Thanks again you guys! I'll stick with Lexus and buy used rather than buying the Avalon. I honestly think that I would love the Avalon for a couple of months and then watch an LS400 drive by and wish I would have bought that instead. It has better curb appeal than the Avalon.

 

I have a 94 Ls400 and my mother has a 2002 Avy . It is comfortable fast . has more gizmos than my car. TECH difference( 8years apart) Some which impresses me more of Lexus. But I think the avy looks more sporty. I like her rims better than my stockers. Get the Avalon, it is the Ls430. Read up on manufacturing and you'll get the info you need. But hey you want the L on your bumper get a Lexus. Thats why I bought one. Its amazing what a car can do for image.

 

The Avalon is made in Georgetown, Kentucky alongside the Camry.
Just to throw my opinion in, I'd go for a used Lexus, especially given that you're used to the SC400, an incredibly refined, powerful, and quiet car. As for noise, my V6 ES is incredibly quiet compared to anything I've ever driven, and seems to be better soundproofed than my friend's 96 Avalon. Go for the late '90s LS400, or even better, a GS400 (sportier, and wouldn't want to drive a car quite as big as the LS).
If you do go with the Avalon, it's still an incredibly well-built, comfortable car. Just doesn't have quiet the attention to detail (soundproofing, interior materials), afforded to vehicles with the Lexus badge.

 

Uh, no it isn't.

Read what Squarehat wrote. The Avalon is built on the FWD Camry platform here in the US. The significantly more refined RWD LS platform is made in Japan. Please note that I am NOT pro Japan anti-US by any stretch of the imagination.......the LS400 is the first Japanese car I've owned. The US is just starting to produce world quality cars, although there's none that I can think of that rivals the LS400/LS430 at_this_point_in_time.

I'm merely saying the the Avalon isn't the same as the LS Series, not even close. The Avalon is a big Camry that competes with the likes of Buick. It is NOT a world class luxury car like the LS400/LS430s.

 

Go For the LS, they don't have the same ride, they are nothing alike. My grandfather's newer avalon could hardly compete with my old ES, so comparing it to an LS is just a joke. Good car in its own respect, but not when compared to an LS

 

YEAH THERE ARE SOME DIFFRENCES. ITS A MONEY THING.

MY STEREO HITS HARDER TOO. I'LL BUY ANOTHER LEXUS BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT THE AVALON IS STILLGREAT

 

Having some experience with new Avalon, a new ES 300 and two LS 400's, I thought the Avalon (2000 model) outdrove and outperformed the ES 300 (2002 model). In fact I was very disappointed with the ES 300's performance when compared to the Avalon. The LS's I own (or owned) cannot be compared in any way to either the ES 300 or the Avalon. Different league, different class, different car, period. Nothing rides like, performs like, loves the driver more than the LS. For my money, take that $30,000 you'd spend on a new Avalon and buy a three year old LS 400 with moderate mileage. You'll never regret the feeling of that 290 horses pulling you effortlessly along in a style you can quickly get spoiled by. I've owned 40 cars. I really don't think I'll ever buy anything other than another LS.

 

Great advice. Before I buy anything I need to know what my family is going to look like in a year or two. The wife is already wanting to add an addition to the family. We have two puppies, I thought that might hold her over for a couple of years, but it hasn't. <GRIN> Baby comes, I'll get the LS, no baby, I'll get the GS400 and enjoy for a couple of years till we do have the family. She wants a Sequoia, so we're off to the Toyota dealership next weekend to start test driving. Wish me luck.