Avy Shopping

[tr7driver]

Hi! I'm thinking on trading my 00 Avy for a 05. Are there any problem areas with the newer generation that I should be looking out for? How reliable are these cars and the electronics? Any Must Have or Should Avoid options? My wife will drive it about 35K highway miles/year.

[lifguardct]

Originally Posted by tr7driver

Hi! I'm thinking on trading my 00 Avy for a 05. Are there any problem areas with the newer generation that I should be looking out for? How reliable are these cars and the electronics? Any Must Have or Should Avoid options? My wife will drive it about 35K highway miles/year.

I am a relativly new owner of a black 05 limited. No issues so far except like others here will possibly report, (poor paint quility), easy to chip and fades...

Love the car.

[tr7driver]

I was doing a little more research and found the oil filter posts. It is a major pain to do an oil change? Can you at least get to the filter to drain it without lifting the car or doing contortions?

Thanks

[nhcycle]

I don't know where the oil change pain issue can from...... I had three Avalons ('96, '00 and '06) and the 06 was by far the easiest to change the oil and oil filter..... drain the oil from the pan, insert the drain stem (provided with new filter cartridge) into the bottom of the oil cartridge cover and drain residual oil, use std filter wrench w/ratchet to remove access cover. Clean cover and insert, replace O-rings (provided with oil filter cartridge), insert new cartridge and reinstall cover/insert and tighten.

Add 6.5 qts of oil of your choosing and...done.....

You definitely have to lift the car to gain access...... a pair of ramps plus a couple of 2" x 8" boards positioned ahead of the ramps are necessary to gain adequate clearance for the front bumper.......


Suggestion: make one board 20-24" and one about 3" shorter. Nail together - this worked well on all three avalons.....

[mbrem]

I agree with others comments on oil change. If you use the proper filter removal tool and don't overtighten the filter canister, you will not have a problem.

I have 40k miles on mine. Love the car. I had one small problem that was taken care of under warranty by dealer. Idler pulley bearing became noisy and was replaced with no questions ask. Have replaced original Michelin tires and that is about it.

You will need to get used to the transmission and its shifting. Its different than older Toyota's that you are familiar with.

I would buy another with no hesitancy. Its the poor man's Lexus!