If you are near a CarMax location, try taking it there for an appraisal. It has been my experience (selling them 2 of them) that they are probably going to give you a more realistic value of what your car is worth in the wholesale market.
I would bet that you could sell it your self for $3-4K basis the fact that it is a Toyota.
Also, you might want to check for sludge. That is the killer on Camry's in the used car market. Take it to your dealer and ask if there is sludge buildup in the engine.
I just sold a 2002 Ford Focus to Carmax for $4300. I tried trading it in at several dealerships in the area, none offering more than $3500. I highly recommend CarMax. Highly professional people. In other news, my 89 Camry wagon has a V6 but no power options whatsoever. Not even cruise. I've always wondered how car companies figure out how to group various options. My first car was an '86 Ford Taurus that had no passenger side rearview mirror--to this day I have never spotted another Taurus with only one mirror. Maybe there's some logic to it, who knows.
Some Camrys continue to be imported, more so to West Coast dealers than elsewhere, but they can be found all over the country. Some trim levels/option combos are more likely to be imports.
SEs are intended to be a niche product, and so they are produced in numbers that fill that role. My sightings in the West are rare, but not so rare as to make them invisible.
As far as I know, no memory is available. The XLE does have a power passenger seat standard, but not the SE. Go for the SE if you prefer handling crispness, the XLE if you want luxury and plushness. Be aware that if youre looking at V6 models- the SE is notably stronger due to its larger displacement (3.3L vs. 3.0) which results in greater lowe end torque. Side SRS is more readily available in the XLE, at least in the Greater NY region, for what its worth.
Anyone familiar with the OEM-like after market fog light kits currently being offered by several Ebay merchants?? They appear to be just like OEM fog lights and are selling for about $160.
Thanks!!
I did read the early posts about OEM fog light installation BUT the post(s) deal with Canadian Camrys, not US Camrys. Might there be a difference??
if you have a 2002 camry, it should be installed with no problem, if you have a 2003 you can't pop out the plastic tabs anymore for the fog lights, you have to cut them out, I don't know about 2004.
I have an 04 Camry SE. Love it! My wife drives an 04 LE. She loves it!
I went for the SE because I like the sport suspension and the silver gauge package. Also, they come standard with fog lights and moon roof.
Clearly, there are more LE's on the road than SE's mainly due to the fact that several of the rental car fleets buy them and flip them at about 12k-14k miles. Most of these companies don't buy SE's so that market is much smaller than LE or XLE, for that matter.
I preferenced a 04 Camry SE 4 CYL with ABS and side air bags ... You can't find ABS on a 4 CYL in TX ... I was told 6 - 8 weeks when I gave them my $500 deposit. That was 9 weeks ago.
I had to contact the dealer to find out that it may take another 6 -7 weeks. Total sounds like 3-4 months to me to get it my way. They will also try to get me to sign away my Lemon Law rights.
It is worth the wait. Your wait seems to be normal for a special order.
I ordered a Camry SE 4cyl in Sept. 29, 2001 and it came in December 29 2001. I wanted a 4 Cly with Side Bags and ABS, plus the 6 disc changer and all of the power equipment but no leather. It was possible to get one that way, but they just weren't building them like that. It seems then, like now, they would rather build a loaded 6 cyl SE or a not so loaded 4 cyl SE.
In my case, there WERE'NT any 4 cyl SE's due to be built like mine. It took over a week for my dealership to get approval from Georgetown that they would build what I wanted. Some people who claim their car was ordered and built in three weeks were probably able to have their dealer obtain a car that was due to be built already.
If it is what you want, a few weeks won't really matter.
I find it very strange that ABS is NOT standard on all SE's. I live in the Mid-Atlantic area and you can't even find one without the ABS. It seems as if the dealers in this area order the SE's with side airbags and ABS most of the time.
Maybe you want to look to another area of the country and get one from there and pay to have it moved to Texas or buy a one-way plane ticket. The wait you mention is totally ridiculous!
The Gulf States Toyota distributor is known nationwide as an independent cuss who does things their own way, and to hell with what Toyota is doing in the rest of the country. Put simply, if I lived anywhere in the SE, I would buy my car someplace else, and happily drive it home without involving these pirates. They charge extra for everything, they invent bizarre "mandatory" option packages, they limit availability of cars the rest of the country can get, and under current franchise law, Toyota can do absolutely nothing about it. Only way I know to handle this kind of thing is to take your business elsewhere. There are nationwide buying services available, not to mention the simple expedient of contacting dealers outside the SE Zone to test for some degree of customer-oriented cooperation.
Actually, I live in the Mid-Atlantic region as well, not in the Gulf States region. I agree ABS should be standard in the Camry, but when I was in the market, I kid you not, there were no 4cyl SE's with ABS and the Curtain Bags. My salesman remarked to me that there weren't any cars on the Mid Atlantic Allocation list or any that were already built when I ordered mine.
I'm glad to see that the dealers in your area are opting for the ABS on the SE's. It's funny, after I ordered mine, my dealer told me that they decided to spec out a few SE's like mine. But, a year later, when my brother was in the market for a new Camry, he was told by all of the dealers in the area that XLE 4's were easy to get with the Side Bags(ABS is Standard I believe), but to get a SE like mine he would have to order.
I just hope they make ABS standard on the '05s.
The wait is long, but if the SE is really what you really want I would recommend it. My brother didn't really care about the SE vs. XLE and so he purchased the XLE and is very happy.
In all honesty, I have yet to know ANYONE whose reliability concern is the ABS computer/cylinder whatever. We've had ABS on cars for at least the past 8 years, and have never had an issue. The slight possibility of added cost down the road is a VERY small price to pay for the added peace of mind (read: steering control in all situations) that ABS provides.
edh- Thats fine if you dont have ABS. But please dont drive behind me on the Garden State Parkway on a day like today. Thanks.
ABS. I had it go on my Old Mercury. I did not fix it...no big deal...just no ABS. It MAY be less likely to go on a Toyota but if it does it also likely cost much more to repair as well. I specifically opted NOT to get it on on my '02 Camry because of the added cost, the fact that it could not be bundled with traction control and the fact that there no longer seams to be an insurance break for having it. I believe it is a great feature if used properly. Sadly many people start pumping the brake in panic mode as soon as the ABS kicks in.
What year was your "old" Mercury? As technology ages, it becomes more reliable. If you didnt "fix" the ABS anyway, I think its very surprising you passed on a $300 ($250 invoice) option with your 2002 Camry.
My point is that I understand the concerns, but for the minimal upfront cost, in my book, its worth the purchase in terms of safety (vehicle control), and resale value ESPECIALLY if, in the ODD CASE that the ABS computer eventually fails, you can opt not to fix it anyway.
I had a rental Camry with no ABS and I thought the brakes were terrible. Modulation was difficult and I found it easy to lock up the wheels in anything greater than 3/4 pressure. For me, if the choice was between a Camry w/o ABS and another car, Id probably get the other car. Mind you, our 2002 Corolla does not have ABS, but I find the pedal much firmer, modulation much easier, and the car less ready to lock.
It was a first car with ABS and I love it. I could not make the car spinning on slippery snow under braking. The next useful feature that I wish to have on my Camry would be VSC.
Stopping distances are not decreased with ABS. In fact in some conditions (snow and ice) stopping distances may be longer. This is a proven fact. The main benefit ABS gives is that you can steer while braking and it can eliminate the possibility of the brakes locking. In dry conditions I'll take ABS. However, in snow and ice covered surfaces I prefer a vehicle without it. I wouldn’t be surprised that ABS equipped cars have caused more accidents than cars without ABS. Something to do with a false sense of security. I know, I know I'm opening a can of worms.
Not really opening a can of worms, you're just restating that which has already been said.
ABS is most beneficial for maintaining steering control on dry roads and in rainy conditions. Generally, cars with ABS can also stop shorter in the rain, because cars without ABS will skid. However, on packed snow and ice, where friction coefficients are substantially different from rain slicked and/or dry roads, ABS may increase stopping distances. (Additionally serious off-roaders prefer having vehicles without or with defeatable ABS due to the varied types of terrain with widely different frictions and contact textures.)
In almost all cases, it is people who cause accidents, not the cars themselves (exception: mechanical failure- a rarity). That said, misusderstanding/misuse of ABS is a main reason why the feature hasnt truly taken off. Many people still think you need to pump the brakes, or that ABS does indeed create shorter stopping distance, or just plain get scared when it activates.
I dont really get why people get "scared" and take their foot off of the brake pedal. Its 2004, and ABS has been around in mass production for almost 20 years. Havent people heard how to use it by now? Additionally, if I'm hurtling toward some object at an alarming velocity, and I slam on my brakes, subsequently feel a strong pulse and grinding noise, I'm not very apt to think "Oh dear, thats startling! I think I'd rather hit that object than feel that sensation, let me take my foot off the pedal and put it in God's hands".
Seriously though, why arent those who are startled by the sensation and sound of ABS more concerned with the prospect of hitting something?
No need to get surly. I think I did a very fair job in my last post of presenting the functional pros and cons of ABS.
I recognize that ABS is expensive to repair, but so are electronically controled transmission, engines, air conditioning units, etc. If the ABS goes, its not as if you lose braking capability, and repair options can be assessed at that time. Also, you speak as if all ABS components will break before one disposes of a vehicle which is not the case.
How many first owners of a 2004 vehicle can be expected to experience ABS system failure?
I stopped by my local dealer and asked about a Camry SE V6 with the navigation pkg. I was told that it's not available, except by special order. The wait could be as long as 5 months. This sounds a little excessive.
I don't know why Toyota advertises an option package in their brochure and then makes it so difficult to get. It's bad enough I can't get XM radio at all.
I'm going to wait for the 2005, but do I really have to pre-order it now?
I think the repair costs are a lot more than we think i spent 1 min looking on the web, and this is old but probably typical: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CAS itself has received nearly 100 reports of ABS failures in Chrysler vehicles. Many owners report that they experienced complete brake failure without any warning in their vehicle. Some owners were so terrified of driving their vehicles after repairs were made that Chrysler bought their vehicles back. The cost of repair is astronomical with most owners reporting $2000 to $2500 repair bills with one owner reporting a cost of $3500. According to a July 1994 NHTSA case summary, the vans along had 837 complaints on ABS failure including 26 accidents and 3 injuries. Since then, NHTSA has received an additional 467 complaints while Chrysler provided an additional 616 complaints to NHTSA on April 28, 1995 bringing the total reports of ABS failulre on 1991-93 Chrysler minivans to over 1,920. Internal documents provided by Chrysler to NHTSA show soaring warranty claims, back ordered parts and Chrysler service people who "are desperate for a field fix" according to the minutes of a November 10, 1992 Chrysler Bendix meeting. ++++++++++++++++++++ Yeah, I know old data, not toyota, but real expensive. I have not had a wreck since i started driving in 1958. i cando without the coat of abs (or nav sysytems either-- neve rbeen lost yet
Thats VERY OLD data, and VERY not Toyota. Keep trying though.
I didnt say anything about NAV. But you've NEVER once been lost since 1958? Impressive. Have you ever driven further than around the block?
The point still remains that technological innovations, over time and continuance of manufacture, improve in reliabilty. Additionally, ABS is not guaranteed to fail, and in the off chance it does, you can either choose to fix it, or have standard brakes anyway. You wont go back further than square one, basically.
I'm not saying ABS is better for everyone, as I posted already that if you drive on packed snow and ice, you may prefer to do without it.
But I am saying that opting against ABS on the basis of the remote possibility of repair cost years down the road seems a bit pennywise and pound foolish.
it did snow here in 1990, not since then tho. i can see where you might want it on ice.
re ABS - lots of stuff like this on the net: I am so upset, we have spent over $3,300.00 because the ABS light was on and after they worked on the brakes the car was shaking, and the ABS light goes on more frequently now, and the car shakes all the time. I am so disgusted with the way I have been treated by Ford Motor Co. and Keating Ford.
And IMHO, Nav systems combine the worst of both worlds - car repairs at dealerships, and the update needs of Microsoft to get a decent map and puter repair prices (dealers will only replace it i bet. dealers like it cause it raises the coat of the car, increasing margins. Its also needed to "prove" high end cars are worth the cost asked.
My ABS light comes on if I drive off and forget to release the parking brake. That does not mean there is a problem with the ABS. The light goes off when the car is stopped, and started again - there is no problem with the ABS, just the sensor is fooled by the extra drag on the brakes.
There are a lot of uninformed consumers and repair centeres that could misinterpret a mundane situation like mine into a need to replace the ABS, or the brakes themselves. Brakework is expensive, and easy to botch. Overcut the rotors, and shazam the car shakes when you hit the brakes.
I am very interested in the Camry (If they made a wagon it would top my list - Highlander looses too many wagon advantages by trying to be an SUV), but I will not buy one without ABS, and since I want a manual tranny LE (or standard) that means no Camry for me, unless they make ABS standard, like Honda.
People use the argument that conventional brakes can stop as fast as ABS. This is true, but that is generally with a professional driver at the wheel. The important thing about ABS is not that you can stop faster than the pro driver with normal brakes, but anybody can stop as well as the pro driver. Again on packed snow you have to be skilled to do better than ABS, so I prefer it even in those conditions - hit the brakes hard - let the car do its best, and I can still steer.
The Camry and Accord with Side Impact airbags and head curtains were the ONLY two tested midsize inexpensive cars to earn a "Good" rating in the IIHS test for side impact crashes.
Both the Camry and Accord without side impact airbags earned a "Poor" rating: ------------------------------------------------ from the website: Top performers are Camry and Accord with side airbags: The Institute tested the Camry and Accord twice, with and without optional side airbags. (If a vehicle has side airbags as an option, the Institute's policy is to test the vehicle without the option. The manufacturer may request a second test with the optional airbags if it also reimburses the Institute for the cost of the vehicle.) In the tests of the Camry and Accord with side airbags, most injury measures for the front and rear passenger dummies were low. Both cars were equipped with side curtain airbags that deploy from the roof to protect people's heads plus torso airbags for the front-seat occupants.
"The Camry and Accord with side airbags are the only good performers in this group of midsize cars," O'Neill says. "The structure of the Camry did a reasonably good job of minimizing intrusion into the occupant compartment, and the curtain airbag prevented the dummies' heads from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier. The structure of the Accord didn't hold up quite as well as the Camry's, but injury measures were low and the Accord also earns the highest rating of good. Neither of these vehicles was quite good enough to earn a ‘best pick' for side impact protection." -----------------------------------------------
I recall that the Auto Dimming Mirror was around a $200 option when I bought my 2002 Camry SE. I ordered my car and wished that I had opted for it. My brother's 2003 XLE has it and my parent's 2004 Sienna XLE has it, they are neat.
If you are ordering(or preferencing) it, see if you can find one. I have also seen a similar (or perhaps the same) mirror available for sale in an ad in Autoweek and Car and Driver. Your dealer could probably get you one and install it as well.
The Auto-Dimming Mirror is PPO (Post Production Option) on the Camry LE and SE. You should be able to order it through any dealer services/parts/accessories department, and have it installed.
I WAS TOLD BY THE SHOP THAT INSTALLED MY FOG LIGHTS IF YOUR VIN# STARTS WITH THE LETTER (J) IT WAS MADE IN JAPAN AND THE OPENING SHOULD POP OUT FOR THE LIGHTS, BUT IF MADE IN THE US THEY DONT POP OUT. IM NOT SURE IF THAT IS CORRECT OR NOT, MINE WAS BUILT IN JAPAN.
If these latest tests don't get the auto mfgs to make side air bags standard, then nothing will. How about if the CEO's of the auto mfgs had to take the place of the test dummies on the side impact tests using one of their autos without side air bags. Would this convince them to make them standard?
...Honda has already committed to making head/curtain bags std across the board. The Accord will have this feature std on all models starting with the '05s.
Toyota, at least for now, says that it wants to "preserve consumer choice"; the whole point behind the IIHIS tests is to try to pressure both the manufacturers and the govt to make head bags std. I predict that Toyota will go along eventually, because of competitive considerations, but only after enduring invidious comparisons in the press from the Honda rollout as it happens over the next couple of years.
The next similated test the IIHS will perform is a transport hitting a large SUV in the side. I wonder what the result will be? The test confirms what is already known... the law of physics applies to vehicles. These are the consequences of satisfying the public's desire for larger, faster and safer(?) vehicles. Everyone should be driving tanks. Sorry, I'm in a sarcarstic mood today.
In 1988 I was t-boned in my 52000 mile '77 Chrysler New Yorker (5100#!) and only needed to replace the rear door because the car that hit me peeled the sheet metal back. No frame damage, no broken glass. I can't imagine getting hit in the wife's Camry like that - and I'm sure the car would have fared MUCH worse than my ol' Mopar!
Sometimes I wish I still had that car, 440 4bbl and all!
I would actually like to drive an tank someday just to be able to drive upto one of those Hummers and say look I'm bigger than you. Of course,most of the drivers would probably roll down their window and ask where they can get one. Toyota will very quickly move over to Honda's side on this issue(as they should),suddenly forgetting about 'consumer choice'.Most auto mfgs will never willingly and quickly add more safety equipment which is why the gov't and public need to constantly pressure them.
Side airbags with head protection are obviously a good thing, but structural design is important too. Interesting to note that although the Accord scores a bit better than the Camry on the NCAP's outdated and misleading side impact test, the IIHS rated the Camry's structure "Acceptable" and the Accord's "Marginal". Best in test was the Mitsu Galant, one of the newest designs. I was surprised that Mazda and Nissan didnt pay for re-tests like Honda and Toyota did, since they also offer the desirable side curtain/side thoracic bag setup.
I calculate an approx $1500 added charge for the Navigation equipped V6 XLE over a similar SE V6. I can't see much difference between the two except for some imitation wood, climate control, power passenger seat and a dimming rear view mirror. The SE leather is perforated and the XLE is smooth. Did I leave something out? What's the better value?
The SE has more horsepower, and I assume this is done by higher compression. Does this mean the SE will require premium gas while the XLE can get by with plus? The brochure leaves any mention of fuel requirements out!
I remember reading about Ford wanting to advertise seat belts in 1956 and the Board quashed it. Said they they didn't want consumers think their products were dangerous! Seat belts were optional for years to come, along with turn directionals among other safety equipment we take for granted now.
Remember the pointed steering wheel center in the 55-56 Chevys?
We didn't get standard air bags until regulations demanded either automatic shoulder belts OR air bags. How many of us drove cars with the "motorized mouse" belts? How about GM's more dangerous door-mounted belts? IF the door flew open in a crash, nothing kept you inside!
I'm sure side and curtain airbags will be standard equipment soon enough, with the resulting increase in the cost of the car.
the V6 ones all had a $1600 BBS wheel package . Anyone ever see SE s with v6s with "regular" steel wheel and what was it? 60 series 16 inch tires???????
the bbs wheela are too big tires prob coat a lot to replace too.
Ah, gotta love those "motorized mouse" belts. I got quite a laugh out of that. Honestly, I've never heard them called that before, and I'm assuming you're referring to the ones that my '89 Camry has. As far as side impacts go, I'm just hoping I never have to experience it in my car. Those doors seem about as thick as a tin can.
This goes back a few posts but I have been out of town. My '95 Mercury ABS light went on. I was told over the phone it would be $500 or more to fix. They suggested I might want to live w/out the ABS. Mine was coupled with traction control and though it seldom ever went off I thought it might be nice to have. Before I could get the car in the ABS light went off and the ABS started working gain. This was not surprising for the Mystique. It suffered many such quirks in the time I had it. I was the best riding car I ever owned , a joy to drive, cornered like a German sports car, had no rattles, had higher quality plastics than other Fords but alas those mechanical quirks...I had to let it go in '02 for my Camry. So far, no mechanical troubles with the Camry but it IS a rattle trap...though most of you know that already.
senseless... the XLE is the lux. trim Camry and the SE is the sporting Camry. The SE uses different suspension calibrations, adds a strut tower brace, and rides more firmly and corners more flatly than the XLE, if that means anything to you. XLEs also have an engine immobilizer, I believe, and a few other smaller items, such as rear sunshade. The better value is the one you like better, at a price you can afford.
The SE offers more horsepower and substantially more torque @ lower RPM not through a higher compression ratio, but through more cubic inches and a more recent engine design. The SE V6 is 225 hp and 240 lb. ft, and is rated at 20/29 cty/hwy. The XLE V6 is 210 hp and 220 lb. ft. and is rated 21/29. Regular fuel is fine, premium is recommended for best performance for both.
edh- The SE V6 wears standard 16 inch 5 spoke Toyota alloys. There are no SE V6s shipped to dealers with steel wheels. Stock tire size for both SE 4 and SE V6 is P205/60 R16 (same for XLEs). Next year for 2005 (ie.. late this summer), however, the SE V6 is said to wear 17 wheels/tires.
Andre- have you driven any of the new Camrys? They seem to be lacking in the rattle gremlins shared by our 02s (though truthfully, we only have one rattle, nearish the A-pillar, quite intermittent, but annoying as heck when it surfaces...)
Actually the Camry SE/XLE stock tire size is P215/60R16. The Accord V6 sedan is P205/60R16.
This was actually a factor when I was deciding between Camry and Accord -- the Nokian WR tire was available in the Accord size but not the Camry size. (The Nokian WR is billed as the only true all-season tire for areas with snow, because it is the only all-season tire that passes the severe winter test and have the "mountain-and-snowflake symbol".) But I believe it will be available in the Camry size in Fall 2004.
Comments
I would bet that you could sell it your self for $3-4K basis the fact that it is a Toyota.
Also, you might want to check for sludge. That is the killer on Camry's in the used car market. Take it to your dealer and ask if there is sludge buildup in the engine.
Edge
I never see any SE camrys on the road, dealer has them tho.
Are they not popular?
SEs are intended to be a niche product, and so they are produced in numbers that fill that role. My sightings in the West are rare, but not so rare as to make them invisible.
Any thoughts on XLE vs SE in general? I appreciate your input
~alpha
Thanks!!
I did read the early posts about OEM fog light installation BUT the post(s) deal with Canadian Camrys, not US Camrys. Might there be a difference??
I went for the SE because I like the sport suspension and the silver gauge package. Also, they come standard with fog lights and moon roof.
Clearly, there are more LE's on the road than SE's mainly due to the fact that several of the rental car fleets buy them and flip them at about 12k-14k miles. Most of these companies don't buy SE's so that market is much smaller than LE or XLE, for that matter.
I had to contact the dealer to find out that it may take another 6 -7 weeks. Total sounds like 3-4 months to me to get it my way. They will also try to get me to sign away my Lemon Law rights.
Hey Guys, Is a Camry SE really worth the hassle?
-Hank2
happens all the time
and if it does come in and you have waited months be prepared for them to try to raise the price (cause you WANT the car)
I ordered a Camry SE 4cyl in Sept. 29, 2001 and it came in December 29 2001. I wanted a 4 Cly with Side Bags and ABS, plus the 6 disc changer and all of the power equipment but no leather. It was possible to get one that way, but they just weren't building them like that. It seems then, like now, they would rather build a loaded 6 cyl SE or a not so loaded 4 cyl SE.
In my case, there WERE'NT any 4 cyl SE's due to be built like mine. It took over a week for my dealership to get approval from Georgetown that they would build what I wanted. Some people who claim their car was ordered and built in three weeks were probably able to have their dealer obtain a car that was due to be built already.
If it is what you want, a few weeks won't really matter.
Good Luck.
Maybe you want to look to another area of the country and get one from there and pay to have it moved to Texas or buy a one-way plane ticket. The wait you mention is totally ridiculous!
Happy Hunting!
I'm glad to see that the dealers in your area are opting for the ABS on the SE's. It's funny, after I ordered mine, my dealer told me that they decided to spec out a few SE's like mine. But, a year later, when my brother was in the market for a new Camry, he was told by all of the dealers in the area that XLE 4's were easy to get with the Side Bags(ABS is Standard I believe), but to get a SE like mine he would have to order.
I just hope they make ABS standard on the '05s.
The wait is long, but if the SE is really what you really want I would recommend it. My brother didn't really care about the SE vs. XLE and so he purchased the XLE and is very happy.
Again, good luck to you.
You may change your mind
In all honesty, I have yet to know ANYONE whose reliability concern is the ABS computer/cylinder whatever. We've had ABS on cars for at least the past 8 years, and have never had an issue. The slight possibility of added cost down the road is a VERY small price to pay for the added peace of mind (read: steering control in all situations) that ABS provides.
edh- Thats fine if you dont have ABS. But please dont drive behind me on the Garden State Parkway on a day like today. Thanks.
~alpha
My point is that I understand the concerns, but for the minimal upfront cost, in my book, its worth the purchase in terms of safety (vehicle control), and resale value ESPECIALLY if, in the ODD CASE that the ABS computer eventually fails, you can opt not to fix it anyway.
I had a rental Camry with no ABS and I thought the brakes were terrible. Modulation was difficult and I found it easy to lock up the wheels in anything greater than 3/4 pressure. For me, if the choice was between a Camry w/o ABS and another car, Id probably get the other car. Mind you, our 2002 Corolla does not have ABS, but I find the pedal much firmer, modulation much easier, and the car less ready to lock.
~alpha
ABS is most beneficial for maintaining steering control on dry roads and in rainy conditions. Generally, cars with ABS can also stop shorter in the rain, because cars without ABS will skid. However, on packed snow and ice, where friction coefficients are substantially different from rain slicked and/or dry roads, ABS may increase stopping distances. (Additionally serious off-roaders prefer having vehicles without or with defeatable ABS due to the varied types of terrain with widely different frictions and contact textures.)
In almost all cases, it is people who cause accidents, not the cars themselves (exception: mechanical failure- a rarity). That said, misusderstanding/misuse of ABS is a main reason why the feature hasnt truly taken off. Many people still think you need to pump the brakes, or that ABS does indeed create shorter stopping distance, or just plain get scared when it activates.
I dont really get why people get "scared" and take their foot off of the brake pedal. Its 2004, and ABS has been around in mass production for almost 20 years. Havent people heard how to use it by now? Additionally, if I'm hurtling toward some object at an alarming velocity, and I slam on my brakes, subsequently feel a strong pulse and grinding noise, I'm not very apt to think "Oh dear, thats startling! I think I'd rather hit that object than feel that sensation, let me take my foot off the pedal and put it in God's hands".
Seriously though, why arent those who are startled by the sensation and sound of ABS more concerned with the prospect of hitting something?
~alpha
do me a "flavor" and ask what the parts of the ABS sysytem cost on your car ams module, computer, and the master cyl and post them here for us.
I recognize that ABS is expensive to repair, but so are electronically controled transmission, engines, air conditioning units, etc. If the ABS goes, its not as if you lose braking capability, and repair options can be assessed at that time. Also, you speak as if all ABS components will break before one disposes of a vehicle which is not the case.
How many first owners of a 2004 vehicle can be expected to experience ABS system failure?
~alpha
I don't know why Toyota advertises an option package in their brochure and then makes it so difficult to get. It's bad enough I can't get XM radio at all.
I'm going to wait for the 2005, but do I really have to pre-order it now?
i spent 1 min looking on the web, and this is old but probably typical:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CAS itself has received nearly 100 reports of ABS failures in
Chrysler vehicles. Many owners report that they experienced complete
brake failure without any warning in their vehicle. Some owners were
so terrified of driving their vehicles after repairs were made that
Chrysler bought their vehicles back. The cost of repair is astronomical
with most owners reporting $2000 to $2500 repair bills with one owner
reporting a cost of $3500.
According to a July 1994 NHTSA case summary, the vans along had
837 complaints on ABS failure including 26 accidents and 3 injuries. Since
then, NHTSA has received an additional 467 complaints while Chrysler
provided an additional 616 complaints to NHTSA on April 28, 1995 bringing
the total reports of ABS failulre on 1991-93 Chrysler minivans to over
1,920. Internal documents provided by Chrysler to NHTSA show soaring
warranty claims, back ordered parts and Chrysler service people who
"are desperate for a field fix" according to the minutes of a November 10,
1992 Chrysler Bendix meeting.
++++++++++++++++++++
Yeah, I know old data, not toyota, but real expensive.
I have not had a wreck since i started driving in 1958. i cando without the coat of abs (or nav sysytems either-- neve rbeen lost yet
I didnt say anything about NAV. But you've NEVER once been lost since 1958? Impressive. Have you ever driven further than around the block?
The point still remains that technological innovations, over time and continuance of manufacture, improve in reliabilty. Additionally, ABS is not guaranteed to fail, and in the off chance it does, you can either choose to fix it, or have standard brakes anyway. You wont go back further than square one, basically.
I'm not saying ABS is better for everyone, as I posted already that if you drive on packed snow and ice, you may prefer to do without it.
But I am saying that opting against ABS on the basis of the remote possibility of repair cost years down the road seems a bit pennywise and pound foolish.
~alpha
re ABS - lots of stuff like this on the net:
I am so upset, we have spent over $3,300.00 because the ABS light was on and after they worked on the brakes the car was shaking, and the ABS light goes on more frequently now, and the car shakes all the time. I am so disgusted with the way I have been treated by Ford Motor Co. and Keating Ford.
And IMHO, Nav systems combine the worst of both worlds - car repairs at dealerships, and the update needs of Microsoft to get a decent map and puter repair prices (dealers will only replace it i bet. dealers like it cause it raises the coat of the car, increasing margins. Its also needed to "prove" high end cars are worth the cost asked.
There are a lot of uninformed consumers and repair centeres that could misinterpret a mundane situation like mine into a need to replace the ABS, or the brakes themselves. Brakework is expensive, and easy to botch. Overcut the rotors, and shazam the car shakes when you hit the brakes.
I am very interested in the Camry (If they made a wagon it would top my list - Highlander looses too many wagon advantages by trying to be an SUV), but I will not buy one without ABS, and since I want a manual tranny LE (or standard) that means no Camry for me, unless they make ABS standard, like Honda.
People use the argument that conventional brakes can stop as fast as ABS. This is true, but that is generally with a professional driver at the wheel. The important thing about ABS is not that you can stop faster than the pro driver with normal brakes, but anybody can stop as well as the pro driver. Again on packed snow you have to be skilled to do better than ABS, so I prefer it even in those conditions - hit the brakes hard - let the car do its best, and I can still steer.
Both the Camry and Accord without side impact airbags earned a "Poor" rating:
------------------------------------------------
from the website:
Top performers are Camry and Accord with side airbags: The Institute tested the Camry and Accord twice, with and without optional side airbags. (If a vehicle has side airbags as an option, the Institute's policy is to test the vehicle without the option. The manufacturer may request a second test with the optional airbags if it also reimburses the Institute for the cost of the vehicle.) In the tests of the Camry and Accord with side airbags, most injury measures for the front and rear passenger dummies were low. Both cars were equipped with side curtain airbags that deploy from the roof to protect people's heads plus torso airbags for the front-seat occupants.
"The Camry and Accord with side airbags are the only good performers in this group of midsize cars," O'Neill says. "The structure of the Camry did a reasonably good job of minimizing intrusion into the occupant compartment, and the curtain airbag prevented the dummies' heads from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier. The structure of the Accord didn't hold up quite as well as the Camry's, but injury measures were low and the Accord also earns the highest rating of good. Neither of these vehicles was quite good enough to earn a ‘best pick' for side impact protection."
-----------------------------------------------
~alpha
We have one on our Solara SLE and like the feature a lot. It's not do or die, but it would be nice to have the feature on an SE V6 we are considering.
If you have any thoughts, please advise.
If you are ordering(or preferencing) it, see if you can find one. I have also seen a similar (or perhaps the same) mirror available for sale in an ad in Autoweek and Car and Driver. Your dealer could probably get you one and install it as well.
Good luck.
~alpha
GOOD LUCK
Toyota, at least for now, says that it wants to "preserve consumer choice"; the whole point behind the IIHIS tests is to try to pressure both the manufacturers and the govt to make head bags std. I predict that Toyota will go along eventually, because of competitive considerations, but only after enduring invidious comparisons in the press from the Honda rollout as it happens over the next couple of years.
Sometimes I wish I still had that car, 440 4bbl and all!
Toyota will very quickly move over to Honda's side on this issue(as they should),suddenly forgetting about 'consumer choice'.Most auto mfgs will never willingly and quickly add more safety equipment which is why the gov't and public need to constantly pressure them.
~alpha
The SE has more horsepower, and I assume this is done by higher compression. Does this mean the SE will require premium gas while the XLE can get by with plus? The brochure leaves any mention of fuel requirements out!
Remember the pointed steering wheel center in the 55-56 Chevys?
We didn't get standard air bags until regulations demanded either automatic shoulder belts OR air bags. How many of us drove cars with the "motorized mouse" belts? How about GM's more dangerous door-mounted belts? IF the door flew open in a crash, nothing kept you inside!
I'm sure side and curtain airbags will be standard equipment soon enough, with the resulting increase in the cost of the car.
Deke
Anyone ever see SE s with v6s with "regular" steel wheel and what was it? 60 series 16 inch tires???????
the bbs wheela are too big tires prob coat a lot to replace too.
Edge
The SE offers more horsepower and substantially more torque @ lower RPM not through a higher compression ratio, but through more cubic inches and a more recent engine design. The SE V6 is 225 hp and 240 lb. ft, and is rated at 20/29 cty/hwy. The XLE V6 is 210 hp and 220 lb. ft. and is rated 21/29. Regular fuel is fine, premium is recommended for best performance for both.
edh- The SE V6 wears standard 16 inch 5 spoke Toyota alloys. There are no SE V6s shipped to dealers with steel wheels. Stock tire size for both SE 4 and SE V6 is P205/60 R16 (same for XLEs). Next year for 2005 (ie.. late this summer), however, the SE V6 is said to wear 17 wheels/tires.
Andre- have you driven any of the new Camrys? They seem to be lacking in the rattle gremlins shared by our 02s (though truthfully, we only have one rattle, nearish the A-pillar, quite intermittent, but annoying as heck when it surfaces...)
~alpha
This was actually a factor when I was deciding between Camry and Accord -- the Nokian WR tire was available in the Accord size but not the Camry size. (The Nokian WR is billed as the only true all-season tire for areas with snow, because it is the only all-season tire that passes the severe winter test and have the "mountain-and-snowflake symbol".) But I believe it will be available in the Camry size in Fall 2004.