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2007 Toyota Avalon
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Comments
IF the AVALON would put a Navi in it that is usable and Bluetooth like the RL....I would just by my Third Avalon.
All I know is, given that *every* V6 Camry has the six-speed, it wouldn't make sense not to put it in every Avalon.
How many of you will admit to trying to hit the sunshade switch while cruising down the freeway and opening the trunk or fuel filler door instead? One cannot see these switches clearly as the steering wheel obstructs ones line of sight, they are unlighted, and are identical except for the writing which can't be seen in any event!
In the aviation business, human engineering in cockpit design has been a critical element for years. For example, A number of years ago a particular type of fighter aircraft was being lost with no mechanical failures, just prior to landings. The cause was found to be the placement of a communications radio on a side panel which forced the pilot to turn his head to the side and look down in order to change a frequency given while in a descending turn to final. This induced vertigo when the pilot looked back up and forward, causing several pilots to lose control and crash. Moving the radio to the forward center panel solved the problem.
Over time, most gear handles became shaped like wheels and most flap handles became shaped like flaps for obvious reasons. Today, many thousands of man hours are spent on control placement and design of modern aircraft cockpits.
I'm not saying Toyota should design their "cockpits" to the same detail as airplanes, but even a little human engineering can go a long way!
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
But I totally agree with rodc2 that these buttons need to be moved to a visible location, illuminated and perhaps further differentiated. There is no reason to hide these buttons.
I've also noticed the Lex's output is 306hp vs the Camry's 268 from what is essentially the same engine. I wondered why not have the Camry with the 306 horses, but as you say, then why buy the ES?
Heck, when you think about it, if the 306 were available in the Avalon that'd really take away ES sales!
1. Power tilt and telescoping steering wheel WITH MEMORY (power system is now available on the camry)
2. Blue tooth (a must for todays hi tech cars)
3. Tire Pressure Monitor System (also available on the camry)
4. Speed sensitive volume control
5. Reverse tilt down outside mirrors
6. Suspension/handling improvements (much needed)
Additional Optional Choices
7. Factory rear view backup system (sonar or video type)
8. Lane departure warning system
9. Six speed transmission (Only if it makes some improvement in performance, otherwise, what difference does it make)
The first 6 items can be added with very little cost increase to the vehicle (most of these features Toyota already has available), still making it an excellent and competitive value.
As far as all the comparisons to the Camry, clearly the Avalon is a larger vehicle, and I believe it can/should discriminate itself even further from the Camry by adding a few more advanced features (particularly on the Limited) further justifying the cost increase.
There are people who are making comparisons of the Avalon to the Lexus ES 350; this seems incorrect to me. These vehicles are not in the same class. The Camry compares to the ES350, but the Avalon compares to the GS300 or the Infiniti M35, as I have done. Just my personal viewpoint.....
Camry does not have power tilt/telescope steering wheel.. This, along with memory, would be nice on Avalon but realistically Toyota is likely to reserve these niceties for the Lexus line. They have to give their Lexus clientele SOME reason to spend thousands more!
Avalon (at least the upper trims) and ES350 are in the same PRICE class, even though the Avalon is bigger. Basically, Toyota gives you two choices in the upper $30K price range: a large car (Avalon) or a smaller but more luxurious car (ES). By the same token, most would argue that the GS and M35 are NOT in the same class as Avalon, being $10K more expensive, and would expect these two cars to offer some features that are not available on Avalon.
As for class, you submit that class is defined by price. I submit 'class' is also defined by size (this is certainly the case whenever magazines or auto companies compare vehicles). So the Avalon, GS and M35 are certainly in the same size class, but have different price points. So a buyer can decide they want this size car and pick which price point. (This is further supported by a issue of Consumers Report (maybe 4 or 5 mos ago) that reported on GS, M35 and RL as well as A6 and Cadillac, then at the end added the Avalon as a value buy to this line-up).
I also contend, that even if you added the first items I listed to the Avalon, there is still strong motivation to purchase the other vehicles, as these features do not make the cars equal. There is a long list of other items that are big motiviations for purchasing the premier Lexus and Infiniti vehicles. So there doesn't have to be a big hesitation by Toyota to add these features to preserve their flagship. In fact, I am sure some of the features will be added ie bluetooth and TPMS..
My point is not to make a case for FWD being better, I just ask the question. Should it always be presumed that RWD is better than FWD???
I think the best of all possible worlds is full-time AWD, which at its best offers even better handling than RWD and better all-weather performance than FWD. AWD systems are getting ever more sophisticated and reliable, and as the hardware comes down in cost, they may someday become the standard on all but econobox sedans. The main reason there aren't more AWD sedans right now is that they are generally engineered from RWD platforms, and FWD platforms still dominate the sedan market except for the uppermost levels. The Ford 500 is an interesting exception in the mass-market price range, having FWD and AWD options -- too bad it has a dud engine.
Good idea, although aftermarket leather can be arranged through dealers.
Sure wish they had Bluetooth on them...........
I'd like to see Bluetooth on the base audio system too, but that's much less likely.
You'd have your car back the next day, at the latest!
Bob
My '95 Avalon's leather is MUCH better, in my opinion. At my age, I still don't have a need to have my tush air-conditioned. The perforations will sooner or later fill up with dirt, debris, etc..and, if something gets spilled on it, how in the world do you keep that material (especially if it's a liquid) from penetrating what cushioning there is. Before you say how seldom something like that would be, may I remind you of Murphy's Law?
Have you seen the absolutely beautiful leather seats on the new Azera???? Phil
One thing I would like on future Av's and maybe all Toyota's is a thicker steering wheel. It's not a huge deal but it would be nice.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
Bob
What irritates me is that I can't order a Limited with non-perforated seats and the Limited extension bolster.
I just received my current issue of Consumer Reports, and was relieved to see that the Azera used regular-grade fuel, then disappointed to read that the mpg numbers are a disappointment.
If Hyundai want to really be "a player", and, based on initial looks at their current models, they surely aim to, then I hope they are reading ALL comments in magazines and forums such as these, and take them to heart. They seem to be just a smidgen away from really getting EVERYTHING right!
Bob
- Tire pressure monitoring system
- Bluetooth
-Mp3/Ipod
- 6 speed trans.
I do agree w/ a lot of people in this forum, and I respect their opinions regarding the Avalon and the pros/ cons of it. I do feel like it does need more passenger space, Automatic telescopic steering. I don't think that the radio cover should go anywhere, I think it adds on to the Avalons' Uniqueness. I've compared this car to several " Top of the line cars," such as the BMW 760Li, Maybach 62, and the Mercedes-Benz s600, and w/all honesty this Avalon had more than those cars that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. I think w/the 07' they should include folding side mirrors, i think that they should try and work on making that rear sun shade go up more quietly than it does. I love the dynamic laser cruise control. They should increase the volume of the Nav. system, they should work on the hesitation, and the jerking that the car makes for no apparent reason, other than that I love my Avalon, and like somebody said I think it should be a wider color assortment, I don't have a problem w/the interior colors or the exterior, I just think it should be more.
than 5 speed.The only thing I would watch is will the 07
Avalon have a higher mpg rating,maybe 22 to 33 as opposed
to 21 to 31,this would give people a reason to buy the 07
over the 06 in my opinion.Just having another gear with
the same mpg does not make sense to me.
How do you know that the 6-speed won't improve acceleration or economy? The new Camry never had a 5-speed, and we have no data on the fuel economy or performance of the 07 Avalon yet. In general, more gears on an automatic tranny do improve fuel efficiency and/or performance, other drivetrain factors being equal. Otherwise we'd all still be driving two or three speeds.
The improvement over the 5 speed will probably be small, of course, but that's the way progress is made -- incrementally. And with gas prices at current levels, I'll take anything.
well, with no real 07 Avalon specs out yet, I don't - except that it sure didn't help in the smaller and lighter Camry - it is rated the same as our Avs! Fuel economy, BTW, has more to do with engine/revs per mile (rpm at 60 mph, for example) and weight - having the extra gear may not change that at all - given some teething problems Toyota has been having with the 6 speed, the jury is still out on whether it is an 'improvement at all..
has something to do with the 93 octane vs 87 octane theory.