2013 Avalon Hybrid

It's just too much trouble to DIY. Not worth it. My free stuff just ran out. I'll continue changing the air filter and cabin filter (very easy) myself. As you say, the dealer is very reasonable for oil changes. I'll just let them do it.

 

I will keep my eye out for the Avalon Hybrid for the Wife. She currently drives a 2008 corolla with only 38k on it. She originally had a 2005 prius, but didn't like the lack of get up and go. She likes my Prius because she says it seems to have more pep than her's did, but I know she would love the Avalon Hybrid. Anything getting over 40 mpg and is a Toyota is an easy sell to this family.

 

Just remember to ALWAYS check the oil level immediately after the dealer services the car, and periodically thereafter. I've found the level overfilled, badly, on many occasions.

There's been some stories of improperly installed drain bolts letting oil run out, leading to engine failure as well.

 

Who among you doesn't love lying under a ton or two of wet, dripping steel, holding a hot oil filter while an oil trickle nears your armpit.

 

Oh yes...........what I live for!!

 

I get your point on the oil changes, but the cabin air filter and the engine air filter, even a 73 year old ought to be able to do that....I hope.

 

Ah, that brings back fond memories, well maybe not so fond.

 

Toyota hasn't gone with cartridge filters accessed from the top yet? Are they letting Ford say where the filter should go?

 

I changed the cabin filter at 2 years. Easy!

 

Very easy to change the cabin filter on your Avalon. You don't have to disengage the glove box like on the Prius. Just empty your glove box. In the extreme back of the glove box is the cabin filter. Just carefully push in the clips on both sides of the plastic cover and remove. Replace the cabin filter. Replace the cover by pushing the clips in until they lock. About a 5 minute easy job. I use a Toyota brand cabin filter. When you insert the new one make sure the arrows on the filter are pointing up.

 

i would kill for that set up.

 

It is almost impossible to believe but they finally made something very simple to do.

 

And it uses the same filter as my 2016 Prius.

 

the air filter maybe the simplest maintenance on the prius.

 

With a 2001 Sable and 1996 Taurus before it, the cabin filter behind the glove box is worth killing for.

 

Anybody replaced tires on their Avalon Hybrid yet, it's getting close to that time.

 

My 2015 hybrid's tires were at the wear tabs at the 19k mark, garbage stock tires. I already replaced with continentals, the ones on tirerack that have the longest predicted tread life (eco plus I think), though in truth I can see them already wearing. I don't drive my cars like most people do, though; I'm not afraid of the throttle and I pay for that in rubber.

 

I'm getting about 34 MPG a tank right now. When it's really cold that will be more like 33, and maybe up to 36 when the weather warms up. Even if I go through a babied tank I never hit the numbers claimed. That said, even that mileage is pretty good for a very large sedan that has 200 horsepower. It's an infinitely, incomparably better driving experience to a prius or a corolla. The avalon hybrid still has the terrible throttle response part and parcel to all hybrids, with the seemingly day-long wind up of the RPM before throttle finally kicks in once the car is floored, but once it gets going it pulls decently. I still don't understand why an all electric car has immediate, no-delay throttle response, and a standard ICE has a second (?) delay before torque is maximized, but when the ICE is combined with the electric like in these cars (toyota hybrids) the lag is far more severe than even in an ICE-only car.

Before anybody mentions it: ECO doesn't actually lengthen throttle response whatsoever; it merely adjusts the pedal travel. If you floor the car in ECO or in sport mode your 0-60 is exactly the same, and this has actually been confirmed (plus you can feel it anecdotally driving around).

 

I think I'm going schizophrenic with my search for that perfect car. I was telling a buddy that I was looking for a fuel efficient newer car for my long distance driving habits and was thinking of getting a Prius or a Prius C. He said, "Why not get a full sized car?" His argument was that fuel is only part of the price of the vehicle and that I'd be much happier in a bigger, more comfortable car. So I decided to at least look at such cars and I found the Avalon hybrid. Now I'm looking for a used car, and the Avalons are a bit more expensive than the Prii I was looking at. Yet I might be able to land one without too many miles for $15,000 or so.