Input on Acura TL, Infiniti I 35, Maxima over Avalon

[grandpapa]

My wife have a 06 Avalon Limited, she loves it.

I am looking for a car myself (not too old maybe around 2000-2002), noticed TL, I35 (Maxima) are within the same price range compares to Avalon. Anyone has input on those vehicles? I have been a long time Toyota guy so only know a little (from Internet) about those other 2 cars.

I know TL has transmission problem (Honda/Acura both, odyssey, accord?...) but I still see alot of Honda/Acura cars on the road. Same story goes to Avalon, engine geling, slunge..whatever you call. What about Nissan/Infinite? I know there are many nissan fans out there, what kind of issue those cars have?

Avalon seems to be "old man's car", TL and I35 seems more sporty (with less backseat space).

I saw one 2002 TL Type S for $7K, I35 $8K and 2000 Avalon XLS for $8K.
Any input? (all has 2 owners, clean title)

[pmesfun]

Originally Posted by grandpapa

My wife have a 06 Avalon Limited, she loves it.

I am looking for a car myself (not too old maybe around 2000-2002), noticed TL, I35 (Maxima) are within the same price range compares to Avalon. Anyone has input on those vehicles? I have been a long time Toyota guy so only know a little (from Internet) about those other 2 cars.

I know TL has transmission problem (Honda/Acura both, odyssey, accord?...) but I still see alot of Honda/Acura cars on the road. Same story goes to Avalon, engine geling, slunge..whatever you call. What about Nissan/Infinite? I know there are many nissan fans out there, what kind of issue those cars have?

Avalon seems to be "old man's car", TL and I35 seems more sporty (with less backseat space).

I saw one 2002 TL Type S for $7K, I35 $8K and 2000 Avalon XLS for $8K.
Any input? (all has 2 owners, clean title)

IMO I would go with the maxima, the VQ35DE is very realiable. My mom's quest has 95k and it has only has had one problem and Nissan replaced it for free after the warranty expired. I really dont like Hondas/Acuras, they have this cheap, plastic feeling, idk, plus the fact that they are interference engines. The maxima still has competitive power, while your stuck at 210hp with the Avalon.

[grampas_avy]

Embrace your inner "old man". "Sporty" is for punks.

[AML]

Out of those three I would go for the TL. I originally cross shopped the TL and I35 (among a few others) a couple months ago and would have preferred the TL over all of them, especially the Type-S. Obviously do your due diligence and research the mechanical history and see if anything out of the ordinary (transmission) shows up.

I ended up with the Jaguar X-Type mostly because in the price range I was looking at, the others had too high of mileage for my tastes.

[brainpause]

I've owned an 01 Maxima. Sold it to a niece with 95k on it.

I now have an 08 Highlander and an 00 Avalon XLS.

I love my Avy. It has nearly 160k on it, bought it with 132k.

The Avalon is a heavier car. It has decent pickup, but I bet the Maxima would have eaten its lunch on acceleration.

The Maxima has decent trunk space and decent back seat size, but the Avy beats it on both categories. If you have kids, that is important.

Both were comfortable. That's a tie.

Wife drove Maxima, but I'm air it got a little better mpg than the Avy.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy either. I also had a 98 Nissan Frontier bought new, sold at 135k, ran like new. Good truck.

Larry

[grandpapa]

after reading all the horrible stories on Acura/Honda transmission problem, we decided to kick it out from our search. I mean the older (00-03) TL looks great IMO but the % of getting one without tranny problem is slim. Without ext warranty? oh boy.

anyway, did checked out the 2000 Avalon XLS last night. The drive was ok but the body got beat up pretty bad, many bumper scratches, sidewipes, mismatched tires, need timing belt, water pump services... listed $8K but I think $4-$5K IMO, any idea? Oh, one thing I noticed, when closing the door, the sunroof makes "poping" noise (sound like it was not closed all the way but it was) I even went outside and try to look at the roof when closing the door, I noitced a little "jump" from the roof, not too much, just a little. But it seems the whole roof of the car move, not very solid vs my wife 06.

As for Maxima/Infiniti, they are pretty much the same but I35 has more upscale feel. Couple members mentioned they have good experience with Maxima. Is it nosier then the Avalon?

If there is any problem with Maxima, what will it be? Tranny? Engine or just the electrical? Any specific area I should look for?

YES, I do have 2 boys (2 and 6) so once a while will need carseat, booster seat. Avaloon probably has more back seat space (my wife's 06 was nice for that).

[brainpause]

Not sure what you mean by "nosier". As I typed it, I realized you probably meant "noisier".

Both Avy and Maxima have very acceptable road noise levels. I'd say the Avy cushions a revved engine better.

The Maxima tranny was replaced at only 5k miles. It had been a rental and wrecked. IIRC, it went in for some sort of recall and they determined the trans needed replacing. we never had any issues before or after replacement.

You could send an oil sample to Blackstone Laboratory and have a report in just a few days. You could tell the seller that if he will hold the vehicle for the wait on the report, that you will let him have a copy should you decide not to buy for any reason. Reports are approximately $22 and emailed to you.

I drive a full size pickup for my testosterone fix. But I commute in the Avy. if I didn't have my silverado, I'd probably want a maxima instead of avalon. Both are great family vehicles though.

Larry

[chino101]

Originally Posted by grandpapa

anyway, did checked out the 2000 Avalon XLS last night. The drive was ok but the body got beat up pretty bad, many bumper scratches, sidewipes, mismatched tires, need timing belt, water pump services... listed $8K but I think $4-$5K IMO, any idea? Oh, one thing I noticed, when closing the door, the sunroof makes "poping" noise (sound like it was not closed all the way but it was) I even went outside and try to look at the roof when closing the door, I noitced a little "jump" from the roof, not too much, just a little. But it seems the whole roof of the car move, not very solid vs my wife 06.

Walk away from this one, sounds like the previous owners didn't maintain it.