffer ride of the Touring. I felt that I got a very nice car with the options that I wanted for a reasonable price. By the way, the seats are also heated.

I sold a low mileage 2003 EX Accord to buy this car. It was my first Honda product and I did not like stiffer ride or cramped interior.

tjc78

OK, I was thinking XL w/moonroof so I thought closer to 29K without the leather. Its nice you were able to get what you want, not always easy these days with the way manufacturers package options.

coach06

I have an XLS on order and would like to know what style did you get? If you ordered the XLS and ivory interior please advise if the woodgrain is actually darker and much nicer than before. Pictures would be nice..

Thanks

wwest

I suspect you really mean "switch to turn off TC/Trac..."

The TC, Traction Control, aspect of the integrated ABS/BA/EBD/TC/VSC (VDIM..??) system is the part that will start braking the front (drive) wheels and dethrottle the engine if you apply too much engine drive torque for the current roadbed conditions.

I think I read recently that the '08 RX has a sequential disable switch for TC and VSC. Once you have turned TC off then you can turn VSC off. Although in the latter case I don't understand why one would want to.

dcallies

Yes I would like a switch to turn the VSC off. Last winter I was parked at the office in the parking lot. A snow plow went by leaving a very small mound (5 inches) of snow in front of all the cars. When I pulled out (slowly) my front tires were stuck in the pile/rut and with the VSC, I couldn't get the tires to spin.

I did find a way to turn them off using a combination of tasks but found that silly. Yes, VSC should always be on except for these situations.

tjc78

The VSC and Traction control are actually two different systems. Traction control (TRAC in Toyo speak) stops wheel slippage only, which is why you couldn't rock yourself out of the snow. VSC on the other hand is to prevent loss of control say from a high speed swerve or black ice. I agree there should be an off button but for the 1 time a year (if that) I need to shut it off the crazy set of instructions I keep in the glove box will do. I can't even believe someone actually came up with that procedure.

dcallies

Sorry but my xls will have the dark gray interior which I'll pick up on Saturday or Monday. I remember seeing any ivory one on the lot but that's all.

dcallies

The crazy thing about the procedure is that you have only 15-20 seconds to complete. I remember trying it the first time (10 trys). I almost gave up thinking it was a hoax!

wwest

Somewhere about there is a remote wireless relay kit. I used one to "open" the door to my GPS/Nav DVD. You could wire the relay into the MAF/IAT sensor signal and be able to kill ABS/TC/VSC/etc, from the driver's seat that way.

dcallies

One thing I forgot to ask is what type of connection is allowed for the auxiliary audio jack? Could it be that it has an Ipod connector (in my dreams) or if I'll need to buy a cable to run from the earphone jack to a standard input?

tjc78

On a friends Camry XLE it is a headphone jack connector. Radio Shack sells the cable for a few dollars (male to male minijack). They have fancy gold plated ones but probably not neccessary for this connection. I had an adaptor installed for my '06 and it charges the IPOD and I can change tracks with the steering wheel controls (via the dock connector). When I buy my next one it will have the jack built in, but I am spoiled by the connection I have now.

mackabee

08 Avalons now come with the dark wood interior only.

tjc78

It looks alot better than even the darker wood in my '06 with the Graphite interior. I also like the chrome strip under the wood, looks great. I didn't like the new front end when I looked at the pictures on the website, however, when I checked out one in person Sunday night it looks pretty good.

coach06

My local dealership here in Memphis finally got a couple of 08's in and I was able to take a look at one, it was the Blizzard Pearl color w/ ivory interior. Yes the interior wood is darker, a lot darker than I expected but still looks much better than last year. The new design of the wheels look better and I was able to see the difference in the tail lights.(tinted)Can't wait for my '08 to get here..

dcallies

I picked up my new 08 Avalon on Monday and can't be happier. Having Bluetooth and having a MP3 capable cd player is a plus. The front is much improved with the brushed aluminum but can't see any difference in the tail lights. I parked my 08 next to my old 05 and couldn't see anything. Yes the new style rims are sweet!

I was a little caught of guard to see that it now has a 6 speed transmission instead the 5 speed in my 2005. What year did they change that and why?

I have the gray interior with the dark woodgrain. My 2005 had the light grey with the light woodgrain. I like both but my wife likes the dark grain better. If she's happy, I'm happy too!

airwaves1

I picked up my new 08 Avalon LTD on Aug 18th and I love it. It's got all the toys including dynamic laser cruise control and NAV system. I'm still trying to figure out how to set up the bluetooth option. The car drives like a dream. So far so good.

With all of the extra electronics am wondering if purchasing an extended warranty would be a good idea.

lcsenn

If you are keeping the car past the initial warranty, yes. One major repair of electronics could cost mush as an extended warranty.

A tip: Most dealer financial managers will discount the fee of the extended warranty if you make it clear that the deal is hinging on the discount of the fee.

mackabee

Bluetooth is easy to set up airwaves. First ensure your phone is bluetooth capable. Depending on the brand you will find the bluetooth icon and enabling screen under the TOOLS or SETTINGS menu. Push the talk switch or the phone receiver switch on the steering wheel and follow the prompts. For more information see your phone's owner guide and this website: www.toyota.letstalk.com
Mack