Interesting response from everyone. I myself have been using 87 since I bought my car. I tested my mileage last year using 89 but I couldn't justify the cost. Now with the gas at 3.00 a gallon, I switch up to 89 octane. This change has improved my gas milage from 25 to 27.5 which costs less per mile. I never tried 91 octane but just might try a couple tank fulls for the heck of it.
Sure glad I passed on the RV and bought my Avalon.
Hey Don: Found your post while searching "molding". I just ordered the side molding for a new 2006 XLS here in Astoria and no one has seen an Avalon with the molding and the service dept hopefully will install it properly. You must have your car by now and I was wondering how the molding looks. BTW, this should be a standard item on the Avalon!
You are right. I drove my new blue mirage Limited home today and it is OUTSTANDING! The side molding was installed by the port dealer people, who did a perfect job. The color match is exact and the strip looks just right.
I'm a car guy and like to change cars every two years, so I sold my 2004 ES 330 with 20K miles, but wanted to stay in the Toyota family. This Avalon is one impressive car! Better than the Lexus in every way. The driver's seat is more comfortable than the ES. The sound system is twice as good. The engine is 10 times peppier. The interior is much more spacious - front and rear. Quietness on the road is just as good if not better. Gauges are more legible (except for the odometer). Car is better looking.
I drove it 118 miles home from Springfield, over the mountains in the rain and it went like a rabbit. The driver's seat has an extender you can activate and I tell you, I've never had a better, more relaxing ride in a car. Speeds up to 85 mph in a couple of places and smooth as a baby's posterior. The JBL sound system has a large speaker centered in the dash, rather than the ones the Lexus has in the doors. What a difference, even though the Lexus has the fancy sound system. And the light blue metallic paint is gorgeous. I'm one happy camper.
And to top it all off, this great car only cost me $33,716 including nav, license and registration! Such a deal! Maybe this is the one I'll be happy with for ever.
Yes, my seatbelt is doing that right now and I knew why. A passenger yarded on the thing like he was belting the entire front seat and I need to readjust it. I was too busy to fix it and would just do up the seatbelt with no passenger and the rattle stopped. Thanks for the fix! I will add it to my collection of things to do on the weekend.
havalongavalon. I wish I were proficient enough, with the computer, to send a picture. Unfortunately, I'm not!
I can tell you this, it resembles the grille of the current Lexus 430/460. However, it does not have any provision for the logo. I hope this helps!! Hutch
Hi Hutch, The billet grill looks great, but I just looked under the hood of my'06 Limited and wonder what all you have to do to install it. Two questions: 1. Would you mind explaining exactly how to go about getting to the bolts that hold the grill on? 2. I'd also like to learn how you posted a picture directly to the forum rather than uploading it to a different site and inserting a reference to it.
My local Toyota dealer has a large roll-up shade for the 2005+ Avalon, but that takes up too much space when folded up into a long cylinder. Anyone found a fold-up style window shade large enough for the Avy windshield? I mean the kind that folds together into a fairly small circular package. Thanks.
hsakuragi, thank you very much for posting your photo!
Hutch, no worries. I did notice that the logo is missing. It should be possible to mount a logo over the custom grille, although it may be difficult to do a good job of it?
Dandydon, a photo needs to be publicly posted in a website to be copied here. If it is, it is easy. First get the photo's URL address by right-clicking on the photo itself and left-clicking on "Properties"; copy this address. Then to paste the photo into your message, click on the "Img" button below the Message box, paste the URL address of the photo and click "Img" again. As an example, I'll copy here the photo that hsakuragi posted in the recent message:
Thanks for the info Don. I also went with the Blue Mirage - very nice color with the graphite leather. You got an excellent price. Well worth the extra miles. See ya on the road, John
Is the knee airbag suppossed to be flush with the rest of the dash? Mine is not flush but is receeded about half an inch or so from the rest of the dash. Thanks!
:confuse: Does anyone know what position the trunk lid on an '05 should be once it opens? I know that when you release it, it only rises about 6 inches, then, you have to raise it manually. But once you start to raise it manually, shouldn't it open to its maximum height on its own? Mine doesn't and I'm constantly hitting my head on the darn thing. I'm still a 'holdover' from when the trunk lid would rise to it's maximum position on opening. Any suggestions much appreciated. Charlie
Dandydon. There are only two bolts holding the grille. They are at the top and very easy to access for removal. Once the bolts are removed, there are several tabs with catches which must be depressed to remove the grille. They are along the bottom of the grille and easy to reach. Once the catches are depressed, the grille easily comes out with slight pressure from the rear.
Here's another INTERMITTENT issue with my 2005 Limited. Has anyone had noise problems with the air conditioner?
Here is what's happening. Sometimes, not always, when the air conditioner is on, there is a rapid tapping sound coming from an area that I THOUGHT was the steering column. It turns out, that when I switched off the AC (because I tried a bunch of other things to isolate the noise), that the noise went away. But again, the problem is intermittent.
Has anyone else had this problem and if so, were you able to get satisfaction?
Thanks for the info, but I'm still unclear on how to get to the grill itself. How do you remove the large black plastic panel that covers the top of the grill area in front of the engine? Another question occurred to me also, do the openings in the billet grill appear to be wide enough to enable good air flow to the radiator? I really appreciate you help on these matters, since I'm ready to order the grill.
suggestions; drop to your knees when opening the trunk; wear football helmet when opening trunk; seriously though, that does hurt like heck. My 96 Avy does the same thing only worse. Don't have a problem with the 05
Is the knee airbag suppossed to be flush with the rest of the dash? Mine is not flush but is receeded about half an inch or so from the rest of the dash. Thanks!
Is a matter of physics not design and was an aspect of the very first car I bought back in 1962. Blame it on road speed and the air flowing past the open window setting up a low frequency pressure wave. Frequency is a result of vehicle volume and distance to the rear from the open window/sunroof.
But it is true that tighter sealing and insulation have made the noise more pronounced.
Don't struts eventually lose their lift capability and have to be replaced? Personally I would rather have goosenecks that last "forever" and never incur additional expense. Maybe I'm not understanding something.
I have an 05 XLS. Same symptoms on the air conditioner but the sound is intermittent. Sort of sounds like a baseball card in bicycle spokes, only not as loud. I can only hear it on the driver's side, don't know about passenger side. Some days I don't hear it at all. Can't make it do it. Hard to nail down for a tech. TedJ
dandydon. To remove the black plastic panel covering the grille, you must pry up the six plastic fasteners. They will probably break but that's OK because they are not re usable. I purchased replacements from the dealer for $.93 each.
The grille opening allows plenty of air flow. I suspect it allows more than the stock grille.
Go ahead and place the order, you will not be disappointed!!
I agree. The XL is the one to get! Where else can you get a Lexus engine (ES 350, RX 350) with CLOTH seats? (Try finding the only available in black cloth on the ES 350). I think Floridians (of which I am one) who get leather upholstery should have their heads examined. (My family hates summer leather burns.) I was able to factory order a Blizzard Pearl XL with stability control and the electrochromatic mirror with Homelink. I installed the color-keyed bodyside moldings myself with my wife's assistance. Since I've been a teenager (I'm 49 now), I've been attracted to "boulevard cruisers". This baby is the most advanced and reliable. (Check out the recalls for Mercedes for essential things like BRAKES.) This car is a great value. And the XL is three to seven thousand cheaper than than the Avalon models with toys. No offense, but when I see a Limited on the road with me, I calculate how many thousands less I spent for as good a car.
Has anyone removed the airbag warning stickers from the sunvisors of a recent model ('05 or'06) Avalon? They strike me as a real eyesore. I'd like to know if they come off easily in one piece or tear into shreds & cause a real mess if you try to remove them? And do they leave behind a sticky residue on the visor after removing them? Appreciate any tips on how to remove them easily. Thx.
Yes they are obnoxious. We removed ours from our 05 Limited. They came off easily, just start on one corner and peel them off slowly. Try not to stretch out the sun visor fabric too much. Use your opposite hand to hold the fabric down while pulling the sticker off. I do notice a very vague outline in the fabric where the edges of the sticker were...but not very noticeable and certainly better than those ugly stickers. Laura
It's funny how different people are. I had my granson in my Limited version yesterday and an XL passed us. He comment was,"Wow look at the CHEAP Avalon. The cloth seats look like something out of the 60's and look the same. Leather gives a quality appearance." BTW the leather seems to be no bother here in Columbia,sc which gets every bit as hot as Florida.
I may have paid more but I sure like appearance and feel of additions. So to each his own
Never found the leather to be too hot here in Atlanta either but a happy compromise is the perforated leather found in some models (including my '03 XL). We live part of the year in Florida and the perf is not nearly as hot as the regular solid leather in our other cars. GA and SC top FL for sheer summer heat anyway. Cloth interior? Haven't had one since 1962. As you say, to each his own....
The Cressida was a fabulous car for its time. Smooth and powerful with a lot of subtle technological advancements that were way ahead of any other "normal" car.
Definitely the best car I'd driven until I bought the 06 Avalon Limited I'm driving now. But, WOW, this one is in a different league!
When gas went up, I started using 89 octane. Just got back from a trip to Louisiana (almost 1000 mile round trip) and got 31 mpg all the way driving 70mph. Didn't notice any loss of power either. I used 87 on one trip down there a few months ago and got 32 & 33 mpg but must have had a tailwind. Of course in town I don't get but about 17-18 with all the red lights, but it is no different even if I use the 93 octane.
As soon as I read your posting, I pulled off those stickers with no trouble and it looks so much better now. (Got a Limited this week & I'm already enjoying it even more with that eyesore removed). Thanks so much for your helpful instructions & comments, Laura! Gary
So I tried this last night, but couldn't get any of the corners to lift.
My Av was built in Feb 2005 and has Canadian bilingual stickers. I wonder whether in earlier production a stronger adhesive was used? Alternatively, the bond could have became stronger with time. Or, Canadian stickers came with different adhesive?
Or maybe I should have tried harder... Has anyone else successfully peeled off the stickers from an early production 2005 Av, in particular Canadian stickers?
Hi Havalongavalon, Our car was built June 8 2005 and I removed the stickers about a month after we got the car. I doubt that the adhesives were stronger back then so it could be that the constant heating and cooling of the interior through the seasons may have affected the adhesive. Perhaps try it again after the car has sat in the sun and warmed up the interior quite a bit, or heat the stickers up a bit with a hair dryer. I used heat to easily remove old pin striping from our boat....
The 2GR engine not really a Lexus engine - an Avalon engine that has now found its way throughout the Toyota/Lexus line - the use of this engine in the Avalon preceding any other by about a year. But, if it makes you feel better that the engine is 'good enough' to be in a Lexus, that is true. Read something along the line that Toyota will save $1 billion/year using our Avalon engines in multiple vehicles. And it is a technologically superior product that may yet prove to be the best V6 (power and economy) available. As far as trim preferences - I have found the XL, XLS and Ltd. all way too soft - more like a Buick. Think that Toyota ought to offer all trims in a tightened up 'Touring' version, giving those with gizmo deprivation an option.
I agree - and of todays cars, love the Avalon! If I remember correctly, Cressida MPG was only in the low 20's highway, as compared to the Avalon's rating of 31.
Is it true that the Avalon engine is available in the 2007 Camry? If so, do you think our (Avalon) engine parts will come down in price?
Btw, my wife and I just sold our Mercedes Benz 2000 C230, after owning MB for 11 years. Hung on to it for a year after buying the Avy to make sure it would meet our long-term needs as a replacement for the MB (power, reliability, mechanical integrity, cost of ownership, depreciation, etc.). In almost every category we preferred the Avalon to the C230. To be fair however, we were comparing cars that were 5 model years apart. But when we looked at the new MBs (cheaper plastic), we liked the Avy even more! :-)
I agree, the touring suspension bits should be an option available on XL, XLS or Limited, rather than a separate model. It's silly to give customers who want a little firmer ride only one choice of interior color. And the touring option shouldn't mandate the dumb looking pseudo-spoiler. I'd be willing to wager that most people that buy Touring don't really want the spoiler, they just grit their teeth because that's the only way to get better handling.
Offering a touring suspension option on all (or at least many) trim levels is common with U.S. makes. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the Toyota way, hence Camry SE and Avalon Touring.
have had my Touring for over a year now - and did have the opportunity to drive an XL that my wife was using for a while. The way the two cars 'felt' was like night and day - but, even my Touring not a 'sports sedan'. Toyota/Lexus has never been real big into more aggressively styled and engineered cars. The previous Avalon certainly more conservative and much more 'Buick' which is exactly what the older demographic prefers. Times are changing, however - the new V6 and new styling allowing the new Av to appeal to a wider audience. The Touring BTW largely devoid of any 'bling' but you had better like the charcoal leather - which, even in Texas, don't find too hot.
Posted by Smith1 "And the touring option shouldn't mandate the dumb looking pseudo-spoiler. I'd be willing to wager that most people that buy Touring don't really want the spoiler, they just grit their teeth because that's the only way to get better handling."
Actually I like the spoiler and prefer to have one. Remember that it's a sport model...
Comments
Sure glad I passed on the RV and bought my Avalon.
Life is sweet!
Found your post while searching "molding". I just ordered the side molding for a new 2006 XLS here in Astoria and no one has seen an Avalon with the molding and the service dept hopefully will install it properly. You must have your car by now and I was wondering how the molding looks. BTW, this should be a standard item on the Avalon!
You are right. I drove my new blue mirage Limited home today and it is OUTSTANDING! The side molding was installed by the port dealer people, who did a perfect job. The color match is exact and the strip looks just right.
I'm a car guy and like to change cars every two years, so I sold my 2004 ES 330 with 20K miles, but wanted to stay in the Toyota family. This Avalon is one impressive car! Better than the Lexus in every way.
The driver's seat is more comfortable than the ES.
The sound system is twice as good.
The engine is 10 times peppier.
The interior is much more spacious - front and rear.
Quietness on the road is just as good if not better.
Gauges are more legible (except for the odometer).
Car is better looking.
I drove it 118 miles home from Springfield, over the mountains in the rain and it went like a rabbit. The driver's seat has an extender you can activate and I tell you, I've never had a better, more relaxing ride in a car. Speeds up to 85 mph in a couple of places and smooth as a baby's posterior. The JBL sound system has a large speaker centered in the dash, rather than the ones the Lexus has in the doors. What a difference, even though the Lexus has the fancy sound system. And the light blue metallic paint is gorgeous. I'm one happy camper.
And to top it all off, this great car only cost me $33,716 including nav, license and registration! Such a deal! Maybe this is the one I'll be happy with for ever.
...or not.
Who knows?
i just bought one too with the wind deflector, let's see how that goes
I can tell you this, it resembles the grille of the current Lexus 430/460. However, it does not have any provision for the logo. I hope this helps!!
Hutch
The billet grill looks great, but I just looked under the hood of my'06 Limited and wonder what all you have to do to install it. Two questions:
1. Would you mind explaining exactly how to go about getting to the bolts that hold the grill on?
2. I'd also like to learn how you posted a picture directly to the forum rather than uploading it to a different site and inserting a reference to it.
Thanks much,
Dandydon
Max
Hutch, no worries. I did notice that the logo is missing. It should be possible to mount a logo over the custom grille, although it may be difficult to do a good job of it?
Dandydon, a photo needs to be publicly posted in a website to be copied here. If it is, it is easy. First get the photo's URL address by right-clicking on the photo itself and left-clicking on "Properties"; copy this address. Then to paste the photo into your message, click on the "Img" button below the Message box, paste the URL address of the photo and click "Img" again. As an example, I'll copy here the photo that hsakuragi posted in the recent message:
havalongavalon
See ya on the road,
John
havalongavalon
Mackabee
I hope this helps!
I did not post the picture!!
Hutch
Here is what's happening. Sometimes, not always, when the air conditioner is on, there is a rapid tapping sound coming from an area that I THOUGHT was the steering column. It turns out, that when I switched off the AC (because I tried a bunch of other things to isolate the noise), that the noise went away. But again, the problem is intermittent.
Has anyone else had this problem and if so, were you able to get satisfaction?
Thanks!
Thanks for the info, but I'm still unclear on how to get to the grill itself. How do you remove the large black plastic panel that covers the top of the grill area in front of the engine? Another question occurred to me also, do the openings in the billet grill appear to be wide enough to enable good air flow to the radiator? I really appreciate you help on these matters, since I'm ready to order the grill.
Dandydon
But it is true that tighter sealing and insulation have made the noise more pronounced.
- P.
- P.
You mention my all-time favorite, the Cressida. Never owned one, but was hoping for evidence of its heritage in the Avalon. I think I found it.
- Paul
Don't struts eventually lose their lift capability and have to be replaced? Personally I would rather have goosenecks that last "forever" and never incur additional expense. Maybe I'm not understanding something.
- Paul
TedJ
dandydon. To remove the black plastic panel covering the grille, you must pry up the six plastic fasteners. They will probably break but that's OK because they are not re usable. I purchased replacements from the dealer for $.93 each.
The grille opening allows plenty of air flow. I suspect it allows more than the stock grille.
Go ahead and place the order, you will not be disappointed!!
hutch
damn thats one ugly looking grill :S the stock one looks much better tho ! sorry but thats my personal opinion !
anyway heres my newest MODS A CLEAR FRONT LIGHTS ! insted of the orange ones !
heres the pics :
White Vs Yellow
for more pics visit my web page on cardomain :
http://www.cardomain.com/id/ghoshee
Laura
I may have paid more but I sure like appearance and feel of additions. So to each his own
Definitely the best car I'd driven until I bought the 06 Avalon Limited I'm driving now. But, WOW, this one is in a different league!
Gary
My Av was built in Feb 2005 and has Canadian bilingual stickers. I wonder whether in earlier production a stronger adhesive was used? Alternatively, the bond could have became stronger with time. Or, Canadian stickers came with different adhesive?
Or maybe I should have tried harder... Has anyone else successfully peeled off the stickers from an early production 2005 Av, in particular Canadian stickers?
gladiator99, have you, perchance?
Merci,
havalongavalon
http://fleet.toyota.com/html/documents/MY_2007_Color_Chart.xls
Perhaps try it again after the car has sat in the sun and warmed up the interior quite a bit, or heat the stickers up a bit with a hair dryer. I used heat to easily remove old pin striping from our boat....
Laura
As far as trim preferences - I have found the XL, XLS and Ltd. all way too soft - more like a Buick. Think that Toyota ought to offer all trims in a tightened up 'Touring' version, giving those with gizmo deprivation an option.
Suspension is way too soft to really allow use of the engine or the shift mode.
A touring suspension without all of the useless and expensive bling would be fun.
Woudn't hold my breath though - this would be counter to a standard Atuo industry margin boulding strategy.
Is it true that the Avalon engine is available in the 2007 Camry? If so, do you think our (Avalon) engine parts will come down in price?
Btw, my wife and I just sold our Mercedes Benz 2000 C230, after owning MB for 11 years. Hung on to it for a year after buying the Avy to make sure it would meet our long-term needs as a replacement for the MB (power, reliability, mechanical integrity, cost of ownership, depreciation, etc.). In almost every category we preferred the Avalon to the C230. To be fair however, we were comparing cars that were 5 model years apart. But when we looked at the new MBs (cheaper plastic), we liked the Avy even more! :-)
Enjoy your '06!!
- P.
Offering a touring suspension option on all (or at least many) trim levels is common with U.S. makes. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the Toyota way, hence Camry SE and Avalon Touring.
Toyota/Lexus has never been real big into more aggressively styled and engineered cars. The previous Avalon certainly more conservative and much more 'Buick' which is exactly what the older demographic prefers. Times are changing, however - the new V6 and new styling allowing the new Av to appeal to a wider audience. The Touring BTW largely devoid of any 'bling' but you had better like the charcoal leather - which, even in Texas, don't find too hot.
"And the touring option shouldn't mandate the dumb looking pseudo-spoiler. I'd be willing to wager that most people that buy Touring don't really want the spoiler, they just grit their teeth because that's the only way to get better handling."
Actually I like the spoiler and prefer to have one. Remember that it's a sport model...