Front brake rotors were turned with the pads replaced at 60K.
Battery went dead at 30K
The O.E. Dunlap tires were pieces of junk, they started riding bad at 10K, and wore out at 25K.
Other than the tires, this car has been rock solid reliable.
This car is the $25,000 Lexus. It has more space and a bigger trunk than the ES 300. Mine didn't come any options (no leather, woodgrain, sunroof, etc.) but it rides nicely and the lack of road noise is simply amazing. Just like a Lexus. The back seat and trunk in this car are vast, great for trips. All of the parts of the interior are top notch, and are holding up well.
The styling is very nice, with the jewel headlights and the wedge shape. It looks like a Mercedes or Lexus from certain angles.
Performance is the biggest letdown. The handling is competent, but acceleration is pathetic. The engine has Variable Valve Timing, dual camshafts, and all that other great techno stuff, but the old push rod V-6 in my 91 Regal was a lot faster.
At least all that techno stuff helps with gas mileage, 23 city/28 Highway.
I have been reading all the info on the 2000 to 2004 Avalons and can't help, but notice reviews like this one that ultimatly have some reviewers wistfully comparing their Avalon to a previously owned and loved...Buick.
I think the Avalon looks a little frumpy in the rear and as a result apears to be way out of proportion.
I know the trunk is very large as a result, but as I see it the Avalon still looks like a half finished station wagon.
The main reason for my interest is the amount of luxury Avalon features you can now get at the more than 50% depreciated prices of the used 2002's and 03's.
I came very close to buying a used 1998 several years ago, but on my test drives of several of them, my wife and I were amazed at the amount ot clunks and rattles that suddenly came out of them when we crossed some rough pavement. It sounded like a huge bucket of loose bolts in the front end.
I now know what it was, and thanks to another reviewer on this site, how to fix it.
Read..."The toyota Avalon is a Good Dollar Value Car"
The typical used carlot sales people hadn't a clue what all the rattling was and thought we were both crazy.
Hi, I'm a college freshman and got this very nice pearl white 2000 Toyota Avalon XL for my first car.
If you would like a new driver's opinion, this car is very wide, wider than my dad's Jeep Cherokee so it gets a little tricky to slide in parking spaces sometimes.
I also got the basic interior, none of that leather/woodgrain or sunroof deal. My Avalon ran about 55K with few mechanical problems.
Some of the positives about this car...
Good Handling
Low Maintenance
Good Looking ;)
Decent Gas Mileage
Huge Space (tradeoff for wideness)
Huge Trunk.
Some of the negatives about this car...
(Some are fixable I know)
The headlights aren't really pointing ahead so lighting is dim.
Rattling noises from the center console.
The sidings in the trunk comes off, exposing taillight wiring.
Digital Odometer
No Compass
And my favorite! -When you open the trunk, the car doors will automatically lock and alarm will set in 20 seconds. Don't leave your keys inside the car when you are opening the trunk!
Besides all that, this is my first car, and I love it.
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