Toyota discontinued their “top-of-the-line” Cressida after the 1992 model year and did something strange. They released a replacement in 1995 called the Avalon, that was front-drive V6 powered and built in America. It borrowed heavily from the Camry and Lexus ES platforms and was canceled after the 2022 model year to be superseded by the “Made-in-Japan” Crown. Good bye Avalon, you won’t really be missed, but today we’ve got a clean looking Avalon that has low miles, is cheap, but has a salvage title. Find this 1998 Toyota Avalon offered for $3900 in Chula Vista, CA via craigslist.
From the seller:
1998 Toyota Avalon VIN: 4T1BF18B5WU262046 condition: good cylinders: 6 cylinders fuel: gas odometer: 92000 paint color: blue size: mid-size title status: salvage transmission: automatic type: sedan Selling my 98 Toyota Avalon, V6, 3.0L, 92k miles
Did you know that these were available with a front bench seat and a column selector so you could seat 6…Both the first and second generation…I had no idea until I was down a deep rabbit hole about six seat sedans…
I owned one of these, with the aforementioned front bench and column shifter. Sat 5 comfortably, held 85 on the highway all day no problem. Decently punchy V6 that actually had a decent intake growl. Surprisingly fun to drive
As a former valet for an urban Ritz-Carlton, can confirm all of the above: geezer pleasin’ (check!), punchy acceleration (0-35 mph 1.6 seconds, tossable parking garage gymkhana 350 pts!), Buick analogue check!, I even liked the near-Lexus interior upgrades in the later versions that actually felt better and more intuitive than the actual Lexus models. Seriously, Climbing in one of these on a hectic night felt like an oasis of tranquility, far from the madding crowds of Tesla driving douchebros “Do you KNOW how to DRIVE a Tesla like this?” and clapped out Hummers whose drivers ALWAYS insisted they be parked up front and the needless complexity of the newest BMWs and Mercedes models. Avalon drivers never stiffed valets.
Did you know that these were available with a front bench seat and a column selector so you could seat 6…Both the first and second generation…I had no idea until I was down a deep rabbit hole about six seat sedans…
This is better a boatload of anti-depressants.
(Reminder to self: google google code scam)
3900 for a 25 year old sedan with a salvage title is not cheap.
The styling is so bland. The Avalon could have been in the 1998 Buick lineup and not seemed out of place.
We affectionately refer to my buddy’s Avalon as the “geezer pleaser”.
Definitely from the Buick school of road isolation and creature comfort.
I owned one of these, with the aforementioned front bench and column shifter. Sat 5 comfortably, held 85 on the highway all day no problem. Decently punchy V6 that actually had a decent intake growl. Surprisingly fun to drive
As a former valet for an urban Ritz-Carlton, can confirm all of the above: geezer pleasin’ (check!), punchy acceleration (0-35 mph 1.6 seconds, tossable parking garage gymkhana 350 pts!), Buick analogue check!, I even liked the near-Lexus interior upgrades in the later versions that actually felt better and more intuitive than the actual Lexus models. Seriously, Climbing in one of these on a hectic night felt like an oasis of tranquility, far from the madding crowds of Tesla driving douchebros “Do you KNOW how to DRIVE a Tesla like this?” and clapped out Hummers whose drivers ALWAYS insisted they be parked up front and the needless complexity of the newest BMWs and Mercedes models. Avalon drivers never stiffed valets.