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Comments
Thanks.
Because they are getting incentives to sell off all the 06's plus they have a rebate.
Congratulations on your new ride.
Can you give us a review?
What color did you get?
How does it drive, etc?
I don't think too many people are cross-shopping Lexus ES350 and Camry. I suspect 90% of your typical Lexus buyers are willing to pay the premium for the Lexus brand name and the somewhat nicer amenities.
I drive a 2006 Scion Xb, and the difference in ride quality is HUGE. The Camry is very smooth and quiet compared to the Scion, and has a more luxury feel to it. We drove the Camry over to a friend's, and he only saw it from the window and thought it was a Mercedes. We like the new styling, and my wife picked out the darker gray color.
There is a suprising amount of power for a 4 cyl. It actually has more hp than my V6 Mustang used to have. It corners very well, and has little trouble making u-turns. The trunk has ample space, and there is plenty of leg room in the back, even for a guy of my height.
Where it is lacking: I wish it had memory function on the power seat. I'm 6'5" and my wife is 5'2" It takes a looong time for the power seat to make that kind of movement. A manual seat would be much quicker for us.
I wish I could give more feedback on the performance, but I just haven't driven it all that much.
Also, the college grad rebate really helps close gaps since it's money to you that doesn't come from the dealer's pocket. I've used it three times now over the past few years.
http://www.toyotafinancial.com/finance/college_grads.html
You don't have to finance through them either. I paid cash for the Camry and still got the rebate.
For a 6-cyl XLE with nav and smart key, TMV is $28,500. I'll take it! It's about $2000 over invoice and $1250 under MSRP.
One huge dealer here told me their first nav-equipped cars aren't coming til late April. Think this is typical?
"The test car, a preproduction vehicle, had a glitch in the powertrain. The transition between deceleration and acceleration was jerky, as if the fuel had been shut completely off while slowing and suddenly came back on, in excess, when the throttle was pushed. Toyota says that's unrepresentative and shouldn't be present in showroom models."
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2006-02-24-camry_x.htm
You are absolutely right that stylish competitors often don't deliver Toyota quality. But what could Toyota do with a stylish hit with the given of Toyota reliability? From what I've read in the business news, this is the question Toyota managers are asking themselves. I don't think the new Camry is the answer to this particular question. It almost certainly is a sufficient answer to maintain sales leadership.
The new Camry is not a styling disaster by any means. I generally like it (except that grill). It just isn't an emotive standout.
Now what you may be saying is that Toyota buyers are inclined to reject styling as a primary buying criteria. A kind of reverse snobbery? That may well be the case. If it is, Toyota's expressed interest in a more emotional connection with future cars may cause market confusion about what Toyota means. Can Toyota be both about reliability and standout styling?
Of course not. It is clearly not Toyota's goal to be the styling leader (whatever that means). Rather, they their goal seems to be styling that does not offend which often means styling that doesn't excite.
I could argue that the Nissan Murano, Altima, and Maxima are the most stylish vehicles in their respective classes but I'll bet a lot of potential Highlander, Camry and Avalon buyers would disagree.
The most exciting looking vehicle and even the best performing vehicles are often peripheral ones. This is one of my major indictments of the detroiters. In their auto business often they are trying to run, fund huge companies with peripheral vehicles appealling to a very narrow segment of the market which generally dont fill up plants and don't cover fixed costs.
Nissan has always been edgy here in the same way that Chrysler is.
Its personal, definitely don't buy a car that has interior styling you cant live with. I personally can't stand the green-screen Apple IIe look of the Sonata's stereo, or its swamp green nighttime cabin lighting. And if you dont like the wood in the Camry....the Sonata doesnt do it better. To that end though, at least you don't HAVE to take wood in the top trim Sonata if you go with a different interior color.
~alpha
As for the wood interior....get an SE instead of the XLE and save yourself from it. I can live without the push button start, reclinign rear seat, and manual sun shade in trade for getting the sporty suspension, more rigid chassis, and sharper (IMO) appearance.
If you can wait when a new model comes out, it is better to do if you want the best deal, otherwise enjoy your new car as I am sure you will love it. What color did you get?
But no HID option, no MPG computer option for the SE,even Altima has MPG computer. I have been driving Jeep GC's since 96 4 of them and each one had a full trip MPG computer I am used to having one. Sounds trivial but it might be a deal killer for me. Old Mike
My local dealer tells me there are only two Camry XLS 4 cyl cars in my 5-state region (mid atlantic) that have NAV. Realistically, it would be extremely difficult to get one of them. Hence, I’ll have to special order (6 to 8 weeks) to get the NAV o the 4 cyl XLE. However, salesman told me that even special ordering, you may not be able to get the exact option combination you like. For example, perhaps leather is required for NAV.
Would definitely like to hear of an experiences special ordering
I say buy the Camry and invest the difference, save money on insurance, and know you have Lexus quality and dependability at Toyota prices! But to each his own, that is what makes the world great!
Good luck. My advice, wait 3 or 4 months then pick something off the lot!
As for the question for the color, my wife picked the dark gray (I'm not sure if it has a fancy alternative name).
http://www.lexus.com/assets/navigation_systems/Broadband/lexus_nav.htm
Is this the same system that can be ordered for the 2007 Camry?
And does anyone know if all the after-market modifications to the NAV system developed for the Prius will be available for the Camry? Examples include removal of the initial "nag" screen, ability to enter a destination while the car is moving, iPod touch-screen interface, DVD movie display, etc.
http://www.coastaletech.com/04prius.htm
Toyota knows all.
I think a more accurate statement might be that Toyota knows the option combinations that the majority of buyers will be satisfied with and is willing to sacrifice a few sales in the interest of reduced manufacturing complexity (i.e., lower cost).
How is that more accurate? Not making option combinations may affect cost and complexity of manufacturing.
Not shipping manufactured vehicles with ABS or SE models to certain regions will only affect shipping and possilbly marketing cost and dealer floorplan.
Remember that this $400--$500 ADMIN charge is part of all Invoice prices. Edmunds & KBB do not include this fee in their invoice listing. All dealer invoices include this and in the Southeast it is $100 or more higher than the Cenrtal Atlantic.
Other than Fitzmall, there are large dealers in the Washington, DC area giving good discounts, however they they seem to want to keep a secret EXACTLY what Factory Options are on each car. Prospective customers must go to KBB list price and work backwards to get an idea how a new car is equipped. Fitzmall tells you exactly how each car is equipped.
All Camry's have ABS standard. All regions get SE models.
In the Toyota Production Method one of the precepts is to keep the variations to a minimum during production. It increases the build quality.
Honda goes a step further. No options. Just color.
For 2007, the fifth-generation navigation system is optionally available on the RX 350 and includes voice-recognition that will allow the driver to input a desired destination by voice command while driving.
Like other Lexus navigation systems, the new fifth-generation system will be offered in conjunction with a rear back-up camera to supplement the driver's visibility of the area behind the vehicle. The camera will provide the driver a view of what the camera lens can detect behind the vehicle, automatically projecting a color image on the navigation system's seven-inch VGA screen when the reverse gear is engaged.
Visual support in the Lexus fifth-generation navigation system is greatly enhanced. The central-display screen will offer better resolution with 800 x 480 pixels as compared to the previous 400 x 240 and will display graphics in 32,000 colors compared to the 256 colors in the previous model. Not only will maps and roads look sharper and include 3D shadow effects, all details appearing on the screen will be crisper and cleaner. The result: a richer-looking display that will be more visually appealing and easier to view at a glance.
The new navigation system will add Spanish to the already offered English and French text display options. The user can select the language preference at system start-up.
How does sending one model configuration to some regions, but not others, keep the number of variations to a minimum? The principle is sound, but it doesn't cover the application in which some regions, e.g., offer VSC only as part of a package that includes a moon roof? Meanwhile, other regions offer each option separately, or together.
I'm afraid this is nothing but a sales/marketing tool. They will get away it with as long as Toyota is a strong brand. With Korean automakers making significant improvements in their product line, I wonder how long this attitude will last.
Especially good to hear it was comfortable for you at your height as I'm 6'2".
Cheers,
Ken
I don't think they even make updated DVDs available every year anyway. Then down the road, they may stop making DVDs that work with your now "older" car when the new nav systems use a newer technology.
I'm in the minority here as I actually like the front/hood of the 07 Camry. I think Toyota should stick to it's decision with the design rather than change their design because someone doesn't like it, e.g. look at the Accord, the more Honda changed it's rear the uglier it got.
All 4c Toyota's now have chains.
This new V6 has a timing chain ( Avy, RAV, Camry, Taco, 4R, Tundra )
The older V6's all have belts
The 4.7L V8 is a belt.
Why do you say that? If I place a special order with a dealer, you thinkI will not get the model/option combination I order? Do you think price would be higher with special order versus purchase from the lot? How many times have you special ordered Toyota? Please shed some light on this subject. :confuse:
Thanks,
Tidewater