Cole said:
Is the bench seat a must-have? I get that it’s rare, but is it essential?
It’s just a whole different vibe, honestly. If you haven’t sat in a bench seat Avalon, it’s like driving while sitting on a comfy couch. Just makes the ride a lot more enjoyable.
@Fallon
Sounds amazing. I have a 2001 XLS without the bench, and those seats already feel like recliners. This car is just built differently.
Cole said:
@Fallon
Sounds amazing. I have a 2001 XLS without the bench, and those seats already feel like recliners. This car is just built differently.
No kidding, Avalon seats are unmatched. Every road trip I took in mine was so comfortable.
I own a 99 Avalon XLS with bench seats. I bought it salvage and have had it for 16 years now. It’s so comfortable—feels like sitting on a couch. And the center console folds down so I can squeeze in a 6th passenger if needed.
I did have some shaking issues at higher speeds for a while. Tried a lot of fixes but nothing worked until I put on new Michelin Defenders. Now it’s smooth on the highway.
Only problem now is finding parts. There’s a lot of small stuff like lock actuators and door handles that are a pain to replace.
@Dior
Yeah, I feel like the XLS wasn’t as popular even though it had great features for its time. I had a bit of shaking too, but that was just a bent rim in my case.