Toyota Camry 2006 and earlier

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Comments

  • mimi919mimi919 Member Posts: 85
    I am really sorry to hear about all the problems you are having with your drivers seat....I have to honestly say that your posts were the reason I changed my mind on my ordered "02"Camry and went with the Solara instead....I had the same problem you are aparently having as I was unable to get comfortable in the drivers seat because of the seat being shorter then the previous Camry models and the 4 way power seat just made it worse and the fact I do over 25,000 miles per year the "02" Camry seats just wouldn't work for me.
    Funny how Toyota makes the new Camry and in my opionion has the most uncomfortable driver seat I have ever sat in but makes a beautiful car that has all the latest options and also makes the Solara with has in my opionion the most comfortable seat I have ever sat in but the car does lack some of the latest options such as trip computer ect.....kind of makes you wonder why Toyota doesn't put the Solara seats in the Camry and the Camry options in the Salara then both would be fantastic cars but on the other hand Toyota must be doing something right because it seems like overall you like your Camry and I absolutely just love my new Solara.
    Wishing you the best with your new Camry..
  • rutger3rutger3 Member Posts: 361
    I have a 99 LE with 92k miles and have had Pirelli P400 tires for about 30,000 miles. Have been very happy with them, priced right, rated highly, and the handling is good.
  • manimal79manimal79 Member Posts: 7
    Hi guys, thank you all for your inputs about the Camry. They have been quite informative. I am planning on buying a car within the next month or so and i have come down to three choices, and one of them is the 2002 Camry LE or SE.

    Anyway, I have some questions regarding the 02 LE or SE:

    1) To the owners of the Camrys: are you satisfied with them? Why or why not? Have you encountered any problems? how is the feel of the car? on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being best, how would u rate it?

    2) Is the 4 cylinder power enough for the camrys? or do i need to get a V6 for better performance?

    3) What is the resale value (residual) of the Camry?

    Thanks in advance.
  • william00william00 Member Posts: 6
    Believe me, I have repeatedly called and e-mailed my "vehicle specialist" at carsdirect. After being unable to obtain any confirmation that my special order had gone in to Toyota in over 50 days I e-mailed their CEO a week ago and changed "vehicle specialist." (Previously the largest Toyota dealer on the West Coast had thrown road blocks in my way when I tried to special order through them.)

    Yesterday, after my posting, my new "specialist" got back to me with a verified 4/17/02 request date from a local dealer to Toyota and a time frame of late August for build and delivery. I am finally getting somewhere.

    carsdirect promised "the best car buying experience you have ever had." And apparently this may be true if you are not requesting a special order. But in my case I signed a contract 3/19/02 for the car. Was told the "special build" request was submitted to Toyota's order processing center on 3/21/02 and that I should know if accepted in a week -- and then nothing confirming or denying for over 50 days. That's when I e-mailed their CEO.

    Originally I liked carsdirect no hassle buying, fixed price and their being associated with Amazon.com. And the price $24,625 (SE V6, packages #3, #7 security, carpet set, wheel locks) was good. But my personal experience with a special order has been problematic.

    The situation is somewhat resolved now, but I still wonder if I should consider changing the order to a 2003 since it has now become so late in the current model year? Anyone now any anticipated changes to the 2003 Camry?

    And thanks for the good luck wishes I'm sure I'll still need them.
  • yankeryanker Member Posts: 156
    If this Integrity by Goodyear is related or replaced the old Invicta they are trouble and will be skins by 36000. I bought on the dealers recommendation TOYO Premium touring tires for a
    96 and a 97b Camry. On the 96 I have over 46000 and still have tread and only one problem in five years
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    In all honesty, I would rate the car a 9 overall, and a 10 for value. Our LE 4 cylinder is smooth, refined, comfortable, and rattle free in its first 6000 miles. Power is impressive for a 4 cylinder, and compared to the Altima 4 clyinder that I test drove, it did NOT feel much different, but it did feel more refined. (Between the Camry V6 and Altima V6 however, the Altima is noticablely more athletic.) Shift quality, ride, noise, and convenience all are outstanding and handling and braking are secure, though not sporty. (This might be where the SE helps). With ABS, pwr driver seat, keyless, carpeted floor and trunk mats, and 15 in. "Star Split-5 spoke Alloys" and MVID, our car had a sticker price of just over $22K, and we paid $400 over invoice in December. I do not know about the resale value, however, we plan on keeping this car for a LONG time. We also have an 00 Camry (that one is leased) and the differences are immediately obvious upon driving- the new one is much more luxurious in the way it drives, it isnt constantly revving its guts out to keep up with highway traffic, and the interior is roomier, with better illumination, and more storage.

    My two very petty complaints about our 02 are that:
    1) The headrests no longer articulate as they do in our 00.
    2) The headlights are no longer auto on, as they are in the 00 LE. Now, you have to get the XLE to get that feature.

    Overall, a great car. I feel badly for those who have niggling rattles and sulfur smells, but am very happy that our family has this car.|
    Best of luck
    ~alpha
  • sam_beaversam_beaver Member Posts: 61
    [[2) The headlights are no longer auto on, as they are in the 00 LE. Now, you have to get the XLE to get that feature.]]

    The XLE headlights are not "auto-on", however, they are "auto-off" and since I don't see much use for DRLs versus regular headlights, I've just decided to leave the headlights on all the time. I guess that makes them "auto-on" :):). They go off about 30 seconds after I leave the car.

    I hadn't driven our new car after dark until last night. I really like the interior dashboard lights after dark!

    Apart from the sulphur smell and the driver's seat discomfort, I do have a couple of other complaints that I haven't heard mentioned, but they're minor:

    (1) The trunk is very hard to close -- it's not that it requires great force, but it must be closed dead-on center. The models I test drove didn't have this problem, but all the new ones (I tried three when I complained about mine and the dealer said it was normal) do seem to have this problem. So maybe it goes away in time.

    (2) The car is so quiet that I sometimes think I've already started it when I haven't. Twice in the last two weeks I have shifted into gear and let out the brake without starting the car. Good thing I wasn't on a steep incline, but I couldn't figure out why the car wasn't going anywhere. When the brake pedal was really stiff too I figured it out.
  • sbell4sbell4 Member Posts: 446
    Does any other part of the country have 2.9 APR on 2002 Camry besides NC, SC, GA, AL, FL?
  • lilybeanlilybean Member Posts: 18
    I'm on the verge of negotiating a deal for a 2002 Toyota Camry LE 4 cyl. Anything you'd like to say, good or bad, I'd like to hear it. Thanks.
  • hawks1hawks1 Member Posts: 57
    Recently purchased an XLE 4-cylinder. So far I'm very impressed with this car. The new 4-cylinder engine is very quiet and surprisingly quick - Toyota has engineered this one very well. The interior ergonomics are great and the fit and finish seem very high quality. I haven't experienced any of the nagging problems that others have reported - i.e., uncomfortable drivers' seat, sulphur smell, difficulty with closing trunk. This car is very smooth and quiet and wonderfully comfotable on the open road. I'd definitely give it a 9.5. Incidentally, if you're considering just a few options on the LE (sans moonroof), take a look at the 4-cylinder XLE without any options. It will have every option standard that the LE has plus you will be getting a lot more car for about $1000 more - i.e., 16 inch wheels, 4-wheel disc brakes, auto climate control, security system, Homelink, upgraded interior, etc.
  • larryk5larryk5 Member Posts: 25
    New job and need to purchase my own car for sales. Will put 40k per year on it and am looking to keep it for 160-200k depending upon reliability. Currently have 01 Accord LX/V6 with 50k and have had some problems with breaks and console rattles but now that the bugs are worked out it has been running fine. Get 23-27 mpg in mixed city/hwy driving.

    Have narrowed down choice of new car to 02 Accord EX/V6 or 02 Camry SE/V6. Live in Houston and have found new Accord for $22,300 but have not gotten anything solid on Camry yet but expect it to be closer to $23k. Also would like to through the Passat GLS into the mix but higher $ and concerned about longevity.

    My current Accord was my first endeavor with non Big 3 US made cars and quite frankly it has not been bullet proof so far as I had hoped. Have only driven 02 Camry once in Hertz rental but it was LE 4-cyl so couldn’t really compare. Liked the quieter ride and think the interior is slightly larger. A little concerned about the Camry being new and would think that the Accord would hold an edge on reliability as this platform has been around and is it its last year.

    The Edmunds site says the Accord cost $0.41 per mile and the Camry $0.46 so this is a big plus for the mileage I am going to put on it. I have also driven the Accord for up to 7 hrs at a time and have not been uncomfortable.

    Any input would be welcomed and if any of you have recently owned both models I would really like to hear from you.

    Thanks,
    Larry
  • xonxon Member Posts: 9
    I bought a 6cyl Camry LE a month ago. I test drove the 4 cyl which was nice and smooth, however, the 6 cyl is even smoother and nicer. It drives beautifully. Passing and merging in traffic is easier with the 6 cyl. The 4 cyl didn't have enough power for me. Although many people seem content with the 4 cyl. I do find the seats too hard with not enough thigh support. It's not too comfortable. Braking distance is a little too long. I used to get a rotten egg smell when accelerating and passing, although I haven't noticed it in a while. Someone mentioned that this isn't a problem in CA, but I live in CA. I previously had a 1993 Honda Accord 4 cyl, which felt like a horse and buggy compared to the 6 cyl Camry. I only wish I got the XLE.
  • nole62nole62 Member Posts: 1
    I have had my 02 4cly XLE for a month now and am VERY pleased. I don't have any rattles, my seat is very comfortable for me and my husband who is 6'3" and over 230 lbs, and no sulphur smell. The power is more than adequate to merge into traffic on an interstate, and is very quiet. I had been driving a '90 LE and can't believe the difference in the power. Just took it on it's first "trip" (300mi) no complaints at all. I have Michelin tires on 16" aluminum wheels. I did get the windows tinted since I live in Fl and it's been over 95 already this year. The one noise of something sliding when I braked, turned out to be a cd case in the console.
  • sam_beaversam_beaver Member Posts: 61
    After reading about all the noises I might possibly expect, I got a little nervous today until I found a penny in one of the trays :).

    I am having a couple of strange ticking noises, and no, they are not my turn signal. But they don't seem to last long.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    The SE is noticeably more agile than the LE, and comes with the rear disc brakes which are excellent and feel very capable on this car. The last generation's brakes felt pushed to their limits a lot. All in all, it is worth it to buy SE over LE - not a lot more money, but handles very differently.

    I have driven both the V-6 and the 4 cyl extensively in the '02, and there is a difference, yes, but enough of one to justify the $2K+ difference in price. The 4 cyl is a very capable engine, and gets this car moving in short order. Right now, Toyota's V-6 is the lowest powered of all the mainstream sedans' V-6's, so maybe the V-6 will be worth putting up the extra $$ for next year or the year after.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • lilybeanlilybean Member Posts: 18
    Although it appears to be about $2000 more, just two of the options I wanted was almost that, so as you said, why not get all that the upgrade allows! I think that all I need do now is settle on a price! Thanks for the wink in the right direction!!!
    "Lily"
  • lilybeanlilybean Member Posts: 18
    Now that the car-year is almost over and the 2003's come out in just a few months...should I pounce on the 3.9 % interest rates for the Memorial Day weekend special, deal-friendly options or hold out for the 2003's??? I welcome all of your sage advice. This is only my third new car ever and it's like a planetary alignment: it only happens every 12 years. In other words, I'm wAAAAAAy out of touch. Appreciate all opinions, but very interested in your experiences with deal-making, aloof price-hagglers, how you got that great price, etc... I am currently working with a couple of offers for a Camry XLE @ $20,490 -20,790 including destination chgs, and carpeted floormats (No other options). Should I be looking at more options? Am I nutz to try and get this price down further? Should I wait for the 2003's. PRO & CON opinions/experiences welcome- - - no! make that devoured with great interest!!!
    I'm sooooo not good at all this haggling!!! :-0

    "Lily" purrrrrrrr....
  • cliffy1cliffy1 Member Posts: 3,581
    Quite honestly, I'm surprised Toyota is offering the discounted interest rates this weekend. Normally, they don't do stuff like that until the car has been out for 3 year or so.

    Since you are looking at a 4 cylinder, there really will not be any changes to the 2003. The V6 *might* get an engine upgrade. So your big question should be, "is this car worth the money and is it the one I really want?" If the answer is yes, buy it and enjoy it. If not, wait and see what the next year brings.

    It sounds like you are a long term type of owner. Because of this, the "deal" is more important than the model year. Having the chance to get a good price and a great interest rate now seems to be a good idea.
  • 95gtp95gtp Member Posts: 3
    I would definitely recommend the 02 Camry. I looked at just about every car on the market, the Accord, Civic, Grand Prix, Altima, Sentra, and never even thought of looking at the Camry, but one day decided to check it out as I wasn't really happy with any of the other cars I had driven. I was impressed. For less money than almost all the other competitors the LE has all the options I needed, and while I said I was going to get something with a V6, to replace my old Grand Prix, I felt that the 4 cyl Camry had lots of power for driving on the highway. The only thing I don't like, which others have mentioned, is the seat on long drives. The pluses far outweigh the minuses with great gas mileage, lots of room, smooth, and quiet. So quiet that I notice a large difference from my car to my friends 2003 Corolla. I'd rate it an 8 out of 10.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    You were considering a Civic and Sentra, but you were also originally intending to get a V6? Are the canadian versions available with engine upgrades that we Yankees arent privy to?!!!!
    Glad you like your Camry.

    as an aside... lilybean... consider getting the 16 in alloy wheel option on the XLE 4clyinder.. I really think the 16 inch wheel covers are a bit cheap on a car that stickers at nearly $23K. Its a matter of opinion/style preferences, I guess.

    ~alpha
  • yankeryanker Member Posts: 156
    I'm looking at the same numbers for an XLE but isn't there an advertising fee that they stick on over an above the invoice plus destination fee.?
  • hawks1hawks1 Member Posts: 57
    It sounds as if you have an excellent deal brewing on the XLE 4-cylinder. As someone mentioned above, do consider the alloy wheels as an option - they're very sharp looking. I believe the MSRP on the alloys is around $400. This is one impressive car - beautiful, functional, and very economical with its great gas mileage.
  • luckystarluckystar Member Posts: 20
    alpha: no, we don't have engine upgrades in our compact cars!

    Like 95gtp, I was looking at compacts and never really looked at the Camry and when I did, I ended up loving it! The LE is not too much more than a loaded compact; I ended up with the LE V6 because it is also an extra $2000 here (CDN!) and pays for the ABS and rear disc brakes alone, not to mention the V6 and alloys! So for all you undecideds...although it is a "boring" Camry, you will be continually impressed by its quality more and more everyday.
  • drmpdrmp Member Posts: 187
    All Camry SE owners, how do you like the ride of the sport suspension? Is it worth the extra$$$? Thanks.
  • tuskentusken Member Posts: 2
    I'm new to this forum, can anyone tell me if there have been previous discussions regarding issues with the 97-98 Camrys (both 4 and 6 cyl)? My wife and I are in the market for a good used Toyota, and the 97-98 Camrys are probably the best suited for our needs and price range. If there have been previous discussions regarding these model years, please advise as to how (or where) to find them.

    Thanks.
  • shakfu3shakfu3 Member Posts: 4
    My dealer in NJ is offering me a XLE V6 w/ package #9, heated seats, and side air bags for $27,000 + TTL. MSRP is $30,655. I think this is a good deal. What do you guys think?
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    Which NJ dealer is that... I've dealt with 6, and some are great, others are terrible. That seems to be an awesome price, I would definitely snatch it up if thats the Camry you want.

    tusken... have you heard about the "engine sludge" issue? otherwise, the 97-98 Camry is a very good car, vanilla in flavor, but solid, safe, and reliable. If you can afford it, buy it from a dealer and get the "Toyota Certified Used" program... its a great safeguard against any possible vehicle issues, and adds peace of mind. you can learn more about the certification program and its warranty on the toyota website, www.toyota.com.

    alpha
  • tuskentusken Member Posts: 2
    Thanks for you reply. I have heard of the oil-sludge issue - I read in a previous post that the 97-98 were not affected, is this incorrect? In addition, I have a relative who works in the parts dept at a local Toyota dealership, he claims not to have heard many complaints regarding this issue - and that it really isn't an issue at all (as long as people change their oil regularly), I can see that his opinion might be biased, but I doubt that he would BS me.

    I'll probably buy from a private seller, to avoid sales taxes, etc. I can always have my "insider" inspect the car before I buy it and he can have repairs done very reasonably.

    I will look into buying from a dealer, I just hate dealing with those places, after looking at many of the posts here, buying from a dealer does not insure customer satisfaction.
  • 8u6hfd8u6hfd Member Posts: 1,391
    1997 to 2001 Camry platform vehicles are affected (Camry, Solara, Sienna, Avalon, Highlander& RX300)
  • mimi919mimi919 Member Posts: 85
    Are the 2002 engines affected?...were changes made to the 2002 engine to correct the sludge problem?
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    The 2002 4 cylinder engines are ABSOLUTELY NOT affected by the sludge issue. I am not sure about the V6 models... they were really only modified for the redesigned Camry, mostly to maintain a strong torque curve while meeting ULEV standards.. I am not sure if said changes also affect the sludge isssue. Somewhere on edmunds.com, there used to be a sludge thread, why not go there and ask, its worth a try.
    ~alpha01
  • tiger8tiger8 Member Posts: 120
    Camrys made after April 2002 have a modified V6 engine to cure the sludge problem. If you buy a V6, make sure the car was manufactured after April. For those manufactured before April, Toyota will repair the sludge problem free for 8 years after the original delivery date (thanks to much adverse publicity, not the goodness of their hearts).
  • gmusic7gmusic7 Member Posts: 42
    gp4: you asked, "Why does the exhuast pipe hang down so low, has anyone found a way of raising it up so it is out of the way?"

    i don't own a 2002 camry but i also notice the low hanging exhaust pipe.

    here is the answer i got from toyota customer relations:

    From:

    Response (Marc) 02/22/2002 02:56 PM
    Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

    "We appreciate your interest in Toyota and the new 2002 Camry. The shape and location of the exhaust pipe on the 2002 Camry has been placed in its location for several reasons that include aerodynamics, air flow management, and relationship to other connecting parts in the underbody. If you have specific concerns with the exhaust system, please consult with your local Toyota dealer.

    National Customer Relations

    ...

    not a very good answer i know...
  • drmpdrmp Member Posts: 187
    Basing from experience, when the pipe hits something it just slides up and that's it. Not a big deal.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    Our family lives in NJ, which doesnt have the most beautifully maintained roads and highways. Since 1984, our family has also leased 4 Camrys and we just purchased a 2002. For any of those Camrys, which represent about 200,000 miles of driving, we have NEVER had an issue with exhaust pipe hitting ANYTHING. There's plenty of clearance, its just a matter of cosmetic taste, and people like my parents arent picky about that.
    Its odd to me that the exhaust pipe, of all things, is such an issue on this thread.
    ~alpha
  • porknbeansporknbeans Member Posts: 465
    This question was asked some time ago and I believe that cliffy explained it best. He said that if the exhaust looped up it would intrude into the passenger compartment. What it boils down to is do you want passenger room or a goofy loop in the exhaust. He also mentioned that he hasn't seen an exhaust come in with a problem yet either.

    Cliffy, please forgive me and correct me if I have spoken wrong or out of turn.
    Porknbeans

    Grand High Poobah
    The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
  • stans40stans40 Member Posts: 16
    Would like to know the AT fluid capacity for the 2002 4 cyl. Camry. I looked in the owner's manual, but couldn't find anything.
  • pham2001pham2001 Member Posts: 15
    Hi Everyone,

    I plan to purchase the car this weekend. The car I want is a XLE 4cly with package #8.

    How much more I expect to pay over the invoice
    for the car?.

    How long does it take to reach 0-60 mph?.

    I'm also thinking about to get a V6 but I do not
    know if it's worthed for the money spent.

    Any input is appreciated.
  • lilybeanlilybean Member Posts: 18
    Thanks to all who posted their experiences. Let me recap. After examining every car, van, SUV, etc on the market for the last year - yes - a full year! including used, and even auctions, I decided on the Camry a few weeks ago. Being cheap I first thought to get the 4cyl LE, but Hawks1 among others pointed out (and quite right, too) that with the options I wanted, I ought to consider the XLE. I decided to go with the XLE and negotiated a deal for a standard XLE with no options for $20,460 (invoice is 20,325) and was able to get free carpeted floor mats & 3 free oil changes and an "undetermined" interest rate as the color (red) I wanted was not available in my State. On a 5 yr. loan I "expect" to pay about 6% with payments around $250./mo. The Alloy wheels were very attractive, but I chose to go with the steel. I am, however, considering the 3M hood protector for $150. I'm not sure how I feel about this option, however. It makes sense on the one hand, but looks a bit like ugly bifocals on the other. I'm not sure it's "needed". What do you folks think? I didn't quite get invoice price, nor could I get them to relent on any of the hold back bucks. They wanted to charge me several hundred dollars for "transportation" charges to get a car from a dealer out of state in time for the lower interest rates, but I had reservations about that for several reasons. Primarily because the 5-yr rate was not that much different and the off the truck cars were "clean" with 0 miles. On the one hand I think I did well on the deal, but I wish/wonder about having been more persistant. Maybe it's greed or naivete, I don't know. As to the 2.9% interest that some people asked about - I found 3.9 for three years the best rate in Minn. The sulpher smell seems to be from a coating they put on the inside of the gas tank; I guess it wears off eventually. I hope so. As to the question of price - you tell me...I still have a shot at opting out or maybe pressing a little harder - I don't know-, but my color seems hard to come by in the cloth interior. Maybe it's just nerves. I sure had hoped to dig a little deeper, but I caved. I really, really WANT this car!

    Someone asked about advertising costs: Yeah, they tried to pull that one off on me too, but I would have none of that! First of all, it's bogus! It's just a tactic they use to throw you off guard. I really don't care what it costs THEM to do business. It's built into the car price, & I'm not going to pay for that twice. Another thing: 2 dealerships tried to sell me the paint & rust protection & the last place I went to said that they "would" sell it to me but it IS NOT RECOMMENDED by Toyota, and may in fact void the warranty. Well. any dealership that wants to save me $800 bucks is OK in my book!!! To me, that little bit of info was worth a lot of confidence in "who" I spent my money with. It appears that all dealers are not alike! The first one I went to wanted to give me a whopping $600 off the MSRP and skin me for the 3M hood protector at $300 and another $800 for the "protection" package. You be the judge.

    Here are my 3 questions:
    *Do you think I should get the Toyota extented warranty or one from "Warranty Direct" at half the price? They appear to be comparable. WD, may be the better deal, but I'm not sure. What is your experience with non-dealer warrantees?
    *Does anyone have anything to say about the 3M hood protector?
    *The million dollar question: Do you think I got a "good price" or did I stink at doing this deal?

    Thanks for all your input.
    "Lily"
  • lilybeanlilybean Member Posts: 18
    I've read this a few times now. Are there any "practical" reasons for getting the alloy wheels or are they just "pretty". I'm all for spending on value, but looks don't mean much to me when it comes to wheels. Your expert opinions welcomed, as always!!

    "Lily"
  • drmpdrmp Member Posts: 187
    Once again, I'll rephrase my question. How do you compare the ride of Camry SE and of Honda Accord? Especially on potholes and road noise? Thanks.
  • cjtscjts Member Posts: 13
    Hey Pham, here is my (humble) advice.

    A month and a half ago I bought a V6 LE 2002 Camry after much research and a lot of test driving. The result: I am glad I did.
    First of all, I decided against the XLE because the only extras that I cared for (Sunroof, package #2 which includes keyless entry and JBL sound system, and Skid Control) I could get in the LE saving myself about $4000!!! However, the V6 is a MUST if you really want to enjoy the CAMRY experience. I know that the 4 cylinder has plenty of power, it is pretty quiet and smooth but it could NEVER compare to the **LEXUS LIKE** ride of the V6. I test drove (extensively) the Lexus ES 300, and found that the V6 Camry has nothing to envy to that car (IN THE QUALITY OF RIDE department).

    If you want to compare the V6 and the 4 cylinder, go for a back to back test drive. Drive the V6 first, and jump into the 4 banger right away. You'll see the HUGE difference!! Try to accelerate quickly with both of this cars, both from 0 mph and during passing maneuvers. If you own a 4 Cylinder right now, you will recognize the familiar "4 cyl. rumble" as I call it. If you want to treat yourself go for the V6. The fuel economy is reasonable. I am an aggressive and fast driver, and with 50/50 city/highway combination I get about 24 mpg. A more fuel-economy conscious person could get much better yields.

    One last thing. I have one complain about the car, the steering is too soft, which requires that you pay much more attention when driving at high speeds (80 mph and up). Otherwise the car is GREAT. I do not regret buying this car over the LEXUS ES 300. Not for a single moment, specially when I think of the $10,000 price difference!!!
  • tiger8tiger8 Member Posts: 120
    I agree with cjts. Get the V6. Same engine used in the Lexus ES300. One of the great 6 cylinder engines in use today. Refined, silky, powerful, quiet. In the 4, how long does it take to get to 60mph, you ask. About an hour. (slight exaggeration). I would much rather have the LE V6 than the XLE 4, and the price is probably comparable. Also, Consumer Reports says that the V6 handles better than the 4, probably because of the larger tires.
  • hawks1hawks1 Member Posts: 57
    At $20,460 including the floor mats, that's one heck of a deal! The Edmunds TMV on this car is $21,011. Sorry, I dont have a clue as to the value of the 3M hood protector. In fact, I don't even know what it is.

    V6 vs I4 discussion; I bought the 4-cylinder because I felt it more than adequate power-wise and I use my car for highway driving about 80% of the time so I wanted something really economical to operate. I consistently surpass 30+ miles per gallon highway driving and I can burn the cheaper 87 octane gasoline. The new VVT-i engine is a jewel - unbelievably smooth and quiet in the 70 -80 MPH range. The 162 ft-lbs of torque is more than adequate for my acceleration needs.
  • parnolaparnola Member Posts: 141
    FYI, I consistantly get 30mpg on the nose in highway driving in my '99 V6 5-speed. That's on 87 octane, I don't use premium.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    We drove an LE V6, before we purchased the LE 4 cyl.... just couldnt justify the $2500 more dollars on a car with less than 40 more hp. The 4 felt fine to my parents, I am convinced it is the smoothest out there, and the fact that it *sips* regular fuel, needs no timing belt replacement, and at the time (Jan 2001) compared to V6, was unaffected by the sludge issue, we went with the 4, and it has been great.
    I really wouldnt spend the money to get an LE V6, though perhaps if I were looking at an SE or XLE, I might want the added performance of the 6 cyliner engine. The only real drawback btwn. the LE 4 and LE V6 is the rear drum brakes, but again, with ABS on ours, they are perfectly sufficient. This LE 4 (Stratosphere Mica) is our first buy in a long time, and we are very happy with the car, especially the deal we got. In a previous post, someone asked for a rating of the car on the 1 to 10 scale. I still give it the 9 I originally did. Ahh... I'm going to wax the car tomorrow. Strange, that such a mainstream vehicle perpetuates such affection from me. C'est la vie.
    ~alpha
  • mimi919mimi919 Member Posts: 85
    Sounds like the price you are getting on the XLE is very fair but in reality you only know how good a deal you negotiated when you finalize your price in the finance dept as that is where many dealers count on making their profits.
    The dealer can sell you a car at hundreds of dollars under his cost and still end up making a home run for his store thru the warranty,life insurance,doc fee's and interest rate kick back.
    Until recently I have owned used car lots for over 20 years and what I just said above is a fact not my opionion.
    As for the warranty it's just what makes you more comfortable....as for myself the main reason I buy a new car is for the peace of mind knowing that for the next 100,000 miles I will not have any out of pocket repair costs other then the required maintence and wear items and by saying no to all the high price dealer preventive maintenance (not required for the extended warranty)it just about pay's for the warranty itself....my prefernce is always the dealer warranty but again you have to do what makes you comfortable.
    You had said in your post that you were hoping for a 6%interest rate for 5 years with a $250.00 dollar a month payment.....based on that information it only allows you to finance approx. $13,000 dollars so either you have a large down payment or a nice trade in or else for sure you are getting a deal of a life time.
    I wanted to wish you the best and many happy and safe driving years with your new Camry.
  • cliffy1cliffy1 Member Posts: 3,581
    Stay away from any warranty that is not backed by the manufacturer. The Toyota Platinum warranty on your car has a "list" price of $1425 for the 7 year/100K mile, $0 deductible plan. You should be able to buy it between $1100 and $1200.

    Non-factory warranties never are as easy to make claims on, especially if you need a claim when you are not near the original dealer. They rarely cover as much equipment as the Platinum plan. You can find all the details of the Toyota warranty at www.toyota.com.

    Here at my store, we used to sell "aftermarket" warranties because there is more profit in them. We ended up with so many customer problems and complaints that we decided it wasn't worth it. We switched to Toyota warranties and while they cost more, our customers are MUCH happier with the product.
  • pham2001pham2001 Member Posts: 15
    Thanks to Cjts, tiger8, hawks, parnola and alpha01 for your knowlege opinions.

    Before I was absolutely to get the v4 at 100% but now after I read all your opinions it is only 50% and 50% to get either the v4 or v6.

    Decision time will come after I test drive both v4 and v6.

    Thanks again. I got to leave now and go shopping right after I finish typing this message and will come back here to tell you what I got. Bye.
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    Not to seem like a know it all, but after re-reading one of your previous posts about tire sizes in 4cylinder models vs. V6 models, you should know that the XLE 4 clyinder has BIGGER wheels and tires than the LE V6 (a comparison that you made in that post). Consumer Reports should have simply stated that Camrys with the larger 16 inch tires (SEs and XLEs) handle and brake a little more confidently than with the smaller 15 inch tires.

    ~alpha
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