Went to look at 05,s

>[color=blue]
> 1) My son has a 15 year old camry with close to 200,000 miles on it, and
> still runs excellent, but is thinking about buying a new one, for the next
> fifteen years.
> He is a fairly tall guy, (medium build) and found his old camry ,[/color]
even[color=blue]
> though the outside dimensions, are smaller then the new ones, to have much
> less room in driving side, to make it not be a choice for him. The seat
> doesnt go back as far as his old one, and the steering wheel stays at a
> lower angle.
>[/color]
Misstated. I meant to say the new ones, have less
interior space in driving side.

"j.lef" <j.lef@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:szWSd.34885$s16.9614@trndny02...[color=blue]
> Went to the toyota dealer today, to look at the 05 camry and 05
> highlander with my son. Just thought I would run by two observations on
> these cars.
>
> 1) My son has a 15 year old camry with close to 200,000 miles on it, and
> still runs excellent, but is thinking about buying a new one, for the next
> fifteen years.
> He is a fairly tall guy, (medium build) and found his old camry ,[/color]
even[color=blue]
> though the outside dimensions, are smaller then the new ones, to have much
> less room in driving side, to make it not be a choice for him. The seat
> doesnt go back as far as his old one, and the steering wheel stays at a
> lower angle.
> <snip>
>
> Any thoughts on these matters. Any input much
> appreciated
>
> Much regards
>[/color]
Make sure he tries a Camry without a moonroof (optional on all Camry's).
Also, I have found the XLE seats to be more adjustable (up/down, and incline
angle) than the LE seats.

I am 6'3" and this is my problem with ALL car makes today not just
Toyota. I think the seat travel is limited because of the airbags,
which were not required 15 years ago. The other thing is the center
consoles. 15 years ago cars did not have center consoles, not as large
if they did have them. So these two changes makes the driver seats
impossible for us tall guys. Best I can find are trucks, some SUV, and
some minivans. Bad thing is that most cars I fit into are American
brands!

com...[color=blue]
> I am 6'3" and this is my problem with ALL car makes today not just
> Toyota. I think the seat travel is limited because of the airbags,
> which were not required 15 years ago.[/color]

This is a good point, I never thought of But isnt the
point of an airbag to keep your upper body from hitting the dash or steering
wheel of the car, as opposed to reaching out all the way to you? I wonder.

Best I can find are trucks, some SUV, and[color=blue]
> some minivans. Bad thing is that most cars I fit into are American
> brands!
>[/color]
I have found the same problem with certain trucks as
well. Some trucks have less room , then some small sudans for a tall, lanky
person.

Much regards

I was just at the dealer for an oil change for my Avalon and looked at the
new Camry. On the one on the showroom floor, the console door in the center
bottom of the dash was jambed and the neat door at the top of the windshield
would not open. I was unimpressed with the build quality. Also they have
only one piston holding up the hood. I realize it is a bit heavier duty and
perhaps located for better leverage than most but I would not want my head
under that hood when that piston fails.

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 06:36:27 GMT, "Art"
<begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I was just at the dealer for an oil change for my Avalon and looked at the
>new Camry. On the one on the showroom floor, the console door in the center
>bottom of the dash was jambed and the neat door at the top of the windshield
>would not open. I was unimpressed with the build quality. Also they have
>only one piston holding up the hood. I realize it is a bit heavier duty and
>perhaps located for better leverage than most but I would not want my head
>under that hood when that piston fails.
>[/color]


.....but but was the dash put on straight??? <g>


--
Scott in Florida

"Scott in Florida" <NotInTheNextLifetime@nope.ucan't> wrote in message
news:7dir11t8ucmfsuuu2jk3hupl9kmaig4sq6@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 06:36:27 GMT, "Art"
> <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>I was just at the dealer for an oil change for my Avalon and looked at the
>>new Camry. On the one on the showroom floor, the console door in the
>>center
>>bottom of the dash was jambed and the neat door at the top of the
>>windshield
>>would not open. I was unimpressed with the build quality. Also they have
>>only one piston holding up the hood. I realize it is a bit heavier duty
>>and
>>perhaps located for better leverage than most but I would not want my head
>>under that hood when that piston fails.
>>[/color]
>
>
> ....but but was the dash put on straight??? <g>
>[/color]
I didn't notice. I was too busy trying to fix the door on the console.

Since you're an Avalon owner, is there some reason you didn't look at the
new Avalon (or if you did, what did you think of that?).

"Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:wFmTd.5887$Ba3.2537@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...[color=blue]
>
> "Scott in Florida" <NotInTheNextLifetime@nope.ucan't> wrote in message
> news:7dir11t8ucmfsuuu2jk3hupl9kmaig4sq6@4ax.com...[color=green]
>> On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 06:36:27 GMT, "Art"
>> <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>I was just at the dealer for an oil change for my Avalon and looked at
>>>the
>>>new Camry. On the one on the showroom floor, the console door in the
>>>center
>>>bottom of the dash was jambed and the neat door at the top of the
>>>windshield
>>>would not open. I was unimpressed with the build quality. Also they
>>>have
>>>only one piston holding up the hood. I realize it is a bit heavier duty
>>>and
>>>perhaps located for better leverage than most but I would not want my
>>>head
>>>under that hood when that piston fails.
>>>[/color]
>>
>>
>> ....but but was the dash put on straight??? <g>
>>[/color]
> I didn't notice. I was too busy trying to fix the door on the console.
>[/color]

"mdrawson" <mdrawson@cox.net> wrote in message
news:ssoTd.9299$7z6.1343@lakeread04...[color=blue]
> Since you're an Avalon owner, is there some reason you didn't look at the
> new Avalon (or if you did, what did you think of that?).
>
> "Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:wFmTd.5887$Ba3.2537@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...[color=green]
>>
>> "Scott in Florida" <NotInTheNextLifetime@nope.ucan't> wrote in message
>> news:7dir11t8ucmfsuuu2jk3hupl9kmaig4sq6@4ax.com...[color=darkred]
>>> On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 06:36:27 GMT, "Art"
>>> <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>I was just at the dealer for an oil change for my Avalon and looked at
>>>>the
>>>>new Camry. On the one on the showroom floor, the console door in the
>>>>center
>>>>bottom of the dash was jambed and the neat door at the top of the
>>>>windshield
>>>>would not open. I was unimpressed with the build quality. Also they
>>>>have
>>>>only one piston holding up the hood. I realize it is a bit heavier duty
>>>>and
>>>>perhaps located for better leverage than most but I would not want my
>>>>head
>>>>under that hood when that piston fails.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ....but but was the dash put on straight??? <g>
>>>[/color]
>> I didn't notice. I was too busy trying to fix the door on the console.
>>[/color]
>[/color]
I did not look at the new Avalon because I would not buy another Avalon and
I was only looking to amuse myself with the cars conveniently parked in the
showroom. Looked at the Camry, Sienna and RAV4.

Mark A wrote:
[color=blue]
> "j.lef" <j.lef@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:szWSd.34885$s16.9614@trndny02...
>[color=green]
>> Went to the toyota dealer today, to look at the 05 camry and 05
>>highlander with my son. Just thought I would run by two observations on
>>these cars.
>>
>>1) My son has a 15 year old camry with close to 200,000 miles on it, and
>>still runs excellent, but is thinking about buying a new one, for the next
>>fifteen years.
>> He is a fairly tall guy, (medium build) and found his old camry ,
>>[/color]
> even
>[color=green]
>>though the outside dimensions, are smaller then the new ones, to have much
>>less room in driving side, to make it not be a choice for him. The seat
>>doesnt go back as far as his old one, and the steering wheel stays at a
>>lower angle.
>><snip>
>>
>> Any thoughts on these matters. Any input much
>>appreciated
>>
>> Much regards
>>
>>[/color]
> Make sure he tries a Camry without a moonroof (optional on all Camry's).
> Also, I have found the XLE seats to be more adjustable (up/down, and incline
> angle) than the LE seats.
>
>
>[/color]

Also try the 2 door Camry. I have found the seat travel is longer in a
2 door model than the 4 door model of the same car. I have not sat in a
Solera, but give it a try, unless you really need 4 doors.

Why wouldn't you buy another Avalon? I'm looking at cars, and the Avalon is
one that appeals to me (I'm a long-time Volvo owner, but now that it's owned
by Ford....)

"Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:XmxTd.14093$x53.2138@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...[color=blue]
>
> "mdrawson" <mdrawson@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:ssoTd.9299$7z6.1343@lakeread04...[color=green]
>> Since you're an Avalon owner, is there some reason you didn't look at the
>> new Avalon (or if you did, what did you think of that?).
>>
>> "Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>> news:wFmTd.5887$Ba3.2537@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...[color=darkred]
>>>
>>> "Scott in Florida" <NotInTheNextLifetime@nope.ucan't> wrote in message
>>> news:7dir11t8ucmfsuuu2jk3hupl9kmaig4sq6@4ax.com...
>>>> On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 06:36:27 GMT, "Art"
>>>> <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>I was just at the dealer for an oil change for my Avalon and looked at
>>>>>the
>>>>>new Camry. On the one on the showroom floor, the console door in the
>>>>>center
>>>>>bottom of the dash was jambed and the neat door at the top of the
>>>>>windshield
>>>>>would not open. I was unimpressed with the build quality. Also they
>>>>>have
>>>>>only one piston holding up the hood. I realize it is a bit heavier
>>>>>duty and
>>>>>perhaps located for better leverage than most but I would not want my
>>>>>head
>>>>>under that hood when that piston fails.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ....but but was the dash put on straight??? <g>
>>>>
>>> I didn't notice. I was too busy trying to fix the door on the console.
>>>[/color]
>>[/color]
> I did not look at the new Avalon because I would not buy another Avalon
> and I was only looking to amuse myself with the cars conveniently parked
> in the showroom. Looked at the Camry, Sienna and RAV4.
>[/color]

"mdrawson" <mdrawson@cox.net> wrote in message
news:9fGTd.11855$7z6.8221@lakeread04...[color=blue]
> Why wouldn't you buy another Avalon? I'm looking at cars, and the Avalon
> is one that appeals to me (I'm a long-time Volvo owner, but now that it's
> owned by Ford....)
>[/color]


2001 is a rattle box after 22k miles. A friend had a 2000 and his was a
rattle box too. I don't know about the 2005 but previous Avalons were
stretched Camry's. In my opinion they were stretched without enuf attention
to structural integrity. We also own a 1999 300M with 45k miles on it. Not
a single hint of a rattle.

Ford is gaining much more from Volvo technology than Volvo is getting from
Ford. Volvo is getting much better parts distribution and other service
related support, at least in the US.

Jack G.

Jack G wrote:
[color=blue]
> Ford is gaining much more from Volvo technology than Volvo is getting
> from Ford. Volvo is getting much better parts distribution and other
> service related support, at least in the US.
>
> Jack G.
>[/color]
Too bad Volvo's quality has gone down the tubes as a result of being bought
by Ford.

Imminent Vengeance wrote:
[color=blue]
> Jack G wrote:
>
>[color=green]
>>Ford is gaining much more from Volvo technology than Volvo is getting
>>from Ford. Volvo is getting much better parts distribution and other
>>service related support, at least in the US.
>>
>>Jack G.
>>
>>[/color]
> Too bad Volvo's quality has gone down the tubes as a result of being bought
> by Ford.
>[/color]

I was not aware that Volvo had a parts distribution/service problem
before they were bought by Ford. I have been driving the same Volvo
since 1982 and have never had a problem with part availability or
service, not that it needed many parts :-)

On the other hand, the Fords I have owned have had problems with both.
One Ford sat in the shop for 3 months waiting for parts . . . This was
the last Ford I owned.