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Comments
They still think everyone is going to run old rusted out mufflers and fill the inside of the car with carbon monoxide. And all the knee-jerk savty nuts think this is also true.
So, the cars climate controls are built with most of the settings bringing in outside air so we all don't gas outselves to death.
Of course, this fills your car with the exhause from the car in front, expecially that desiel truck, but they think you are getting 'fresh' air.
From someone with severe allergies, I almost never run the A/C on anything but MAX recirculate. Nothing I can do about the other settings except smell the 'outside'.
The V6 acceleration is adequate but less than that of some more powerful cars - something to be expected for this class of automobile.
Steering feedback and sensitivity are intuitive and nearly perfect. The brakes are responsive and easy to modulate. The JBL stereo is a little "boomy" in my opinion. However, this was easily corrected by lessening the bass and midrange settings.
My only suggestion for improvement is for a slightly smoother shifting automatic transmission (during slow acceleration/deceleration at low speeds, the shifting is slightly abrupt). The service foreman checked the programming of the electronic control module today and confirmed the installation of the latest software version.
In my opinion, the car was delivered with zero defects. Most importantly, the car seems to be safe, solid, and well engineered. The NAV system does require time to study and learn its routines. But, I am a safer driver if I can use the voice commands to assist me with navigation rather than constantly scanning for signs, directions, and traffic. Furthermore, the air curtains allow small children to sit in the back seat without worrying about the potential hazards of impact airbags.
I wanted to thank some of the car salespeople who monitor and contribute to this board. With their kind advice, we were able to purchase our car painlessly and at a competitive price.
By the way, if anyone is shopping for a new Camry in the Southeast, I highly recommend Scott Bell at Tuscaloosa Toyota. He found the car with exactly the specs I wanted and gave me a price more than 9% under MSRP. He was a pleasure to deal with--unlike the 4 other Toyota dealers I dealt with while looking for my car.
I already have a Highlander, but I'm thinking of replacing my old 1988 Camry with a 2002 Camry to bring myself up to date. I'm looking into LE and SE models (SE mostly because of the navigation system). I'm still "looking around" technically but not as of yet shopping. I'm still getting a feel for the prices paid on the Camrys. Oh, and it's RAVvie4me, I know it can be tough telling two V's from a W with the script used on here. I've made that mistake several times myself, especially with I's and lowercase L's.
coolguy:
You were riding in the Avalon, that's sweeeet! That Daewoo never stood a chance! :-)
-RAVvie4me
My '97 Camry 4-cylinder came with Michelin MX4 tires, and they served me quite well, lasting almost 50,000 miles. Traction in snow was decent.
For a less costly alternative, you could try Yokohama Aegis LS4 tires, 2 of which I recently purchased for use on the rear axle of my rear-wheel-drive '80 Volvo 240. Consumer Reports rated them highly (just below Pirelli P400 Touring) in the "midline" price category, and said they perform well in snow.
I'd have this checked out ASAP. Bring your oil change receipts!
IMHO, the reliablity and quality of Toyota is much more important than a lower purchase price. It's my money and I definately don't want it wasted. "Spend a little more now (purchase price), spend alot less later (cost of ownership)" is a good rule to follow, especially with cars.
-RAVvie4me
The Altima is a big sports car. The V6 engine is fabulous! It produces a smooth effortless surge of power and it sounds great doing it. During my test drive I kept flooring it just to feel and hear the power; it's intoxicating. The Altima rides firmly and corners flat. You sit much lower than you do in the Camry and you feel and hear the road; it's much noisier. The plasticy look and feel of the interior is an embarassment to Nissan. But, the interior does have lots of room and I thought the leather seats were very nice. In summary, I think both cars have advanced the state of the art in their segment, the Camry with it's refinement, the Nissan with its power. They are very different cars for very different people. To all the people arguing over which is better, I say vive le difference! Drive them both, as I did, and pick the one you like better. I preferred the Camry by a small margin, but I'll probably wind up with neither since my wife has her heart set on a minivan or an SUV :-)
Women-car payments
The invoice price for a 4cylinder XLE is listed at $20,325. Do you think I can shoot for $21,000 + tax, license, documentation fees? Any feedback would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
I've been looking for lower end Camrys with the side air bag/head curtain option. My preference was for an SE but such an animal just doesn't seem to be built, at least not for distribution in NE. There are a few 4 cyl XLEs around, all have the side air bag option and floor mats. MSRP is $24,400 - $24,500. They are selling almost as fast as they hit the dealers around here and I'd be surprised if you can get one for much less that $22,000 (before tax, and fees).
Thanks for the details. I thought my 98 Camry was a fairly quiet car for the $$$, but the new ones must be something else. The boys over at Lexus must be stopping by the Toyota factories with sound deadening tips from the ES...
Pepperboy,
While having my wife's Sequoia serviced on Saturday, I wanted to test drive a Camry, but the only one they had was the one in the showroom. The dealer said they can't even get other dealers to trade for them. I figured he was blowing some smoke, but after reading some of these posts, maybe he wasn't.
Mack
I don't quite understand. It's your commute, so why does she have to be happy? Unless you meant you want her in be happy and in the mood by the time you got home
BTW, I am married. 17 long years by December. But who's counting!
And if "sporty" is the SE's excuse, what is the LE's?
I like the car and would not let the original tires sway my decision, but I was just surprised to see 140 and 160.
: )
Mackabee
On top of it, I have yet to see a 2002 Camry on the road. I figured them to be selling like hotcakes, but I guess not in my area.
-RAVvie4me
wanna2002 "2002 camry se-how much did you pay?" Oct 14, 2001 5:55pm
Recent buyers - please also post your prices here as well. (post amount paid, model/options, and invoice price).
Thx All
I know some of you might not agree, but for about 24K I could get the Altima SL with the same about or more equipment for about 24.5K. Although the interior is cheap looking.
Still a nice car, but now that I have read about the new Mazda 6, looks like the Altima might just not be my top choice afterall, I will continue to consider the new Camry, especially the SE model.
: )
Mackabee
Thanks