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Comments
Thanks,
Tony
Thanks for your reply to the import question. The prospect of purchasing a new limited in the USA sounds interesting. As both you and I have just purchased our Avalons here in Canada It may be a while before we consider another new car.
One of the questions I would need to address is whether state taxes would have to be paid in the US if the vehicle was to me imported into Canada. I will check into this sometime. Also here in BC you get a credit for PST and GST when you trade in your vehicle at a dealer. If you sell your car outright I am not sure whether you would receive any credits for the taxes when you register your new car. Something else to look into.
Tomorrow I take our new Avalon in for it's first oil change. So far the car has performed great. No hesitation problems, no window distortion, no exhaust pipe alignment problems, or any other serious defects. My only minor defect is with the right front pillar cover coming loose, and I hope to have that looked at and repaired. I am still looking into an aftermarket gps system and hope to purchase one soon. There are some great new models on the market now that have better technology than some of the factory installed units.
Take care!
gladiator99
Please let me know if the numbers are messed up or my car is.
Thanks,
drb
Could you tell us where you heard that the traction and stability controls don't work when transmission is in 'S' mode? I found no indication of this in either the manual or in MyNewAvalon.com.
On the other hand, some incompatibilites in using cruise control and 'S' mode are mentioned there.
Thanks,
havalongavalon
I look forward to your findings on the question of taxes due if you import a car. A long time ago I bought through a US dealer an Italian car that I picked up in Torino tax-free as a tourist, drove it for several weeks and then imported it into the US as a used car, at great tax savings. But somehow I doubt that our friendly local Toyota dealers would assist us in buying a US-built Avalon this way!
I also look forward to your research results on a gps system, I had a first look and clearly there are lots of models to consider. Will you also be checking US prices for best models? There can be large differences there, too (before taxes, that is).
Best regards,
havalongavalon
zekeman1
Thanks for the response. I am planning to replace the rear speakers probably with component speakers which should make a lot of difference.
Will let you know
I asked the dealer/service manager and their guess was the windshield but didn't know for sure!
I want to know if I'm covering it up by installing window tint.
Isn't it a sad state of affairs when you ask the dealer/service manager such a simple question and he (or she) can't give you an accurate answer?? Makes you wonder what kind of service is being performed on your new car....!
zekeman1
Don't let that initail tank fool you. Mine was very low milage on the blue screen as well as when I filled it up for the first time.
I marked it up to the possibility that the dealer filled it up, but at the first auto shut off of the nozzle he stopped. That is usually about 2 or more gallons from being full.
But even at that, my mpg have bounced all over the place, as low as 22 and as high as 27.8. Yet almost all of my milage has been the same as always.
I've never had any readings approaching the highs that some are reporting..
To date (2300miles) I've gotten 26.7 since it was new.
Hang in there.
Bridgestone suggested the LS-V in size 225-55-17. There are very few choices in 215's. Most tire manufacturers do not offer this size. Don't know why Toyota spec'd a tire with such limited choices. The LS-V 225's are designed to fit on the existing 7" rim and the overall diameter, section width and revs per mile are very close to the 215-55-17 EL400, but the actual tread width is greater, largely due to the tire design. It is less tapered at the tread therefore more rubber on the road. Download the specification pdf's from Bridgestone's website.
Car handles much better than with the EL400's with a more "planted" feel, and is very much quieter. The ride is a little hard but my experience with the LS series is that they tend to soften up after a few hundred miles. I have the LS series on my 2002 Avalon, 2002 Sienna and previously a 1997 LS400 and I have always been very pleased with their performance.
If the car has been parked with the windows up in the sun, or even with just the windows up, a little moisture will form on the INside of the windshield. You can't see it. But it's there. The IR can "see" it. The wipers come on at the start..but the air circulation immediately removes the moisture. The wipers go off.
Pure theory...
After doing much research and in truth, admiring the new lines of the 05 Avalon from afar, I decided to drive one this past Friday in Arlington VA. Well, Koons in Arlington gave me the same trade-in value as I would have received on a $62,300 Q45, plus discounting the Avalon's MSRP by nearly $2,000 --- much better than any Infiniti dealer could do - on a car costing nearly twice as much! I feel that I am getting a wonderful vehicle, with ALL of the options on a Q45 Premium (Intelligent Cruise, Heated/Cooled front seats, reclining rears, rain sensing wipers, and a superb voice activated nav system) for a net gain of over $25,000 in my pocket --- not to mention 2 years, 25,000 free maintenance (an Internet option).
Also, the Avalon's MUCH better gas mileage (I hope), the driver's seat cushion extender (very nice) and a dealer not more than 4 blocks from my house --- I am really thinking it is a good choice.
My question to the forum, has anyone here "gone down" from a rear wheel drive V8 and how do you feel ? Also, since the dealer is swapping a Glacier white/grey interior for my preferred beige leather interior and will have the vehicle for me this weekend, is there ANYTHING that I should look for or "ask for" before taking delivery ? I'm not much into XM radio as I just don't want another monthly subscription fee for ANYTHING, but is there anything else that I should ask for ?
And what does the "bluetooth" technology do for me ?
Sorry to be so lengthy and if I need to RTFF, please let me know !
Thanking you in advance.
I parked my Limited next to the Lexus and compared the interior and exterior trim and fit.There certainly is a big difference in quality and alignment control over the seams at all of the doors,navigation door, glove compartment , rear view mirrors,hood, and trunk. My car has 3/4 inch touch up paint at the rear bumper.The Limited emblen is on crocked. Several other items were repaired.Sorry about being so negative,however, I need a h--- alot more positives to change my feeling. Ange1
Tony
Some of the high end cars may shut down the compressor if the car gets too cold inside and starts back up when it is required to control the preset temperature. You have to be carefull with this control as I tried to control temperature, some time ago, by turning the comprsssor on off while on a Turnpike, and ended up burning up the compressor clutch. There is a small reduction in gas mileage with the air on. I don't know for certain, but I would guess it is somewhere around 1-2 MPG. Ange1
If you're saving $25k on the car compared to an Infinity, what's another $10 a month for the XM radio. You get cd quality music and a choice of many stations that you can hear across the country.
I would like to get your comparison of the handling of the Av compared to the Q45.
Enjoy your new AV--think you made a wise choice.
The car will contine to run until it is shut off, so yes the smart key is no longer needed.
MikeS
Please search for my posts on the headrest DVD system I had installed.
MikeS.
I've had my LTD for just shy of 6 months now and have just over 9K miles on it.
I'd buy it again in a second!
MikeS.
The car was wonderful, smooth ride, great control and very quiet.
I was sitting next to a Lexus owner at a light and he asked me what I was driving. When I told him what i paid he said he got ripped off!
MikeS.
I try to be current by getting my build location info from the Toyota Manufacturing site. There you can take a look at what they indicate is built where. In the site I investigated, they were specific that Nummi does the Corolla and Vibe. The Matrix is done in Ontario along with the Corolla and the Lexus RX330:
Here ya go: http://www.toyota.com/about/operations/na-affiliates/index.html
I also understand that some Camry's are imported into the U.S. It would be a fine to get one of those.
It's great to hear that there's nothing wrong with your Avalon. There's nothing 'wrong' with the Avalon in general, but there are problems with some Avalons in particular.
My comments had to do with the relative change in the problem frequency for Avalons (and all Georgetown, KY built Toyotas) with respect to the past and with current competiitors.
In this year's current JDPower Initial Quality Study, neither the Avalon or Camry finished in the top three of their class, a position that they dominated in the late 1990's. The mid-sized GM cars in this segment do better and have done better that the Avalon / Camry for the last several years than earlier
The 2002 Avalon came in 3rd in the JDPower Dependability Study, which looks at total problems over 3 years. 1st and 2nd were two Buicks. GM is trying hard and doing better than Toyota in this segment despite all of the negative press they earned in prior years.
I still believe that Toyota let the quality slide at Georgetown in exchange for lower costs and higher profits through more domestic sourcing.
Let me know, Thanks.
Tee
Thanks Tee
In any event, as you correctly indicated, Toyota changes its mix. My only point was citing some of the best plants Toyota had and comparing it to the Georgetown. I will like to know how this plant measures up to the other plants in North America and Japan.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I am unconcerned about any perceived loss of status. I had considered 'moving up' to a Lexus LS430, but really don't like the appearance of the current model (reminds me of a 90s Mercedes) and do wonder if I want to spend over $100M Canadian on a car. Maybe the next model of LS will convince me.
I drove Cressidas from 1981 to 1993, and moved with some reluctance to a 1993 Camry Sport (now badged as XLE). I wasn't sure I'd like a front-drive vehicle, but lived happily with it before getting the 1998 GS.
I now spend winters in Arizona, so the better traction of front drive is no longer an attractive benefit, but could be for others. I drove the Camry in winter snow for several years without needing snow tires. But, then, I managed to do without those on the Cressidas, too...
However, it seems that many later rear drives are much more powerful, and have high-speed tires with reduced tread depth. Snow tires may be necessary in many northern areas.
The once-dreaded torque-steer characteristics of front drive are no longer the deterrent they used to be, in my experience.
As far as the "perceived loss of status" - I really didn't mean it that way... I just shocked a number of people when I came into my NYC office this Monday and the word got out that I bought a Toyota after being such a loyal, die-hard Infiniti owner.
Once discussion delved into the equipment and then comparison of "net price" --- no worries !
Thanks again - great board !
dcboater :shades:
Thanks.
http://www.toyota.com/about/operations/manufacturing/index.html
Note that the Lexus RX330 engine and transmission are both made at the Toyota plant in West Virginia. Not everyone is aware of the big role the WVA plant plays for Toyota. See below. I didn't list the Toyota Bodine facilities in St. Louis, but that's where the engine blocks and cylinder heads are made.
Also note that in 2004 54% of Corollas were made at Nummi, 46% in Canada.
Siennas, Sequoias and Tundras are made in Indiana. Tundra moves to San Antonio in 2006.
===================================
Toyota, NUMMI
Production: 2003 2004
Corolla 157,561 167,970
Tacoma 161,566 143,281
Voltz (for export to Japan) 1,733 201
Pontiac Vibe 74,223 69,226
Total Toyota Vehicles 320,860 311,452
==============================
Toyota Ontario, Canada
Production Volume: 2003 2004
Corolla 135,428 141,445
Matrix 78,781 81,064
RX330 13,334 65,350
Total Vehicles 227,543 287,859
4 Cyl. Engines 200,317 204,655
462,229 505,520
================================================
Toyota Georgetown, KY
Production: 2003 2004
Camry 359,084 388,107
Avalon 49,610 33,011
Solara 29,732 49,174
Total Vehicles 439,549 470,292
4 Cyl. Engines 322,709 340,753
V6 Engines 139,520 164,767
Total Engines 462,229 505,520
================================================
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc. (TMMWV)
Plant Site: 230 acres; Facility 1.2 million sq. ft.
Current Investment*: $759.9 million ($800+ million by 2006)
Employment*: 929
Annual Payroll*: $63.3 million
Products: Four-cylinder engines for Corolla, Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe; V6 engines for the Sienna and Lexus RX 330; and automatic transmissions for North American-built Camry, Solara, Lexus RX 330 and Sienna. Automatic transmission gears (beginning 2006).
Operations: Machining and assembly
Annual Production Capacity: 340,000 four-cylinder engines
200,000 V6 engines
360,000 automatic transmissions
* As of December 2004
Production 2003 2004
4cyl 225,402 229,885
V6 171,808 226,346
Total Engines
397,210 456,231
Automatic Transmission
382,510 389,859
Maryj, I complained about this, too, until it hit me: Do it the old-fashioned way - like when there were no trip computers, no digital readouts, no ding-ding-ding's. Of course, we had time to record gas and mileage because the kid outside was pumping gas for us!
ROBERTU