Bought a Toyota Avalon

[WVH1977]

So, with my new job I will be doing some longer commuting a couple days a week. I was looking at Civics and Corollas. They are expensive even used ones. I just could not justify it. I kept looking and really wanted to see if I could find a Honda Crosstour. I had one before and it was a good ride. No luck there.

I finally saw a Toyota Avalon for sale. It is 2017 and it was owned by an older couple who just used it to travel back and forth from Florida to Virginia. It is a touring package and has everything you need. One test drive is all it took. Bought it. It is by far the best sedan I have ever owned or drove. It is extremely comfortable, has plenty of power and gets around 30-31 mpg at 70 mph. I am really happy about this purchase and look forward to years of comfortable driving.

I am so glad I upped the car size and got away from the smaller cars. They are nice and good on gas but I am loving the space and the V-6 in the Avalon. If any of you are looking for a good sedan with Toyota reliability, take a look at one if you can find it. I don't think they are making them anymore and the V-6's in cars are disappearing.

 

[MossRoad]

I like my 4-door sedans. Currently have a 2013 Impala. Our 2000 Impala had more room. The 2013 is more of a rental fleet car. They changed models in the 10th generation in 2014. Those are actually very nice cars. Stopped making them in 2020. So now's the time for me to start looking again, but wife gets next choice of car.

Our in-laws had a Mercury Grand Marquise. It was a bit underpowered, but it was a nice comfortable ride. I would have liked to have that one after my father in-law stopped driving, but my wife hated that "grandpa car" as she called it.

Enjoy your new ride!

 

[IXLR8]

So, with my new job I will be doing some longer commuting a couple days a week. I was looking at Civics and Corollas. They are expensive even used ones. I just could not justify it. I kept looking and really wanted to see if I could find a Honda Crosstour. I had one before and it was a good ride. No luck there.

I finally saw a Toyota Avalon for sale. It is 2017 and it was owned by an older couple who just used it to travel back and forth from Florida to Virginia. It is a touring package and has everything you need. One test drive is all it took. Bought it. It is by far the best sedan I have ever owned or drove. It is extremely comfortable, has plenty of power and gets around 30-31 mpg at 70 mph. I am really happy about this purchase and look forward to years of comfortable driving.

I am so glad I upped the car size and got away from the smaller cars. They are nice and good on gas but I am loving the space and the V-6 in the Avalon. If any of you are looking for a good sedan with Toyota reliability, take a look at one if you can find it. I don't think they are making them anymore and the V-6's in cars are disappearing.

Wife inherited an Avalon Hybrid from her brother when he passed. It is only a 4 cylinder, her overall mileage is 41 mpg. We both love the car, although we both HATE the auto high beam function that can't be turned off.

 

[tacticalturnip]

The Avalon has been a solid car for decades; the worst thing I've ever heard said about it was that it's boring, but it's comfortable and reliable.

 

[dodge man]

I have a friend that owned one for years. They are an upscale Toyota and very nice, good luck with it.

 

[Yander]

I bought one for $3500 a couple months ago, a 2002. Bought for my son's girlfriend since she was in a hard way financially and we really like her.

It runs/drives like a new car, better than some new cars. It only has 129k original miles and was taken decent care of. Needs struts but I bought them and plan to replace them when weather gets better and my back gets better.

I agree, hard to beat the quality for the money. Diamond in the rough.

 

[workinonit]

We had I believe it was a '96 Avalon. It was the last of the old round body style. Best car we ever owned with a Toyota Cressida being a close 2nd place. The Avalon took the Cressida's place in the Toyo lineup. I still have a set of front brake rotors for that thing that I never got the chance to replace. I kept a set all the time with the pads. My wife hates sqeaky brakes.

 

[5030]

I'd never purchase a foreign car of any make. I have a Ford Focus RS turbo 6 speed that gets 40 mpg (if I drive it conservatively) and will suck the paint off any import. any time and yes it will go 150 if I need to. I don't but it will. 360 ponies with a hairdryer.

Paid 11 grand off lease with 22K miles and still had the factory warranty. Never had issue one with it either.

Built in Wayne Michigan, just north of me.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I'm still hung up on Ford hi boys.

 

[5030]

Only thing I don't like with the RS is the torque steer when you get on it which I rarely do. I can start at the top of a freeway and top 120 at the bottom.

Being 72, I drive like the old fart I am but it's there if I need it. It scratches the tires in the first 4 gears too. Tires are expensive and I'm cheap.

When I bought it, I wanted to see if it would peg the speedo and it will.

Like I said, 40 mpg average, city and highway with the ac on too.

Pocket rocket. Too bad Fords quit building them. Great and very reliable car.

 

[Yander]

I'd never purchase a foreign car of any make. I have a Ford Focus RS turbo 6 speed that gets 40 mpg (if I drive it conservatively) and will suck the paint off any import. any time and yes it will go 150 if I need to. I don't but it will. 360 ponies with a hairdryer.

Paid 11 grand off lease with 22K miles and still had the factory warranty. Never had issue one with it either.

Built in Wayne Michigan, just north of me.

Your Focus sounds like a fun car but I'll stick to the luxury ride of the Avalon. Most of the Honda Accords, Toyota Camry's etc. are made here in the US. Probably with Japanese and Chinese components, just like your Focus.

BTW, His Avalon was made in Kentucky...

 

[5030]

The engine in my Focus was made in Germany and far as luxury goes, it has everything I require. Climate control, adaptive cruise, power heated seats and all the other stuff that eventually fails. Besides, I love to row the gear lever. Being a hatch, it has plenty of cargo room and being silver, it don't stand out either. Assembled at Wayne assembly by UAW employees. Important to me as we are a Ford family and UAW.

 

[Yander]

Is it 6 speed Auto or manual? Fun factor increased with the later.

The engine in my Focus was made in Germany and far as luxury goes, it has everything I require. Climate control, adaptive cruise, power heated seats and all the other stuff that eventually fails. Besides, I love to row the gear lever. Being a hatch, it has plenty of cargo room and being silver, it don't stand out either. Assembled at Wayne assembly by UAW employees. Important to me as we are a Ford family and UAW.

 

[5030]

6 speed single clutch manual. I'd never buy a twin clutch as they have issues. Took me some time to find the one I bought way back then, Used low mileage RS turbo's are very rare.

The original owner was a female so I knew it wasn't flogged and my BIL who is a Ford exec found it. I have he entire history including all services and no collision damage either.

It's a rocket but still a hyper mileage car. Don't need no EV at 40+ MPG.

Went 500 miles to buy it and paid cash, all C notes.

 

[TractorTYMe]

I'm kinda angry at the US car brands have quit manufacturing sedans so to speak, only trucks and SUV's (Stationwagons
)In this economy and being hit with nature events destroying my vehilces, what I drive now have been totaled twice (both were salvage titled) and then nature evens later damaged them more. But they have low miles and I will drive them until wheels fall off. 2004 Chevy 1500 with 101k miles and a 2014 Chevy Cruze Turbo Diesel with 91k miles. Figure since they're tainted, nature isn't interested in taking the "shine off", cuz there ain't any left.

 

[Sigarms]

In 2004 bought we bought a 98 Avalon originally as a family vehicle (last years I used it for work only). Had 72k on it when I bought it, paid 9K cash for it.

Bought it from a Toyota dealership. Long story but on the 3rd day after I bought it I took it back because their was sludge in the oil. Dealership made it right and replaced the transmission (apparently their garage didn't catch it before they sold it, but my mechanic did). Apparently the older models had this issue because of the written instructions on mileage when to change the oil (pretty much 5k for me on any car) or that's what my mechanic told me.

Car was a great buy. Comfortable, had room, V6 and decent gas mileage.

I ended up getting rid of it after it hit 400k about 13 years later. Around 2014 we bought a 2005 Honda Pilot. Honestly love that car as much as the Avalon, only 240k on it now and still going strong, though we did have to sink a pretty penny into last year for some issues that popped up.

Don't know what it is, but it seems the newer models try to look cool with less sq window footage, and seems to be a lot more blind spots IMO.

 

[tomplum]

It's been a little while, but I asked my uncle where his Avalon went. They would trade cars every few years, but the Avalon was maybe a year old. He said the Avalon was the best car he ever owned, but your aunt wanted another Buick....

 

[5030]

My Focus is a 4 door I guess it qualifies as a sedan then. A sedan with big balls.

 

[orezok]

My Focus was a company car. It rode like a truck and as noisier than a bus.

 

[5030]

Over inflated tires maybe? Mine don't, never has and it's not as quiet as my wife's burb bit not what I consider noisy as a bus either. 40+ MPG goes a long way towards making a bit of road noise quiet tolerable...

Probably not as silent as a toaster car but it s an ICE.