Finally decided on my new car

Shadowfax

Shadowfax

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After driving and researching several 4 door sedans in the up to $35k range, i put an order in for a Lexus in Toyota clothing.

I am getting a 2014 Toyota Avalon, which shares the Lexus Motor, Tranny, Drive Train and Steering mechanism. We made the money deal, 10% off sticker and 0% financing was a no brainer also.

We got the Creme Brulee with Almond - Brown interior. The really nice thing about the Avalon is that the base model is good enough. Standard with leather, heated and powered front seats, 2 zone climate, backup camera and a bunch more. I would have liked the sun roof but it was an upcharge of $2k for that and a dimming mirror. That 2k is going into audio in the future :)

Hoping to hear soon when I can pick it up, early next week I think.

Anyone have an Avalon?
 
Congratulations Brian. I love that car. It will be awesome.
 
I was at the Toyota dealer a couple weeks ago and saw the new Avalons. That's a really good looking car.

Sent from my HTC One.
 
I've been considering one myself, it's a very nice car with a lot of refinement for a reasonable price. Enjoy it in good health! I also can't justify the additional cost of the comparable Lexus models. Some of these new car prices are just ridiculous for an item that depreciates in value so rapidly. I'd also rather spend that money on audio gear!
 
Congrats. Smart choice on no sunroof. More headroom and I can count on my hand the number of times I ever use a sunroof.
 
Hey, nice one Brian!! Better than Honda in my opinion and I drive a Honda.
I forgot about the avalon model. Good thing you didn't get the corolla. I just got done driving a new one while my car was in shop and they are awful. Jack rabbit like and they don't go in the direction you point them in (you have to fight the steering) and the seating is uncomfortable and you feel every pebble on the road, not to mention the noise.
Toyota is leaving the US and moving back to Japan next year, but that's a good thing because they will import to the US again and the cars will be great across the models again. I used to drive a corolla way back before they started making them in the US, it was a true import and it was super reliable and cheap to maintain and built to last.
 
I have a 2005 Avalon Brian. Haven't tried the new body style. Great car especially with the 3.5L engine. This week I got 25mpg. Not bad for a car that size. Good performance when you ask for it too. I've been considering 1 too or upgrading to the Raidho D2's. I don't NEED either but WANT both. Worst part is I really can't afford either LOL.

Disclaimer: I work for a dealer group that sells Toyota - Lexus and Mercedes Benz. Honestly the maint on a Benz is really expensive followed by Lexus.
 
Thanks everyone, I am excited but still waiting for that call.

The other thing about the sun roof is, with all the new touch screen bullshit, you can't see any of it if the sun roof is open on a sunny day.

I am replacing a 2003 Impala with 68K miles and do use the roof in that all the time as well as my Rav4, but I can get over it. I'm also not one for MP3s and such, but being able to plug a 64GB stick in with thousands of songs will be fun.
 
Hit a little snag.

My wife has some back issues and while we were waiting for them to find the car, we went out and drove a few more Impalas, and another Avalon. Car MFGs really screw the consumer who just needs one simple feature for health reasons and not luxury by making them buy all kinds of packages, or move up several trim levels

In order to get full power passenger seat in the Avalon, you have to get the top trim, Limited. For the Impala, you are up 3 or 4 levels to 2LT and you get all kinds of plastic bells and whistles with the power seat, but still not even real leather. The passenger seat that comes with the first 3 trim levels is a 4-way power lacking up and down and tilt of the seat so you are in an uncomfortable position from the start with knees higher than hips. Bad for back problems.

So I need a refresher in economics.

I can get the Avalon Limited with warranty, tax, and tags for about $39k with 0% financing and putting about $15k down to keep the monthly bill lower. (I have never had a car payment in my 52 years)

I can get the Impala for closer to $35k but would have to pull the whole amount out of the market, or 2.9% on about $20k

On the back end, I looked at resale value of my current 2003 Impala, which is $5k vs a 2003 Avalon showing $9k

Help convince me that the Avalon is still the best choice. It looks to me like I would lose the money taking the full amount from the market or paying 2.9% as well as the resale value on the back end if I did not get the Avalon.

This is pretty stressful and we are going back tonight to haggle over the Limited.
 
Brian, I can't really help regarding the financials involved but have one point that you should consider. When I checked out the new Impala I found the seats to be very uncomfortable, being too 'flat' with very little lateral support in the seat back. That was a deal killer for me, and with your wife's bad back thought it might be an issue for her. I also saw this mentioned somewhere in a review of the Impala, which otherwise I find to be a very attractively styled option in the full size market segment. I also found it ridiculous that in order to get actual leather seats in the Impala requires the top trim level which includes a moon roof killing the headroom for me at 6'5". Nothing's ever easy!
 
audio.bill said:
Brian, I can't really help regarding the financials involved but have one point that you should consider. When I checked out the new Impala I found the seats to be very uncomfortable, being too 'flat' with very little lateral support in the seat back. That was a deal killer for me, and with your wife's bad back thought it might be an issue for her. I also saw this mentioned somewhere in a review of the Impala, which otherwise I find to be a very attractively styled option in the full size market segment. I also found it ridiculous that in order to get actual leather seats in the Impala requires the top trim level which includes a moon roof killing the headroom for me at 6'5". Nothing's ever easy!
Click to expand...

I did not like how the seat in the Impala came right up digging into the back of my knees and that the center console is too wide so my rt knee has to lean against the hard plastic. And I do want leather. Pretty sure we will still go with the Avalon but looking for encouragement :) Thanks Bill.
 
Brian, if you don't buy what you really want, you will be unhappy later, go with the Toyota. I've owned 5 of them, they are great cars.
Seats are one of the most important things in any car I look at, I wouldn't settle for less, you shouldn't either !
 
Brian - is there no way to find a preowned vehicle with the seats you want? Maybe a nice 2010 or something?


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Mike said:
Brian - is there no way to find a preowned vehicle with the seats you want? Maybe a nice 2010 or something?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...

There probably is, but then I have to take a car that was driven who knows how, with no real warranty or only a few years left. Both of our vehicles are now just out of warranty but the Rav4 will have to go for about 5 more years to be replaced.

I will poke around the net looking to see what I find. Fortunately, we are big savers and it's not like I don't have the money, but it just sucks how they make you jump so many trim levels and packages to just get a friggin seat that adjusts properly for passengers.

I had a brilliant brain fart yesterday morning, but it didn't pan out. I thought, why can't I just buy the base model and purchase the 8way seat from the Toyota Collision Center. So I called around dealers and auto body shops to find out the following. Due to the airbags, fans, computer and wiring, to just buy the seat would be $5k. The auto body shops said for liability reasons, they would not even do it. so that idea sounded good but is not feasible.
 
Shadowfax said:
Hit a little snag.

My wife has some back issues and while we were waiting for them to find the car, we went out and drove a few more Impalas, and another Avalon. Car MFGs really screw the consumer who just needs one simple feature for health reasons and not luxury by making them buy all kinds of packages, or move up several trim levels

In order to get full power passenger seat in the Avalon, you have to get the top trim, Limited. For the Impala, you are up 3 or 4 levels to 2LT and you get all kinds of plastic bells and whistles with the power seat, but still not even real leather. The passenger seat that comes with the first 3 trim levels is a 4-way power lacking up and down and tilt of the seat so you are in an uncomfortable position from the start with knees higher than hips. Bad for back problems.

So I need a refresher in economics.

I can get the Avalon Limited with warranty, tax, and tags for about $39k with 0% financing and putting about $15k down to keep the monthly bill lower. (I have never had a car payment in my 52 years)

I can get the Impala for closer to $35k but would have to pull the whole amount out of the market, or 2.9% on about $20k

On the back end, I looked at resale value of my current 2003 Impala, which is $5k vs a 2003 Avalon showing $9k

Help convince me that the Avalon is still the best choice. It looks to me like I would lose the money taking the full amount from the market or paying 2.9% as well as the resale value on the back end if I did not get the Avalon.

This is pretty stressful and we are going back tonight to haggle over the Limited.
Click to expand...

full disclosure; I'm a G.M. of a Honda Dealership.

that said; you might consider driving the top of line Accord V6, either the Touring or Navi. similar or slightly lower price range, I drive one as a demo and it is very comfortable and refined. a great road car. if you have not driven the newest version of the Accord then you don't really know it.

i'm 6'1' tall and the seat is quite comfortable and fully adjustable.

on Hondas most everything is standard.

and resale value on Hondas is legendary.

or maybe consider the similar Acura model which will be slightly more money.

I'm out on the west coast, but if you do consider the Honda, a friend owns the Honda dealership in Allentown and I'd be happy to connect you.
 
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