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XM stereo with the FM Modulator and a VSM(vehicle specific mount) is a nice addition when professionally installed properly. Highly recommended for highway drives.
Arthur
I also agree that the Avalon gives a more soft and cushy ride while the Max provides a more spirited and firm ride. The Avalon is a very good car (I crossed shopped it against the 03 Max) if one is looking for a quiet but not exciting ride. Like you said, the Avalon's interior is spacious, particularly the back seat, if you have big and tall passengers.
Surprisingly though, Avalon does not have folding mirrors and rear seats, which are common and useful features available in most all cars, including cars that cost thousands less.
Banging from rear end - sounds like car bottoms out.
Could anyone help with suggestions?
Sticker Price was $33,619. - paid $29,700 in Norwood, MA
Decent price??
Thanks,
J.Luther
Shocks are the same ones used on the Toyota Camry and Lexus ES300. A bad shock with Toyota saving the money across their models.
Change to Tokico Gas shocks all around. You will not bottom out anymore and a more controlled ride without being harsh.
A.Fisch
Thanks for the advice. I may knock it off the contract tomorrow.
Sounds like you rack up miles like I do. Did you get a good trade? With this whole car shopping experience, I felt I was getting shafted on the trade - 00 Civic LX with 79,000 miles, perfect condition. Only one dealer (VW) came close to KBB. Honda offered $700 below.
And yes I'm hoping there will be some trade advantage in a few years. But, my trade was covered up to 100,000 as long as the dealer performed all the servicings, and it didn't appear to mean doo-doo (although I bet it'll be one of the first things said by the used car salesman.)
I have just returned from a Kentucky-Florida 1600 mile round trip. On relatively quiet interstates traffic flow was at 70 - 80 mph, and the variable valve timing (VVT) on my 2003 XLS was remarkably smooth and comforting. Spurts to 85 or 90, however, were rather gradual (but still very smooth), and I was reminded of traditional American cars with their low-end torque but running out of oomph at higher speeds. Part of the problem is the 4-speed auto, where manually clicking off the overdrive was necessary for even modest acceleration at these speeds. By contrast our Saab 9-3 Turbo thrusts you into the seat as it rushes to 100 and far beyond (albeit with judicial downshifts to hit the turbo power band). On a number of two-lane highways I declined several passing opportunities because the oomph just isn't sufficient. My boy-racer days are clearly over!
Otherwise the car is a dream. After a 12-hour drive I emerged relatively fresh and with no aching joints or buzzy head.
Does anyone know if the 2000 XLS is equipped with such a recorder and if it can be disconnected legally?
Thanks in advance.
thanks, and sorry for the un-researched question before this one--
Anyone got any advice on toyota dealers in the Pacific NW?
thanks again
My no option (except white)XL finally shipped on 7/3. Build date reported as 6/25.
Expected at dealer around 7/11. Around 17 weeks since order.
I ordered because of my company's lease policy and because I didn't want to pay any options. If you want one, this is the hard way.
Sunday Dealer classifieds tout offers on every product except the Avalon which isn't even mentioned.(Albany,NY).
I suspect that Toyota wants the KY plant making Camrys to assure the best seller title and that the Avalon erodes Lexus sales, hence the deemphasis.
There could be some credence to the runours about discontinuation or repositioning of the Avalon.
There have been ads for the Rav4, new Forerunner, Corolla from time to time, occasional Tundra ad, lots of Camry and 'Get the feeling' ads.
The Avalon isn't alone. Toyota ads are very targeted at new entries and high volume cars.
The 5 speed you are discussing is already in the Lexus 300. It got terrible reviews, clunking into gears. More does not necessary mean better, and a closer ratio would not enhance top speed performance. Middle speed passing prowess is secondary to the good torque characteristics of this engine. Poor passing at supra legal speeds, is secondary to, you guessed it, a rather average amount of horsepower for the size and weight of the vehicle, albeit, sometimes, at the expense of gas mileage. The new Avalon '05 show have the 330 hp engine in it to satisfy those who have a need for supra legal passing.
Peak power occurs at a specific engine speed - it has nothing to do with road speed. Similarly for peak torque - usually at a different engine speed. By the use of variable valve timing (VVT) Toyota engineers have succeeded in spreading the optimum power and torque over a much larger range of engine speeds. Abfisch is correct when he suggests that the Avalon focus is on smooth power at middle to upper road speeds, and not at high road speeds. Nevertheless, regardless of the targeted maximum engine output, the ability to use that output most effectively is significantly affected by the number of gears and their ratios. This is why older classic cars have 3-speed manual transmissions (or even 2-speed automatics) and modern cars have 6-speed manuals and 5-speed automatics. It is also one of the reasons why "drivers" prefer manual stickshifts over automatics -- an greater ability to control power and torque characteristics. The modern trend towards continuous belt transmissions (CVT) is a recognition of the value of exactly matching engine speed to driving needs (albeit with little or no overriding capability for the driver).
Having gotten on my soapbox it is only fair to observe that -- even with multiple gears -- improvements in response by the Avalon at high speeds would indeed be minimal. Contrast my Saab 9-3 turbo, which throws you back in your seat when you find the right gear at 85 mph.
I'm not sure if Toyota and Lexus have the same requirements for the Certification process, but I would assume that they are very similar. I continue to believe Toyota and Lexus have outstanding cars, but they're not perfect. Toyota/Lexus spend a lot of time informing the public of the importance of consistent and frequent oil changes - take them at their word.
My advice is to insist that you can review and prove to yourself that all oil changes have been performed - or you are taking risk. There may be good reason why someone else traded in that used Avalon.
~alpha
Now, at 7,000 miles, I'm going in for another change & have a question....I'm considering synthetic transmission oil. Has anyone out there ever used it? Any advantages to using it? How many quarts does it take?
Just noticed today, a faint rattling noise when using the accelerator - not every time, just intermittently. Oh boy, and I thought my car was perfect.
Thanks for any input -
Gerhard
We took off the rotors this weekend, and put the rotors on a lathe ourselves. The left rotor was fine but the right one was moderate-severely warped. Sweeetttt!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is after 4 trips to have them diagnosis and fix it. Sweettttt.
The Toyota Corp. will be contacted in the next month. I will keep you posted when I place the steel wheels with the winter tires back on and recheck it for additional vibration problems.
A.Fisch
A.Fisch
Going to back to Avalon v. Highlander- what are your priorities?
~alpha
- solid, smmoth quiet- will be a great long distance runner.
- Diamond white pearl ( or whatever they call it)is worth the extra.
- Car comes with Continental "touringtrack" tires.
Based on experience with my wifes Volvo and a colleagues Camry , I don't expect much life from these. I 'll rotate every 5k but don't expect much more than 30K, any suggestions on replacements?
- for all you "oil gelling" afficaionados - there is a warning card inseerted in the warranty booklet.
Replaced them with OUTSTANDING Pirelli P400 Tourings.
Best of luck with your new Avalon!
~alpha
I didn't know that you take such priority in bookmarking what everyone does.... If it's any of your business, which it's not. I still have the 94 Camry, and I was waiting for all the bugs to be out of the new remodeled Camrys, but they've seem to be not as reliable as the other camry models. I swear by Toyota, I think Toyotas are reliable,I think they're great, so pardon me for wanting a reliable vehicle.
Why do you come in here so much? Trade often or buy often ? LOL.
Don't take offense -- we try to help and it's easier to help when we understand where the folks asking for help are coming from.
: )
Probably the biggest option to us not available on the XL is heated seats. Since I commute almost a hundred miles daily, they would be much appreciated during our Wisconsin winters. Anyone know anything about having them installed third party? Our salesman suggested we check it out - he recommended someone in the area that does it.
With respect to your question, yes, I and many people I know buy and trade often, and Edmunds Townhall is an outstanding resource. I would like to consider myself an enthusiast, and I gain a lot of knowledge from the posters and hosts here.
Thats where I'm coming from.
~alpha
I thought that I was all set with waiting for a year till all the bugs in the new remodeled Camry came out, but It's I read in the consumer guide and also in the message boards on Edmunds and it doesn't sound to reliable.
Again, I appologize for my comment that I made to you, I realize that it was nasty, and I appolgize and I am embarassed. I didn't know that so many people in here come in here for pure enjoyment, alot of exhusiasts, and people that come in here for help regarding their future purchase and their minor problems....
I have alot of stuff going on in my personnal life, I am house hunting, I am car shopping, and I appologize for snapping at you. If you choose to ignore my posts ;then, that's fine, I don't blame you. However, I am appologing, and I am sorry for snapping at you.
Where I am right now, Is looking at the Highlander and Avalon. I really like the Camry, but I am scared of it because of all the stories I've heard.... The Avalon and Highlander have minor errors that I can live with. I really would like the Highlander,and I was ready to get the Highlander, but I could only get leather if I got the limited and the Limited is close to $36,000, and I refused to pay for a limited just to have leather. Therefore, I guess If I run into the same problem ;then, I'll just get the Avalon. I'm in here to see if they're both as reliable,so that I can choose either one with peace of mind and ease.
Again, I am sorry for snapping at you. I do realize that everyone has something to deal with in life, and I'm no exception.... My appologizes to you.
Sunshine6105.
With regards to Avalon/Camry/HL, one thing you should consider is that most of the Camrys and all of the Avalons are made at the same plant in Kentucky. Certainly, it is true that the initial Camry launch was not as flawless as are typical Toyota introductions, but I am reasonably confident that most of the Camry's bugs have been worked out, as it has been on the market for 18+ months now. If you look on the Camry boards, I think you will find comparatively fewer complaints for the 2003 vs. the 2002.
Given that you are looking at HL and Avalon, my guess is that you'd be choosing an XLE V6 Camry, and there are a few benefits to this model over the Avalon, the most major being available side curtain airbags, if you are into the safety side of things. The Camry V6 also now has an enhanced 5sp automatic transmission, and is a newer design than the Avalon. Most likely, given similar levels of equipment, the Camry XLE V6 will be less costly up front, and if you are still uneasy about the Camry's reliability, you could get an extended warranty with the money you save, and probably still have some left over.
just my .02
~alpha
The hitch is templated with holes, as only two additional holes are needed to be drilled. The hitch is very well hidden under the rear skirt of the Avalon, and all you see is the receiver. If you do it yourself, you might want to spray undercoating on it, to prevent it from rusting through the years.
There is also a module for trailer lights, bought separately that is easy to hook up . Best to route the wire inside the car and not out.
Thanks, you gave me alot of food for thought... I'll type you a post sometime this week or weekend with my thoughts and questions.
Sunshine60105!
A.Fisch
Can anyone report what the actual problem & cost was to fix?