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VOOOOMMMMMM /280 HP---- MY STEERING WHEEL IS ACROSS THE STREET---CAN YOU FIX IT :P
Would you know whether the suspect weld they checked was located behind the engine, or inside the cabin above the brake pedal? I'm still trying to determine which end of the steering shaft may have the defect.
Thanks,
havalongavalon
perhaps you could find out which end of the steering shaft may have the defective weld, since there are yokes at both ends? Toyota Customer Service told me they could not give any more details, that only Dealers can call in for more clarification. :confuse:
Thanks in advance,
havalongavalon
Yes, thank you. And I also have heard some soft knocking while idling since you described it.
Do you think 93 octane has made any difference in performance or mileage compared to, say, 89 octane?
havalongavalon
MikeS.
PS: Beano might work........
* seats are uncomfortable, no bolsters to speak of in the driver's seat and the back seats look and feel like big flat bench
* dash lost it's all in one look and easy to reach design - now things are scattered around - the environmental controls are positioned to the left and right of the CD player instead of grouped below it. This makes it harder for shorter persons to reach it.
* all of the silvery plastic in the center console seemed light weight and likely to show signs of wear quickly. If you use the CD alot the cover is always open. So why does it have a cover?
* she didn't think that women would like the controls on the steering wheel - they are confusing. What is Mode? Why are the speaker control buttons on the steering wheel? All you really need there is mute and volumen up / down. Not very intuitive.
* She got out and said, let's spend our money on the keeping the Avvy we have in tip top shape for 5 more years or go visit the Lexus store.
I think she's right.
5.835 gallons in Kingman, AZ at 1375 miles (157 miles - 26.89 mpg for leg)
11.86 gallons in Tonapah, NV @ 1690 miles (315 miles - 27.16 mpg for leg)
10.44 gallons in Susanville, CA @ 2007 miles (317 miles - 30.36 mpg for leg)
13.55 gallons in Vancouver, WA @ 2462 mi (455 miles - 33.58 mpg for leg)
Total trip - 1244 miles & 41.425 gallons of premium - avergage of 30.03 mpg
Average cost for premium = $2.58 per gallon
Two adults, car loaded (4400# on scales with full load of fuel).
No, didn't win in either Las Vegas or Reno.
We may consider regular fuel in the future, but are quite content with the performance using premium.
Your wife is a very smart lady obviously. When you add up all the cosmic changes , the new one is just not all things to all people.. I found the same that you spoke about above and then some. The bench seat option is no longer, a major selling point for us Police Intercepter people. The truck is notably smaller, gas tank size approx. the same, towing capacity reduced in half with an engine that produces much more HP and more torque but notably not at all linear as reported by other posts. Is those improvements or just substututes for the laser cruise control that has a part that is easily broken by a road debris or Fog lights that are cheaply attached to their supports?
This is a first year model, and I did warn people about first year models. There is always something, no matter what company you give your 35K to. Doesn't matter.
I'd hold onto your older Avalon for awhile until Toyota addresses some issues. I think althogh not as big, the Nissan Maxima or the Acura RL, is you can make the jump are more attractive and better buys.
abfisch
Probably cost Toyota all of $50 to buy. There is a big markup on captive OEM parts many times what they should really cost, but a big moneymaker for the manufacturer if you have to buy one out of your own pocket.
The controls are on the wheel because it's safer to have two hands on the wheel as much of your driving time as possible. She's going to have the same problems figuring out the same functions on the radio console, except she'd be using only one hand on the wheel. Better stick to that 2000 XLS.
If anyone has the beans to step up to the Acura RL, I recommend also putting the Cadillac STS on your shopping list. I test drove one recently and I must say the ride and luxury package are awesome. But if you want the top of the line v-8, you are looking at 61k. You can get the v6 version pretty loaded for about 56k. But from what I can tell, the nav is only available on the v8 version.
Does the AValon use stainless steel exaust system pipes and muffler? If not, the rust may well be coming from condensation mixed with rust from plain steel pipes.
* seats are uncomfortable, no bolsters to speak of in the driver's seat and the back seats look and feel like big flat bench
I find the seats extremely comfortable. Just the right level of firmness vs. padding.
* dash lost it's all in one look and easy to reach design - now things are scattered around - the environmental controls are positioned to the left and right of the CD player instead of grouped below it. This makes it harder for shorter persons to reach it.
This is one of the most ergonomic dashes I have seen. With the steering wheel controls, I rarely have to touch the buttons on the dash but when I do the ones I need are within easy reach (I'm 5' 10"). Basically, when driving, I either adjust the temp up or down, the volume up or down and advance the CD with the steering wheel controls. I do sometimes instinctively adjust the volume on the stereo unit itself (old habits die hard).
* all of the silvery plastic in the center console seemed light weight and likely to show signs of wear quickly. If you use the CD alot the cover is always open. So why does it have a cover?
I agree somewhat with this statement. We'll have to see how to doors wears over time. I usually have the door to the CD player open since, even with a 6 disc changer, I switch CDs a lot.
* she didn't think that women would like the controls on the steering wheel - they are confusing. What is Mode? Why are the speaker control buttons on the steering wheel? All you really need there is mute and volumen up / down. Not very intuitive.
My wife loves the steering wheel controls. The Mode button is used to switch between CD and radio and to turn the unit off. These controls really come in handy when driving in traffic because you can change things without really taking your eyes off the road. See my previous comments on these controls.
lol sorry for this qustion but i need some advice .
:P
Good to hear that your vehicle is ok. I emailed my dealer and of course they hadn't rec'd the TSB yet. I won't be taking my avy in for the first oil change for at least another month or more so by that time I may have gotten a letter from them. They couldn't tell me if our car was on the problem list.
You won't have to keep on leaning left or right on your vacation, so you can enjoy the ride now. Just don't get too many speeding tickets!!!! Have a nice vacation!!
gladiator99
Your sulfur smell is almost certainly caused by your catalytic converter in your exhaust system.
Don't hear about much anymore used to be major problem.
Tell your service man ........a $30.000 car is not supposed to smell like an outdoor tolit.
One interesting aspect is that you will smell it most often if the WIND is coming from behind you.
74 when speed limit is 65.
79 when speed limit was 75.
So far it's kept Smokey at bay.
We were quite satisfied with the mileage, considering the mountain ranges one passes on that route.
Zupmeister - Where to begin? You know, I really think you should go with the white, it's so nice. But then again, the black, that's really boss as we used to say. And there are times I'm taken by the blue one, except that the green is really good looking. But I think the green one is the one that the guy smelled the f*rt in when he romped on it (downwind only). Don't think you'd like that, being from Bahrain and all. So maybe you should opt for the silver. Gosh, I'm just so glad we have these here forums to get all the hard to find information. Kinda nice to have the technology, ain't it?
Groza
Right. And where's the built-in cell phone? And what do you look at to figure out what Mode you are in?
As absfisch said, Toyota's track record with new models is spotty (by their own standard of what they can do down the road a year or two). There's a great deal to be worked out on the Avalon before the defect levels drop. But we don't expect them to do much to the interior.
We've decided to pass. For the Buick crowd any Avvy is a step up, but for the 2000-2004 Avvy owners, the new 2005 has way too many minuses to overcome a few pluses.
The controls are on the wheel because it's safer to have two hands on the wheel as much of your driving time as possible.
Your response:
Right. And where's the built-in cell phone? And what do you look at to figure out what Mode you are in?
I agree 100% with the original poster on this. I would never have another car without steering wheel controls. They are very helpful when driving in traffic. Regarding the MODE button... I don't mean to sound sarcastic but, to most people, it's fairly obvious when you switch from CD to FM to AM to determine which mode you are in. And if you can't tell by what you hear, you can, with your peripheral vision, look at the display in the center of the dash. On the top line in large letters it displays the current mode.
Your comment:
for the 2000-2004 Avvy owners, the new 2005 has way too many minuses to overcome a few pluses.
I believe there are more people (like myself) who bought on '05 Avalon that would not have considered a prior year Avalon than those (such as yourself) who like the older models better. I also assume that this was the objective that Toyota was trying to achieve.
This is the best of the Avalons I've owned before and although unlike you I won't speak for everyone else I'm sure out of the 9,200 buyers in the month of April and the 24 thousand plus from the beginning of the year (meaning February) there are many happy owners in the majority. I have three other 05 avalon owners where I live and unlike this forum where some who have an agenda and repeat the mantra, these men all love there Avalons as I do and so far have no complaints. So although I respect your right to express your concerns, please don't lump everyone into your opinion. My car definitely has more pluses then my 04 beginning with the power, the windshield wipers, the reclining rear seats, the absolutely beautiful cleaned refined looking interior, the refined styling, all major pluses, and I for one love the little doors that work so well and the easy to use controls on the steering wheels allowing me no longer to hunt the dials on the radio while driving. I don't even have to open that door anymore, everything there is at my finger tips. My seats are as comfortable as the ones in my 04 and the other two Av's I owned. This response isn't a reaction to being sensitive to negative information, but to once again clear the air when you say "but for the 2000-2004 Avvy owners, the new 2005 has way too many minuses to overcome a few pluses". I don't know what minuses there might be on my car other then a smaller trunk probably because of the reclining rear seats, other then that there are none in my case. The pluses far outweigh any minuses and anyone stepping on the gas and hearing that putty cat hum will know what I mean. Since your going to buy another car why do you stay here trying to criticize the Avalon. Your not enlightening anyone, you just seem to be trying to steer people away for what ever your reason is. I was never a Buick owner. As I ride down the nations Highways, I notice that sometimes it seems every other car has the Toyota badge on it. More than anything else that speaks about the reliability and the excellent trade in value you get for the car since for the Camry and Avalon, the depreciation is so much less than other makes, and that is a fact, not an opinion. That is another major plus, and no minus when making a purchasing decision. Other then that, nothing is perfect.
Just me - The perfect description of this car and its motor. Thank you, my friend.
Groza
oh, and one more....it's a steal!! 30k for that motor and transmission and HID'S..i'm partial to the touring model...i think that offers the best value out of the model line=up...
one only has to look no further than the avalon to understand why certain automakers find themselves in a corner, with no relief in sight. jackg 90seville 97k
I had the same thing happen to me today. Same exact circumstance.
Mine is 2 days old, with 230 miles.