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2005-2007 Toyota Avalon

14955 messages,  Last post on Mar 20, 2013 at 3:36 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Avalon, Sedan

    

Messages Page 909 of 1496

#9078 of 14955 Re: 2006 model [hoop43] by havalongavalon

Sep 30, 2005 (2:11 pm)

Replying to: hoop43 (Sep 30, 2005 12:49 pm)
Hi hoop43,
 
You said earlier that you are ex QA manager (hi-tech) and a researcher, so surely you will agree that with increasing technological complexity there is a greater (not lower) risk of encountering problems. This is true not only for the car industry but with life-saving medical devices, too. The FDA recently reported that 4,225 cardiac defibrillators had failed between 2000 and 2003, about as many as those that failed in the previous 10 years. The increase in malfunctions may be a result of "increased complexity of these devices, manufacturing challenges posed by device complexity, or increased reporting by physicians", according to the FDA. The FDA said on its Web site that the higher percentage of failures may be a result of design changes that made the devices smaller -- they are now the size of a stopwatch -- while their computer memory was increased and their power maintained. Here is a link:
 
link title
 
Like pacemakers, new cars have many more features and are far more complex now than 20 or 10 years back. This is true for all car makes and models. The severity of the problems reported by new Avalon owners in this forum, pales in comparison to problems affecting other new cars. The frequency of problems reported by Avalon owners is very hard to gauge from these postings, but may be increasing because of the easy availability of these forums. We don't hear as much from owners who don't have the same problems. This is where stats compiled by Consumer Reports are useful; but it takes a long time to build up their database.
 
In the meantime, Toyota has a well-deserved leading reputation for high reliability, that I think they are interested in keeping. So if their vehicles show real flaws, they fix these quickly. They won't just wait until the next model year.
 
I too had debated whether to buy one of the first 2005 Avalons, or maybe better wait for the 2006 model year. Today, 7 months later, I remain really pleased that I bought mine when I did. My "problems" have been few and truly minor, my satisfactions have far outweighed the risks I took in being an early adopter.
 
And, if you are going to buy a new car someday, what better choice will you have later, really? The 2007's may come with newly introduced, advanced features... together with their own set of potential new problems. Or, as the recent trends suggest, with greater chance of problems...
 
Best wishes,
 
havalongavalon

#9079 of 14955 Re: invisible glass [gladiator99] by havalongavalon

Sep 30, 2005 (2:24 pm)

Replying to: gladiator99 (Sep 28, 2005 6:24 pm)
Hi Gladiator99,
 
Congrats on your 02 T-Bird! Sounds like great fun and a great deal too. I'm starting to look for an additional car, since my teen kids will be driving soon; I bet they'd really go for a T-Bird... For now they are chauffeured everywhere in the Avalon and I may start to call them Governor and General, in honour of Adrienne...
 
To confirm, Canadian Tire carries Invisible Glass. It removes the haze really well but make sure to keep the car doors open while you apply it, as it is likely toxic (far more so than the natural new-car scent may be).
 
Best regards,
 
havalongavalon

#9080 of 14955 Re: Synthetic Oil [fragmire] by captain2

Sep 30, 2005 (2:47 pm)

Replying to: fragmire (Sep 30, 2005 1:56 pm)
One of the problems of any oil is vicosity (thickness) breakdown when hot and conversely the oil thickening so much in the cold that lubricating properties are compromised on startup. These problems are aggravated by mfgr. recommendations that we now use things like the lighterr 5W oil (less viscosity). Simply put, synthetic oils are superior in maintaining the correct vicosity thru a wider temperature range and should keep the engine lubricated correctly especially in the lower oil weights. The synthetics have improved significantly in the last several years and most of the major mfgrs. now have synthetics as good as Mobil 1 is. Unfortunately the stuff is 2 to 3 times the cost.

#9081 of 14955 Sulphur/rotten egg smell when accelerating by hank3

Sep 30, 2005 (3:10 pm)

I have about 3,500 miles on my Avalon LTD. I notice when I rev the engine or accelerate quickly, soon afterwards a rotten egg smell fills the car. Is this part of breaking in the engine or should I take it in to get the car serviced?

#9082 of 14955 Re: 2006 model [havalongavalon] by captain2

Sep 30, 2005 (3:33 pm)

Replying to: havalongavalon (Sep 30, 2005 2:11 pm)
Agreed, but keeping it a little closer to home - the BMWs and MBs have been rightfully downrated recently for repair frequencies and repair costs. Anybody who has ever owned one will likely tell you, however, that this was the best driving and best engineered car they ever owned. Probably true and as it should be for the prices they charge. The fact is that they are so complicated that sooner or later something must break! The simple Corolla will always be a more reliable car than the Av simply because there is less to go wrong. First year issue teething problems are well documented and common to all mfgrs. - the 2006/2007 Avs should have fewer problems than the 05's - Toyota is a quality mfgr., however and may be immune to some (but not all) of these problems. Jury is still out on this one - been lucky with my '05 - hasn't been back to the dealer except for that steering recall.

#9083 of 14955 Re: Navigation System? [billyg] by navguy1

Sep 30, 2005 (3:55 pm)

Replying to: billyg (Sep 21, 2005 7:04 pm)
I apologize I thought the Avalon was like other GEN 3 navigation systems. After reviewing the owners manual I see they have omitted this feature.
 
Is there any other items that are troublesome?

#9084 of 14955 geoshill by geoshill

Sep 30, 2005 (3:59 pm)

Dear easyrider
The repair dealers will love you . I had 3 Chrysler products that gave me much trouble and cost me dearly, curently $100/hr. My '66 Chrysler Imperial , power brake failure, tranny failure, rear axle failure, speedometer failure and burned valve. My '72 dodge Dart total inginion failure at 700 miles in front of NIH Maryland. For some reason it used to dump large quantites of tranny oil on the ground on hot days.Then one cylider pumped oil till I got rid of the car. Then for the dodge 440 engine in my motor home I'd write a book about it. Beware fo poor quality.
 
My '97 XLS has never been in a shop for repairs yet!!

#9085 of 14955 Re: Navigation System? [navguy1] by billyg

Sep 30, 2005 (5:17 pm)

Replying to: navguy1 (Sep 30, 2005 3:55 pm)
Hey navguy1
 
No apology necessary. I see this forum as a place to share thoughts and not feed egos. There is no right or wrong.
 
My problem is that I do not consider the NAV user friendly. For those who like to tinker or who often travel to unfamiliar territory it is OK, but it's interaction with audio and temperature controls could be improved.
 
I just want to have the option to choose my defaults and find that, the next time I jump in the car to take a local trip, my defaults are still there displayed and waiting. No buttons to push.
 
Have a great day.

#9086 of 14955 Re: How long does it take to get a Ltd when ordering? [jayvis] by squatos

Sep 30, 2005 (6:01 pm)

Replying to: jayvis (Sep 30, 2005 6:05 am)
Tread lightly...Your in Limited country...

#9087 of 14955 What Edmunds say about Avalon ? by hrao

Sep 30, 2005 (6:05 pm)

is it not as nice to drive as Chrysler 300 ?
 
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2005/toyota/avalon/100510857/researchlanding.html
Cons: Not as much fun to drive as a Chrysler 300, stability control can only be had on top-rung models.
 
did anyone test drove both ? any feedback appreciated

Messages Page 909 of 1496

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