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#1 (permalink) |
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2.2 Liter ECOTEC
Join Date: Feb 2008
Drives: 2007 Cadillac DTS
Posts: 60
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Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
Recently stopped by a dealer to drive a new Avalon to see what all the blue-haired buzz was about.
New 2008 Avalon Limited ($37k) vs. my '07 Cadillac DTS ($45k without incentives) Avalon feels smaller and lighter in steering (no surprise here). Avalon is very quiet with some wind and engine noise. Less powertrain NVH and lower levels of road noise than the DTS. DTS (Level 2) has a noticeably softer ride. No noticeable transmission problems in the Avalon. Avalon's brake pedal was sticky on the return and made a slight popping sound when released. This was irritating. When backing up, you cannot see the rear fenders and even the Limited does not have audible sensors like the DTS (both front and rear). Overall, a very nice car with better gas mileage and resale value than the DTS, but I'm not sure the Toyota dealer will take of me as well as my Cadillac dealer does at service time (includes a free CTS loan car for even minor service and free washes whenever wanted). For Cadillac-level dealer service, you may have to upgrade to a Lexus. The warranty is also longer at Cadillac and Lexus. Lexus ES 350 requires premium fuel. Avalon and DTS do not. Will be driving the new Lincoln MKS (base sticker for $37k) to when it debuts this summer. Last edited by kgm777 : 04-04-2008 at 07:06 PM. |
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#2 (permalink) |
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3.9 Liter V6
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: NC
Drives: '97 Maxima SE
Posts: 997
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Re: Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
Sounds like the Lexus ES350 fits better. Many reviews say that Avalons are essentially near-Lexus.
__________________
'97 Maxima SE--5-speed, sunroof VUE I4a--alloys, S&S pkg Entourage SE--Premium Pkg www.street-car.net <-any car fan forum |
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#3 (permalink) |
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5.3 Liter Vortec V8
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Kaneohe, HI
Posts: 1,257
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Re: Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
Persnally, I don't care how nice, luxurious or well built the Avalon or any Lexus is - they are all built by Toyota, without a doubt the most unethical company in the business, and a company I won't do business with under any circumstance.
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I don't have a ride, but I do have a car. |
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#4 (permalink) |
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2.2 Liter ECOTEC
Join Date: Feb 2008
Drives: 2007 Cadillac DTS
Posts: 60
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Re: Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
Recently rented a 2008 Avalon Touring Sedan (with about 7500 miles) in LA for a few days. The car is very quiet, however the expansion joints on some freeways are brutal and this car did not isolate the harshness from this problem. The other Avalon models should do a little better. The Avalon has better visibility, a tight turning radius, and fewer blind spots than my '07 DTS, although the DTS has a much more substantial (expensive) driving feel and a softer ride.
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#5 (permalink) | |
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6.0 Liter Vortec V8
Join Date: Aug 2007
Drives: Sitting on my PHEV Prius - aka KABOOM - near a bea
Posts: 1,588
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Re: Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
Quote:
Also, Avalon has been and continues to rapidly fade from view - sales numbers, awards, and any kind of strong, favorable review. This is an example of what happens when you overindulge in SUVs, Trucks, and hybrids simaultaneously ( Corporate form of megalomania - always starts after you throw out what little situational ethics you have left - like here ) - and hang the car product out to dry. This also illustrates just one amazing aspect of Toyota these days. They a take a product that they've been successful with to critical aclaim, unimprove it - and then leave it there to rot - with no relief in sight.
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" 123" " 1-2-3, oh, that's how elementary it's gonna be -" For a look at what 'Extreme' Toyota really means: Access report at: http://www.nlcnet.org/article.php?id=562 |
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#7 (permalink) |
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6.0 Liter LS2 V8
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: West Chester, OH
Drives: Chevrolet Malibu LS, GMC Envoy SLE, GMC Sonoma SLS
Posts: 4,904
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Re: Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
The Avalon's about the only toyota that I actually like. It's everything the Impala should be in my opinion.
__________________
Proud to drive American. Proud to drive GM. Current Cars: 2007 Chevrolet Malibu LS: 2.2L ECOTEC I-4 2003 GMC Envoy SLE: 4.2L Vortec 4200 I-6 1998 GMC Sonoma SLS Ext. Cab: 4.3L Vortec 4300 V6 Former Cars: 1993 Saturn SW2 (1993-2006, 243,000 miles) 1989 GMC Safari SLT (1989-2003, 293,000 miles) Future Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro LT RS: 3.6L DI VVT V6
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#8 (permalink) | |
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6.0 Liter LS2 V8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Waterville, OH
Drives: 2003 Nissan Maxima SE
Posts: 4,370
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Re: Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
Quote:
But, the Avalon will not win awards because it is from 2005. They do not award old cars. It was well reviewed at its introduction, such as how it won a Car and Driver comparison in July '05. The Avalon has not been hung out to dry. It has been redesigned steadily; every five years, with a mid-cycle update three years in. That is pretty typical (or at least what should be typical for cars that do languish for too long, like the Regal or the Intrepid, which in their most recent iterations lasted 7 years).
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I reject your reality and substitute my own. Current: Super Black 2003 Nissan Maxima SE Former: Brilliant Blue Metallic 1995 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD |
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6.0 Liter Vortec V8
Join Date: Aug 2007
Drives: Sitting on my PHEV Prius - aka KABOOM - near a bea
Posts: 1,588
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Re: Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
Quote:
Look at Avalon from 2000 thru 2008. Quote:
![]() ![]() Of all the things to say here, I'm going to just remind you it was an early intro (FEB 2005 ) of a 2006 MYR fully eligible for 2006 MYR awards etc. Comparision tests do not care about date of introduction unless specifically stated. Quote:
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? AID=/20060501/FREE/60501002/1024/LATESTNEWS < MAY2006> Quote:
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" 123" " 1-2-3, oh, that's how elementary it's gonna be -" For a look at what 'Extreme' Toyota really means: Access report at: http://www.nlcnet.org/article.php?id=562 Last edited by AMERICA 123 : 06-09-2008 at 02:50 PM. |
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#11 (permalink) | |
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6.0 Liter LS2 V8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Waterville, OH
Drives: 2003 Nissan Maxima SE
Posts: 4,370
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Re: Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
Quote:
I think I misinterpreted you. I guess when say "leave it out to rot," you are referring to not taking care of quality issues? If so, then yes, Toyota did not do its job. By the way, what are Toyota's plans for the Avalon?
__________________
I reject your reality and substitute my own. Current: Super Black 2003 Nissan Maxima SE Former: Brilliant Blue Metallic 1995 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD |
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#12 (permalink) | |
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6.0 Liter LS2 V8
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: West Chester, OH
Drives: Chevrolet Malibu LS, GMC Envoy SLE, GMC Sonoma SLS
Posts: 4,904
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Re: Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
Quote:
By the way, one of my best friends drives an Avalon Limited...it's actually quite nice inside, only it gets a piddling 21 MPG according to the onboard computer...she does want to get a Malibu though.
__________________
Proud to drive American. Proud to drive GM. Current Cars: 2007 Chevrolet Malibu LS: 2.2L ECOTEC I-4 2003 GMC Envoy SLE: 4.2L Vortec 4200 I-6 1998 GMC Sonoma SLS Ext. Cab: 4.3L Vortec 4300 V6 Former Cars: 1993 Saturn SW2 (1993-2006, 243,000 miles) 1989 GMC Safari SLT (1989-2003, 293,000 miles) Future Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro LT RS: 3.6L DI VVT V6
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#13 (permalink) | |
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3.5 Liter V6
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 220
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Re: Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
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#14 (permalink) | |
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6.0 Liter LS2 V8
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,663
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Re: Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
Quote:
Are they shooting union organizers? Bribing government officials? Lobbying for anti-GM laws? All I've seen them do is manipulate public opinion by expert advertising and ride a false "green image" - and that kind of nonsense is pretty typical for automakers. When GM cars used to get poor marks in crash test ratings, GM publicists would state, "We use our own internal safety metrics which we believe to be more useful than government tests." And statistically speaking, people who drove those models that scored poorly in government crash tests were more likely to die in crashes. Now GM models are starting to get top notch crash safety ratings in public crash tests, and death rates are declining. So that sounds to me like GM was being pretty ($*&U ()*$ unethical and totally lying about "internal safety metrics". What do you say to that? |
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#15 (permalink) | |
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2.2 Liter ECOTEC
Join Date: Feb 2008
Drives: 2007 Cadillac DTS
Posts: 60
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Re: Drove New '08 Toyota Avalon Limited
Quote:
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