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That is what is annoying people.
I happen to prefer the Accord interior to the old Camry and to the photos I have seen of the 2002s and say so without having to make rude comments about the Camry to justify it.
I have not seen any photos of the 2002 XLE or SE interior and will save any comments about those until I see them.
The new Camry has a dash that looks sort of like a cross between the dash of a Tundra and a Buick Lesabre. Not sporty or cockpit-like like an Accord (or even a Toyota Solara). Lots of people like the Tundra and Buick Le Sabre and if that is the type of look you prefer to the look of the Solara or Accord, then great.
~alpha
I didn't know about the power train warranty in Toyota products. Thanks for that info, I would agree that the engine in the Alero is old tech, but it is pretty good. Very good passing power all the way up to 80. Anything over that doesn't really matter to me.
It has did all right in crash tests, except for the offset crash, which the validity of has not been proven. Government test wise the Alero gets a 3 and 4 star rating. The Alero also does not offer Side Impact Air bags which puts it back a notch, I wish it did offer those. The handling has been much better then the Camry's that I have driven. So this would put the Alero at an advantage in crash-avoidance. (I do have the performance suspension, not sure of the normal one.)
I would also concur with your 100k question, but the car is pretty much maintenance free especially up to 100k. This makes cost of operating very cheap. Also due to the simplicity of the engine design repairs should be cheap. Although I am not anticipating many problems, I am very very anal about maintaining and taking care of my car.
Of no greater value? I disagree... these are people who test automobiles for a living and have the perspective to compare the entire spectrum of makes and models. Unlike you, Ravvie and Coolguy.
And somehow I expect that their opinions would be highly regarded by you if they said the same thing about the Camry's interior... but they don't. Disrespecting their viewpoints is certainly self-serving, given that they don't agree with yours.
If these engines are so great, why they have never been awarded??
BTW, my other favorite V6 engine aside from the 3800 and the 3.5L 'Shortstar' is the 3.0L V6 from Nissan which is the best V6 engine on any Japanese car. I am sure the 3.5L DOHC V6 in the 2002 Altima will be another 'Homerun'...(Sorry Honda and Toyota)
TL | Camry
225hp | 191
5sp auto s.s. | 4 sp auto
heated Seats | n/a
mem. Seats | n/a
HID lights | n/a
4/50 warr. | 3/36
loaner cars | n/a
remote trunk | ?? not sure
home link "
prestige got to move up to Lexus $$
* Plus 10k difference between Camry base & XLE models
BTW this is why I went with a 2001 CL last June 2001. The 2001 Camry just did not have enough whistles & bells for the asking price. Plus you can't hardly find the color you want with who knows what option packages. IMHO the TL/CL interiors was far better than anything I saw in the Camry's.
I paid $27.5 for my CL (28.5 MSRP), when the '01 XLE Camry's, were well over the 30k mark.
Someone said it best, If you want a Camry buy an LE and save your money [most people won't know the difference any how].
If you going to spend close to 30k, best to do you homework.
Toyota designs interiors to be high-quality and highly functional. Let's start with the backseats of the car. Camry and COROLLA both have two individual, adjustable headrests. Accord doesn't. Toyota's making of this does cost more money...but it is more functional and has a more upscale look. The Accord's hand grips above the door are a solid piece of material. The Camry has a leatherlike material that allows the grip to be pulled further out when being used. A hook is also provided to hang a clothes hanger on. Once more, Toyota has keep in mind function. Doors are much more convenient when the locking device is right by the door handle instead of up next to the window. Having it to the far side, almost behind the driver in some cases doesn't make sense to me. Having it within easy reach of the power windows and door handles seems quite a bit more convenient. The unsightly glove box in the Accord shows itself rather than the Camry's under dash glove compartment gives the interior an overall better looking clean, smooth style.
I like the two tone of the Accord. However, I don't like some of the asymmetry on the Accord's dash with the emergency light and I assume digital clock. The clock should be on top with a long, instead of tall, emergency blinker button underneath. I like the look of the leather in the Accord but I don't think its as functional as Toyota's tighter leather. Tightened leather seems to provide more support and is easier to clean rather than the flappy folds on loose leather. Camry does have some "flap" but not as much as Accord. The Accord's ceiling has a cap on it, which I have always assumed to hold up the fabric on the ceiling. Toyota doesn't have this making the interior even better in this tiny aspect.
One final thing I have for now...is that the current Accord's dash compared to the new Camry's is quite actually the same. The Accord has the large empty space under the AC/stereo area. However, it has sides that the Camry is missing...Toyota has probably gone for a more open look...and possibly bumping up the number of cubic feet in the cabin. The Accord's dash extends a little lower than Camry but its basically the same thought process. Once more, to state my position, I think that Toyota does a better job keeping their designs clean cut and functional. If you think you have the ideal interior for a family sedan, I'd like to hear it because nobody can do it better than a car company. BTW...I just noticed that www.toyota.com does have a link to something on the 2002 Camry besides the news posts. Go to Camry page, and the left top corner has a window to click on. "You Want It"
Let's see what kinds of conclusions a more holistic viewpoint yield:
"The Accord's interior is dominated by an impeccable dashboard design. Drivers will appreciate the large gauges, the clear layout of controls, and the eye-soothing contours. Nice touches - such as covered cupholders and downward-inclined storage spaces in the console and glove box - add to its appeal."
(Car and Driver magazine)
They go further to say:
"Everything about the Accord feels finely sculpted and polished".
I guess they don't have any problems with the quality of the interior components.
On the other hand, on the Camry:
"Our jury was disappointed by an uninspiring dashboard design, and we were dissatisfied with the flat, soft front-seat cushions".
Uninspiring design... my thoughts exactly.
How about Motor Trend?:
"Honda's interior is nearly as comfortable and user-friendly... The color and grain of all molded panels are well-matched and have a solid, dense feel. Attention to detail extends to the nicely stitched leather seating surfaces; in fact, the entire car exudes a sense of quality, so it's no surprise this popular Honda remains a top seller."
A solid, dense feel? A sense of quality? Attention to detail? Hardly sounds like the subpar interior that you claim that the Accord has.
Yeah, yeah, it's their opinion, etc. But it is interesting that so many of the magazines agree on this point... hardly coincidence. And the magazines are much more likely to be objective and unbiased than the relentlessly pro-Toyota faction represented here.
as far as interior.....the 97-2001camry/solara has a lame center armrest... it doesn't go forward enough, possibly due to the cupholders... you can add an "optional" center armrest that sits a bit higher due to more padding--but even that is not as comfortable as the honda accord center armrest that sits high and is substantial compared to the camry's...
second, the trip odometer and the regular odometer can be seen simultaneously in the accord-- whereas with the camry you have to push the little button to view the trip odometers...how is the camry design better than hondas here?
third, the center storage bin is useful in the accord-- in fact i think the 2002 camry added a center storage bin in front of the shifter....good idea.. and ooh wee is the coin box in the 97-2001 camry vulgar in its design...
now i'm objective here-- honda's tilt steering mechanism is lame compared to camry/solara... the camry has a much better radio (jbl upgrade)as well...i think the moonroof switch is mounted up by the moonroof in the toyota-- better than where honda has it located on the dash....the headrests in the solara tilted forward, whereas hondas are stationary-- toyota is better here as well
all i am saying is, these cars are so close, that's it's little things like this that i tend to notice... i remember when i filled up with gas with the solara, the fuel filler door did not swing wide enough, so when i placed the cap on the little holder on the door, it would sometimes be in the way when i placed the nozzle into the filler tube... with honda, the fuel filler door swings out of the way much better so the cap doesn't get knocked down accidently while fueling..
thus, there's pros and cons to each car-- to suggest one is better than another as far as interior i think all depends on what you deem as important... i owned a solara and now i own an accord- there's good point and bad points about each car as far as interior goes-- am i nuts?
I stopped and looked (didn't drive) at three '02 Camrys this evening and was pretty impressed. I have an Accord and think the interior layout is better than the Camry (previous generations), but the Camry's materials do seem to be of higher quality. Also, the Camry's doors shut with a heavy solid feel that I can not match in my Accord.
I remember laughing at the Intigue when it came out because the interior door panel "breathed" when the window was rolled up and down. My Accord does the same thing (I don't laugh now). My '96 Camry never did this and I assume the '02 doesn't either. Not a big deal, but I do think it points to the overall quality of the materials.
Most important to me: Regarding the suspension, steering feel and 4 cyl engine, I would take the sportier Accord over previous Camrys. The new Camry 4 cyl has probably helped to even things. I will wait to test drive an SE to see how much tighter the suspension is than an LE/XLE. Is the steering supposed to be heavier? I hope that in Toyota fashion, it makes you pay extra for the spoiler, because I would not want it standard on the SE. I think a spoiler would look absurd on this car as they do on most.
One of the '02 Carmys was parked at the end of a row of Avalons and I almost passed it up. Talk about family resemblance. The rears are very similar. If the pavement was even, it looked like the Camry's front end was higher than the Avalon's. The larger alloy wheels definitely look better on this design than the smaller wheels w/caps. In person, I wasn't blown away with the styling, but as everyone has said, it is an improvement over the previous generation.
I can't believe I forgot to look, but I assume the new Camry's exhaust pipe no longer sags down? It used to look like an afterthought and would bottom out.
Sorry for the long post, but I like both cars and thought some balanced reporting was in order. I also look forward to the new Altima joining the fracas.
-RAVvie4me
ps--Coolguy and myself are different people, just want to make that clear with jvkalra and any others.
venus537:
I have seen the interior of the new Camry. I think the guages look alot like the Lincoln LS. It's not perfect, but I can't seem to find as much wrong with the 2002 Camry's interior as you do.
-RAVvie4me
Yeah, I signed up for the "You Want It" thing too. I figured I would sign up and see what it's all about. It probably is, like you said, notice of the Camry's official launch.
-RAVvie4me
Gary
here they are...
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1761645&a=13588865&f=0&vt=vp
I'm left with the Jetta and Accord Coupe (sedan looks too bland) as cars for consideration. Passat gets too expensive for me.
~alpha
Nice job on the pictures... the dash looks much better in your pictures than in the ones I've seen before.
Can't wait to see one in person here in Canada.
Gauges are sharp. Audio controls have that large flat surface area on buttons and knobs like a Lexus. Silver door trim is really sporty! This is all on those pictures above of the SE model. That RDS system is neat although its nothing new. My mom's Avalon has it.
BTW-Thanks a ton Garyct for the great pictures!
The new Camry is available in three trim levels, LE, SE and XLE. The entry level CE is discontinued. Unfortunately you will have to buy a copy of the magazine because it is not posted at the company's website.
http://www.amiautoworld.com/
We have "talked" over on the Lexus ES board. Now that you have had a chance to see, maybe test drive, a 02 Camry, have you decided?
Chip
The front view of the car looks vaguely like the front of the 97-01 ES300.
The 3 spoke steering wheel in the SE makes a difference, but it looks as though if you get the SE model, you cannot get the autotemp control with rear seat vents, Homelink and some other nice options available on the XLE.
Mackabee,
What about accessories? I would most definately want splash guards and a moonroof visor for my SE model. I hope they will be offered, Camrys don't look right without them.
: )
Mackabee
Also, from the pictures I saw, the Camry really does need the mudguards, any car that I buy has to have them, due to all the road work being done in my area all the time. I went over a newly paved and painted road in my Accord a couple of weeks ago, and the paint got on my back bumper, but none got on my side sills, because the front of the car has splash guards, so they are very important to me.
Have you sold any 2002 Camrys yet, and do you have any pictures of the XLE model?
So, a Camry, unfortunately, remains a Camry. To buy an XLE for 30K... I don't know, seems like a waste of money.
The trunk is great. Big,nicely shaped & very usuable. I drove a 4cyl SE. I'm sorry, but 4Cyl & SE don't cut it. If you get an SE it should be a six, otherwise too much of a contradiction in what it is trying to deliver. Too many other little touches to list that I liked.
So many options. SE doesn't come with alloy wheels. What's that all about.
And that ToyoGuard $600.00 ripoff needs to stop. They have been getting away with for twenty years ( when I bought my first Toyota ).
I intend to go look at it again in a few weeks. No car is perfect, especially this one. But I did like it overall.
I must not forget to mention something I found very disturbing. I have purchased eleven new cars for myself and have helped many friends and family members buy cars. In all the many different car brands and dealerships I have had dealings with, I don't understand why Toyota dealers ALWAYS give false information when they compare their product to the other guy.
Example.....They said that the Nissan Maxima HP was 217. Well they were comparing their 2002 to Nissan's 2001. The 2002 Maxima has 255HP. They also said the Maxima oil change interval was 3,500 mi. Camry was 5000. Well the Maxima is 7500 miles and has been for many years. They also implied the Toyota warranty is longer than Nissan.
The Camry now has a timing chain. Well Maxima has had it since 95, but they said the Maxima has a timing belt that needs to be replaced. I don't understand why they feel they must do this.
The base radio was very nice. At least I think it was the base radio.
-RAVvie4me
Also, are heated seats available only with leather interior? I'd love to have heated cloth seats.
I agree with one of the posters complaint about the tilt steering wheel. That used to be one of the advantages over the Accord which I used to tell customers about. Now it's the same as the Highlander and has a lower range of adjustment. To me the car looks like a Mercedes from the back, similar to a Taurus if you look at the profile, and some cues from the 92-96 generation looking at it straight ahead from the front. It looks monstrous (size wise) sitting next to the last generation.
: )
Mackabee