2007 Toyota Camry

328gtsi

Thanks for taking the time to look !

tuffy

I notice the 4 cylinder Camry takes 4.3 quarts of oil. Why does Toyota and most other manufacturers have oil capcities for engines that are not in even quarts (4, 5 or 6)? I makes it so difficult when garages change your oil as you have to monitor it so closely as many times they overfill the engine with oil. I have had this happen a number of times at Toyota Dealerships so even they don't seem to get it right when the the oil capacity is not simply an even number.

My current Toyota dealer's invoice for oil changes shows 5 quarts on my 4 cylider which only takes 4.3 quarts. They say it is a preprinted code in the system but looks to me like it would confuse the technicians. The right amount of oil should be listed on the service invoice for everyone's protection.

My advice, check your oil level before you leave the garage as it may save you a return trip or worse, a damaged engine caused by too much oil. Why is something that should be so simple so difficult.

Any one else have a similar experiene?

petl

One of the reasons may be that many parts of the world operate in metric. Litres may be used to obtain a more accurate measure. Most products now have both measurements indicated on the container or wrapping (check your favourite pop bottle of bag of chips). Manufacturers are catering to the world.

kdhspyder

Most large dealerships buy their oil in bulk and it's dispensed by hose at each station. Putting in the exact amount is not a problem if the tech pays attention.

jaxs1

Most garages do not refill the oil from individual 1 quart cans. Often they pump oil from bulk the way you pump gas at a gas station pump.
They simply have to not be careless filling the oil.

mackabee

Actually it would be better if they didn't offer the CE and just kept the LE,SE,XLE and Hybrid IMHO. I guess they do it so dealers can put the CE in their screamer ads for $15,990.00 Camrys and drive traffic to their showrooms.

Mackabee

jrock65

Actually, the 2007 Camry CE may actually sell in significant volume.

The only difference now between the CE and LE is that the LE has power driver seat and keyless entry. That's it.

kdhspyder

There is a huge number of buyers who want nothing more than the most basic trim.. "Please take these mats out! I won't pay for them."

For these frugal buyers ( I am one, even worse, since I prefer 2-4 y.o. Used Camry's ) as long as the engine and tranny are by Toyota the rest is immaterial. In our blue collar/military market it is 50% of the volume!! Toyota would lose huge market share without this trim.

alpha01

I appreciate all the replies to my post regarding the Camry's weight, but none of information provided allows for direct comparison to the 2006 CE and LE 4 cylinder models.

Are the weights provided in the 2007 specs for the 5M or 5A? There should be different weights provided for both, rarely do manuals weigh as much as the modern electronic automatic transmission.

~alpha

austinman7

For those of you who don't subscribe to Car and Driver, my March issue arrived yesterday with a road test of a 2007 SE 4 cyl. 5-speed manual.

While they praised the suspension and steering, they felt the stability-and-traction-control system dampened performance enough that they called it the "anti-sport" sedan. They acknowledged the safety benefits of the system.

High points for C&D: elegant styling, quietness, and interior roominess. They said the 2.4 engine was adequate.

Their basic point of view was that if Toyota is going to market the SE as a sport sedan, that's how C&D is going to judge it, and the stability control system is the main factor working against the car in that respect. Other than that, they liked the car.

They chose a red car for the test, and I thought the photos made it look very sharp, much classier than the current version.

bartalk3

Car and Driver has also criticized the Lexus GS for "premature" stability control and the inability to turn it off, so that you can really risk your life. The motto of these macho guys often seems to be, "Real men don't need brakes." It's a long way from their test track to real-life driving conditions. Take their reviews with a grain of salt.

mackabee

and full size spare tire and rear LE emblem.
Mackabee

mackabee

I beg to differ kd, our top volume seller is still and always will be the LE trim level.
Mackabee

alpha01

I wish I had my March issue! Interesting that they tested one of the least likely of Camry combinations- the SE 4 cyl. 5M, but Im glad they praised the steering and suspension. Thats the first review ever of a Camry 4 with stability control.

Wonder why they didnt test the SE V6?

In their recent comparison test of the 2006 Camry, Accord, Fusion, Sonata, I was actually happy to see they tested the XLE V6- this model is more true to the Camry formula, and though it finished last, it was not by much and the vehicle acquitted itself well. Its stability control system was NOT put against the sports sedan claim, and thus, no issues.

austinman, can you post the Camry's 0-60, 5-60 Street Start, and 70-0 MPH Braking figures?

Thank you in advance!

It seems the review was lukewarm overall, or was it clear they liked the vehicle just not as a sport sedan?
~alpha

210delray

According to the Toyota Pressroom site (see page 3 of the link), the full-size spare tire is history on all 2007 Camrys. Can this be right? (I guess they have to save cost and weight somewhere.)

Still, I liked being able to include a fifth tire in the rotation.

http://pressroom.toyota.com/presstxt/2007toyotakit/2007Camry_s.pdf

bartalk3

Austinman:

Can you tell us how the SE did on the skidpad in the C&D test?

jrct9454

I was able to get a good look at all the new Camrys at the Portland OR show yesterday. The one observation I might make is that the trunk space in the Hybrid is quite obviously compromised by the batteries - my estimate would be on the order of 2-3 cubic feet. I kept bouncing back and forth between the Camry Hy and the Prius - the Prius is clearly the practical alternative, with its hatch and much greater cargo area, with nearly as much space for 4 people as the Camry. However, as noted be several folks on this board, the Camry will be much the better driving car.

It appears there will be only three options on the Hybrid - sunroof, leather, and nav - how packaged, I have no idea. But that implies a price envelope that might be as much as $3-4k or more between the basic Hybrid and a loaded car....$26-$30k?

lenscap

Does anybody know if XM radio will be offered from the factory on the new Camry (with a fixed roof-mounted antenna and not a cheap-looking, trunk-mounted, magnetic black box antenna)?

XM was supposed to start being factory-installed in many Toyota models beginning with the 2007s, yet there is no mention of it in any 2007 Camry materials that I have seen. It is shocking to me this is not even mentioned, since the Accord has had it standard on the EX for four years now.

austinman7

alpha01,

0-60 is 8.6 sec.
5-60 street start is 9.1 sec.
70-0 braking is 175 ft.

They say they took a 4 cyl. because it represents 60 percent of all Camry sales, and the 5-speed manual fits their readers' priorities. They promised more tests with the V-6 and hybrid setups in the future.

As for the "lukewarm" idea, my experience with C&D is that it's hard for them to be really enthusiastic about any car, no matter what its purpose is, unless it has a sporty nature, and they're very upfront about that point of view. So my previous car, for example, a '96 Buick Regal, represents to C&D everything bad about cars, but for me it was a super quiet, smooth, powerful, comfortable highway cruiser with great dependability, and I was willing to live with the floaty suspension.

But my reading of this article is that they really like this 07 Camry, with the caveat of the stability control system. At the end of the article they say they would give this SE the "checkered flag" as a sport sedan if it weren't for that one aspect. Otherwise, they praise it as "athletic" and having "responsive steering and resolute roll control." And they give Toyota lots of credit for the unique engineering in this SE that makes it more than just a Camry with a different badge.

It sounds to me like many of us who are kind of semi-enthusiasts would find this car to be fairly sporty. Instead of C&D's "anti-sport" sedan tag, maybe "semi-sport" sedan would be more fair.

Finally, I'm really taken by the looks of this car in the C&D photos. I hope it looks as good in real life.

austinman7

bartalk3,

Skidpad was 0.82, which C&D characterized as "pretty good."

alpha01

Thanks austinman.

I'm going to reference your post in the "Sedans- Comparison" board, if you dont mind.

~alpha

austinman7

alpha,

Please feel free.

austinman

bartalk3

Skidpad .82. Pretty good indeed. So what were they expecting, a Corvette?

w9cw

The typical Camry LE buyer couldn't care less about skidpad performance, and typically doesn't read Car and Driver. Rather, I would submit they would be more liable to be a Consumer Reports subscriber or occasional reader.

austinman7

That was my reaction too. This actually sounds like a pretty nice handling car, given the fact that it's basically a family sedan.

lmacmil

"they felt the stability-and-traction-control system dampened performance enough that they called it the "anti-sport" sedan. They acknowledged the safety benefits of the system."

For 95% of the driving public in 95% of driving situations, the Toyota/Lexus stability control calibration is appropriate. Most of us aren't "carving the canyons" or zooming around a racetrack and will never notice an overly agressive stability control system. Those that do and will buy BMWs.

lmacmil

"Wonder why they didnt test the SE V6?"

Probably because it represents only about 5% or less of Camry sales. OTOH, that may be the model most interesting to C&D readers, even though it's an automatic.

I don't believe any of the car mags ever tested an SE V6 sedan during the 2002-06 period, although at least one did test the Solara V6 with the 3.3L engine.

bartalk3

They probably tested the SE 4 because that was the only thing that was available at the time. C&D never chooses what to test based on what sells the most. They usually try to test the fastest car in the lineup even though it only represents a small fraction of sales. For example, although the new GS300 represents 85-80% of GS sales, C&D (and the other car mags) gave most of their time, attn., and space to the GS430.

Consumer Reports generally tries to give most of their testing time to what most people actually drive. They do test high end luxury cars, but only rarely.

jdeib

The author (Barry Winfield)was really balanced in this review. (Why I really enjoy C&D over the other mags) After stating that the SE pulled .82 on the skidpad, he went on to complain that the traction control really makes it hard to enjoy all that the car's suspension seems to be capable of. He then concedes that most drivers are more likely to only ever pull .40 g at the most.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the 6cyl SE in a comparison test.

Jayme

larryt22

According to the preliminary specs, all 2007 Camry's will have the temp spare

bartalk3

My beef with Toyota is still that they don't offer the luxury options on the SE that they have on the XLE (e.g., climate control, etc.) If the Acura TL combines both luxury and performance, why not the Camry SE?

kdhspyder

Camry is Toyota =Honda..
TL is Acura = Lexus

dp5

What in the world does this mean?

katzjamr

it means bartalk3 is compairing apples and oranges

max460

3.5 275 HORSEPOWER ENGINE! SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION, A GLASS ROOF, Bluetooth Technology,a power rear sunshade, and heated and ventilated front seats,push-button ignition,backup camera AND DVD Navigation System with the latest graphics and points of interest.

THE ES350 WILL BLOW AWAY THE RIVALS :shades:

bartalk3

Whatdaya mean a glass roof? The whole roof? Like the weird Maxima roof? Tell us.

max460

a PANORAMIC ROOF

max460

like the scion tc

goodegg

Yea, and it'll be $42,000.

lmacmil

It's still a Camry, albeit a very nice Camry. I don't think it will steal many sales from BMW 3 series, Infiniti G35 or Acura TL.

alpha01

Actually, Car and Driver tested the redesigned Camry SE V6 in the Dec 2001 issue (MY 2002) in a comparison test. At the time, it was the non-VVTi 192 horse 3.0L coupled to the 4 speed automatic transmission. They kept a virtually identical Camry for a 40,000 mile Long-Term test as well, and lauded it quite extensively. I cant recall offhand, but I believe that may have been in a late 2003 issue....

~alpha

ctalk

HE ES350 WILL BLOW AWAY THE RIVALS

I highly doubt it will be able to steal BMW's sales.

After looking at the new IS and GS, it leaves doubt that Lexus can create a car that will rival BMW.

But this is off topic

The new Camry looks quite nice, I may be looking for a second car in a few months. It may be on my list. Can't wait to take a test drive.

jaxs1

Some sales will be "stolen" from the 325 as usual. Not everyone shopping the 3 Series has track and mountain road performance at illegal speeds as their primary criteria for choosing a $350 to $40K near-luxury sedan.

ben_canada

For the 07 Camry LE 4-cylinder "specifically", can I safely buy the car after 3-6 mths after productions rather than waiting for the second year model (to work out the "potential" first year blues), given the 5-speed auto/2.4L engine and even the body frame will be basically the same/slightly improved as the current 05/06 models?

I'm thinking since the major components (5-speed auto transmission/2.4L engine/body structure-frame/suspentions) will be the the same or slightly tweaked, so the chances of "potential" first year problems will be minimal if any at all?

What's your take on this?

Thanks.

krispykreme1

Toyota's reliability has been good if not excellent with most Camrys, so I would say that it is a safe bet to buy a Camry at that time.

lmacmil

"Actually, Car and Driver tested the redesigned Camry SE V6 in the Dec 2001 issue..."

You're right. I never saw the orignal test but did see the long term test and they were very complimentary of it as a long distance hauler. Edmunds is the only place where I have seen the 3.3L sedan tested.

blackexv6

I hope Toyota's first year aches are better than Honda. My '03 Honda Accord had numerous issues that were eventually worked out in the later years. A friend of mine bought a 2002 Camry (first year for re-design) and had no problems except a dash rattle.

I am seriously considering trading my lemon '03 Accord for the '07 Camry. When I was shopping for a car in 2002, the reasons I bought the Accord over the Camry was the interior & exterior styling (looked like a Buick). Looks like Toyota did their marketing homework and this one is a winner. This Camry will steal many prospective Accord buyers.

Toyota will take the remaining market share from Honda since the Acoords are NOISY and ROUGH riding. Also, Honda reliability ratings are dropping due to their V6 transmission problems.

I can finally through my earplugs away and carry passengers in the backseat!

tinatina

Your points are valid about the tranny and the engine. I hope that the Camry does well with its first year reliability. I want to trade in my 2004 Accord for the 2007 Camry in late spring or early summmer. However, the 2002 Camry received a white dot in Consumer Reports, which was its first year. The 2005 Avalon also received a white dot, but I wonder ifthe sample size was skewed because it was not out for a complete year. The Avalon is built at the same plant as the Camry. So, it appears that Toyota has had some build quality issues with its new models.

cooldad24

The first year reliability is always worst than the following years due to process and components design changes. It's shown in Sienna as well as Avalon in their first model year. The "Lemon" peak at the first year with reason. Production yield and glitch need at least 3 months and 5k to 10k to verify and then improve along the way. If you can wait, at least wait for 6 months for refining the transition. OTOH, the price will drop considerably due to demand lower, production higher and close to year end.

chris65amg

The People At IL Seem To Like It