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See, I can be objective. Now just don't ask me something silly like my opinions on Buicks.
Recently I had the opportunity of driving a 2001 I30 and came away feeling I had absolutely made the right choice -- FOR ME -- with my AValon '00 purchase. While obviously a fine car, I30 has a quite different personality - more towards the sporting pretensions of a TL. But if one is looking for svelte, pampering luxury with bags of room (a la Buick of yore), but now more in the Lexus mold, I truly believe AVA is unbeatable -- even though it may be a couple of grand more.
Thanks,
Bharat
nagwani1@yahoo.com
Now this happens often enough to have us thinking whether we want to buy Avalon again. We are presently shopping to replace this one.
Any comments?
I also have the problem with the drivers door popping as you open/close it. The screw that holds the door works loose and has to be tightened periodically.
I also have the radio problem. Nice to know I am not the only one with these minor problems on an otherwise awesome car.
e-purchased them from Metro Toyota of Michigan at http://www.toyotapart.com for $80.00 (yikes!) and $8.00 shipping.
P.S.
Also - no clear coat on the right insert where the fog light would be. Wrinkled finish at the edge of the right rear wheel well. There's a gap (over 1/8th inch) where the front bumper meets the fender - again on the right. You can push the bumper in with your finger and the gap closes.
I have read other posts about higher pressure being better.
Any opinions based on experience with this car?
Thanks
Thanks,
ndlanz@aol.com
Any suggestions, cliffy?
BTW this has got to be the best car I have drove at least for this first 150 miles.
Very smooth & quiet. Had never seen silver spruce but ordered it based on the catalog/internet appearance. Have held brochure sample to hood and the hood and rest of car seem darker. But still a very elegant shade of grey.
I really love the car so far but i must include some annoyances.
1 Have to take car in for service already bec. the airbag sensor is flashing a warning.
2. Found one chip spot along trunk edge. Already painted with dab of primer, need to get touchup % clearcoat
3. Abovementioned door rattle.
But still overall after these few miles I would recommend the car to anyone who can buy it. Good luck!
Also need to know if anyone has used or applied the 3M masking product retailed by Clearmask or X-pel. It seems some areas on the Avalon already have it-the rear bumper and two small patches near lower quadrant of both rear doors. Tried to apply the free door guards from Clearmask as a way of practicing, couldn't get rid of all the bubbles, afraid to move up and try to install the already received hood protector. So far unable to find any Hawaii(Oahu) installers.
Any hints or tips would be gratefullu appreciated.
ThanK you in advance.
Oh, and I don't have anything on the rattles that have been mentioned lately.
Our dealership and the local Toyota reps have all confirmed that all of these were items to be fixed and have cleared all but one (the clicking in the roof in the rear for which they are Oh-for-three).
The good news is that we have a great dealership but the bad news is that we had to find out so soon....How very domestic, eh?
I think that 2K Avalons have a lot more defects than prior Toyota owners expected (like me), but it must be a lot less than the Buick folks trading in and up or else the buzz on this car would be intense and negative.
Cliffy1, help!
Thanks, much! I'll take mine (an XLS) with Silver Spruce outside, grey leather inside, Option Package 6, traction/stability control, sunroof, GBS, mats and of course the wonderful extra southeastern dealer marketing mark-up, and even more unrealistic higher delivery fee (how can it cost more to deliver an Avalon in North Carolina - when they're made in Kentucky - than in Washington state?).
Are there any changes in the specs, like possibly the horsepower and/or milage for city/overall?
While driving by myself i just reached over and stopped the rattle BY PULLING The UNUSED SEAT BELT AWAY from the pillar!?
I post this message in the hope that somewhere out there someone else is still puzzled and hopefully not overlooking the obvious by 1st examining ALL the other things screwed in in that area!!!
If not then I remain embarrassed(although I wonder if it would be helpful if Toyota/other carmakers put something softer in that area like cloth or velour).
I hope my seatbelt sensor problem is as quickly fixed. And applying the "clearmask" product.
Still, after 200+ miles I still think it is a great car!
About the first week that I had the Avalon I did notice a rattle and was horrified! I drove around for an hour trying to figure out where it was coming from! Then I realized that my wife had moved the passenger sunvisor earlier and didn't snap it back into the clip. Whew!! Almost went to the dealer with that one.
As to where prices will be, it is hard to predict. Right now, we are selling the 2000s very close to where they have been for the last 6 months. Demand remains very high and in this area, the XLS is commanding prices between $800 to $1200 over invoice. This could drop over the next few weeks but I honestly doubt it will.
Prices of the 2001s will depend on how many 2000s we have left. If people are still buying the 2000s for $1000 over invoice and I have several left, I am sure we will start off between $1500 to $2000 over on the 2001s until the 2000s are gone. If we are out of 2000s, we will just have to see what others in our district are doing and make our best guess at what the market will bare.
Any idea when 2001 invoice & MSRP would be available on Edmunds? Thanks.
Any ideas what I could expect for the trade-in?
An e-mail to mtpys@hotmail.com would be very appreciated.
Thanks
Your experience with a '96 XL (73,000 miles)would indicate that you are completely satisfied with the Avalon line. Why not go for the total genuine luxury experience? Leather, the JBL sound system,etc .... It will be a financial decision you will NEVER regret.
Come, join us.
I noticed in your posting that you had a noise in the roof area in the rear passenger compartment. Could you please tell me what they found out. I, too, have this noise.
When you said you received your allocation, does that mean the Avalons are at the dealership now ? If not, when might they be expected to arrive ?
Cliffy, thanks again for all of your great information on this board. It is great hearing from someone as knowledgeable as you !
Any details would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Andy G.
The official colors will be diamond white, lunar mist, black, vintage red, desert sand, silver spruce and woodland pearl. These are all carry overs from 2000 and the constellation blue has been dropped due to lack of demand. Interior colors remain the same.
All things considered, the XL with the packages mentioned is a better deal IMHO.
Dave
I just bought a 1997 Avalon with no onwer's manul. I notice there is a security system in the car and I did notice one day the red light was on and blinking. But somehow it is not blinking anymore. Did you know how to make it work? and how to use this security system?
Thank you
Ting
Previous posts mention Toyota mud flaps for $80 out of a Michigan dealer. Someone else has mentioned Contura Style E flaps.
Has anybody actually intalled these flaps? Do they require drilling or body modification? How do they look? What color are they?
Thanks in advance for any input.
You owe it to yourself to take a test drive...this is one very nice rice burner.
2) Just recently (7000 Miles) I have noticed a sound coming from the windsheild wipers. It sounds like a 2 springs rubbing together. Anyone else noticed this?
I still love the car. It is a 2000 XL.
a little surprised by all the rattles and little problems.