Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
http://www.myride.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/action/quicklook/make_vch/T- oyota/make_id_int/37/model_vch/Avalon/newUsed/New/series_id_int/62367/breadcrumb- s/HP%2CResearch%2CMakeSearch/virsection/summary
The first two models were very similar except sheetmetal. Moving to the 2005 and up is totally different experience. Everything has been changed. The view out and the front seats are better in the '04 and earlier but engine and suspension changes make the '05 up an overall superior car, my opinion. Hope this helps...
I've been through both pressure washes with and without brushes, and well, the car gets some fine scratches.
I get it detailed in the spring and in the fall, and hope that helps.
My car is Black so you know every little thing shows up:(
Skip
Since then I have only used the touch free pressure type and so far have not had any complaints.
The Avalon does have a pretty thin layer of paint compared to many other models which is quite a shame, but I do still love my 2007 XLS
Hope yours comes out of the washer problem free as mine has so far.
Good luck
Sheldon
I am just sure to use a good wax on my car to help protect the underlying clearcoat and paint.
I've tried many different brands and after doing some research have stuck with using "Nu Finish".
It has done a good job of protecting my underlying clear coat and paint thus far and its easy to wipe off any brake dust/road dirt. (does leave a nice shine and is easy to wipe off once set too).
Good luck with your Avalon, it is a really nice car.
Sheldon
Thanks for your post, this has interested me as I've never thought of it.
I did some digging around online and found this:
link title
From what I read, if you lock your glovebox, this then sets the trunk to be locked unless the master key is used.
I'll have to give it a try on my 2007 and see.
Let us know if you beat me too it
Sheldon
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/24/toyota-cutting-supplier-expenses-by-30-probab- ly-means-using-ch/
The stories about the 3rd Gens new 6 speed gearbox is kind of surprising, kinda makes me glad I got the old 5 speed.
So far the gear box is smooth as silk and has worked flawlessly at all rev ranges, my 1st automatic but I'm in love with it
Guess we will have to wait n see what happens, hope they are going to uphold QC standards and not give us the norm of some manufacturers.
I had a 2005 Lexus ES 330 with the 5 speed transmission. It was a joke. Smooth it was not. One of the big reasons I traded it. The 6 speed in my 2008 Avalon is smooth as silk and a dream to drive. Just made a 300 mile trip in the mountains with it 2 days ago. It's performance was great.
Yes Toyota wants it's supplies to cut there cost, hell, Toyota is now the biggest or in the top 5 for sure, selling car in the world, and they want to stay there!
MY GUESS is, there suppliers will do what they can, but Toyota will not have much choice but to pay whatever the prices are for the parts they need.
I would agree with others who say "Stop adding lines to your line up", if something is selling well, that's one thing, but come on, Yaris, Scion and the models that are similar within Toyota.
The way Toyota got to the top was their reputation for quality and re-sell value, take that away, and your are just another Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Oldsmobile
Make the cars last, make them good looking, make them at an affordable price (for what you get), and you'll be fine.
Skip
Go ahead and make them cheaper, you'll be sure to be number one in two categories year after year, well not two categories, after awhile folks will stop buying your cars and you'll only be number 1 in one recalls!
Skip
On another point, I like my 6-speed transmission.
I love my 2003 Avalon and want to purchase a new Avalon but do not want to drive a really big car. I definitely do not want the Avalon to turn into my parents 1980's something Oldsmobile "Love Boats." Do other people have this concern?
I had 3 Buick Park Avenues before purchasing my 2008 Avalon, and would look at other cars, if they choose to make it smaller.
Heck, with 4 adults on a 2 week vacation, it was much tighter then I liked:(
The trunk was barely large enough for the suitcases, and this is with a few pieces in the back seat.
Like someone said, there are plenty of very nice smaller cars
(Camry, Hyundai, BMW 3 series, Audi A4, VW CC anyone), so if you want smaller, get a car designed to be smaller.
This waiting is killing me I'd love to see some sneak pictures, specs on what might be the 2011 Avalon.
Skip
If they sell many, that is that many less Toyota will sell, as most people won't trade-in a 1 year old car, unless they don't like it, or the 2011 Avalon is something REAL sweet.
Skip
I have read comments on this forum that Toyota can't afford to have the Avalon eating into the sales of the LS. Are you kidding me, the additional $35K in price would keep me and a lot of other potential buyers from even considering an LS. I would be forced to go to another brand if the Avalon were to be discontinued.
As I have said before, what Toyota really needs to do is advertise the Avalon and get the dealers to stock more than 3 or 4 cars. They have a real winner and it would sell if they would put some effort into marketing it. It is a crime that they don't.
Also, as you mentioned, dealers should have more than 3-4 Avalons on their lots for sale. I don't think I've ever visited a Toyota dealership with more than 5 Avalons available on the lot! Dealerships should have a good selection of each model offered along with a good selection of interior/exterior color combinations. I realize the Avalon isn't Toyota's #1 seller. However, it would be nice to have more choices of the Avalon to see at dealerships.
It seems as though Toyota is really pushing the Limited model. Most dealers in the New England region only have Avalons in the Limited model on their lots. I've noticed this since 2008, when the Avalon received a minor redesign. Occaisonally, an XL or XLS model will roll in and sell rather quickly. Does anyone else notice this in different parts of the country?
After 2008, when the Touring model was discontinued, I wanted to purchase a 2009 XLS in Blue Mirage with dark charcoal interior. I love this color combo.! Beginning in 2009, Toyota offered the dark charcoal interior on the XLS and Limited models. For quite some time, I checked dealer inventories within a 100 mile radius from where I live. I could not find such car in this color combo. I insisted on buying a new Avalon with the dark charcoal interior. Finally, in October 2009, I found a silver XLS with dark charcoal interior and the factory options that I wanted. To find any Avalon with dark charcoal interior, in the New England region was almost impossible! It took almost two years for me to find one with dark charcoal interior! Even though I wanted the Blue Mirage, I like the silver exterior as it is light and doesn't show the dirt as much as a darker color, especially with the road salt associated with New England winters! I was told by several dealers that I would have to order the blue and black combo. Like you, I wanted to see the car in person without having to order it!
Do not fear the longer length of the new Gen 3 (05-10) Avalons vs your Gen 2 (03) Avalon. I traded my 03 for an 06 and it felt far from like riding in the "Big Boat". As a matter of fact, due to the suspension tuning etc, the newer Gen 3 feels less like riding in a big boat then my 03 Avalon did. It feels smaller because the front seat is smaller and tighter (wider center console and dashboard). I was hesitant to get rid of the 03 because it was so good to me for 80,000 miles, but I started to notice that the suspension wasn't as tight as it was when it was new. I also felt that my luck of spending money only on oil changes,brakes and tires was coming to an end, even though I read on this forum about many people with Gen 2 Avalons with hundreds of thousands of miles on their cars. So far, I am very happy with the 06 and it looks better than the 03.
I do agree that the Avalon is one of Toyotas best kept secrets. If they actually tried to sell this model with a marketing campaign, they would certainly sell many more Avalons. I am sure that they would hurt some of their Lexus sales, but they would more than make up for the loss Lexus sales with Avalon converts from many other manufacturers.
The down side is, your local dealer won't like the fact you did this, so to make both parties happy, look around and don't ask the dealer with the car, just tell the local dealer where you saw / drove one, and ask if they can see about a dealer swap.
Going the extra mile with insure that you are one of the only people in your area with a car in those colors and with those options.
Skip
In purchasing a new vehicle I have looked at the Camry and even the Venza. But, as you can imagine, they do not have the luxury features of my 2003 Avalon. Guess I will have to compromise by either purchasing the longer Avalon or going with Camry or Venza and not have the luxury.
My Alvalon is basically the same color as your 2007 and I love it. I may get the same color again.
Thanks again.
There are several other $40K clone vehicles out there already, why would Toyota want to add another to compete with Lexus?
"..why would Toyota want add another to compete with Lexus..."
You mean, say, like the new Venza...??
At this moment I would be buying a F/awd Venza with the new I4 instead of an RX350.
On the other hand a F/awd RX225 using the Venza platform but with the Venza's I4 adapted for DFI and e/VVT-i would put me in the market NOW...!!
Too small... now OTOH I like your thinking how about an "undressed" LS and instead of the V8 the 2GR-FSE (direct injection) V6 under the hood.... sign me up!
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
I've owned over 35 cars so far, with 3/4+ of them being RWD cars. The most recent (last 10 years or so) have been FWD cars (7 Toyotas a Honda and a chevy Vega that I'm not sure if that was FWD or RWD), the others, Pontiacs, (Catallina's, GTO) Buicks, (3 Park Avenue's, 1 GS) Ford (piece of shiet, Tempo), Chevys, (Vega, 66 Impale SS, Monte Carlo) Olds (Vista Crusie, Cutlass's) to name but a few. And I must admit, driving all of these cars while living in northern New England (Maine area) I can't say as I ever felt any more comfortabal or safer in any one of these cars, any more then the other, as far as RWD vs FWD.
In any case, I just hope they DO re-design the Avalon, and that it is a design I / we like, because I'll be looking to trade late this year.
Skip
If you want some different features, buy a Lexus or one of the host of other vehicles that are out there. Let's just keep the Avalon pretty much as is, and we will keep buying them!
I have one, also, and I don't want it to be a Lexus, or Venza, or ...., etc.