My 2000 Avalon Grande

[WADEJAY]

Hey guys, Thought I'd finally sign up here and show my car off.

I originally owned a 1988 Celica SX, but was put off the road.

Wanting a classy car with a nice interior, I had a lexus in mind but none were really appealing or in my prince range.

I had a look in Ballarats Cheapest Cars and found this up the front...

Its a 2000 Avalon Grande, 330 000 k's

For $5700 I thought it wasnt a bad deal, but I made him give me a $500 discount for registration.

Described as "an old mans car with genuine k's" I did some searching and found it was owned by Denso Australia (Many of the parts are manufactured by Denso).

It was sold in 2005 and an old man owned it till the month before I bought it.

Ive driven commodores, falcons, magnas, many little cars and can I say this actually feels like I am driving a lexus!!!

It is so smooth on the road, so much room in the back which makes it comfortable for passengers on long trips!

So far I have:

Added 18" chrome rims with new tyres

Spent $3500 on an injected LPG system

Added an Alpine head unit (removed factory and the cd stacker)

Installed Rockford Fosgate Punch subwoofer.

Put twin slope pipes on the back.

All interior lights replaced with white LED's.

Future:

Window tint

Rear white venetian blinds

Lowered

Swap healights to newer/brighter technology (Xenons??)

Re-upholster front seats to newer leather.

Issues:

Rear wheels scrape due to heavy gas tank

Leaking sunroof

Fuse for LPG blows every month or so

This is by far the best and most economical car I have driven, I didnt buy it based on looks, the test drive is what sold me.

My friends questioned why I bought it, But now they love cruising in it.

What are your thoughts?

[desssa]

very nice cruising car ..i bought my wife one about 5 yrs ago put it on gas and did a big end bearing about 5 months later ..car had 115000kms goodluck.

[CROCO]

I think there a great car ,personly I think there one of the most underated cars out there.

I driven my auntys few times and I absolutely love it, the things I like are.build quality,comfort, refinement,space, equipment levels, there just such a nice car to drive .

I think you have purchased a great car.

good luck with it.

[trentmeyer23]

Nice and clean, I like your style...

[FRM05A]

nice ride! I owned two in the past...

very costly on panel parts

[jeffy]

Welcome to the club dude,

nice choice, not may red p-platers go for these, they usually buy civics/teggies s13s etc

come to our rare weekly meets and say hi :]

[WADEJAY]

Thanks guys :)

Haha I knew nothing about avalons till I came across one.

I thought they were just another model of Camry.

My mechanic asked if it was imported..... I guess hes more of a stereotypical commodore person.

Anyway, I LOVE the build quality, the comfort and the power aswell!

Obviously it doesent match with commodores and falcons but really... its quick off the line (on petrol..), goes hard when you need it and so on.

Anyone know anything about why the lpg fuse near the battery would blow when I rev it too hard at times?

[trentmeyer23]

Anyone know anything about why the lpg fuse near the battery would blow when I rev it too hard at times?

It would be hard to tell without seeing the vehicle. Obviously there is either a short in the circuit or it is being over loaded. Either way, I would suggest taking it to an LPG certified mechanic or auto electrician and NEVER replace the fuse with a larger than standard one...that makes FIRE.

[diamond white]

nice car n go fast red/burg looks good to

cheers cam :)

[Ronnyboy]

Welcome to the club, the car looks great :)

[WADEJAY]

I noticed it blows when I thrash it a bit....

Usually happens when I go from city driving to highways etc.

After the fuse blows the car runs very rough, feels like its going to stall (this is after a new fuse)

My mechanic serviced it and it was running like a dream!!

Fuse blows = back to rough.

My friend suggested to leave it on accesory mode for 20 minutes for the ECU to reset itself.... Makes sense but is the ECU resetting when the fuse blows = back to factory setting and not running to the best potential?

Ill give it a shot.

Thanks for the positive feedback guys :)

[willy3631]

how much did it cost get the cd stacker out?looks good,my grande is a import,only prob so far,put it in reverse and no gear,since then no prob,169,000 on clock,people think these are a granny car,put it in first you will blow away a ford/holden lol i have,mine has the nth us chipped motor,only complaint is the a/c no vents in the back also what idiot decided to put the boot release in the glove box?would love to hear more about how to make it faster,these are a underrated car,also mine has a push button start?added,any help with replacing the standard cd/radio and bit more power,as 3.4lt,cheers bill. http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_673/title_New-Car-Test-Toyota-Avalon-Grande/article.html this makes good reading.