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Acura TL vs. Toyota Avalon

223 messages,  Last post on Feb 25, 2013 at 5:07 PM

You are in the Acura TL Forum.

What is this discussion about? Acura TL, Toyota Avalon, Sedan

Messages Page 23 of 24

#212 of 223 avalonlimited by pat

May 06, 2006 (2:49 am)

Hi avalonlimited - your post was moved to the more appropriate Toyota Avalon 2005+ discussion. Just click on that link to get there.

#213 of 223 Re: tl vs avalon? [neil5] by dzuba

Jun 07, 2006 (7:35 am)

Replying to: neil5 (Mar 20, 2006 2:15 pm)
Here in the Midwest (Chicago) I am hearing the Avalon does not come with Bluetooth..............do you have it and how does it work? What part of the Country?
 
Additionally - does the NAV work well? I heard the car can not be moving if you want to input a destination?
Thanks

#214 of 223 Re: tl vs avalon? [dzuba] by niteone

Jun 07, 2006 (12:20 pm)

Replying to: dzuba (Jun 07, 2006 7:35 am)
"Additionally - does the NAV work well? I heard the car can not be moving if you want to input a destination? "
 
that's partially true....you can input some 'saved' destination's beforehand, and either go to them manually while driving, or 'speak' the desination number you want to go to....but, yes, while driving, no new, only previously saved destinations can be either entered or spoken, unless it's a gas station or some other poi.
 
it's ok, but I do hate the fact my passenager can't use it either. There should be an override for this, but I can't seem to find it.

#215 of 223 Re: tl vs avalon? [glenn386] by maximafan

Jun 07, 2006 (11:39 pm)

Replying to: glenn386 (Mar 20, 2006 7:55 pm)
I agree that these two cars are totally
  different cars, so I'm surprised also that
  they would be cross-shopped. The Avalon,
  for my tastes, it's not a bad looking car,
  Lexus-like interior, but it's a little too
  big for me. I don't think I could fit it
  in my single-car garage. I can barely fit
  my '02 Max in my garage. The TL would be
  more sport oriented, hence the rougher ride
  vs. the smoother ride on the Avalon. Both
  are nice cars, but I keep joking to my
  friends that the TL would fit in my little
  garage perfectly. Uhm!!!

#219 of 223 Yes we compared by joeolds3

Jul 20, 2008 (2:45 pm)

We drove the TL ,and xls and touring versions of the avalon. The TL won. The xls has too soft of suspension, end of story. The touring avalon has a nice firm suspension, drives well, and is roomy, but does not have a lot of the features that should be standard. (self dimming rear view mirror, homelink, heated seats, moonroof, you cant even get heated exterior mirrors on the touring level) By the time you add all the comparable options to a touring avalon you are at or above the sticker of a base TL with everything standard. The TL warranty is much better, and the TLs appear to hold their resale value better. But the bottom line is this: My wife said the avalon looked "stoggy" and made her feel like an "old lady", and the TL had a sportiness she liked.

#220 of 223 Re: Yes we compared [joeolds3] by bvdj84

Jul 20, 2008 (3:10 pm)

Replying to: joeolds3 (Jul 20, 2008 2:45 pm)
Yes, I agree, the Avalon is sorta an older looking car, it looks huge, and it really looks sorta like a buick inside as well. Weird dash. Now, it does look classy, and it is a nice looking car, but when compared to a TL, the TL seems more youthful and sporty. The interior is very sleek and up to date. It also offers Honda's famous suspension with great handling. It seems more in sync with a driver. The TL is going to add more fun to any drive, the Avalon seems like a really nice highway cruiser.
 
I would totally pick a TL over the Avalon anyday, not that the Avalon is a bad car in any shape, I just feel like the Avalon is for an older adult, like the Toyota's version of a Buick.

#221 of 223 by necro1234

Jul 25, 2008 (8:55 pm)

I'm by no means old (28 years) but when shopping for a comfortable vehicle for long road trips that had a bit of punch and reliability I couldn't turn my 2007 Avalon XLS down.
I was very surprised by the acceleration and performance from such a large car, its got very soft comfortable suspension which of course does not lend to pushing it hard into corners.
That said I am very surprised at just how well it handles when you force it into a corner, the car is so soft that it feels like you should back off, but once you used to it you can really swing it in quite hard, it gives pretty good feel through the wheel, seat and pedals of whats going on, so I have not had much trouble reading it.
I have 25000 miles on mine so far and not 1 days worth of trouble, I don't expect to ever have any either (knock wood) if its taken care of as far as maintenance is concerned.
 
The look is by no means sporty, I feel it looks very "elegant" in design.
I don't quite know where the stereotype of "old people drive camrys" comes from with the latest styling that Toyota has come up with on those models, but to each their own I suppose.
The car can certainly keep up with most vehicles on the road, a bit of a wolf in sheep clothing in my opinion.
Always puts a smile on my face when some kiddie in his honda civic or the typical BMW driver (who all own the road supposedly) pull up next to the light and attempt to pull off and in front of the Avalon.
My XLS does not have the TRAC system, but a clean pull off with a good hard stomp to the floor leads to their jaws dropping in shock and horror.
Thats another thing. the transmission is awesome, it finds power at any speed, on any incline.
The pedal is quite a sensitive beast and enjoys dropping gear and revving quite hard at the drop of a hat.
 
I think each car is certainly in a class of its own, the TL is more of a refined sports car where the Avalon is built for absolute comfort with some good horses under the hood.
A good short description of the Avalon would be that its "like driving a rocket propelled cloud".
 
Cheers
 
Sheldon

Messages Page 23 of 24

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