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Comments
Pros -
Quiet ride, especially on rough roads. I don't find it "floaty", even at 80+mph
Transmission is right on and quick on downshifts, with smooth upshifts
Steering requires very little correction and is excellent in cross winds. Better than
my '05 Accord and as good as my '02 Passat
Extremely tight and solid
Very quick with effortless passing ability
Cons -
Although it steers straight and true, the steering is numb and over boosted
Bland styling - inside and out
Some Toyota "cheap outs" - no folding outside mirrors, one-touch power windows only on driver's door, goose neck trunk hinges
I drove just about everything in this class of car with the exception of the Chrysler products and found this Camry best fits what I need right now. Although my favorite was the Passat V6, with the weak dollar the price has gone up from the $25K I paid for my 2002 to $35K for the '08 and I'm not ready to pay that much for a VW. Next on my list was a tie between the Malibu and the VW Jetta.
If I experience the dreaded "shift flares," or hesitations, I report back.
About the numb steering, that's frequently reported and the bland styling is a matter of opinion. Folding mirrors would be nice, the one-touch windows have long been driver only except for the XLE model, and the gooseneck hinges aren't all that much of a drawback (the flip side is that struts always seem to come with a larger trunk lip or sill, reducing the size of the trunk opening -- look at the Malibu as an example).
The Malibu seems promising, but time will tell. I'd personally never buy a VW, based on their poor reliability record (and my own long-ago experience with 2 Rabbits).
Also, when I was on the toyota website, it looks like the LE trims and above can be configured with a 6 speed automatic. What is everyone's take on the 6 speed vs the 5 speed automatic? I read that there are some problems with Toyota's transmission. Are the problems with the 5 speed or the 6 speed?
The only difference is the LE has a power driver's seat and keyless entry. Otherwise, they are identical (except the LE is another $1,000 or so).
The CE is a real bargain, and the keyless can be added for around $200.
By the way, they dropped the CE name and it is now just called Camry. The LE is still called the "LE".
See the Toyota website, it will give you all this info.
I have a 5 speed manual, runs perfect.
Most of the 5 speed automatic problems in the '07 model year were solved with a simple computer reprogramming. Some people say it still has problems, but Consumer Reports has not shown it to be a problem. The 6 speed automatic in the '07 did show up as a real problem in Consumer Reports, but I think it has been resolved now. I am sure some will disagree.
If the transmission problems have been solved, then I am really ready to jump on one.
Would you recommend the 2008 or the 2009 model? What has changed between the 2008 and the 2009? I am mainly looking at the CE and the LE trim levels.
The CE (or just "Camry" as it is now called) is the real bargain. I have seen CE's with the dealer asking just under $17,000!
Are you looking for stick or automatic? According to the Toyota website, the Camry (CE) for '09 is only available with a stick.
When I was purchasing my CE manual, I could not get a CE in my area - had to travel out of state.
Just interesting!
I don't understand this whole region specific thing. One region only gets a CE with manual, another region can get a CE with either manual or automatic. U.S. market gets stuck with Camries that have ugly bulbous logo, while the Japanese market gets Camries with a grille that make them look like entry level Lexuses.
The mind of auto execs, can never figure them out.
When do you think Toyota will get rid of that bulbous head on the Camries? Obviously not going to happen for the 2009 model. 2010 maybe? Too bad I need a car this year. Otherwise I would really want to wait till that bulbous head has gone away.
For 2010, there may be some changes in cosmetics and maybe even mechanicals.
As far as the regions, it is strange. When I was buying mine, I was looking for a CE manual transmission. Locally, they said no way, Toyota does not even ship CEs here and manual transmissions they do not ship here either in any trim level.
But a few hours down the road and I had my car!
Good luck with your purchase!
I've bought two cars that we're brought in from other dealers. The subject of an added fee wasn't mentioned.
If we were talking about a Ferrari, well . . . . .
Otherwise, I'd just monitor the situation and take action only if it gets worse.
As many others have commented, newer Camry's aren't as tight as they used to be. This month's Consumer Reports rates the Camry for squeaks and rattles "much worse than average."
Mack
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Caaz
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However, I sat in a couple XLEs and noticed the armrest sliders are so loose that they slide around even when you aren't trying to move the armrest.
It doesn't appear that the armrest can lock in any position so it doesn't shift forward and back unintentionally.
Is there any way to add resistance to it so it doesn't move around under you unless you're really trying to move it?
Regardless, you should drive the 4 cylinder and see if you like it since you are the one who will be driving it. If it has enough power for your needs, then there is no reason to even consider the V6, pay more much more up front, use more gas and take a risk of more problems..
If you drive the four cylinder and you feel like it doesn't have enough power to merge onto the highway, then look at the V6.
My two cents:
I rented an 07 Camry LE 4 cylinder for the weekend. The car really surprised me as it was quiet, smooth, and very easy to drive. For city use I would recommend the 4 no question. BUT, on the highway and for those times in the city when I needed the extra power I found the 4 to be lacking. Coming from a GM V6 I was frequently disappointed by the lack of power on tap. Also when you ask for power from the engine it whines and screams (read: noise goes up quite a bit) and there is a slight lag before that power is transmitted to the wheels.
For those reasons I myself just placed an order for the Camry v6 (scam or not, but I also bought the Toyota extended warranty to deal with any transmission issues...I plan to keep this car for at least 10 years).
Good luck!
If you keep it 10 years, you will have it during the time when it most likely to have the most expensive problems and the extended warranty would have long expired before then.
If you don't have many problems during the extended warranty period, the money is wasted and if you do have a lot of problems, then you have a lemon and you better get rid of it long before it's 10 years old because it will just get worse and worse with more age and miles.
I have a few different questions. I just ordered the LE V6:
1.When is the right time to have the car waxed (etc?). Should I wait till next spring?
2.If I buy a can of Scotch guard for the seats will that damage the cloth?
3.Anyone have experience with the 3M paint protection plastic for the front?
4.What is the best/proper method to break-in the vehicle?
2. I use Scotch guard, and it has been fine.
3. ?
4. The owner's manual will tell you. I know it says to avoid going at the same speed for long distances, and I think it may still say avoid abrupt starts and stops.
Still haven't found a place that does the 3M film installation though