I am getting ready to purchase a camry but i really like the 2007s. How do you order one and are the prices about the same and the MPG about the same as the 2006?
"Lexus may have a hard time selling the new ES 350 against the 2007 CAMRY XLE V-6."
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.
Hey, I went to my local dealership today and checked out the navi system. It's a must have and it's only about 1k for it. Included in that 1k price also upgrades your sound system to 440 watts. You push the eject button on the left side and then you touch the screen where it says load and the navi panel flips down where you can insert the cds and the navi dvd.
No. The XLE has the 440 watt stereo standard, the nav does not "upgrade" the base stereo to 440 watts except on the SE, where it is a $2200 option. It is $1200 on the XLE because the 440 watt stereo is already included in the XLE's base price.
I got the car for the misses, so I can only give a review for the three times I've driven it.
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.
It was Mossy Toyota in San Diego. You can check out their inventory in realtime online at www.mossy.com I don't know if they'll give you any documentation on the price. I might be able to fax a copy of my contract or something if you need it.
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.
Edmunds has the pricing calculators up on the 2007s now. I was pleased that the invoice price on the nav was only around $1000 and msrp around $1200. Why buy portable?
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."
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?
The dealer is pulling your leg, Mary. I just saw a new navi-equipped Camry on the dealer showroom in Denton, TX, tonight. And talk about nice ... I wasn't even considering a Camry because I thought it was a bit stodgy, but the 2007 with navi, bluetooth, start/stop button, and new body design is hot! I have navi on my Honda Pilot, and while it has some indiosyncrasies, I'd be hard-pressed to do without it. In fact, that's my main criteria in buying a new car. Really cuts down the field.
I test drove an XLE V6 with Nav. Very nice ride; however, I don't know that I can live with the blue plastic center console thing and the yellowish wood. Those two things are causing me to consider other cars.
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.
No but exciting edgy styling and volume may be mutually exclusive.
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.
I love the blue, and love the Optitron instrumentation, but AM NOT a fan of the light wood with the grey interior. It looks much better with beige, though, so you may want to check that out.
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.
I have been in a mild car search for several months, looking ot replace my 2002 Volvo S80 T6. I was a few days from putting a deposit on a 2006 Acura TL, when I saw a new Camry on the Toyota lot. I did a double take and immediately made a u-turn to check it out. I drove the SE V6 and was thoroughly impressed. While it didn't ahve the torque of my S80, it was more than enough power. Coupled with a smooth drivetrain (6-speed auto with sequential shift and dual VVTi) it made for an impressive ride....even more so when you consider it is a Camry (known for blah). Needless to say, I am getting a 2007 Camry SE V6 w/Nav, Remote Start, the TRD 18" Wheels , XM, Homelink/Auto-dimming Mirror, Heated outside mirrors, and passenger power seat for $3k less than a TL w/Navi. Local dealer is selling for $600 over invoice.
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.
I expect by mid summer you will see 2007 LEs selling for $17,995. Once all the hooplah dies down in about 2- 3 months, the marketplace forces will take over and the deals will be out there, just like when they introduced the new Avalon last year.
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?
Looks like a real nice car, V6 is up to Nissan standards in power. 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
I've noticed you said you have used the college rebate over the past few years although the finace site states your degree has to be within the last two years. I graduated from college in 1998. Will it still work?
I just saw the 2007 Camry at the dealer for the first time. My initial impressions were that exterior is not really all that exciting. Sorry folks, but the front end just does not work well for me. It is an improvement over the 2006. However, perhaps as a typical Camry buyer, the styling is not all that important to me. The interior is far better than previous and I found it very attractive. What turns me on about the car is all the new features/gadgets. I looked at an SE o the lot, but did not test drive. (They had 1 CE and 2 SE's - and those were selling Very quickly) 3 separate storage compartments in middle consol area is a welcome addition. I was very impressed with the Blue Tooth handsfree feature – this is now a must have for me. I really would like to get the NAV as well. The interior size felt fairly similar to my 2000 Camry. I can tell the nice difference in the larger rear seat. I found the Avalon to be superior comfort, styling, and feel, but don’t think its worth the price for me personally, especially considering that I prefer the 4 cly for a number of reasons. Toyota has a real winner with the 2007 Camry on a number of levels.
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
You are probably right, most folks who purchase Lexus's would not consider the Camry. However, you have to remember that the ES-350 is the entry level Lexus, ie. poor man's Lexus. My wife and I drove the ES-330 in 1999 and in 2005 before purchasing our 4 cylinder XLE Camrys and in reality the ES-330 is a Camry with a few exta bells and whistles. In our opinion, the minimal extras were not worth and other $12 to $15K just to say you were driving a Lexus. With the new features on the 2007 XLE 6 cylinder Camry, I believe the gap between the ES-350 and 2007 Camry is even smaller yet the price difference has grown larger.
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!
You want a recommendation on Special ordering a Toyota, then I only have 2 words for you, "FORGET IT"! You will never be able to get what you want and it will a frustating and long drawn out process. I am big big fan of Toyota and think they make the best vehicles in the world for the value and quality they offer. However, you must remember, Toyota believes they know more about what you want based on the region of the country you live in than you do. Therefore, you pretty much have to pick from what they know you already want or else you will be very disappointed if you try the impossible, a special order. Plus, your ability to make a deal on a special order is almost zilch! Try to identify what you want most and work within what the dealer is assigned so you can get a great Toyota vehicle, otherwise, you may never get one. Most dealers promise the ability to do a special order but when you get serious, they will weasle out!
Good luck. My advice, wait 3 or 4 months then pick something off the lot!
I agree with all of those points, with one caveat: Lexus dealer service is not to be compared with the average Toyota dealer, never mind the occasional bad apple that makes the Toyota brand score so low in consumer surveys. There are people out there who are willing to pay for that difference. I'm not one of them, but I understand the rationale involved...
That is true, Lexus service is outstanding! But they are also very very pricy as a regular oil change can be over $50. I reckon the old saying is still true in most instances, "you get what you pay for"!
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 believes they know more about what you want based on the region of the country you live in than you do."
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).
This is accurate. Toyota Corporate leaves it to the individual regions to decide what sells in each area. That being said customer reaction is constantly being monitored. The most recent and best example is the new 4Runner and it's horrible rubber bumpers.
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.
ps. If you add everything up for invoice pricing Fitz is consistently 4-5 hundred higher. So I think you are paying at least a $1000 over invoice for each car. Or more... 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.
That is the def. the older version of nav. RX350 has nav screen twice the resolution as RX330.
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.
>>>In the Toyota Production Method one of the precepts is to keep the variations to a minimum during production.
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.
You can buy new updated DVDs for a couple hundred dollars if you want to keep up to date with new streets and business database. It is a purchase you can choose to make or not make. It is not an "annual fee." 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.
Got a call from my local dealer this morning as they just received two 07 Camry XLEs and I'm happy to report that Canadian 07 Camrys (except Hybrid) have "Full" size spare tire. I opened up the trunck to check myself as well as the actual printed 07 brochure given out by the dealer.
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:
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