OT: 2005 Avalon.

[V-Car]

Not that anyone here would be really interested ;) but i thought id pass on a few details of the 2005 US Avalon...dont know how the OZ version is going to differ from it, if at all, but the 3.5lt V6 has 208kw and 352Nm.
Next Australian Camry will be 4cyl. only i think, and Avalon might be a better competitor for Commodore with this engine and features.
Full specs HERE. (http://www.tundrasolutions.com/dealers/vehicles/2005-Avalon/index.htm#_Toc88045298)

[Rod]

... but the 3.5lt V6 has 208kw and 352Nm.



wait till Scruby hears about this :rolleyes:

[V82xist]

very similar features/specs to the Nissan Maxima...Toyota only ever seems to be able to copy other people's ideas and designs, yawn.

[VL Executive]

, but the 3.5lt V6 has 208kw and 352Nm.
Gee, What will the old retired pensioners do with all that power. :lol: :rolleyes:
Spose itll get em to the local RSL, or Bowls club alot quicker. lol

[Ghia351]

Gee, What will the old retired pensioners do with all that power. :lol: :rolleyes:
get back from lawn bowls faster...

[VL Executive]

Look out guys, The old buggers might try to have a drag against your LS1's. :lol:

[VQ304]

3.5lt V6 has 208kw and 352Nm.

hmm, the old 5L is starting to feel like a bit of a dinosaur. But does an Avalon really need a starter button?? Who are they trying to appeal to, Ferrari buyers or something?

[Danv8]

Looks like another Toyota whitegood. :D

[BA$TAD]

nice fridge... :lol:

seriously though, wondering good that chassis/engine combo will be. engine looks ok on paper...

[ABS]

The next Aussie dishwasher won't be the same as the Yank dishwasher.

[paulvdb]

It looks awful - it's got some good features in it though. I'd like to see some of this flow into Australian cars.

All Toyota need is some designers and drivers to get at the cars before they get out to the public. If Toyota made a RWD car that actually looked good and was price competitive with Commodore/Falcon then I think they'd start winning people over.

[FunkyPig]

The 2006 Aussie Avalon will is being designed in Japan by Nick Hogios, the man who designed the front of the Ford BA XR. It will not look like the American one, maybe it will share the doors for cost reasons I think. Toyota are talking it up like it will be a serious Commodore/Falcon competitor (like they did with the current one), despite this it will still be front wheel drive and V6 only. This is the Toyota Oz boss talking to Goauto.com.au.

[IIV8II]

lol... my mum and dad bought an Avalon - a white one, no less - and it's a damn good drive actually. But as for toyota seriously taking on Holden/Ford in the hearts/heads of people like us... I don't think so!

But then again, look at the success lexus has had

[FunkyPig]

Make the Avalon look good (not in a yes I would recommend one for my Auntie kind of way), good enough to buy yourself. And it will sell. But I will remain sceptical until one is out there selling well. Remember when the TE Magna came out in 1996? It looked fabulous, yet never sold as well as I thought it should. If Toyota is realistic and aims for that sort of volume then great, but if they seriously want the volumes that Ford and Holden have, then they will need more than a big FWD V6 car with good looks.

[LT8888]

That interior looks as if was ripped straight from BMW

[Phido]

I don't know if they will be a incredably serious competitor to Ford/Holden.

Toyota really has to shake the white goods look and get back to the engineering.. MR2 is dead, celica is dead, its SUV lineup is not longer all dominating, Camry is not going that great and the current avalon predates the EL falcon. Its comming under increasing pressure in the small car area by the new euros..

Toyota should have made a low cost LS430 for oz..

[MIC33R]

Toyota does have a RWD high performance sedan. It's called the Chaser. They just chose not to release it here, and instead gave us the Avalon.

The top performance Chaser has a 2.5L straight 6 single turbo VVT-i engine with 206kW (or so they say, so it's probably around 220-230kW really) and 378Nm. This is in a 1490kg body. A good SS competitor.

They also offer one with a NA 3.0L VVT-i straight 6 which has woodgrain interior and all the usual luxury stuff they put in these days. This would make a good competitor to the Calais.

There's the usual low end ones too which would be good to go against the executives.

I'll put some pics up if anyone's interested. It looks BMWish.

EDIT: Also, all the turbo models and 3.0L luxury models get xenon lights. When will Holden put these on a Commodore?

[exwrx]

The new avalon looks interesting on paper. I would consider buying one, as long as I get to keep my LS1 as well. :D

Our family car is a V6 camry and it has served us well. It looked boring until I dropped the suspension a little and now it looks and drives much better.

Most importantly, it has required no warranty repairs and drives as well now as it did 6 years ago when we bought it. The V6 drivetrain is extremely refined, even if it is FWD. I hate to say this but every time I sit in a six cylinder commo or falcon I am appalled by the relative lack of build quality and NVH suppression.

Its horses for courses.

[Danv8]

:shock::shock::shock:
Look at the price for this Chaser (http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?UsedCarID=496386&TabID=3328&Alias=carpointau)

[Ghia351]

I don't know if they will be a incredably serious competitor to Ford/Holden.

Toyota really has to shake the white goods look and get back to the engineering.. MR2 is dead, celica is dead, its SUV lineup is not longer all dominating, Camry is not going that great and the current avalon predates the EL falcon. Its comming under increasing pressure in the small car area by the new euros..

Toyota should have made a low cost LS430 for oz..

Building a new design centre behind Monash University is a big step and pinching Nick Hogios (?) from Ford Oz (BA XR designer) I think shows that the not so sleeping giant is Australianising itself even more then it already gets the credit for.

[paulvdb]

:shock::shock::shock:
Look at the price for this Chaser (http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?UsedCarID=496386&TabID=3328&Alias=carpointau)

One zero too many I'd say!!!!!

Looks like an old Magna. May as well go local and soup up a 4WD Magna is rice is your style.

[MIC33R]

One zero too many I'd say!!!!!

Looks like an old Magna. May as well go local and soup up a 4WD Magna is rice is your style.

Or you could get a turbo Chaser and have a 10x better car :). That pic is a terrible shot of a chaser with a particularly bad body kit. I'll post up some nice examples tonight. When you see those, you'll see more BMW 5 series in it than riced up Magna.

[Fixel]

I got all excited for a minute, I thought it was about the Avalon Airshow not a domestic people carrier. *sigh*

[MIC33R]

OK, here's some pics for those interested.

These are slightly modified cars, but I've chosen ones that look close to stock (I haven't got any stock car pics in my collection).

Not so modified, but weird front bar - still looks nice though (http://ozemail.com.au/~caddies/4527.jpg)
Drifting - very BMWish here to me (http://ozemail.com.au/~caddies/0306scc_drift09_z.jpg)
Nice red one, a bit more modified looking (http://ozemail.com.au/~caddies/4510.jpg)
Nice too, stock front bar with lip (http://ozemail.com.au/~caddies/4522.jpg)
Kit is ordinary, tail lights look good against the blue (http://ozemail.com.au/~caddies/hs2.jpg)
Again, kit not so nice, but looks good still (http://ozemail.com.au/~caddies/hs4.jpg)
Stock except for wheels and TRD blinkers I think (http://ozemail.com.au/~caddies/stocker.jpg)

EDIT: Ok, they're not that stock now that I look at them, but they do look good :)

[fester1]

Can't believe im saying this about an Avalon but that looks damn good.

[MIC33R]

Can't believe im saying this about an Avalon but that looks damn good.

Fester, are you talking about the pics I posted? If so, that's not an Avalon. That's a Chaser. Toyota had the choice to bring that here, but chose the softer option - the Avalon.

[fester1]

Thought it was too good to be true. thanks.

[Space Pope]

Thought it was too good to be true. thanks.

Y'know what...I like the Chaser.

BMW must feel a little violated right about now...styling cues seem very Barvarian to me too. The output is the impressive thing.

Nowwww....if only they can get the power to the REAR instead of the front !

[MIC33R]

Y'know what...I like the Chaser.

BMW must feel a little violated right about now...styling cues seem very Barvarian to me too. The output is the impressive thing.

Nowwww....if only they can get the power to the REAR instead of the front !

Yeah it's a pretty blatant rip from BMW :)

The power is at the rear btw. It's down low in the rev range too like a V8 - 378Nm at 2400rpm (this is held to around 5500-6000rpm).

[VYBerlinaV8]

Nowwww....if only they can get the power to the REAR instead of the front !

And there we have the key to this whole mess! I for one am a big fan of rear wheel drive, and I think a lot of the more traditional sedan (large size, big engine, rear wheel drive) buyers are too. I have driven several Avalons and Camrys, and sure, around town at low speed they're fine. But I like being able to drive on unsealed roads without worrying about understeer (no, I haven't lowered my ride), tow trailer/boat (and still have the traction to pull the boat up a wet ramp), and still put my foot down and feel it go.

I think there is a perception that the larger front wheel drive cars don't have the driveline or chassis toughness that the more traditional vehicles have (whether this is correct or not I'm not sure). Also, it's hard to justify spending lots of $$ over and above a base model when you get an identical mechanical package anyway. Also, I think 4wd sedans are a disaster - too much weight over non 4wd. Does anyone know what the proportion of 4wd magna's sold is?

[MIC33R]

I agree. Toyota would get so many people to buy their big sedans if they released their RWD ones here. Instead we get big FWD barges with soft suspension. They have the cars, we just don't get them.

[V-Car]

Does anyone know what the proportion of 4wd magna's sold is?

Dont know about Magna's, but i do know that the majority of base Territory's are sold with just RWD rather than AWD.

[VYBerlinaV8]

No surprise there - perception is everything!

[ls1350]

Look out guys, The old buggers might try to have a drag against your LS1's. :lol:

They already do try worst than the old Volvo driver. Let them get about a bonnet in front then F#@kem. Had one the other day try and run me at every set of lights each time I looked and gave him a :D my wife said that I'm a real Prick. I said yes I know with a :D

[Mongy]

Gee, What will the old retired pensioners do with all that power. :lol: :rolleyes:
Spose itll get em to the local RSL, or Bowls club alot quicker. lolWOW, I'd better race out now and place my order :lol:

[glenr]

They have the cars, we just don't get them.

And that my friend, is spot on. We get the engines over here (albeit 2nd hand), but that's about it. Toyota Australia lost the plot in the early 90s when they went away from the hot-hatch market and went for the hair dresser market. They'll say they made the right decision as their sales have only improved.

Toyota Japan still do a great job with their cars, they just don't like to share them with Australia. The Chaser is a great example. And where was the Supra and all the others (120kW hot hatches, Sprinters etc)?

After all is said and done, I quite like the new Avalon. I'm biased though, I love my Toyotas ;)

[MIC33R]

And that my friend, is spot on. We get the engines over here (albeit 2nd hand), but that's about it. Toyota Australia lost the plot in the early 90s when they went away from the hot-hatch market and went for the hair dresser market. They'll say they made the right decision as their sales have only improved.

Toyota Japan still do a great job with their cars, they just don't like to share them with Australia. The Chaser is a great example. And where was the Supra and all the others (120kW hot hatches, Sprinters etc)?

After all is said and done, I quite like the new Avalon. I'm biased though, I love my Toyotas ;)

Yeah, you're right. I can't think of one 1JZ or 2JZ powered Toyota here (Lexus excepted).

Anyway, I've got my Chaser on the way from Japan soon, so I don't mind too much :)

[glenr]

Yeah, you're right. I can't think of one 1JZ or 2JZ powered Toyota here (Lexus excepted).

Anyway, I've got my Chaser on the way from Japan soon, so I don't mind too much :)
Serious? Fantastic! There can't be many in the country. In old Adelaide town, I haven't seen one yet. Willing to share how much you paid for it?

[MIC33R]

I've PMed you.

[FireyVT]

Dont know about Magna's, but i do know that the majority of base Territory's are sold with just RWD rather than AWD.

70% of Territory's are sold with RWD