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test drove a new avalon hybrid ltd

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by schinia, Dec 20, 2013.

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  1. schinia

    schinia Member

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    my wife drove, and i took the back seat. (salesman in the front passenger) the car had a lot of power. (not like my prius v) the test drive did not go well. there was a vibration in the back (my wife felt it also) like there was an unbalanced tire or out of round tire. also i got this feeling of a pressure beating on my ears drums. the best way to describe it, in a fordor car did you ever put a back window down a bit while moving, and get a wind like pressure beating on your ears ?? all the windows in the car were closed ! i noticed after the drive, the car was equipped with bridgestone tires. i will try a test drive at another dealer.
     
    #1 schinia, Dec 20, 2013
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that sounds horrible. they have gotten some good reviews, so keep trying. have you driven the hycam?
     
    #2 bisco, Dec 20, 2013
  3. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    I've had no problems with mine, other than the tires being overinflated, I have the Avalon Hybrid, touring model.
     
    #3 Munpot42, Jan 7, 2014
  4. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    thats new to me a dealer that overinflates tires?
     
    #4 Flying White Dutchman, Jan 7, 2014
  5. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    More likely they simply didn't check before releasing the car. I've heard tires will be overinflated on cars for transport.
     
    #5 Trollbait, Jan 7, 2014
  6. schinia

    schinia Member

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    i did some research, the bridgestone turanza tires were given a 2 stars out of 10. some people said, toyota shouldn't put that lousy tire on any of their cars. but they still are after 4 years of complaints. an odd thing is some people are giving the tire a 7 out of 10 rating, then stating that it was the worst tire they ever had !! GO FIGURE! a lot of people gave it a .02 rating. i just need to find a test car w/michelins on it.
     
    #6 schinia, Jan 8, 2014
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    tyres seem to be a very personal experience for some. i think it has something to do with driving style. personally, i have never had a problem with the oem's on 5 toyota hybrids now, and i take a beating everytime i say it.:cool: i doubt very much that they were the cause of the noise you were hearing, but i guess anything is possible.
     
    #7 bisco, Jan 8, 2014
  8. schinia

    schinia Member

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    i have been around cars my whole life, rebuilding engines, drag racing, you name it. built my first 29 ford roadster hot rod, chopped, channeled, with a 550 hp 59 chrysler hemi. now have a 1915 ford runabout, total resto. have owned more than 45 cars in my life. believe me what i experienced, was coming from low grade tires, not from a new car with the rep avalon has.
     
    #8 schinia, Jan 10, 2014
  9. schinia

    schinia Member

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    that roadster was started when i was 14, and finished when i was 19.
     
    #9 schinia, Jan 10, 2014
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what kind of tyres does your v have?
     
    #10 bisco, Jan 10, 2014
  11. schinia

    schinia Member

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    toyo proxes
     
    #11 schinia, Jan 11, 2014
  12. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Car manufacturers have three criteria for tires: Cheap, round, and black. Two of them are negotiable. I don't know how many Avalons are sitting on the lot but I wouldn't think it would be too hard to find one with different tires.
     
    #12 JimN, Jan 11, 2014
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    funny, someone in another thread was complaining that the toyo proxes on his v were whining and driving him crazy.
     
    #13 bisco, Jan 11, 2014
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    we had the turanza's on our first hycam, nut sure about the new one. and while they didn't wear very well, they were very quiet.
     
    #14 bisco, Jan 11, 2014
  15. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    My new 13 Avalon came with Michelins, I'm a happy camper.
     
    #15 Munpot42, Jan 11, 2014
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you can't beat michelin's.(y)
     
    #16 bisco, Jan 11, 2014
  17. xraydoug

    xraydoug Active Member

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    our 12 hycam came with turanza's it has the lower profile it think 17" wheel setup, the tires seem quiet unless doing hard cornering. we have had many michelins and that is what I always end up buying when we need to replace tires. the camry has 30k and the tires will need replaced before next winter they will have 40-50K miles on them.

    If I test drove a car that had any problems like shaking or the pressure on your ears while driving I would not buy that one. just go find another that works correctly. if multiple have these issues then I would test the hycam or lexus ect..
    that is JMO. good luck
     
    #17 xraydoug, Jan 11, 2014
  18. wudbuchr

    wudbuchr Junior Member

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    Our 2013 Toyota Avalon XLE Touring Hybrid came with Michelin MXV4's and we're satisfied with them. Used to run Michelin HydroEdge on our 2006 Prius.
     
    #18 wudbuchr, Mar 2, 2014
  19. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Are those LRR's?
     
    #19 markabele, Mar 2, 2014
  20. wudbuchr

    wudbuchr Junior Member

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    Not sure, let me go look. It may be printed on the tire casing. They are Michelin Primacy 215/55-R17 (93V) - NOT LRR. Michelin's LRR tires are marked "Green X" - (see Tire Rack on the internet).
     
    #20 wudbuchr, Mar 2, 2014
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