2005 Avalon Discussions

[pagemaster]

Originally Posted by Xfercase

The current model was raked below the domestics which surprised me but I guess it is a aging platform? Anyway the new model looks conservativly good, typical Toyota. The advancements (280 HP, others) are amazing but beg a couple big questions. 1) With such a premium package how much are they going to charge? 2) Will people want a poor mans Lexus? I think they will, only if its sold at a deep discount to a comparable Lexus. 3) Is this platform shared with Lexus like the Camry/ES330? I would bet its simmilar to the next gen GS300/400 that debuted at the Paris auto show. Just trying to stimulate conversation, look forward to any responses. Hope this car gives Nissan/Infiniti a run for their money!

From what I have read a few weeks ago. Toyota will seperate Toyota models from Lexus models. So according to this information, I think you will see more Lexus cars and trucks that don't share the same components as the Toyotas.

If this is the approach Toyota is taking, I don't think you will be able to get the same engine and hp in a Lexus.

[lelandstanford]

Quoting from TundraSoul's link:


".........
2. roller-follower rocker arms
a. very low friction compared to direct ‘bucket’ lifters
1) major reduction in high-rpm friction caused by oil shear between cam lobe and lifter
......"

Is that they type of valve train like Honda's?

Is Toyota admiting bucket lifter causes sluge?

[Tundrav8yamaha]

Originally Posted by lelandstanford

Quoting from TundraSoul's link:


".........
2. roller-follower rocker arms
a. very low friction compared to direct ‘bucket’ lifters
1) major reduction in high-rpm friction caused by oil shear between cam lobe and lifter
......"

Is that they type of valve train like Honda's?

Is Toyota admiting bucket lifter causes sluge?

I think it's well knowen that toyota had engine sluge issues on the 3.0 liter v6 enought that toyota provided new owner's on the 99 avalon more coverage on the warrenty

[xioix]

the new avalon looks really good from the specs so far, and the interior is just beautiful

[jvroon]

Here is a shot of the interior I found on the Autoweek forum:

[Tundra2UZ]

Originally Posted by TUNDRAV8GEORGIA

This new avalon is vastly improved vs the 2000 second gen change over that was often ugly and boxey to a lot of former avalon buyer's and they didnt care for the new look.My parent have a 99 avalon that was purchased new and it's been a great car for them if i recall the 3.0 liter v6 has 129k on miles and has been running very strong and still quiet as the day they purchased it. This new avalon has a lot of serious upgrades and the styling look's improved and so does the power plant i am glad toyota took some styling upgrades and made the avalon more sporty because the 2000 looked really out of place..great job toyota on your new flagship sedan

I also like the fact that the new engine finally has a maintenance free timing chain replacing the belt.

[PJ de Chilehead]

Originally Posted by lelandstanford

Is that 270 HP engine derived from Camry's 3.3L or 4Runner's 4.0L?

From what I understand it is from the new block that is shared w/ the forerunner, camry & avalon. New "A" looks like the BMW 7 series from the a pillar back.

[Tundrav8yamaha]

Originally Posted by steveb84

The 2005 Avalon will arrive in January.

question how come the 2005 avalon show's the old car even reviewing the 2005 tundra information on back show all the toyota model's with the old avalon design still in the book? Usually toyota will put in the new model on the spec page which is very clear to me Toyota will market the avalon around feb 05 as an 06 model either way toyota has a winner in the large car market wished honda would follow suit and make a bigger accord

[pagemaster]

Originally Posted by TUNDRAV8GEORGIA

question how come the 2005 avalon show's the old car even reviewing the 2005 tundra information on back show all the toyota model's with the old avalon design still in the book? Usually toyota will put in the new model on the spec page which is very clear to me Toyota will market the avalon around feb 05 as an 06 model either way toyota has a winner in the large car market wished honda would follow suit and make a bigger accord

It will be a 2005 model. Toyota is still calling the current Avalon a 2004 model while everything else is a 2005 model on the website.

[Fragmire]

Anybody know when the car will be available at dealerships?

I have a hard Jan 05 purchase timeframe (need one by Jan 27). If the new Avalon is not available by then, does anyone have any suggestion on what I can do to have a car temporarily until the new one comes out?

[nhparrot]

Originally Posted by Fragmire

Anybody know when the car will be available at dealerships?

I have a hard Jan 05 purchase timeframe (need one by Jan 27). If the new Avalon is not available by then, does anyone have any suggestion on what I can do to have a car temporarily until the new one comes out?

From waht I have seen,pricing will not be available unti Feb '05. So I expect a Feb - Mar availability.

[FStephenMasek]

The least expensive way to have a car temporarily is a rental, but if you can live without fancy new features, simply buy a really cheap used car for $1,000 or $2,000 and then re-sell it, probably for the same amount you paid.

I have been seriously considering the new Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, and Chrysler 300.

For the same price as the Ford, the Montego is nicer, as it has a two tone interior, perforated instead of solid leather (if you get leather), LED tail lights, HID headlights, and dark fake wood which actually looks really nice compared to the shelf paper in the Ford version. It costs $29,740 with every option except the sun roof. It is also a very nice looking car, with an open, airy feel, kind of a modern version of the original Taurus, which was a rounded version of the still earlier Fairmount. I need a work car, so the huge trunk (21.2 cubic feet, and flat) and folding back seat are big advantages. With the CVT and AWD it is supposed to achieve 20/27 MPG on regular, but in the test just published by edmunds, they only got 19MPG from the over-worked 3.0 V6. The Ford products are missing many things - a big enough engine, a telescoping steering column (the front foot wells are narrow and the seats do not go down low enough, but it does have adjustable pedals), stability control, rain-sensing wipers, exterior mirrors which dim, turn signals on the side or on the mirrors, satellite radio, Bluetooth, hood struts, and various small interior lights. The little engine is very noisey as it struggles to move the car.

I think that it is reasonable to pay a few thousand more just for the Toyota reliability and resale value, so agree that $36,000 would not be out of line for a loaded Limited, but it can't go much beyond that. I just drove the 300C again, and it really is a wonderful car. For $36,000 it comes with everything but AWD, NAV, and the sunroof. I first though that I would have problems seeing out of it, but with the seat and steering column and pedals adjusted right, I was comfortable and could see thaffic lights that I could not see driving my 2002 Mountaineer back over the same route.

To me, the biggest competition will be the Chrysler 300, Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, and Dodge Charger, all of which offer AWD, and the Buick LaCrosse.

Of course, what if the information which was leaked is not complete and the Avalon does offer AWD?

[Fragmire]

Thanks for the info. It will be my first winter in a snowy region though, so I'd probably prefer something nicer. Another option I'm considering is to simply find an apartment within walking distance to my office

I'm not sure if I understand this fully, but what good is AWD on a luxury/comfort sedan that will be driven mainly in the city, especially since a lot of the FWD sedans are now equipped with traction control? I personall don't find much use for AWD since all it does to me is lowering the mileage.

One complaint I have about the Ford Five Hundred is the styling. Ford seems to have taken pages out of Lexus and Mercedes-Benz for the design. C'mon, Ford can do better than that

[ejyoder2733]

The new Avalon will not offer AWD.

[FStephenMasek]

Price will be a very big factor. If too high, the weaknesses of the competition will be less important, since the Avalon will be omitted from the comparison.

However, if it is priced in the high $20,000 to high $30,000 range, the competition, even with those with AWD, will look weak as long as lack of AWD or RWD does not cause the Avalon to have torque steer, braking nose-dive, or other such problems.

If the Avalon does not have a big enough trunk (and I hope the seats fold down for times when it is needed), I will wind up buying a Ridgeline (the new Honda car-truck) or Tacoma, since I am tired of the rattling from carrying things in the back of my SUV.