Avalon is DEAD, long live the Avalon...

[megalla@ozemail.com.au]

http://www.pressroom.com.au/newpressroom/pressroom.cfm?Section=PRR&pr=1464

http://tinyurl.com/5goqw

She will return again,some time in 06',together with the new Camry....

No more Avalon Taxis, 100% Foulcan again :-)

Regards

G/B

[Marco]

What surprised me is one of the articles saying that after production ends
in June, they would run out of stock sometime in the third quarter.

Unless keeping cars at grass for a while costs thousands per unit, why not
just ramp up production in the meantime to cover projected sales until first
quarter 2006? At the current sales rate (something like 300 a month and
declining, I think I read today), you'd need maybe 2500 cars to last that
long. You wouldn't go much past that to avoid having to sell too many 2005
plated cars into 2006.

Oh, and for the record, this is now Toyota's second failure to make a dent
in the Falcon/Commodore market. First all the hype about the "wide body"
Camry in 1993 and how it would be the staple Aussie car by the end of the
decade, and then all the Avalon hype. Better luck next time, perhaps.

Marco

[feral]

Katharine & Paul wrote:

> After all these years, Toyota still cant work out the bleeding obvious.
>
> AUSSIES LIKE REAR WHEEL DRIVE!
>
Not all.

> The Avalon was a nice car,

IS

with probably the best interior of a large car.
> But it was front drive, its marketing only appealed to people aged over 70

Trying to make me feel old Pauly? :-(

> (who else does Dame Edna appeal to ?).

Point taken.

It also looked like a 10 year old car
> the day it was released.
>
Not with a little imagination. ;-)

> The Avalon showed they can build a car with a good interior (the Camry does
> not) that cruises along well.

Yup. $26k 01/2001 sedan, and not a spanner on it. I'm
larfin. :-))))))))))))))))))))))

--

Take care,
Feral

[athol]

Katharine & Paul <NOSPAM@nospam.com.au> wrote:

> They had success in the luxury market in the late 80's/early 90's with the
> REAR DRIVE Cressida (it challenged the Fairlane which previously had the
> market to itself), then replaced it with a front drive upmarket Camry (which
> failed dismally).

But failed to bring in the 1JZ turbo variant to give themselves a serious
performance competitor to the V8 falcadores. Ford realised their error of
dropping the V8 and re-introduced V8s in EB in order to compete against
the V8 commode.

The JZ would have made the Cressida a serious volume market model here...

> The Avalon showed they can build a car with a good interior (the Camry does
> not) that cruises along well. Lets hope they get their next large car right,
> and show a genuine commitment to upgrade when required.

The problem seems to be that they are too worried about maintaining the
distinction between the upmarket whitegoods with lexus badges and the
downmarket whitegoods with toyota badges. Producing a serious competitor
to the falcadores as a RWD with decent engines would have the potential
to blur the line between them and the lexus.

--
Athol
<http://cust.idl.com.au/athol> Linux Registered User # 254000
The state of Australia's infrastructure is a national disgrace.
I'm a Libran Engineer. I don't argue, I discuss.

[Bobby Cerny]

megalla@ozemail.com.au wrote:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/5goqw
>
> She will return again,some time in 06',together with the new Camry....

Heard this news in early February, the new model will still be FWD. Rubbish.

> No more Avalon Taxis, 100% Foulcan again :-)

We've got about 10 Avalon taxi's at work. 3 of the first model which were
"trials" are now sporting about 380,000kms, they feel loose as feck but are
generally reliable. Toyota has released the "Camry" taxi pack to replace the
Avalon. Ford will no longer be a 100% game player in the cab business ever
since they stopped painting their taxi pack, although most BA Falcon taxi's
driving around these days are resprayed private cars so you'll find most
have cloth interiors.

> Regards
>
> G/B

--
Regards
--
Bobby
'88 Fairmont Ghia 5spd
'01 Falcon Forte 4spd
MSN: vkn8@hotmail.com

[Kieron]

On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 22:13:27 GMT, "Noddy" <dg4163@_nospam_dod.com.au>
wrote:

>
>"Katharine & Paul" <NOSPAM@NOSPAM.com.au> wrote in message
>news:42415166@news.comindico.com.au...
>
>> After all these years, Toyota still cant work out the bleeding obvious.
>>
>> AUSSIES LIKE REAR WHEEL DRIVE!
>
>Actually, Toyota is selling more cars in this country than anyone else,
>largely with a fleet of front wheel drive vehicles.

Probably better to say Australia like the large cars to be RWD, the
first one of the big two to go to FWD will be the failure so it won't
happen.

>> The Avalon was a nice car, with probably the best interior of a large car.
>> But it was front drive, its marketing only appealed to people aged over 70
>> (who else does Dame Edna appeal to ?). It also looked like a 10 year old
>> car the day it was released.
>
>Which is the main reason why it didn't work I expect.
>
>Toyota went into the big car field with a half hearted approach in my humble
>opinion, and aimed an old car at the wrong audience.

Actually I think Toyota tried to market it at the older audience on
purpose.
They knew they didn't have an exciting car that would appeal to
younger buyers so deliberatly aimed it at the aging population who
don't care as much, added to that of course is FalCom is aimed at the
younger market and it would be way to hard for them to crack that
market segment with a boring FWD.

[Noddy]

"Kieron" <kieronm302@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:424215b2.139658046@203.50.2.233...

> Probably better to say Australia like the large cars to be RWD, the
> first one of the big two to go to FWD will be the failure so it won't
> happen.

I'm sure lots of Americans thought the same way too....

--
Regards,
Noddy.

[Bob Saccamano]

"Katharine & Paul" <NOSPAM@NOSPAM.com.au> wrote in message
news:42415166@news.comindico.com.au...
> After all these years, Toyota still cant work out the bleeding obvious.
>
> AUSSIES LIKE REAR WHEEL DRIVE!

Well large cars anyway.

>
> The Avalon was a nice car, with probably the best interior of a large car.
> But it was front drive, its marketing only appealed to people aged over 70
> (who else does Dame Edna appeal to ?). It also looked like a 10 year old
car
> the day it was released.

The Avalon was and is an excruciatingly boring car. Woeful 80's styling,
bland interior and underwhelming performance. RWD/FWD it doesn't really
matter to the mug punter. Image matters. Dame Edna hurt the Avalon more than
they'd care to admit. It was not the car to be seen in, let alone admit that
you actually purchased one.

>
> They had success in the luxury market in the late 80's/early 90's with the
> REAR DRIVE Cressida (it challenged the Fairlane which previously had the
> market to itself), then replaced it with a front drive upmarket Camry
(which
> failed dismally).
>
> Why does common sense come so hard for Toyota?

Toyotas are bought by people who don't care about image. Toyota make the
best appliances around.

Basically comes down to image.

[Neil Gerace]

"Bob Saccamano" <localhost@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
news:4242280e$0$17772$c30e37c6@ken-reader.news.telstra.net...

> The Avalon was and is an excruciatingly boring car. Woeful 80's styling,
> bland interior and underwhelming performance. RWD/FWD it doesn't really
> matter to the mug punter. Image matters. Dame Edna hurt the Avalon more
> than
> they'd care to admit. It was not the car to be seen in, let alone admit
> that
> you actually purchased one.

Word might have got around that Toyota were trying to sell Australians a
model that had already been superseded in the USA.

[feral]

Neil Gerace wrote:
> "Bob Saccamano" <localhost@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
> news:4242280e$0$17772$c30e37c6@ken-reader.news.telstra.net...
>
>
>>The Avalon was and is an excruciatingly boring car. Woeful 80's styling,
>>bland interior and underwhelming performance. RWD/FWD it doesn't really
>>matter to the mug punter. Image matters. Dame Edna hurt the Avalon more
>>than
>>they'd care to admit. It was not the car to be seen in, let alone admit
>>that
>>you actually purchased one.
>
>
> Word might have got around that Toyota were trying to sell Australians a
> model that had already been superseded in the USA.
>
>
Ho hum. I'll let you's know when I have to spend money
on it, should I expire first, then I wont. :-P
It's comfortable, it's a joy to drive, it's economical
and it's been ultra reliable. Crikey some people are
hard to please. Next you'll be telling me that newer is
ALWAYS better. :-)

--

Take care,
Feral

[feral]

feral wrote:
> Neil Gerace wrote:
>
>> "Bob Saccamano" <localhost@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
>> news:4242280e$0$17772$c30e37c6@ken-reader.news.telstra.net...
>>
>>
>>> The Avalon was and is an excruciatingly boring car. Woeful 80's styling,
>>> bland interior and underwhelming performance. RWD/FWD it doesn't really
>>> matter to the mug punter. Image matters. Dame Edna hurt the Avalon
>>> more than
>>> they'd care to admit. It was not the car to be seen in, let alone
>>> admit that
>>> you actually purchased one.
>>
>>
>>
>> Word might have got around that Toyota were trying to sell Australians
>> a model that had already been superseded in the USA.
>>
> Ho hum. I'll let you's know when I have to spend money on it, should I
> expire first, then I wont. :-P
> It's comfortable, it's a joy to drive, it's economical and it's been
> ultra reliable. Crikey some people are hard to please. Next you'll be
> telling me that newer is ALWAYS better. :-)
>
Oh, and another thing, who followed Toyota into the 24v
era? ;-)

--

Take care,
Feral

[D Walford]

Kieron wrote:
>
> On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 22:13:27 GMT, "Noddy" <dg4163@_nospam_dod.com.au>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Katharine & Paul" <NOSPAM@NOSPAM.com.au> wrote in message
> >news:42415166@news.comindico.com.au...
> >
> >> After all these years, Toyota still cant work out the bleeding obvious.
> >>
> >> AUSSIES LIKE REAR WHEEL DRIVE!
> >
> >Actually, Toyota is selling more cars in this country than anyone else,
> >largely with a fleet of front wheel drive vehicles.
>
> Probably better to say Australia like the large cars to be RWD, the
> first one of the big two to go to FWD will be the failure so it won't
> happen.
>
> >> The Avalon was a nice car, with probably the best interior of a large car.
> >> But it was front drive, its marketing only appealed to people aged over 70
> >> (who else does Dame Edna appeal to ?). It also looked like a 10 year old
> >> car the day it was released.
> >
> >Which is the main reason why it didn't work I expect.
> >
> >Toyota went into the big car field with a half hearted approach in my humble
> >opinion, and aimed an old car at the wrong audience.
>
> Actually I think Toyota tried to market it at the older audience on
> purpose.
> They knew they didn't have an exciting car that would appeal to
> younger buyers so deliberatly aimed it at the aging population who
> don't care as much, added to that of course is FalCom is aimed at the
> younger market and it would be way to hard for them to crack that
> market segment with a boring FWD.

I really doubt that which end of the car has the drive wheels matters
all that much.
IMO its lack of sales is due to its very dated and boring styling.
As proved by AU Falcon and the current Magna a car that is not
considered by most to be good looking will not sell in big numbers.



Daryl

[D Walford]

Bob Saccamano wrote:
>
> "Katharine & Paul" <NOSPAM@NOSPAM.com.au> wrote in message
> news:42415166@news.comindico.com.au...
> > After all these years, Toyota still cant work out the bleeding obvious.
> >
> > AUSSIES LIKE REAR WHEEL DRIVE!
>
> Well large cars anyway.
>
> >
> > The Avalon was a nice car, with probably the best interior of a large car.
> > But it was front drive, its marketing only appealed to people aged over 70
> > (who else does Dame Edna appeal to ?). It also looked like a 10 year old
> car
> > the day it was released.
>
> The Avalon was and is an excruciatingly boring car. Woeful 80's styling,
> bland interior and underwhelming performance. RWD/FWD it doesn't really
> matter to the mug punter. Image matters. Dame Edna hurt the Avalon more than
> they'd care to admit. It was not the car to be seen in, let alone admit that
> you actually purchased one.

If you think the Avalon's performance is "underwhelming" what do you
think of its competition which had even less performance?
At the time of its release the Avalon's performance was as good as if
not better than the 6cyl Falcon and Commodore.



Daryl

[feral]

D Walford wrote:
>
> If you think the Avalon's performance is "underwhelming" what do you
> think of its competition which had even less performance?
> At the time of its release the Avalon's performance was as good as if
> not better than the 6cyl Falcon and Commodore.

Are you reading my insinuations or are you behind in
your posts. :-)


--

Take care,
Feral

[feral]

D Walford wrote:
> feral wrote:
>
>>D Walford wrote:
>>
>>>If you think the Avalon's performance is "underwhelming" what do you
>>>think of its competition which had even less performance?
>>>At the time of its release the Avalon's performance was as good as if
>>>not better than the 6cyl Falcon and Commodore.
>>
>>Are you reading my insinuations or are you behind in
>>your posts. :-)
>>
>
> Some of us actually have to work occasionally you know:-)

I know that. :-)
I just dive in now and again for a rest.
Cutting, grinding, drilling, painting (Cold
Gal),spreading mulch, yada yada yada.
Some of us retirees get out and about you know.:-)

--

Take care,
Feral

[athol]

feral <plonked@home.ru> wrote:

> Oh, and another thing, who followed Toyota into the 24v
> era? ;-)

Dunno. Took them quite a while to catch up with 16 valve engines...

Plenty of other manufacturers were making 24 valve and 16 valve
engines before Toyota got around to it...

--
Athol
<http://cust.idl.com.au/athol> Linux Registered User # 254000
The state of Australia's infrastructure is a national disgrace.
I'm a Libran Engineer. I don't argue, I discuss.

[feral]

Neil Gerace wrote:
> "feral" <plonked@home.ru> wrote in message
> news:424230f0$0$27629$61c65585@un-2park-reader-02.sydney.pipenetworks.com.au...
>
>>Oh, and another thing, who followed Toyota into the 24v era? ;-)
>
>
> It wasn't Nissan, they were there first :)
>
>
That was not the content of the question. :-P

--

Take care,
Feral

[athol]

feral <plonked@home.ru> wrote:
> athol wrote:

>> Dunno. Took them quite a while to catch up with 16 valve engines...

> That has nothing to do with what I stated. Irrelevant. :-)

No it's not. :-p

>> Plenty of other manufacturers were making 24 valve and 16 valve
>> engines before Toyota got around to it...

> C'mon Athol, the General plodded along for the first 4
> years of the Avalons existance without one.

"The general" built 24 valve and even 32 valve engines back in
the 1930s.

> All Holden dealers could do was put shit on the Toyota
> 24v....until they got their own. ;-)

> Now they're "world beaters".

Well, they're beating something. :-p

--
Athol
<http://cust.idl.com.au/athol> Linux Registered User # 254000
The state of Australia's infrastructure is a national disgrace.
I'm a Libran Engineer. I don't argue, I discuss.

[feral]

athol wrote:
>
> No it's not. :-p
>
Tis. :-P
>
> "The general" built 24 valve and even 32 valve engines back in
> the 1930s.
>
Even I wasn't a glimmer in my fathers eye back then. :-)

Is pedancy becoming a popular trait? ;-)
I am comparing the Avalon of 2000 to what the General
had at the time (in V6....yuck).

> Well, they're beating something. :-p
>
Oo ah. :-O

--

Take care,
Feral

[Katharine & Paul]

>
> Actually, Toyota is selling more cars in this country than anyone else,
> largely with a fleet of front wheel drive vehicles.

Like the front wheel drive Hilux, Prado, Landcruiser, Kluger??? They make up
a very large part of Toyotas sales. Toyota dominates the commercial vehicle
market