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2011 Toyota Avalon
If a brand-new 2011 Avalon is coming in February or March, the dealers should be getting their order books this month. Anyone hear of a factory shutdown to retool? Any news?
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kenb, you are so right, take a look below at the dwindling sales year after. Add the Hyundai Genesis to this market and suddenly the Avalon is out-classed.
Calendar year-- US sales
2000 --104,078
2001 --83,005
2002 --69,029
2003 --50,911
2004 --36,460
2005 --95,318
2006 --88,938
2007 --72,945
2008 --42,790
Add the Hyundai Genesis to this market and suddenly the Avalon is out-classed.
FWIW I have an '09 Genesis that I leased when my '06 Avalon came off lease. Its a good car but IMO the Avalon more than holds its own. I would most likely be in another Avalon if the '09 had been different from my '06.
Happy Holidays!
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
Happy Holidays to all..........
Also, the exterior/interior colors have been (probably mistakenly) revealed on the web: http://www.myride.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/action/Colors/series_id_int- /62367
There will be only two trim levels this time: Avalon (base) and Avalon Limited (no XL/XLS/Limited). Although the specs, photos, and pricing are mainly placeholders from the 2010 model for now, I don't expect it to stay that way for long.
There will be three new colors:
-Cypress Pearl (Avalon exclusive dark green)
-Sizzling Crimson Mica (Avalon exclusive bright red)
-Zephyr Blue Metallic (Avalon exclusive; similar to Blue Mirage Metallic)
Familiar colors Black, Blizzard Pearl, Classic Silver Metallic, Cocoa Bean Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, and Sandy Beach Metallic will stay.
Three interior color choices will be:
-Black (Black/Bordeaux on Limited)
-Ivory
-Light Gray
I wonder what else will be new? New engine? New interior appointments? Maybe it will be a hybrid across the line?
The Avalon has a slight advantage over the Genesis. My driving is almost all city or heavy/gridlock highway. The Avalon was good for 20.5 - 21.5 over the entire time I owned it. The Genesis is about 1 mpg lower overall (19.5- 20.5). On a long highway trip at 75-80 the Avalon had no problem with 29-30 the Genesis is around high 27s to 28. Having said that my Genesis only has 7300 miles and my long highway trip was with under 4000 on the clock.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
As tjc posts, the Genesis is possibly in the same class as the Avalon, but certainly not way out in front.
My opinion is that the Avalon is not dead just yet.
- Color(s)
- Models / Style
- Size
- Engine choice(s)
- Rounder, taller, shorter, fatter, longer
- Options packages
- Are there any cars you'd like to see it look similar to?
- Interior options
- Exterior options
- Tire / Wheel options
- Price ranges
I for one, REALLY like something like this:
- http://www.egmcartech.com/2009/03/27/for-japan-only-2009-toyota-crown-majesta-un- veiled/
or this
- http://www.modernracer.com/news/toyota-crown-majesta-rocks-japan-with-rear-cente- r-airbag/538/
Now they WILL need to come up with something like this, but not at the $39,000.00 or higher price.
A base line and up model will be needed. Let the consumer decide how much they want to spend. This is something they already do, so I don't see them changing.
I for one, would love to see a special logo / medallion for the Avalon.
In any case, let's get started folks
Skip
1. The option of a heated steering wheel. These are fantastic in the winter because they eliminate the need to wear gloves. Nissan can do it, why not Toyota?
2. Xenon lights as standard equipment on all models.
3. An HVAC system that doesn't think it is smarter than I am.
4. An all-wheel drive option.
I'd also like the separate options to be available across model lines instead of putting them all in the Limited model. I suppose the days when you could pick and choose individual options are gone forever, but I miss them, because I don't like paying for option groups that contain stuff I don't want or, in Toyota's case, having to buy an entire "upgraded" model to get something I want.
As for standard equipment I could do without, they could do away with the reclining rear seats and that stupid lid over the audio system.
The HVAC controls could probably be simplified, and the tranny could use slightly different logic (the 6-speed may be better), but I challenge folks to find a more comfortable, roomy, vehicle that gets an honest 30 MPG on the road, and sells for just over $30K.
As a senior retiree who has owned everything from a 1940 Ford sedan delivery street rod, 1961 Chevy Impala hardtop (4 speed of course), 1965 Mustang fastback, thru station wagons, minivans, pickups, V6 Camry XLS, etc., the Avalon is probably the best vehicle for the price that I have ever owned.
Were they dealer added? When I got my '06 the XL wasn't available from the factory that way.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
The trunk lid sometimes opens by itself when the weather is hot and humid, or when it rains. When the lid opens, I hear the beep just like when I use the Fob. Sometimes I can't get the lid to stay closed until I start the car. The dealer does not seem to know how to correct this.
Has anyone else had this problem?
Thanks.
The vehicle came from Gulf States Toyota to Mississippi dealer.
Toyota plans 10 vehicle launches over next year
Quote from article: "At the Chicago Auto Show, the company will introduce a refreshed version an existing product -- yes, Toyota is being that coy."
Why so secretive? We here know, and I know from one of the local Toyota dealers, that it's the fourth-generation Avalon that's being unveiled in Chicago. If Toyota's being so secretive about this new Avalon (not a spy shot in sight... we saw spy shots of the new Sienna 6 months in advance of the unveiling), chances are that it's a very big deal and they don't want the Detroit 3 and (especially) Hyundai to know. They have tougher competition than ever to face. But we'll know for sure on Feb. 10th or 11th (Chicago Auto Show press days).
Lastly, why Chicago? The Chicago Auto Show has special significance for the Avalon... the 1st-generation 1995 Avalon was unveiled there at the 1994 show, and IIRC, the Chicago Region for Toyota Motor Sales (IL/IN/WI/MN) is one of the strongest in sales for the Avalon. You rarely see incentives on Avalons there unlike other areas
"Toyota, meanwhile, launched its redesigned Sienna minivan at the Los Angeles show late last year. But the schedule calls for a styling update for the Avalon sedan, which is a Chicago candidate."
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100119/CHICAGO/100119900#ixzz0dCGDk51P
"With all of Toyota's trials and tribulations, the company said it still plans to hold a press conference at the Chicago auto show, scheduled for Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. Toyota officials told AutoWeek they are "still working on the details.""
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100201/CHICAGO/100209986#ixzz0ela6dMiS
This was on 2/1, and on the Chicago Auto Show website today, Toyota still has a press conference scheduled for 2/10 at McCormick Place. I'm wondering if we'll still see the 2011 Avalon, or if it will be a 2011 Tacoma mid-cycle refresh (Taco production is moving from NUMMI to TMMTX in April - a refresh is likely)? Or maybe it will simply be a mea culpa/"we apologize for the floor pedal and 2010 Prius brakes mess" press conference with no new product, and they save the new cars for New York (no pun intended). Who knows.
I see Toyota's Chicago dilemma like this: They're in a catch-22 right now... do you damage your brand and make yourself Leno/Letterman/Stewart/Colbert fodder by introducing new cars during a crisis, or do you make :lemon: ade out of :lemon: s and repair your image by showing off new, better cars with a "wow factor" during that same crisis?
If I knew the Avalon would be in Chicago next week, I'd drive the 1,000 miles to be there. I sent an email to the company asking about it and, not surprisingly, haven't gotten a response. What'll be in Chicago is turning out to be a better kept secret than D-Day was. Anyone going to ShyTown?
"Toyota, awash with bad news, hopes to draw some positive attention with a new version of its Avalon large sedan."
Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20100209/COL14/2090332/1001/news/Automakers-seek-sp- otlight-in-Chicago
Boy, Toyota kept the lid so tight on this one. It must be something special for them to keep it so secret... even Brenda Priddy & Co. hasn't seen the '11 Avalon like she did with the new Sienna and 4Runner.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//100209/ids_photos_ts/r3409720684.- jpg/#photoViewer=/100209/ids_photos_ts/r1011724361.jpg
http://www.insideline.com/toyota/avalon/2011/2011-toyota-avalon-gets-conservativ- e-makeover-2010-chicago-auto-show.html
No significant exterior changes, just a few modifications to the front and back. Interior dash looks redesigned, based on the one single picture shown through the windshield.
I have to say that I was expecting a more significant change!
I got everything I wanted: xenon, LED, USB, and it looks like they may have done away with the lid over the radio controls. I am also glad that they didn't change the exterior much. A great car gets even better.
Meanwhile, at least the Toys don't have exploding air bags like their well known rival - the BIG H. (and H doesn't stand for Korean. Do any of the conspiracy freaks really think Obama's gang is behind these thunderous Japanese car recalls?)
- seeing one up-close,
- sitting in one up-close
- driving one up-close
- pricing up-close
- I'll be stopping by in April to take a look and drive.
I'll also be waiting to read reports online as they become available. This will hold me over until I test drive one.
It isn't as much of a change as I was hoping for, (I was hoping for a COMPLETELY New Body Style) and I think we are stuck with this for 3 or 4 years, so we better get use to it - for now.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
I'll drive and look some over BEFORE the 2011 Avalon hits the showroom floors, and then drive the Avalon.
I'll try and find a nice low milage, late model LAS 460 (L) if possible.
The maybe take a look at Infinity's, but will likely end up back at the Toyota dealer picking up a new Avalon:)
Skip
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
I'll be looking forward to comparing, as I do a lot of long drives (I have 35,000 miles on the car and it just turned 12 months old), and there are times that the stiff ride of the Touring model is not what I'd like. But I must admit, I'm only comparing what folks say, as I've not driven anything but the Touring model, as it was the last Avalon on the lot when I purchased it.
Skip
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
Still a classy looking car. But, getting a little old.
If you like the ride and the room of Avalon and the Lexus, I don't think you will buy an Infiniti. I had three I30/I35s before they were discontinued. I tried to like the M series, but found the suspension to be too stiff and the interior too cramped. They also had them geared for performance and the gas mileage suffered. Being so enamored with the sales of the sporty G series, they obviously decided to move the entire brand toward performance and away from luxury (although the price also went up). This was in 2007. They may have fixed the gearing situation, but I am now so happy with the Avalon that I wouldn't go back.
Prices were another aggravation. Caddy, Acura, Lexus, & Genesis dealers would hardly budge from the MSRP; no way Caddy is worth $15,000 more than an XLS. Lexus is a nice car but not a serious contender to the mid-level Lexus.
So like the rest of you I'm stuck on dead center again. I started looking at the Genesis again last night, the warranty is terrific. Like my wife said, get something, anything, because nothing will be exactly what you want anyway. (sigh)
Gas mileage is very similar (1 MPG less overall in Genesis) and so far after a little more than 9000 miles mine has been flawless.
As for getting a good deal, I leased my Genesis under invoice before a 1,000 rebate. The dealers will negotiate now. If you are thinking Avalon I would most certainly wait for the 2011, of course though at first getting a good deal will be tough as dealers will want top dollar for the first few they get in stock.
2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic / 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn, Built to Serve
I had ordered a '10 XLS two months ago but after the recalls began that's the last I've heard about it. I've cancelled that order. I was looking quickly at the Hyundai Azera online today, and while it's said to be a large car I don't know if it's in the same league as the Genesis. Anyone else want to talk about cars you're considering now besides the Avalon?
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/document/2011_Avalon_Product_Info.pdf?- - - - ncid=11092
and this:
http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/Chicago-auto-show-avalon-reveal-153426- .aspx
I'd read in some newspaper's online news that a front bench seat would be an option but it looks like that's not true. There is a 1mpg gain in mileage and a backup camera is standard in the rearview mirror (?) on cars without a Nav system. Too bad the XLS line has been dropped; I suppose that saves money some way or another. Wonder how much of a price increase there will be?
The continuation of the exterior styling seem to match Toyota these days--- stuck in denial. The current model is not selling well so I cannot fathom why they could continue with more of the same. With Hyundai in the rearview mirror I would have expected Toyota to respond more aggresively to the Genesis. But they seem to have run out of gas (bad pun intended).
When I was a car-crazy kid in the 1950s and 60s, my friends and I used to go to the local Chevy and Ford dealerships during the week before the new models were unveiled. We would peek in the windows, hoping to be the first to see them. There were radical design changes every year and that was exciting. Of course, the auto industry (and life) is different now. For economic reasons, the manufacturers don't change their designs as often and, for safety reasons, I no longer go snooping around car dealers' lots at night.
As to Hyundai, I believe that they have chosen to compete on the basis of price on all models in order to win market share and they are doing a fine job at that. I also think that they are marketing the Genesis as sort of a "poor man's Lexus," while Toyota offers the Avalon as a "rich man's Camry/Ford/Chevy." Thus the Genesis and the Avalon are not in direct competition. As the Camry gets bigger and fancier, Toyota may have to rethink the need of having Avalon in its lineup or the role that it is to play. If sales of the 2010 don't exceed those of the '09, they will probably either drop Avalon or take it in a new direction. Then you will get a major redesign.
The Avalon would not be a viable product if it were made as a stand alone model. But given it's made with the Camry, it works for the bean counters. And it's American designed, another plus. It still helps get customers into the dealership but not as much as a decade ago (??), the new body changes are intended to cure that.
Toyota would love to come up with a totally new Avalon, or similar name, for the U.S. market. But unit sales are not expected to be high enough in the current economic downturn to make it work financially. Sooner or later it will happen, it just looks like later. The other choice was to drop the model completely, not a good choice as it does help Toyota to sell Avalons. And a "high end" Camry is not high end enough.
The Avalon lives on....
How much more is the cost if they had changed the body style more?
They did make changes that don't allow them to use any of the same body panels, so why not make a bigger change?
They changed the insides a fair amount, why not change it more?
Again, they can't use any of the old parts or parts from a different model car, so what are the added cost(s) to a complete change-over, although the insides did change more then the outsides (IMO).
It would seem that by making such small changes, they are dooming the Avalon, is that what you are hoping for? That doesn't seem to make any sense.
If the world economics are that bad, maybe not making it, makes more sense then doing it with such small changes?
Again, I will be trying it out, when it comes in to my local dealer (I put a small deposit on it:)), buy I'm not sure I want to trade for a newer one, that isn't a lot newer, cooler, better I'll let you know after I drive it.
I'll be trading in my 2008 Tour Edition.
Skip
Is Hyundai the new Toyota? I don't know, but it's clear that Toyota is not the old Toyota. Nor can they be. Skip, I'll be interested in your reactions when you drive the new car, and everyone else's too. For me, it's a coin toss between the Avalon & Genesis; I'm gonna drive the new model too, being intently focused on the machine & my experience behind the wheel.
The new TwinForce (EcoBoost) "SHO"...?
Nothing but a GAS--GUZZLING showpiece for the "boy-racer" mentality crowd.
Compared to total redesign and a new assembly line, the cost of new sheetmetal and related exterior parts, including inventory, is insignificant. Same for the inside treatment. It's all heavy cosmetic, within limits, not structural. The main idea was to keep building the car with the Camry. If you need a different chassis Avalon will not work financially, it does not sell enough units.
The Avalon is a nice addition to the Toyota lineup of family and smaller sedans. It helps sell cars. The Camry is easily the dominant seller at the dealership. But if you want to step up a little (softer ride, etc.) from Camry the Avalon fills in nicely, undercutting Lexus by 8k or more. With this in mind you keep making Avalons even at near breakeven and my guess is they actually make a few dollars on each one.
Having owned three Avalons I consider them one of the best values out there. Great cars, all. But I have looked around and must concede that the Genesis and Azera are impressive, as are several others. When the '07 Limited hits 90k or close to it my search will begin. And by then there may be a total redesign of the Avalon.
The new one isn't much different, and for that reason, I'll have to drive it first, before I buy it, but I'm thinking, what's one more year (aside from 35,000 more miles on the car). But I also don't see them coming up with a "All New" (really new) design or model for a few years. Of course that could change if sales tank in general.
Of course at 35,000 + miles a year, I'll be ready to trade next year anyways (convincing myself:)).
Skip
“The 2011 Avalon was recently revealed at the Chicago Auto Show, and now we'd like to invite you to be among the first to take a look. From its spacious cabin to its available voice-activated DVD navigation system, the 2011 Avalon is bringing comfort back.”
http://www.toyota.com/upcoming-vehicles/?siteid=DMG_em_201002_RLA_launch_avalon_- see&url=cta