Used 1999 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan Consumer Reviews
Used Avalon for sale
Forever friend
mmars, Scottsbluff, NE, 09/05/2011
Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan
41 of 41 people found this review helpful
I bought my 1999 Toyota Avalon Platinum XLS in 2006. It had 99000 miles on it and this did not cause me alarm since I have had a Toyota Camry before. My Toyota Avalon now has 187,000 miles on it and is still running strong! I have had to put routine maintenence items, such as brakes, battery, tires, but other than that it is running like the day I bought it. I am looking at trading it off for something newer, not because I need to, just maybe wanting something newer. Trouble I am having is when I test drive other vehicles I am comparing it to my Avalon, so far all the "competitors" have lost. Gas mileage is still 24/28 hwy. Excellent choice and great car!
In love with this car
Duane, Huntington, WV, 02/14/2016
Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan
29 of 31 people found this review helpful
I bought my 99 Avalon XLS for $800 with 214,000 miles and put about 15,000 on it in a year and I love it. I have only replaced the front strut mounts (common issue) and front sway bar links and bushings (parts are $48 all together) amongst regular maintenance items. The interior is all leather (door panels and all) and I always keep it clean because it's so good looking clean. It has a soft ride at all speeds, handles incredibly well for having such a soft ride, accelerates pretty strong (1MZFE V6 non-VVT) and the trans is also strong, still shifting like new at 232,000 miles. For entertainment it has the 7 speaker Harman-Motive system. 2 tweeters, 4 mids and 1 8" package tray mounted woofer and I believe all that is also on a factory amp. I upgraded all that with a JVC touch screen, Cerwin-Vega tweeters (I added two in the back), JBL mids, Audio Pipe crossovers, and a Power Acoustik 15" sub on 3200 watts. All easy to install and the car has well laid out audio placement. Cold AC and hot heat with great MPG. The only downside is you will get really attached to it and you won't be able to come up with a good reason to get a new car. Parts are plentiful and very affordable.
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Simply the best
rowland, 01/11/2005
Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
Purchased new in 1999, this car has been totally reliable. Have over 100,000 miles and uses no oil and engine is quiet. Had to replace the front struts at 70,000 (a common problem with Avalons-$600). Repaced front brake pads at 80,000, rear still good. Amazing. Easy to drive, quiet, roomy, and lots of power. Make sure you replace the timing belt at 90000 and car should run well for a long time. This is our fourth Toyota and one of the best.
Too Reliable?
25 yrs Toyota, 08/11/2010
Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
Incredible car! Soft ride, low maintenance, good mileage. Only complaint - after 13 yrs of a gray 86 Camry and 11 yrs of this silver 99 Avalon, I feel the need for a change. Could be midlife issues. I need something bright and irresponsible. But seriously, GREAT CAR! Fits all sizes of people and luggage. Surprisingly good mileage for its size and comfort and I highly recommend it. That's what makes it hard for me to give up.
Reliability and Comfort
Slick , Somerville, MA, 08/29/2021
Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
My 99' Toyota Avalon XLS was just deemed a total loss at 239k miles, after getting hit while parked. I'm writing this to encourage anyone looking at these cars to strongly consider purchasing one. I bought her in 2015 with 172k for $1700. Took her on a short test drive, and heard clunking in the front end. Still took a gamble, as my previous was a 95' Camry V6 (same engine/trans), and I could tell the rest of the car was solid. Turned out it needed front struts, which is common issue on Camry/Avalons from the 90s. My camry needed struts replaced multiple times, despite my careful driving, tip-toeing around the many potholes. So, after front struts were done, I was still under $3k spent, and she lasted another 6.5 years needing next to nothing. Unfortunately had to do the struts again after only 50k miles, which was upsetting. The radiator also cracked along the top on a hot day (was definitely full of clean coolant-but also a nearly 20 year old original radiator), so I had to replace radiator and hoses, but I was never once left stranded with this car, aside from a dead battery. At around 210k, the crossmember had to be replaced, as I felt the back end feeling loose when hitting a bump on tight corners, and upon inspection, I noticed it was rotting. Got a remanufactured one on ebay for under $200, and paid another $100 for labor. Not sure if this is common, but there was no other notable rust on this car, and the crossmember appeared to rust prematurely. Aside from the aforementioned, it only needed general maintenance that every car needs (oil change every 3k, coolant flush, brakes, battery, and tires). I had 100% confidence every single turn of the key, that I was going to get where I needed to go. Avalon is Toyotas flagship full size sedan, so you're looking at the top model from the best manufacturer of vehicles out there, in my opinion. This is also the last year of the first generation of Avalon, so they had 5 years to work what little kinks out, if there was any. The 3 Liter 1mz-fe V6 that is standard in this first Gen Avalon is incredibly reliable, with ample power at around 200 horsepower. My 95 Camry had the same engine and I drove 70k over 7 years, only needing to replace valve cover gaskets, which is the only known issue with these engines. I also put 70 k on this engine, and valve covers leaked slightly, but I was never low on oil. Definitely one or the best V6 engines ever designed, in terms of reliability and longevity. Avalons feel great on the highway. Road noise is much less than any other 90s Japanese car I've ever been in. The V6 will never make you feel like you're struggling to gain speed when you're on the on-ramp. I'm very tall, and there is plenty of head/leg room. It's technically a six seater. XLS has the leather interior, which held up quite well over 22 years. Expected wear in the driver's seat, but never a single rip or tear. Heated seats were an unexpected treat. Love the sunroof on the XLS, now I'll never buy another car without one. Even after 22 years, every single button and control, including power windows, seat, mirrors, sunroof, wipers - all worked every time. Same thing with my Camry. Never had a single electrical component fail in either car. If this is either your first car, you are purchasing a car for your child, or you just need something comfortable and inexpensive that's going to last you forever with limited maintenance, then I can't recommend a better car. 90s Camry and Avalon are without a doubt, some of the most reliable cars ever made, and if you can get a 99 Avalon for a good price, you are getting in my opinion the best 90s Toyota ever made. Well maybe Toyota Supra, but good luck finding that. I've been driving 90s Toyotas since college, and now that I'm almost 40, I'm looking at something a little more fun to drive, namely a car with a manual transmission, which you can't get on an Avalon. That being said, I decided to keep my totalled Avalon, rather than let the insurance pay me $700 for her. Even with almost a quarter million miles, I have confidence that once the body work is done, I can get another quarter million miles. That's how much I can speak to the reliability. If you can find this car free of rust, buy it. You will not regret it. Keep reading reviews and doing your homework.