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Several articles I have read say that the higher octane is actually the more economical way to go - the theory is that the engine will perform more efficently with the higher octane and therefore deliver better mileage.
I pay $1.71/gal for regular. Premium goes for $1.93. That's a cost increase of 12.8%. My intent is to switch to premium at about 2000 miles and see what the new mileage will be. In order to be at breakeven the mileage would have to improve from 26 mpg to around 29 (an increase of 12.8%). If it gets close to 29 mpg I'll switch permanently to premium for the alleged increase in performance characteristics.
Anybody see a problem with the testing method?
One item that we adhere strictly to is oil and filter changes--every 3000 miles. Also, I get an oil analysis from a sample taken at each oil change.(We have an airplane and subscribe to an oil analysis program with it)
So far, all's well!
Coming from a 1993.5 Infiniti G20 the "bucket" seats in the Avalon severely lack lateral support.
Off the top of my head page BE-82 in the service manuals tell how to disable the autolock. Have I not posted it here before? If not, its in a toyota usenet group.
Don't have the book, loaned it to a friend. Off the top of my head:
- Ignition on. Open driver's door. Remove key.
- Unlock the open door (it it doesn't work, repeat without this step)
- Key in ignition making beeps. Remove. Repeat 5 times, (total of 5 times.)
- Press unlock on door 5 times.
- All of the above within 10 seconds.
To undo the above (if it works) press the lock side rather unlock.
We purchased the 2000 Avalon with a bench seat and we love it. It feels much more roomy than the console model.
There are fewer bench seats out there though. We had to order ours. It took about 4 weeks.
I just did an oil change at 1000 miles, and found out that it is hard to not get oil all over while unscrewing the filter. On my Corolla there was enough clearance to just let the filter drop into those disposable oil-chnage boxes. Does anyone have any ideas?
sound system. Does anyone know whether the amp is
integrated into the head unit or is it separate?
If separate, is it a four channel one and where is
it located?
I am interested in connecting a surround processor.
Thanks,
When will the 2001 avalon be available at the dealership's?
Any new colors available?
Any new options?
Thanks
>Mike<
But one caution: If you're considering the XLS, be aware that the buckets have a lumbar adjustment, but the benches do not. At least, that was true on the 2000s.
And it matters. I've never had trouble with any other car seat, but the unfortunate lumbar setting on the Avalon's bench seat hurts my back, a lot. Take a long test drive/sit before you buy.
I've had no problems at all with driving straight on the highway. It does not drift at all.
Many solutions to your problem
Good luck
Strong performance. Not as quick as the Lexus IS300, being a much bigger car, but fast enough. Amazing gas mileage - 21/29. Much better than the IS300. Incredible luxury - this is the quietest car I've ever driven. Great handling. So, I'm wondering - is it just me? I start looking at reviews for this car, and found the following on-line
Crash test results - Outstanding. 5 Stars, and a Best Buy from the Insurance Institute (http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/mid_mod/avalon_00.htm)
"Avalon outperforms every Lexus model with the possible exception of the LS400, and since I haven't driven one of these in a while I'm not sure if it is any better than the Avalon" (http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/mid_mod/avalon_00.htm)
.... the car could easily be called, especially in upscale XLS trim, the "Lexus LS399."
(http://www.theautochannel.com/content/vehicles/new/reviews/2000/russ0008.html)
"The Toyota Avalon, Who needs a Lexus?"
(http://www.theautochannel.com/content/vehicles/new/reviews/2000/lweitzman_toyota_avalon_2000.html)
Quotes from the JD Power's review at www.jdpower.com:
"If the Avalon is merely nice at a standstill, it's an eye-opener on the road - if you pay attention. But the car's big trick is that little attention is required. It works so well! Toyota couldn't have asked for better work from the guys in NVH (noise, vibration, harshness). At nearly anything less than full throttle, you'd swear you were coasting. All we could hear on a rainy day was a creaking in the windshield wipers, like an old screen door opening and closing, opening and closing.
The ride is flawless ...... We haven't taken the Avalon on a long trip, but we feel safe in saying our bones won't feel a thing after hours in the saddle.
Michelin 205/60R16 tires were impressive in the wet. We aimed for narrow rivers in the road that stretched for half a mile at a time, places where water collects in the worn spots from tire tracks, and at 60 mph we could have taken our hands off the steering wheel. We could see the water, we could hear it, but we couldn't feel it. We hit a shallow double pothole in the river. We heard a light thump, but scarcely felt it. We drove over a washboard unpaved road. We felt it, but not much.
Then we got a little daring in the wet, blasting through a two-lane sweeper heavy on the throttle at 65 mph. The traction control connected in the middle of the turn, three or four times on and off, each time for a mere instant, and the car's direction stayed true without our having to do a thing except point it the first time. Something faster, smarter and more sensitive than us was doing all the tricky work.
We mashed the brake pedal as hard and fast as we could. Excellent anti-lock brakes said, "No problem. Thumpeta-thumpet-thump, there you are." We were stopped before the final splash landed ....... We accelerated away, feeling 210 horses rush the car along at a pace no Avalon buyer is likely to find inadequate. The upshifts of the four-speed electronic transmission were ? well, where were they? We never felt them.
We saved the most exotic for last: Vehicle Skid Control. It's a Lexus hand-me-down, remaining innovative as it moves along from $50,000 cars to $30,000 ones. It's a lot of option for $850. No, it's a steal for $850. Get it. Vehicle Skid Control keeps you from sliding off the road. Electronic sensors measure four forces to detect a slide ("when the direction of travel does not correlate with driver steering inputs," in robot language), which may be either at the front or rear wheels. Using throttle or brake intervention, VSC makes the appropriate adjustment in grip. For example, if your tail is sliding out throttle and apply the brakes to the left-side wheels. It won't take over the steering wheel, but with the other corrections it won't need to.
We found a hard-packed logging road, vacant on our rainy Sunday and slick from oil as well as water. We found a sharp curve with good visibility and no ditch. We charged it at spinout speed: all gas, no brakes.
Because the Avalon is front-wheel drive, understeer was our obstacle in this slow turn. We heard the VSC warning ding that says, "Whoa Bucko!" saw the orange traction-control light out of the corner of our eye, and then felt the car magically bite and come back into position. VSC had cut the throttle and hit the ABS brakes on all but the outside rear wheel.
This is a great sedan ..... We'd love to see a jet-black Avalon with a lowered nose and Vintage Red Pearl flames streaming from that toothy grin. But we may be the only ones who feel that way."
----------------------------------
I've test driven the Avalon twice now. I'm leaning towards getting one .....
I took it for a test drive and was incredibly impressed with the almost numbing level of engineering in the noise, vibration, and harshness department--something I can appreciate as a mechanical engineer! Though I'm young (22), and this car may be aimed towards an older market, I know when I see a good vehicle and I'm definitely impressed with the Avalon. The only other car I'm considering is the VW Passat, but I'll probably end up deciding on the Toyota because of the reliability issues I've heard with Passats....(and the 115,000 trouble free miles on my 4Runner!).
However, I do have a few questions for the owners out there, I would really appreciate a reply either on the forum or by mail (not@www.com)....
1) Any troubles with traction in the non VSC models in slippery conditions?
2) How composed does the car feel at highway speeds (75-80). Is it the suspension too mushy to handle safely at these speeds? (one worry I have with the soft suspension)
3) Amazing gas mileage for such a large car...are people actually seeing 21city/29highway, or is this a conservative estimate?
4) If anyone has a digital camera, I would love to see pictures of your cars--the pictures on the website aren't very large and the only color at my dealer was white. Particularly the red and silver colors. Would also like to see pictures of the interiors besides beige...for comparison. I'd actually really appreciate this, I'd probably even use one of these on my dekstop! hehe....
5) How dark is the stone leather. Is it black or lighter? I live in a warm climate and am somewhat concerned about the threat of scalding leather when it's sunny!
6) The brakes were a little mushy IMHO. How well do they work in emergency stops. I didn't want to frighten my salesman.
7) Any other reliability concerns I should have with this new model?
8)Any word on when head airbags will be offered? This is one of the few things (In addition to the functionality of a wagon, and the firmer and more tight road feel) that I like on the Passat, and for me is pretty important being that something like 50% of side-impact crashes involve head injuries. They're about neck-in-neck on the frontal crash according to the tests, however....
that's all I can think of for now....being this is my first car purchase, I'm spending tons of time researching my decision....=)
thanks, BILL
models in slippery conditions?
NONE WHATSOVER.
2) How composed does the car feel at highway
speeds (75-80). Is it the suspension too mushy to
handle safely at these speeds? (one worry I have
with the soft suspension).
THE CAR EXTREMELY IS COMPOSED AT HIGH SPEEDS, DODGING TRAILER TRUCKS AND SOME FOLKS WHO DRIVE IN THE BREAKDOWN LANES (LEGAL IN BOSTON AREA).
3) Amazing gas mileage for such a large car...are
people actually seeing 21city/29highway, or is this a conservative estimate?
I DO MOSTLY SURBURBAN/CITY DRIVING AND I GET 16 MPG. HOWEVER, I ALWAYS DRIVE WITH THE CLIMATE CONTROL ON AND I USE PREMIUM PETROL.
5) How dark is the stone leather. Is it black or
lighter? I live in a warm climate and am somewhat
concerned about the threat of scalding leather when it's sunny!
THE STONE LEATHER IS SORT OF A PEWTER GRAY. IT IS MORE ON THE LIGHT THAN DARK SIDE.
6) The brakes were a little mushy IMHO. How well
do they work in emergency stops. I didn't want to
frighten my salesman.
I MADE TWO RATHER HARD STOPS AT HIGH SPEEDS AND I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
AT 22, YOU WOULD BE DRIVING YOUR FATHER'S AVALON. ARE YOU A SERIOUS BUYER OR A PRETENDER?
Avalon - Two colors, Cognac Brown and Constellation Blue Pearl, are dumped for 2001. No other changes to this imitation Buick, which was completely redesigned last year.
Link is as follows;
http://www.edmunds.com/whatsnew2001/toyota.html
One dealer wanted preorder price of $38,000; another wanted $31,500; another wanted $30,400 and the last dealer wanted $34,500. What should be the best offer for this car? I noticed that resale value on used 1999 and 1998 was advertised pretty low in the news papers and in used car ads (for 99' around $24,000s to 98' around $18,000s)! I also checked and found out from internet that dealers from different states other than here in California offered 2000 XLS in the $27,500+ range. I would like to hear response from other prospective Avalon buyers and Avalon owners what will be a "good offer" for this 2001 model. I am thinking about offering $30,000. Thanks!
Thanks for the recommendation on WC Toyota. I just purchased a 2000 XLS from them. They were friendly and displayed exceptional customer service. I also liked the fact that their service department is open until midnight.
I found the 2000 Avalon XLS excellent in all the above catagories and everything else one looks for in a luxury auto. You feel (in the bucket seats) like you're setting in your favorite living room chair. The distance to the dash is like 'wow'. Gas mileage is just about what they say 21 city & 29 country - which is excellent for a car of this weight. Take off may not beat some performance cars, but 0 - 60 in 8 seconds or less is all I need. The handling, smoothness of ride and 'just a real good feeling' is commendable. And I guess I better mention one feature that most 2000 Avalon owners praise...Shh (Quiet) -Unless you want to boom-box the JBL system.
With everything on it, you should be able to buy a 2001 XLS for something like $30K...and 3 or 4 years from now it will be worth a lot more than any Lincoln. Guess which one I chose? Good Luck!