I'm still getting used to my 350D and all of it's settings and i'm needing some major help here...

i took these photos yesterday.. lots of sunlight, all shot in AV mode, ISO 100, on Evaluative metering. Most shots have a high f/stop but the shutter speed was reduced automatically (yet there is more then enough light to allow a high shutter speed and an evenly exposed picture)

These are just a few examples.. alot of shots came out great.. but alot came out horrible like these.

Is it due to the metering mode? Should i have changed to one of my other 2 choices for this type of shot? I mean some shots were EXTREMELY over exposed, yet had a shutter speed of like 1/30, i need to figure out what i'm doing wrong so i can avoid having ruined pictures next time.

Any advice?

Evaluative Meter has obviously got the exposure right on these shots 'averagely'. You didn't spot meter the faces, and thus they're over-exposed because most of the frame is filled with different exposures.

Try all 3 metering modes on the same subject in the same lighting conditions to get an idea on which metering mode does what for you, and which suits you best for that given style of photograph.

I would suggest using a circular polarizer for the car ones, helps a ton.

Evaluative metering and the harsh sunlight is the problem. On the first pic, the background is correctly exposed but the harsh direct sunlight got blown on their faces. (their faces actually have both direct sun and shade) The second and third was a result of the black car it seems.

For this, shoot in manual and adjust accordingly. If you wan to stay in Av, dial in some -EC. But really there's not much you can do in harsh sunlight.

Chimp the histogram!