Used 1998 Toyota Avalon Consumer Reviews
spacious ride
The xls has a nicely appointed, spacious interior yet exterior dimensions are fairly modest. mileage is around 21/30 city/hwy. Overall reliablily is very good although watch for noisy front suspension due to bad strut support mounts, $400 to fix, also my car has some occasional squeaks/rattles from glovebox area, I definitely would buy an avalon again.
Seriously this car is almost as old as me
I'm 18 and a serious car enthusiast and this was my first car when my dad handed it down to me when i got my license @ 15 and a half(had 150k miles on it). Of course it isn't exactly my choice of a car and I made a bet with my father that if the car died we would get a replacement car of my choice(reasonably priced of course). And I'm still losng that bet, that car has not died at all or shown signs of even slowing down. Sum of it all, you can't go wrong with this car if you need a used cheap low maintainence car for just point A to point B.
Outstanding
I purchased at 100k and drove to 240k. I did very little maintenance but wear items. I did finally put struts on @ 190k. I've used it as a heavyweight tow vehicle for 1000's of miles but I change transmission fluid afterwards! When I finally broke down and undertook the TB kit, I only found out that I shouldn't have! It was all like new including seals. The windshield took 10 or so, what seemed like gunshot, hits before finally incurring any wounds. Unfortunately, the plastic door handles and bezels break religiously. But, it still runs like new to this day. Update : Bezels, Handles, and left front actuator still hobgoblins. But, now at 260k and several X Country towings of vehicles, it is still ridiculously strong. Literally runs like new. Update : I've driven the car to 265k and it still runs like a top. However, I have since retired it. One thing to note is that front developed a camber problem that is hard to fix on these. I think it could be but it would be a bit of frame straighening. Other than that, it still works almost as new.
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Great car though had some repairs
Update: I love this car. It is so comfortable, easy to drive & the leather is far better than in newer cars. I have tried to buy a new car though the comfort & ride of this car surpasses in my humble opinion than newer ones. Then this one keeps going so why invest in a new one.:) Bought in 2002 with 51,000miles, now has 183,000miles, paid $20,000 for it put in about $7,000 in repairs since purchase besides oil changes, 60k, 120k & 180k mile services. Been very dependable though had to replace struts, radiator, both front & rear brakes twice, rack & pinion, idle stabilizer valve, thermostat housing, water pump twice, R-side engine mount, front & rear engine mount, two lower control arm bushing, had oil leak twice, rebuild pump & few other items. Timing belt twice once at 90K & another at 183K as recommended by my repair guy.
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Im Impressed
This is my first Toyota, and i bought this a few weeks ago. It has 230k miles on it and it drives great! It making a Toyota guy out of me.