My 2004 Avalon is a trusty steed, my flying carpet, my Avaloni. It has never let me down and is a great daily driver. Tons of space, economy, power, and best of all; reliability.
Had an ES300 of the same vintage. Almost identical underpinnings, slightly stretched Camry chassis for the Avalon. Fantastic, comfortable, quiet vehicles good for 250k plus.
I have a 2003 Avalon XL just like this, same color, except I have leather seats and sunroof. I bought it for $5,500 in 2016 with 147,000 miles. It has 210,000 miles now and still running strong. Car is very quiet, floats like a boat, maneuvers good for a big car, silky smooth steering and shifting. I get vibration when hard braking, I think it needs new rear brakes/rotors, leaks a tad from valve covers, and radiator seeps. These Avalons are nothing short of amazing even for an old ass car.
Elissa Jones my dad is letting me keep his old 2001 avalon it was involved In a accident and the whole passenger side is ruined from fender to quarter fender but most of it can be fixed myself and I’ll only need a tail light and it runs perfectly fine and the interior looks brand new
Bro i just called the shop to drop mine off tomorrow same thing. Steering wheel vibrates when i stop from faster speeds getting new pads and rotors all way around not mad I've had the car not even a week but i always get brakes when i buy my cars. 176000 miles white 2004 XLS so far i like it! 1st Toyota
I have a blue '03 XL & love it! It makes me smile whenever I drive it. My daily/commuter is a Honda Fit but I go btwn Austin and Dallas a lot & use the Avalon for that. It's comfortable, dependable, & I think better looking than newer ones.
The only drawback to 2nd Gen Avalon’s is aging Suspension with crooked alignment and wobbly balancing. I should know, I drive one, and been driving it for 14 months. The aging and wear on Suspension hits at 120k. She’s an 2004 and had 146k when I brought her. Other than that, she’s a strong Falcon. Immaculate V6 Engine, flawless fuel injection, strong solenoid, her manifold is protected by a Gasket shield, and has a Stellar motor with excellent oil life. She’s hands down the best Car I’ve owned.
I owned exact same model mid option from 2014-2018 while i was dubai. It was imported from USA. This car is best highway car. Made a couple of road trips from dubai to Oman and this car never left me stranded. Finally i had to sell it in oct 2018 with a heavy heart as i was moving from dubai. Only things i replaced in 3.5 years were tyres and brakes. Yes it is the flying carpet.(also mine came with alloy rims. ; )
Good for you, Kirk for being so sensible about your vehicle. You've made a great choice in picking up an Avalon. You seem to know what's important in a daily driver- great that you're content with something simple and comfortable that works and not caught up in having the latest expensive junk! My parents bought an '04 when it was 10 years old with low miles and now it's got over 160k and still runs great with regular reasonable maintenance. Wishing you continued good luck, sir!
I have a 2004 Avalon XLS and in my 53 years of driving this is the best car I’ve ever owned. I’t has everything you would want in a car. It’s very fast, roomy, great ride, good visibility, great m.p.g. and a cavernous trunk. If I was lookin for an inexpensive used car that won’t break the bank this is it.
My grandma’s 2004 Avalon got totaled earlier this year. She has 73k on the odometer and she loved that car. I almost wanna say it was a smoother ride than her replacement 2012 ES350
I had an 03 XL with leather seats and a spoiler since 2012, and some young girl in a corolla rear ended me and totalled it like a month ago. It made it to ~186,000miles, would have gone a whole lot longer if it wasn't for the crash. It didn't even look that bad tbh, and the engine was still running fine, but with the airbags deployed and the age of the car it was cheaper for the insurance to just pay out for it. I absolutely loved that goddamn car. I loved the wide sweeping dash line, I wish they never got rid of that styling. I still don't even know what I'm going to replace it with, I feel like there's nothing else really comparable. I've heard that the suspension and overall ride quality got a little firmer and less plush after this generation, which sounds like a step backwards to me. I have heard good things about the 2011/2012 though, maybe that's an option... The ls430 looks pretty tasty too, but a V8 engine sounds a little too thirsty for my wallet. Anyway, enjoy yours man, these things are great!
Thanks! I love this car: turn the key and go. Look for a LS400 98-2000 if possible. Very similar feeling to this car except it has more power, feels heavier, rides quieter, smoother/slower transmission. Cheers!
the 2005-2012 models were even softer, my seat of pants impression in any case. they drastically stiffened 'em up for 2013-16, to an unseemly degree. ruined 'em AFAIC.
I have a love for boat-like cars for some reason ever since my first car (07 Impala with bench seats), with this being a Toyota the Avalon seems like the perfect beater or family car. Nice review.
You may want to consider getting your timing belt and water pump replaced if you haven’t yet It is a non-interference engine but you don’t want to be stranded or overheat
Thank you for the wonderful review of your Avalon. I have been looking at one at a used car dealer 88 miles from me, that has a great-looking Carfax. It's in great shape it's an XLS with 131000 miles on it. It's never been wrecked and has a really long and steady service history. They are asking $6,500 for it. It looks great in the pictures it has brand new tires.. it was bought at an auction and I don't know if that's a good thing or not, do you? Before you give me your opinion, I just wanted to tell you that I loved your video especially since it's a nice clean video that I can watch with my kids and my grandkids without anyone dropping the f-bomb on them. Thank you so much for that. So you live in Nebraska I live in Kentucky.
Finally a review on the legend we always hear about A Sunday review I see no work clothes Lexus has taken inspiration for their new LS500 from an 04 Avalon That space by the passenger side on the dash the double dash..
ive got the XLS and i love it. its got the same sort of paint wear on the top of the car too, minus any rust at all and not quite as bad... i think its a decent looking car too. i like the fact its "plain" and simple. as you said, its less likely to get stolen because of that. i would like to do a paint touchup at maaco, just to refresh it, but ive had mine since 2004 and it only had 5k on it. now, my xls has just under 300k on it and it drives like it did when i drove it off the lot back in 2004. i think its an underappreciated car. i really do. the ones who have the car know what im talking about, but the ones who dont will never know until they go for a ride in one. i fully think my xls will make it to 1,000,000 miles and as long as i keep doing what ive always done with normal maintenance, itll make it to a million without any trouble at all. ive not once had a problem with my xls.
I have a 2002 Avalon in Australia which is the first generation Avalon from the USA. There will never be another car in my life again that has and continues to give me so much for so little. Unbelievably good car.
The button in the glove box is for if you valet park the car. There's a special valet key that works on the doors & ignition but not the trunk or glovebox. Mine doesn't have any plastic on it like the regular one so it's easy to spot. When you go someplace fancy you put valuable stuff in the trunk, turn off the remote button, lock the glove box & give the parking guy the valet key. I didn't know about it until I read the manual.
I ownThe Avalon XLS and it's night and day compared to the basic model. It has leather seats, woodgrain trimings, a small screen on the dash,JBL sound system and different rims. Great car.
Thumbs up for your first burnout! I'm looking at buying a 2000 Avalon XL with almost 400,000 miles on it and I'm going to see if I can't make it to five hundred thousand miles or even a million miles but I want to slap a supercharger on it for more horsepower as Toyota actually made a TRD supercharger for the 3 liter 1mzfe Motors. Another thing you should focus on maintenance wise if you still do have the car and do plan on running it into the ground, is replacing is your timing belt along with a timing kit. If your timing belt snaps, your motor is toast. It's what makes your valves and pistons run in Harmony without hitting each other. Other than that, great review and I can't wait to get mine!
Not me watching this in 2022 cause I'm looking for a paid off beater before I purchase my brand new car in the Fall 🤣 . And I love that's from one of my favorite car reviewers ! 😁
I almost bought one of these for my first car, super clean 130k miles. The dealership through also had a fully loaded ES330 that was just as clean, with 182,000 miles. I bought the ES330 and I’m so happy I did, it feels so much more special than the Avalon. They’re both phenomenal cars.
I have an Avalon XLS 2000 is my first car and I honestly I love that car is beautiful to drive, very comfortable, not need nothing to the new cars, is easy to fixed and do the maintenance, and when I want have fun the V6 engine is amazing, I win some racing versus a lot of civic hahaha is nice I love my Avalon
I just bought a 2003 Avalon XLS with a bench seat (6 seater ) . It has 180k miles and has a couple of a scratches. The bumper is damaged. It’s my favorite car.
My first car will be a 2001 avalon that my dad doesn’t use anymore the only problem Is that one side is wrecked but most of it can be fixed in under 1k
i had an '04 XL taxi/fleet model, lordy i miss that car, hadda sell it when my finances hit a brick wall. it was basically a japanese buick, rode like a buick, quiet like a buick, serene like a buick. had a split bench front seat with a column shifter, a rarity among japanese cars.
Man I love this gen Avalon. Our family bought this gen Avalon in 2000 as a brand new car. It was a more basic silver XL model with grey cloth interior, 15" machine finish alloy wheels, grey cloth interior(btw it was really damn nice cloth), that car was so damn quiet and rode like a fucking Cadillac or Mercedes Benz. AKA you went over a bump and you never felt it, you didn't hear it. Seriously, that Avalon was as quiet and rode nicer than a Sedan Deville. No float in that Avalon boat, it was fucking smooth as hell, man it was a quiet and nice ass ride. My mother loved the sporty 2012 Camry V6 that replaced our old Avalon. Yeah that car was a lot more fun to drive, but man it was total bucket of shit in terms of refinement, quietness, and ride quality compared to that 2000 Toyota Avalon. That old 2000 Avalon continued to rack up miles with my brother in law who had a 30 mile one way commute. Sadly that car was totaled out at 280,000 miles. A dumbass in an old 90's Chevy truck was looking down on his phone when the traffic stopped short on a wet road. He skidded into the lane of my brother in law's 2000 Avalon and totaled it out. It was a low speed offset collision.
Yes this Avalon is a special car! Sorry to hear it met it's end. I hope i can get 280k out of mine. I'm at about 115k but the front suspension is rattling 😑
Your got the trunk opened! See how making these videos improves your life in mysterious and unknown ways?!? I would trade my HVAC controls for yours any day. Also, that's the ideal car to save money with, as you said low maintenance costs, so you can save up for your young family and your future dream car (hopefully an LX). "Mausoleum of insects in the daily driver."
You mentioned the trunk button up front is broken. Is it just locked out? There's a button inside the glove compartment that disables/enables the trunk button. Nice car! Edit: LOL you found it 😂
I finally got one! This video definitely influenced me thank you mines is white 2004 XLS 176000 miles paid 2900 few minor things CD player doesn't work and outside fuel door is hanging on wing and prayer and the back inside dome light doesn't work but all minor my opinion thanks for the honest opinion my brother
I have a 2003 XLS and yes it may look like a older person drives it but man are these cars reliable and nice. Heated seats with sunroof, only at 139k miles, got it for 3k in amazing condition. Have a strut brace and going to do a little extra things to make this sedan a sleeper 😂 probably going to muffler delete and or put a cold air intake on it
I have a 2004 Avalon XL as well, a little different from yours. Mine has the "Buick" Bench seat as they used to call it with the shift on the column like the Buick. It also RIDES and FLOATS like a Buick which you discovered with yours. But I LIKE a smooth boat like ride...LOL. 2004 was the LAST year for the bench seat. Now for the good stuff...It ALSO has the XL Luxury Package upgrade which includes Full Leather Bench seating, the JBL Sound Package with the Amp, subwoofer, and JBL Speakers. It sounds fantastic! Also comes with 16" Alloy wheels and remote entry. This package with the bench seat and luxury package options actually MSRPd for MORE than the XLS! I have 185K on mine, same FL shit paint, and will continue to drive until something happens which is not worth fixing as in 2022 this is probably a 1200 car. However I fully expect to see 250K before any major considerations. I LOVE my Avalon! Do you still have yours?
I have an 04 Avalon. Purchased it when it was 10 yrs with 44K on it. It's 15 now with 96K. Drove 3/4 way across the country too. Nearly the exact same trim as yours. XL too and the phantom Pearl grey:) love your descriptions. They are spot on. Happy to share some more experienced I've had with this vehicle.
Good choice Kirk choosing the Toyota over the Ford back in the day. Can't kill that thing. My son was gifted 2004 Avalon and it's still going at 180k with minimal maintenance, just steering fix and basic maintenance. Good, solid car and pleasantly powerful but it does has that drift feel to it.
Geese better not come over n poo 😂😂😂😂😂👍. Not on the paint tho God forbid 😱😆. Best car review I've seen bro. funny asf. Keep it going. Definetly getting me one of these avalons.
If you go in your glove box, there should be a black button and if you push it, it should reset Your trunk button and your trunk button should work after that I had to learn that in the same car.
I love the look of this car, but I can't get past the shake. My sister used to have one and it shook too, so hearing yours does has put me off the one I was looking at buying.
Great video. Gotta love the Avalon. We have one as a winter beater except ours is a 2009 XLS. As an aside, you mentioned you had a Miata once upon a time. I have a Miata too, a 99, it’s my daily from April to November. Toyotas in general get my vote. In addition to our Avalon, which my 18 year old son drives every chance he gets, we have a 2007 Prius (which has also proven super reliable and cheap to operate). Our “new” car is my wife’s Camry. Bought new in 2014. I like your very down to earth review. Thanks for posting it.
I’m buying one for Christmas. 30,000 miles because the old guy got sick and never used it anymore. Buying it for 2,200 NOW THATS A GOOD DEAL. Old people don’t understand finances but I believe this is my blessing from the universe 😭😭🥴🥴🔥🔥🌟🌟
Kirk Kreifels I knowww! Spectacular leather, XLS, sunroof, foglights! However, I do enjoy the interior wayyy more than the exterior. It’s not ugly or gorgeous it’s just there... a normal car just there like a lamp 🥴😂 I also dislike the color brown but oh well. All I’m gonna do is tint it because I have to savor the leather in Florida weather and install a dash cam. Car is everything though 🌟🥳
Bought an 04' back in March 22' with 190K and kicker...I drove it from Nashville, TN to Bluefield, WV and back with a transmission leak and no issues (issue finally fixed) and I now have 207K and counting...the goal is 400K!
I have the exact same car! 2004 Toyota Avalon XL in the exact same color too! Looks like I'm looking at my own car lol. Very reliable and I've had it since 2018. Only one other owner besides me and it's still kicking after 250k miles!
Only differences I've noticed is that my exterior has a gold trim for the toyota emblem and Avalon XL, my front seat is a bench and I have a column shifter, my cigarette outlet is pullout and that's where my change collector is, I have a JBL sound system, and my cupholders come out from my arm rest in the center. Besides that, it's very similar.
The XLS shows fuel range, and has a trim across the sides I haven’t seen too many other differences besides those, I drive a 04 Avalon XLS and it’s my first car, probably the best first car you can get if I’m being honest
My old Camry had the same issue with steering wheel vibration on the freeway. Turned out, it needed the motor mounts replaced. It can turn into a huge problem if you ignore it. Get it fixed, it's too nice a car to treat it so badly.
The problem you’re having might be out of balance. You said you put tires on it. In my experience some tire shops don’t know how to balance tires properly. I wince every time you say beater car because it will last forever if you treat it right. In my opinion it is the best generation of Avalons. The next generation had some major tranny problems. Avalons got smaller over time. I’ve had a 2000, 2001, 2003, and a 2004. Enough with the beater car.
I got the 04 XLS. It’s actually much different on the interior than the XL Also my car pulls to the right and has slight vibration on the wheel. It might just be an Avalon thing 😂. Pretty quick car too. Easily push 120 in it on the Avalon really quickly. It’s a nice V6
In June I purchased a 2004 LS430 with 90K for $6500. Honestly, it is in a lot better condition than your Avalon. I think it may be the best car for the money available. That would be a good upgrade. If you get a nice one, you should take care of it, though.
Nice find! Yes way better than my Avalon but I could care less about what happens to my car...if I had an LS I'd be irate if it got hit like my car did
Timing belt every 10 years or 100k miles... And regular fluid changes, will probably need nothing else. I gave my cars alignments every year in Omaha, even though rarely hit pothole, it always needed alignment when I looked at the print out.
Interesting you say OR every 10 yrs. I'm considering buying a 2004 excellent condition. Timing belt changed in 2010 @101K miles. Now has 146K miles. I've not inspected it yet. I guess belt gets brittle w time?
Can't beat this Avalon - the following generations including Lexus version don't ride nearly as well and I find it great on the highway at 80-90mph, you wouldn't even know you're going that fast. 2014 ES350 on the other hand, i barely go 75 because it's way way too rough riding with only 63k miles. The chairs are an ergonomic disaster in the ES, really want my Avalon back. And yes, it has great shifting as does my 02 gs300 with 5spd, the shitty 6spd the ES has now in 2013+ is garbage in response, heck the 8spd Camry with 4 cylinder feels better than the recent gen ES, so disappointed in the downhill direction of Toyota corp in their luxury/cruiser cars. We had the leather version, if it don't get flooded, I'd used Amsoil and kept everything prestine for 500k miles. Got 300k miles on Volvo 740, before someone else totalled it.
Looking at a 2000 XL tomorrow with 52,000 original miles. Asking $7,900. Would you say thats a fair deal? Im planning on offering more like $6,500-$7,000
I’m trying to Buy one of theses baby’s right now! Really appreciate the review, quick question; how tall are you? (I’m 6’3 all legs) The xL that u have without the sunroof seems to fit you well when driving. I’m tired of hitting my head when I drive, so any and all advice is much appreciated. Thx 😊
I'm 6'1. I don't think you'll have an issue getting in this car...unless you have a really long torso and neck lol. If you're in the market, the best thing for you to do is get inside and drive it to make sure it's the right car for you bud! Thanks for watching and let me know if you get it!
Hey man, nice car! I have always loved Avalons, particularly the 2005-2012 gen. But this gen is also awesome in looks. I don't like the new one where it's all curvy and daring. I prefer sedate. I also heard the 2000-2004 Avalons were smoother than the 2005 and up? How does Avalon compare with Lexus old and new? How about their comparisons to the Lexus and other luxury makes you drove on recently?
04 avalons trunk is bigger than 05. 05 has the 3.5l v6. I like my styling over the 3rd generation but that's subjective. Engine and transmission is Lexus quality, but that's about it. Materials on the interior of a Lexus are better than almost any other luxury car let alone Toyota.
