Toyota Avalon

[KentState]

So, my car was hit from behind and I was given an "equivalent" rental car while it's being fixed. I guess that Avalon was close enough so that's what I got. I always thought it was suppose to be a really nice car and almost Lexus quality. Wow, what a disappointing car to come from Toyota. I'm not even sure where to start, but the thing reminds me of a Buick rental that I got a couple years ago. Now, this is not a base level, but one of the higher trim level Avalons. Personally, the Maxima that I drove last fall felt like and looked so much better all the way around. Overall, I'm just shocked that Toyota could build a piece of junk like this.

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: KentState
So, my car was hit from behind and I was given an "equivalent" rental car while it's being fixed. I guess that Avalon was close enough so that's what I got. I always thought it was suppose to be a really nice car and almost Lexus quality. Wow, what a disappointing car to come from Toyota. I'm not even sure where to start, but the thing reminds me of a Buick rental that I got a couple years ago. Now, this is not a base level, but one of the higher trim level Avalons. Personally, the Maxima that I drove last fall felt like and looked so much better all the way around. Overall, I'm just shocked that Toyota could build a piece of junk like this.

What trim level is it? XL, Touring, XLS or Limited?

What car do you own?

 

[BassBomb]

What year did they give you also? Avalon is pretty much a Japanese Buick

 

[Mermaidman]

I also drove an Avalon for a couple of days recently. The car handled like crap--Too much assist with the steering. I didn't like the dash/stereo/AC design either.

 

[zoiks]

Toyota is way over hyped. I've never been impressed with them. In fact most of the cars they made have really cheesy plasticky interiors. They serve as commute cars and nothing else. No one should be shelling out 30k for a crappy Avalon.

 

[KentState]

It only had a few thousand miles on it, so it has to be '08 and it's the XLS trim. Like Mermaidman said, the car handles really bad and the steering is extremely over boosted. The design of the center stack is horrible and I found it interesting the clock looks like they took a 1980's Timex and put it on the dash.

 

[PricklyPete]

The Avalon is in no way my favorite car...I would never buy one myselv. That being said...what exactly are you guys comparing this to? A BMW 3 Series? A Pontiac G8, a VW Passat, Nissan Maxima? What exactly. This car is intended to be a Japanese Buick. It has a huge interior with a plush, light ride. It's competitors are the Buick Lucerne, Hyundai Azera, Chevy Impala, Ford Taurus, etc. You could probably include the Maxima...but it really caters to a different demographic. The Avalon is intended for older buyers who want something to float down the road comfortably.

Of all those competitors...the Avalon considerably in the lead with the possible exception of the Hyundai. You can't compare a senior-citizen land barge to a sports sedan and expect them to be equivalent in any way. And while you may not like the look of the Avalon's interior...once again, the quality of the materials used is certainly equal or better to any of it's direct competitors.

 

[SAWYER]

"piece of junk"

Come on now, serously

 

[KentState]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
The Avalon is in no way my favorite car...I would never buy one myselv. That being said...what exactly are you guys comparing this to? A BMW 3 Series? A Pontiac G8, a VW Passat, Nissan Maxima? What exactly. This car is intended to be a Japanese Buick. It has a huge interior with a plush, light ride. It's competitors are the Buick Lucerne, Hyundai Azera, Chevy Impala, Ford Taurus, etc. You could probably include the Maxima...but it really caters to a different demographic. The Avalon is intended for older buyers who want something to float down the road comfortably.

Of all those competitors...the Avalon considerably in the lead with the possible exception of the Hyundai. You can't compare a senior-citizen land barge to a sports sedan and expect them to be equivalent in any way. And while you may not like the look of the Avalon's interior...once again, the quality of the materials used is certainly equal or better to any of it's direct competitors.

I do agree with what it competes with, but I was expecting something a lot better than the LaCrosse loaner I had a year ago. I guess I was just shocked that Toyota could make something that felt like a Buick.

 

[KentState]

Originally posted by: Sawyer
"piece of junk"

Come on now, serously

I'm very serious. The car is a piece of junk for $30k+.

 

[ElFenix]

what

car

do

you

drive?

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
what

car

do

you

drive?

Yes, he hasn't answered that question yet.

 

[Kirby]

My mom has a 06 xls. It drives like an old person car, which fits it's demographic perfectly. What were you expecting, a ZR1?

 

[KentState]

Originally posted by: woodie1

Originally posted by: ElFenix
what

car

do

you

drive?

Yes, he hasn't answered that question yet.

Why does that matter? How does what I drive have an relevance to this topic? No matter what I drive, you will probably hurl insults just because I don't like a particular car.

 

[KentState]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
My mom has a 06 xls. It drives like an old person car, which fits it's demographic perfectly. What were you expecting, a ZR1?

Yes, I was expecting a 600hp 2 door sports car when it showed up :roll: I don't know what I was expecting, but I guess my expectation was something different.

 

[RichieZ]

so what car do you drive? since you won't answer I assume its the ES which is really the camry lexus edition.

 

[KentState]

I drive a '90 Geo Metro.

 

[BlackTigers]

He drives a Cadddy.


http://i27.photobucket.com/alb...uohio/CTS/CIMG0513.jpg

 

[RichieZ]

Originally posted by: KentState

Originally posted by: woodie1

Originally posted by: ElFenix
what

car

do

you

drive?

Yes, he hasn't answered that question yet.

Why does that matter? How does what I drive have an relevance to this topic? No matter what I drive, you will probably hurl insults just because I don't like a particular car.

i think it makes a difference becuase it helps others understand where you are coming from. clearly somebody driving around in a "sports sedan" is not going to like driving a family sedan.

quick search reveals you recently bought a CTS, not really a fair comparison. although i agree that the avalon isn't a very luxurious car.

 

[Mermaidman]

You're assuming he's too dumb to give an informed opinion just because he drives a different class of car? I'm sure the OP has used other cars, not that it even matters. He even said:

Originally posted by: KentState
I do agree with what it competes with, but I was expecting something a lot better than the LaCrosse loaner I had a year ago. I guess I was just shocked that Toyota could make something that felt like a Buick.

 

[AdamK47]

Originally posted by: RichieZ
so what car do you drive? since you won't answer I assume its the ES which is really the camry lexus edition.

He downgraded a little while ago to an AWD CTS.

 

[Imdmn04]

You don't drive a Toyota to have fun, you drive a Toyota to get from point A to point B.

Some cars are built for performance, i.e. BMW, some cars are built for safety, i.e. Volvo, Toyota is built to drive like a boat that will get you from point A to point B in a reliable manner.

If you expect sport sedan performance out of an Avalon then you are retarded.

 

[thomsbrain]

Considering this car is intended to compete in the Buick segment, I'd say Toyota is right on the mark.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Considering this car is intended to compete in the Buick segment, I'd say Toyota is right on the mark.

Yep. By producing a car that is in the same segment for using shitty interior materials and inferior handling.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Meh, I drive an M3 and when I had an Avalon Rental I liked it. It has plenty of grunt, it's comfortable and when compared to the car it is out to emulate, the Impala, it kicks the shit out of it in almost all areas.

Just don't expect it to drive like a Lexus, smoke a Porsche or drift like a ZR1.