I'm looking at buying an '05 Avalon. What should I pay?

"A A" <Renard3@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:4007-421E598C-234@storefull-3174.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
> Local dealers are asking for full sticker, around $36.000 for an Avalon
> Limited. I can't imagine many car shoppers willing to pay full MSRP!
> I'd feel like a fool if I did. How long will it take before the
> discounts are comparable to those on the Camry, or earlier Avalon?
>[/color]
It is probably in short supply and who knows if they will produce enough to
meet demand. But let's look at the things the Limited has that the Avalon
XLS doesn't have:

- High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with auto leveling, auto on/off
feature: The autoleveling feature is guaranteed to eventually break and will
be expensive to repair. I would use a screwdriver to level mine, but none of
my Toyotas have never needed leveling. This might be needed if you store a
lot of dead bodies in your trunk, which will tilt the headlights too high,
causing the police to pull you over. But you can circumvent this by keeping
your gas tank less than 1/2 full when transporting dead bodies in your
trunk.

- Turn signal indicators and puddle lamps on the outside Side View Mirrors::
Puddle lamps?? Do you really need this? What kind of sissy are you? There
is already a turn-signal indicator on front and rear of the car.

- Acoustic noise-reducing front windshield: I live in an area where they put
lots of sand (usually with small pebbles) on the road in winter. This means
I usually need to replace the windshield every 3 years. Replacing it with
the OEM Toyota windshield will cost AT LEAST 4 times as much as a regular
one.

- Rain-sensing windshield wipers: How f'ing lazy can you get. Guaranteed to
not work properly or break completely.

So for these 4 things above you pay $2,740 over the XLS, plus another
$2,000 - $3,000 because the Limited is in short supply and is only sold at
MSRP. Get the XLS and save $5,000 and save a lot of aggravation when these
things break.

"A A" <Renard3@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:4007-421E598C-234@storefull-3174.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
> Local dealers are asking for full sticker, around $36.000 for an Avalon
> Limited. I can't imagine many car shoppers willing to pay full MSRP!
> I'd feel like a fool if I did. How long will it take before the
> discounts are comparable to those on the Camry, or earlier Avalon?
>[/color]

I would not give a nickel for it but that's just me.

Art wrote:[color=blue]
> "A A" <Renard3@webtv.net> wrote in message
> news:4007-421E598C-234@storefull-3174.bay.webtv.net...[color=green]
>> Local dealers are asking for full sticker, around $36.000 for an
>> Avalon Limited. I can't imagine many car shoppers willing to pay
>> full MSRP! I'd feel like a fool if I did. How long will it take
>> before the discounts are comparable to those on the Camry, or
>> earlier Avalon?
>>[/color]
>
> I would not give a nickel for it but that's just me.[/color]

Well, that's a hellava lot less than MSRP! Sans the XLS, it really does look
like they've fixed it for '05 - assuming you look around for one that's
screwed together properly. OTH, < 36K will get you an Infinity G35 which is
a better auto in every way.

Mark A wrote:

[color=blue]
> - High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with auto leveling, auto on/off
> feature: The autoleveling feature is guaranteed to eventually break and will
> be expensive to repair. I would use a screwdriver to level mine, but none of
> my Toyotas have never needed leveling. This might be needed if you store a
> lot of dead bodies in your trunk, which will tilt the headlights too high,
> causing the police to pull you over. But you can circumvent this by keeping
> your gas tank less than 1/2 full when transporting dead bodies in your
> trunk.[/color]

OMG I laughed so hard. Great!
[color=blue]
> - Turn signal indicators and puddle lamps on the outside Side View Mirrors::
> Puddle lamps?? Do you really need this? What kind of sissy are you? There
> is already a turn-signal indicator on front and rear of the car.[/color]

I prefer the old semaphore signs, myself. What's all this deal with
lights, anyways?
[color=blue]
> - Acoustic noise-reducing front windshield: I live in an area where they put
> lots of sand (usually with small pebbles) on the road in winter. This means
> I usually need to replace the windshield every 3 years. Replacing it with
> the OEM Toyota windshield will cost AT LEAST 4 times as much as a regular
> one.[/color]

This will also ruin your radar detector's abilities, just like
the fancy windshields messed up the police radar guns in the
Caprice Classics.
[color=blue]
> - Rain-sensing windshield wipers: How f'ing lazy can you get. Guaranteed to
> not work properly or break completely.[/color]

Definately. The only thing that screams wuss more is wipers on
the turn signals, like Mercedes has.
[color=blue]
> So for these 4 things above you pay $2,740 over the XLS, plus another
> $2,000 - $3,000 because the Limited is in short supply and is only sold at
> MSRP. Get the XLS and save $5,000 and save a lot of aggravation when these
> things break.[/color]

Agreed. For $36K, I'd get a Lexus.

Mark A wrote:
[color=blue]
> "A A" <Renard3@webtv.net> wrote in message
> news:4007-421E598C-234@storefull-3174.bay.webtv.net...[color=green]
> > Local dealers are asking for full sticker, around $36.000 for an
> > Avalon Limited. I can't imagine many car shoppers willing to pay
> > full MSRP! I'd feel like a fool if I did. How long will it take
> > before the discounts are comparable to those on the Camry, or
> > earlier Avalon?
> >[/color]
> It is probably in short supply and who knows if they will produce
> enough to meet demand. But let's look at the things the Limited has
> that the Avalon XLS doesn't have:
>
> - High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with auto leveling, auto
> on/off feature: The autoleveling feature is guaranteed to eventually
> break and will be expensive to repair. I would use a screwdriver to
> level mine, but none of my Toyotas have never needed leveling. This
> might be needed if you store a lot of dead bodies in your trunk,
> which will tilt the headlights too high, causing the police to pull
> you over. But you can circumvent this by keeping your gas tank less
> than 1/2 full when transporting dead bodies in your trunk.
>[/color]

I thought the HID lights were supposed to blind oncoming vehicles.
Self-levelers defeat that whole purpose.
[color=blue]
> - Turn signal indicators and puddle lamps on the outside Side View
> Mirrors:: Puddle lamps?? Do you really need this? What kind of
> sissy are you? There is already a turn-signal indicator on front and
> rear of the car.
>[/color]

Puddle lamps -- what the hell is that? Is that a light that shines on
the ground where you step out of the car? Those signal indicators are
awfully annoying. I think they are there for seniors to somehow notice
they have left their signal on.
[color=blue]
> - Acoustic noise-reducing front windshield: I live in an area where
> they put lots of sand (usually with small pebbles) on the road in
> winter. This means I usually need to replace the windshield every 3
> years. Replacing it with the OEM Toyota windshield will cost AT LEAST
> 4 times as much as a regular one.
>[/color]

I feel really ignorant now. Is the glass thicker to block sound out
somehow? Chances are the glass has a visual warping effect also.
[color=blue]
> - Rain-sensing windshield wipers: How f'ing lazy can you get.
> Guaranteed to not work properly or break completely.
>[/color]

I really hate those. You drive along and the damn wipers fling back
once, twice, once, thrice, etc... Only the automatic darkening
rear-view mirror is worse.
[color=blue]
> So for these 4 things above you pay $2,740 over the XLS, plus another
> $2,000 - $3,000 because the Limited is in short supply and is only
> sold at MSRP. Get the XLS and save $5,000 and save a lot of
> aggravation when these things break.[/color]

These new fancy Toyotas are sounding more and more like my
mother-in-law's Buick LeSabre!

Best Toyota related post I have read here in awhile.

--
No matter what happens someone will find a way to take it too seriously.

"FanJet" <FanJet27@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:OEyTd.3753$h06.556263@monger.newsread.com:
[color=blue]
> OTH, < 36K will get you an
> Infinity G35 which is a better auto in every way.[/color]

True, except for the lack of headroom and the power seat controls that will
slowly impale themselves into your right leg. Still cannot fathom why they
put them in the seat, or worse, why they still keep them there.

Local dealers are asking for full sticker, around $36.000 for an Avalon
Limited. I can't imagine many car shoppers willing to pay full MSRP!
I'd feel like a fool if I did. How long will it take before the
discounts are comparable to those on the Camry, or earlier Avalon?

"A A" <Renard3@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:4007-421E598C-234@storefull-3174.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
> Local dealers are asking for full sticker, around $36.000 for an Avalon
> Limited. I can't imagine many car shoppers willing to pay full MSRP!
> I'd feel like a fool if I did. How long will it take before the
> discounts are comparable to those on the Camry, or earlier Avalon?
>[/color]
It is probably in short supply and who knows if they will produce enough to
meet demand. But let's look at the things the Limited has that the Avalon
XLS doesn't have:

- High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with auto leveling, auto on/off
feature: The autoleveling feature is guaranteed to eventually break and will
be expensive to repair. I would use a screwdriver to level mine, but none of
my Toyotas have never needed leveling. This might be needed if you store a
lot of dead bodies in your trunk, which will tilt the headlights too high,
causing the police to pull you over. But you can circumvent this by keeping
your gas tank less than 1/2 full when transporting dead bodies in your
trunk.

- Turn signal indicators and puddle lamps on the outside Side View Mirrors::
Puddle lamps?? Do you really need this? What kind of sissy are you? There
is already a turn-signal indicator on front and rear of the car.

- Acoustic noise-reducing front windshield: I live in an area where they put
lots of sand (usually with small pebbles) on the road in winter. This means
I usually need to replace the windshield every 3 years. Replacing it with
the OEM Toyota windshield will cost AT LEAST 4 times as much as a regular
one.

- Rain-sensing windshield wipers: How f'ing lazy can you get. Guaranteed to
not work properly or break completely.

So for these 4 things above you pay $2,740 over the XLS, plus another
$2,000 - $3,000 because the Limited is in short supply and is only sold at
MSRP. Get the XLS and save $5,000 and save a lot of aggravation when these
things break.

"A A" <Renard3@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:4007-421E598C-234@storefull-3174.bay.webtv.net...[color=blue]
> Local dealers are asking for full sticker, around $36.000 for an Avalon
> Limited. I can't imagine many car shoppers willing to pay full MSRP!
> I'd feel like a fool if I did. How long will it take before the
> discounts are comparable to those on the Camry, or earlier Avalon?
>[/color]

I would not give a nickel for it but that's just me.

Art wrote:[color=blue]
> "A A" <Renard3@webtv.net> wrote in message
> news:4007-421E598C-234@storefull-3174.bay.webtv.net...[color=green]
>> Local dealers are asking for full sticker, around $36.000 for an
>> Avalon Limited. I can't imagine many car shoppers willing to pay
>> full MSRP! I'd feel like a fool if I did. How long will it take
>> before the discounts are comparable to those on the Camry, or
>> earlier Avalon?
>>[/color]
>
> I would not give a nickel for it but that's just me.[/color]

Well, that's a hellava lot less than MSRP! Sans the XLS, it really does look
like they've fixed it for '05 - assuming you look around for one that's
screwed together properly. OTH, < 36K will get you an Infinity G35 which is
a better auto in every way.

Mark A wrote:

[color=blue]
> - High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with auto leveling, auto on/off
> feature: The autoleveling feature is guaranteed to eventually break and will
> be expensive to repair. I would use a screwdriver to level mine, but none of
> my Toyotas have never needed leveling. This might be needed if you store a
> lot of dead bodies in your trunk, which will tilt the headlights too high,
> causing the police to pull you over. But you can circumvent this by keeping
> your gas tank less than 1/2 full when transporting dead bodies in your
> trunk.[/color]

OMG I laughed so hard. Great!
[color=blue]
> - Turn signal indicators and puddle lamps on the outside Side View Mirrors::
> Puddle lamps?? Do you really need this? What kind of sissy are you? There
> is already a turn-signal indicator on front and rear of the car.[/color]

I prefer the old semaphore signs, myself. What's all this deal with
lights, anyways?
[color=blue]
> - Acoustic noise-reducing front windshield: I live in an area where they put
> lots of sand (usually with small pebbles) on the road in winter. This means
> I usually need to replace the windshield every 3 years. Replacing it with
> the OEM Toyota windshield will cost AT LEAST 4 times as much as a regular
> one.[/color]

This will also ruin your radar detector's abilities, just like
the fancy windshields messed up the police radar guns in the
Caprice Classics.
[color=blue]
> - Rain-sensing windshield wipers: How f'ing lazy can you get. Guaranteed to
> not work properly or break completely.[/color]

Definately. The only thing that screams wuss more is wipers on
the turn signals, like Mercedes has.
[color=blue]
> So for these 4 things above you pay $2,740 over the XLS, plus another
> $2,000 - $3,000 because the Limited is in short supply and is only sold at
> MSRP. Get the XLS and save $5,000 and save a lot of aggravation when these
> things break.[/color]

Agreed. For $36K, I'd get a Lexus.

Mark A wrote:
[color=blue]
> "A A" <Renard3@webtv.net> wrote in message
> news:4007-421E598C-234@storefull-3174.bay.webtv.net...[color=green]
> > Local dealers are asking for full sticker, around $36.000 for an
> > Avalon Limited. I can't imagine many car shoppers willing to pay
> > full MSRP! I'd feel like a fool if I did. How long will it take
> > before the discounts are comparable to those on the Camry, or
> > earlier Avalon?
> >[/color]
> It is probably in short supply and who knows if they will produce
> enough to meet demand. But let's look at the things the Limited has
> that the Avalon XLS doesn't have:
>
> - High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with auto leveling, auto
> on/off feature: The autoleveling feature is guaranteed to eventually
> break and will be expensive to repair. I would use a screwdriver to
> level mine, but none of my Toyotas have never needed leveling. This
> might be needed if you store a lot of dead bodies in your trunk,
> which will tilt the headlights too high, causing the police to pull
> you over. But you can circumvent this by keeping your gas tank less
> than 1/2 full when transporting dead bodies in your trunk.
>[/color]

I thought the HID lights were supposed to blind oncoming vehicles.
Self-levelers defeat that whole purpose.
[color=blue]
> - Turn signal indicators and puddle lamps on the outside Side View
> Mirrors:: Puddle lamps?? Do you really need this? What kind of
> sissy are you? There is already a turn-signal indicator on front and
> rear of the car.
>[/color]

Puddle lamps -- what the hell is that? Is that a light that shines on
the ground where you step out of the car? Those signal indicators are
awfully annoying. I think they are there for seniors to somehow notice
they have left their signal on.
[color=blue]
> - Acoustic noise-reducing front windshield: I live in an area where
> they put lots of sand (usually with small pebbles) on the road in
> winter. This means I usually need to replace the windshield every 3
> years. Replacing it with the OEM Toyota windshield will cost AT LEAST
> 4 times as much as a regular one.
>[/color]

I feel really ignorant now. Is the glass thicker to block sound out
somehow? Chances are the glass has a visual warping effect also.
[color=blue]
> - Rain-sensing windshield wipers: How f'ing lazy can you get.
> Guaranteed to not work properly or break completely.
>[/color]

I really hate those. You drive along and the damn wipers fling back
once, twice, once, thrice, etc... Only the automatic darkening
rear-view mirror is worse.
[color=blue]
> So for these 4 things above you pay $2,740 over the XLS, plus another
> $2,000 - $3,000 because the Limited is in short supply and is only
> sold at MSRP. Get the XLS and save $5,000 and save a lot of
> aggravation when these things break.[/color]

These new fancy Toyotas are sounding more and more like my
mother-in-law's Buick LeSabre!

Best Toyota related post I have read here in awhile.

--
No matter what happens someone will find a way to take it too seriously.

"FanJet" <FanJet27@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:OEyTd.3753$h06.556263@monger.newsread.com:
[color=blue]
> OTH, < 36K will get you an
> Infinity G35 which is a better auto in every way.[/color]

True, except for the lack of headroom and the power seat controls that will
slowly impale themselves into your right leg. Still cannot fathom why they
put them in the seat, or worse, why they still keep them there.