A friend of mine was checking out the new avalon and now while I agree it is not the sport sedan the TL is... The 0-60 time was 6 seconds flat and the 1/4 mile run was 14.6. The quality is probably better than the tl as well. So it seem like there is an alternative to the TL in terms of performance and quality.

I have not gone for a ride in one yet so it would be interesting to see how it handled. Looks like he is going to pick one up since it is also hundreds less to insure as well.

 

i like the new avalon a lot...but it looks like a boat..seen one on the road and it looked like a limo

 

That's the best description of this car. I park my TL next to the new Avalon-that car is big!

 

Ahhh but the Avalon doesn't come in a manual. That instantly scratches it off my list. I also have my doubts about it's cornering ability and the flat seats.

 

I test drove the Avalon at the Car and Driver Road and Track performance test drive. The Avalon is a great car. The quality is definitely there. Interior was nice. Comes with smart key and has a push button start/stop. The A/C seats is a nice feature. Kept my bottom nice and cool.

The handling is terrible though. Felt like the car was all over the place when you go over bumps on a curve. It wasn't as bad as the 300C but not better than the Maxima.

The other cars that were there are the 300C(non hemi) and Maxima.
The new Avalon is definitely made to compete with the Maxima. I wouldn't consider the Avalon a performance sedan. The handling is too soft.

The TL will definitely out handle it.

 

0-60 in 6 seconds flat from the Avalon? Are you sure about that one, what is your source?

I don't believe it.

 

TL - sport sedan
Avalon - old fart sedan

 

I saw a young guy chasing to catch up to me while I was getting on the freeway on-ramp. I didn't know off hand what kind of car he was in (avalon) but before I merged on the freeway, going about 80 at the bottom of the ramp, he pulled 2 lanes left of me and tried to go. I dropped to 3rd gear and left him. Then I slowed for traffic, and his huge car came barreling past, weaving through traffic more than I was willing. The car, under full acceleration, seemed to have a hard time hauling ass on the freeway. Also, as he finally past me I put my window down just in time to hear him flooring by, the dual exhausts making wind noise like a popped tire! Not cool. kinda like wishshshshshshshhshshs! No balls in the exhaust at all.

 

The most reported 0-60 time seems to be 6.6 seconds, which still makes the new TL quicker.

The Avalon is just fvcking hideous and overpriced. I looked at a loaded Avalon at my local dealer and the sticker said $38,000.

 

Car and Driver got that number during comparison test with 5 other cars, July 05.

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....rticle_id=9639

 

The Avalon is an old person car IMO. The only people I see driving them are retired old dudes/ladies. My friends mom got one and ditched it for a G35 within a year because she said she felt "old" in the Avalon

 

The Avalon's got plenty of power - good engine & trans.
But, , notice how C&D tested the Avalon with a bunch of other boats. None of them come close to being sports sedan. Or even sportY sedan.

I'll take my 6 speed TL over any of them anyday.

 

my sentiments exactly...

 

Well, okay. But they also got 6.6 seconds, in this article here:

2005 Toyota Avalon: Car and Driver

 

Car and Driver only quoted Toyota's prediction that Avalon can do 0-60 in 6.6 sec. "Better yet, Toyota predicts the Avalon will sprint from 0 to 60 in 6.6 ticks." Re-read that article, bud.

Folks, we should know better. The TL and Avalon don't belong in the same class. They're geared toward different crowds. Still, the Avalon is very quick. But still, it's a plush touring car, while the Tl is sportier.

 

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/compa...7/page004.html

Edmunds.com same comparison test.


Oh well, regardless, if a new TL and Avalon were racing I'd put my money on the TL.

 

It was car and driver. I the specs are there... HP/torque wise. I was surprised to hear it...but they also had impressive numbers for the tl. It looks like the avalon 0-60 wise is on par with a 5AT tl. Or maybe better...

 

As hard as toyota wants to try, you still can not consider them Luxery Class, IE, Acura. If you want a luxery toyota, get a lexus. That avalon is so fricken ugly compared to the TL, although I would have liked to see a few of those features on the TL(active cruise<-Or at least on the RL and cooled seats.

 

Avalon has nice luxury and gadgetry - but its too ugly to consider and definitely cannot out perform the TL. Maybe its got the power, but it isn't quite ideally put together

 

pleae continue threads like this in our Car Talk section.