So, I'm looking at random new car pictures...

[caddycruiser]

Procrastinating doing work for work, and on Carmax since they take multiple pictures of every new vehicle on their lots.

Thought I'd check out a new Avalon...

...not sure why...

...just curious.

What do I see? Scrooling through, first confirmed how literally this "all new" Avalon really is the same old car since '05, but with some chrome trim, a few different mold shapes on the plastic, and yep, same "okay then..." build quality these have been known for in the past few years. Not the greatest.

Admittedly, it's a small piece, and not uncommon. But a brand new $36k Avalon Limited, dealer taking pictures, and they snap one of the sunroof with the trim ring inside hanging off. Then I look at the center console...charcoal silver painted panels that open...and don't line up...all surrounded by just the cheapest of cheap, dull fake plood & all. Seriously.

Seriously? Toyota of today reminds me, in build quality and "lack of care put into the design" of GM many years ago. And I thought me nitpicking how the center console to center stack joint in a '08 Malibu always being a little off was something. Not. At all.

http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/default.html?AVi=0&id=6446881&N=68+4294967007+4294966673&Ne=4&D=90&zip=19966&pD=0&pI=0&pT=400&pC=200&pB=0&No=0&Ep=homepage:homepage%20Make&Rp=R&PP=20&sV=List&CD=662+14+240+190+398+9&Q=933bbba3-240c-4dca-9814-13402d70547b

Lacrosse anyone? It's a wowza, in a different level all together. Hell, even a base Taurus has 10x more thought put into it than this.

Edited May 3, 2010 by caddycruiser

[ocnblu]

I went in to the camp office to buy a bottle of Gatorade on Saturday and there was a guy checking in. They always ask what kind of car the camper has. When he said "Toyota", there was a pregnant pause, the employee said "Oh, really?", and, sensing an ambush, the camper said "I have three of them!"

The camp employee quipped "Do they all stop?" and it degenerated from there, the camper saying he's never had a problem, blah blah blah, and the camp employee repeatedly sarcastically replying "Oh really? That's nice".

The last thing the camper said as he exited the office was "I'd buy another one!"

I was cracking up inside and wanted to pile on, but I kept my mouth shut.

[caddycruiser]

I still can't get over Toyota-philes whole will drive cars like the above, say they're better than anything, and then nitpick how "this cheap piece of plastic kept bothering me...what a piece of crap..." if they get in a new GM, Ford, etc.

Sure. Sign yourself up for a fully loaded new Avalon, the last/current gen of which made a name for itself with throttle lag and surging transmissions, rattles galore from the Chinese garage spec interior, and so on. But yeah, it's a Toyota, so it's gold.

Seriously. Still find it funny a dealer sat & took pictures of a car with the sunroof trim hanging off & just went with it, but then again, compared to the rest of the car, might not have been the biggest issue.

[caddycruiser]

After a day of work, and driving the Avalanche...I see the pictures above again and...seriously?