https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.caranddriver.com/news/amp37209265/toyota-avalon-dead-2022/
Discuss.
Meh.
They were just tarted up Camrys weren't they?
3 dressed up as a 9 sort of thing it seemed.
The article doesn't mention it, but wasn't there a Lexus based on the Avalon at some point?
Woody (Forum Supportum) said:The article doesn't mention it, but wasn't there a Lexus based on the Avalon at some point?
The Avalon and Lexus ES have shared a platform since at least 2013. It's just as much of a dressed down Lexus as it is a dressed up Camry. But that's kind of no-man's land in the market these days. In a normal year in the US Toyota sells 300k-400k Camrys, about 50k Lexus ES's, and just 30k Avalons.
The hybrid model of the current generation seems like an ideal highway cruiser to me. It's a large sedan with plenty of luxury features that's barely visible to law enforcement and gets 40+mpg the whole time. And being seen as an old person's car, they're pretty unloved on the used market and can be had for a steal*
*In normal new/used vehicle markets
Historically, the Avalon was an enlarged Camry and the ES was a Camry with a Lexus badge. Looks like in 2013 the ES grew to Avalon size.
The Avalon always occupied a weird spot in the Toyota/Lexus lineup. Generally, people were either happy with the size of a Camry, or they wanted the nicer Lexus. And most that wanted bigger than a Camry (or ES prior to it growing to Avalon size) went for one of the big RWD Lexuses, or an SUV. The large FWD sedan market just isn't there. And honestly, the big sedan market is hardly there at all anymore, outside of the very large and very high end stuff.
I totally get it. If I wanted a Toyota in that size range, I would have bought a Lexus GS (until that was discontinued) over an ES or Avalon, mostly because it's RWD rather than FWD.
Hardly a surprise with everyone dropping their sedans. The Camry is still selling very well. The Avalon was probably too similar to the Camry to justify it's existence. I thought I might talk my wife into buying one, but she felt it was "too big" and opted for the V6 Camry.
I'll miss the Avalon.
What about the Venza, Avalon Wagon. I just missed out on a Persian Blue over black, loaded, 4cy AWD, didn't know this combination existed and seems perfect for SWMBO. I was working on scheduling a test drive when an out of state buyer claimed it.
In reply to STM317 :
I agree that the latest hybrid version of an Avalon seems like a great choice for a lot of hyw travel. The Avalon has always been known as the finest Buick LeSabre ever made. Though, the latest model seems much more sporty that any previous version.
One of my better vehicular choices was a '00 Avalon that cost me $300 in total ownership costs for one year and 30k miles.
I owned one for five years. Boring, yes. Great at being a car, absolutely. It ate up thousand mile road trips like nothing else I've owned, quiet and comfortable. Plenty of power and good on gas. Big adults were as comfortable in the back seat as the front seat. Cavernous trunk. Not a single issue in 100k miles. I would pick it over my wife's Enclave 10/10 times.
The boat?
I don't think brand recognition on this car was ever all that good.
Buy and hold the TRD Avalon, in 20 years they'll be a cult car worth stupid money for no other reason than people having forgotten that they even existed.
In reply to captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :
I had no idea they did a TRD Avalon. That seems like the answer to a question no one asked.
I feel like the average age of the Avalon owner was around 150 years old.
Image taken from a video
Mazdax605 said:The boat?
Yeah, not sure why the Avalon gets a boat but hey, congrats on that, Avalon.
I came VERY close to buying a 2013 Avalon hybrid, and considering the price/mileage equation it was a pretty good deal. I kick myself when I think of it now, but I just couldn't wrap my head around trading 1 big car for another big car. Especially considering my trade was a very bare bones Crown Victoria (a P71) for an extremely loaded Avalon.
Beautiful car, though.
The older Avalon versions are the car I point to any time a non-car person asks me "What's a good used car to buy?"
The newer versions are just. Too. Berking. Ugly.
I was recently helping my parents car shop and they both have always liked the Avalon if, for no other reason, it’s insane reliability reputation. My uncle for example, has bought used Avalon’s since the late 90s and routinely got 300k from them. Ultimately, my parents went with a 2017 Outback because they preferred the driving experience and complained that the Avalon was too much of an old person’s car (they’re both in their mid 70s for the record, but young at heart at I guess?)
RaabTheSaab said:I was recently helping my parents car shop and they both have always liked the Avalon if, for no other reason, it’s insane reliability reputation. My uncle for example, has bought used Avalon’s since the late 90s and routinely got 300k from them. Ultimately, my parents went with a 2017 Outback because they preferred the driving experience and complained that the Avalon was too much of an old person’s car (they’re both in their mid 70s for the record, but young at heart at I guess?)
My Grandpa's last car was an Avalon - 2011 or 2012. He bought it slightly used, and would have been 87 or 88 when he got it.
He really liked everything about it... Except that it was a Toyota Avalon. It was too boring. After years of Cadillacs, Lincolns, Buicks, and Oldsmobiles, he found the Avalon just... Blah. It was an appliance; whereas the others had something going for them. He told me, many times after that, don't ever let your only car be a boring one, because it could be your last car.
The Avalon was ostensibly the best car he ever owned. It was still boring to him - an 87 year old. I think it was probably his only regret, that his last car was so pedestrian. He should have had a V8, or a convertible, or both.
I think it is also important to remember that while this forum isn't quite up Grandpa's wheelhouse - he was more of a luxury guy - he also spent his fatherhood buying his kids everything from Mustang GTs and Firebirds to MGBs and Opels (The Opel was a mistake, he would tell you over and over), and he bought a Jaaaaagggg at McCormick Place during the Chicago Autoshow.
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