Lexucan

....but not the end of brand loyalty.

After 6+ years of driving my awesome '93 ES, it was time for a change. So, with mixed feelings, I've sold the Lexus and picked up a mint condition 1gen Avalon XLS. I know I'll miss the style and classiness of the 2gen ES for a long time, but maybe the transition will be made a little easier knowing that I'm still driving a Toyota with its legendary reputation for quality and reliability, and their flagship sedan to boot! And with only a third of the miles on it that were on the ES, I know I'll be driving it for a long time. The leather is still soft and supple, all the electronics work as they did off the assembly-line, and the 3.0L V6 still purrs and accelerates like a well-built Toyota power-plant should. Hey, and it has the same headlight washers my ES had too!

So, here are a few pics of the new DD that I took today - in the rain. Hope ya enjoy!

dewso1

I was quite a fan of your ES! Specially the grill. Now you don't have it anymore I might just steal the idea

Great to see you're still with us though

Loving the new car too, very very clean!

Lexucan

Thanks! Yeah, that chrome grill makes her pretty much one of a kind. Not everybody's taste but I think it added an extra touch of class. Feel free to do the same, providing your ES has the metal grill. Not all of the 2gen models do.

The Avalon was produced in Australia as well from 2000 to 2005. Do you see many of them on the roads there?
Coincidentally, my Avy was originally purchased new at the same Toyota dealership where I always took the ES for servicing like oil changes, etc. They have all the service records for it while it was under warranty. So, they've transferred its history into my name now on their computer system. Sweet. I bought the car in a private deal from its second owner who lives about an hour and a half's drive away from here. So, it's kind of cool that it's come full circle back to the exact location where it was bought new.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

It's always good to knows history good luck with the Avalon. A lot of the Es people that were here when I joined are slowly but surely selling their cars

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

That is a beautiful car, congrats! Just from the pictures, I really like the wheels and the dark wood trim around the radio. Is the steering wheel badly worn, or is that just for protection?

Lexucan

Thanks for the comments.
I didn't notice any wear at all on the steering wheel. The leather on it is in perfect condition so my guess is that the cover has been on it a long time. I debated about removing it but I actually like the extra thickness it gives the wheel and it doesn't look unsightly being the high quality cover that it is, so I think I'll leave it on so it can continue to keep the leather in showroom condition.

dewso1

Yes actually, I see a couple of them around . Although I've never seen one with a interior like that D: I don't think they came out with the premium options in Australia.. they're all boring cloth and plastic

It definitely makes it a way more attractive and classy car.

And great to hear about the full circle too, it always helps to buy a mint condition car and be able to know everything about its history

03 ES

Nice avy! love the spruce color...looks mint!
not diggin' on the wheels tho...i like the oem 5 spokes better
i love the 1st gen avalon personally...if i didnt have my ES id probably have a 1st or 2nd gen avalon...theyre excellent cars (and since it shares a camry chassis, its in the ES bloodline so you didn't stray far haha)
the headlight washers must be canada only...never seen those here in the states on an avalon or ES

Lexucan

Thanks, and I totally agree with you about preferring the earlier generations of the Avalon.
That is not to say that the 3rd generation Avy isn't nice looking too, but it's just a personal styling preference on my part. One of the things I was impressed with on sitting in the Avalon for the first time was how comfortable and roomy it is. Head room especially is better for someone my height. I sometimes felt my hair brushing the head-liner in the ES but not so in the Avy. Plus passengers can sit in the back with adequate leg room even when the front seats are positioned as far back as they will go. And yet, the overall size of the car doesn't seem much larger than the Lexus.
Anyway, I think you are right about it being a short jump from ES to the XLS. So far, I'm enjoying it quite a lot.

dmight

That's a nice Avalon, Lexucan! Now your post to my thread makes a bit more sense. What I would like to know; where do you people find all these very nice cars? :>)

03 ES

yeah the rear legroom in the avalon is killer....my best friend has a 99 XL and i never mind riding in the back...its a very comfortable car!
im not a huge fan of the 3rd gen avalon....they're not bad, but i just perfer the older models myself....plus i hate the 2GR 3.5 V6

Lexmex

I know people with the Avalons that had an ES before and they love the Avalon. One of my co-workers has an newer Avalon and also a previous generation RX350 and loves the Avalon more.

Gchutes

I had a 1st gen avalon before i got my 3es.... The avalon was a great car.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

I didn't even know you were still on this forum....

But Avalon talk;
I had one to beat around in this summer at the shop, made for a decent dirt racer!

Then sold it for 650$ with 330k KM's on it (1995). lolololol