We bought our 2002 Toyota Camry 4 cyl XLE about 1 year ago and it has been trouble free smooth sailing. Love the car. We are anticipating our third child and wonder if there is anyone out there who has put 3 car seats across the back seat. We have 2 Britax car seats with LATCH in the outboard positions now. Does a third car seat fit in between? Anyone have any success with 3 car seats across the back seat?
Since 4 cyl is the bulk of the sales, is 5 spd 4 cyl combination going to happen? I believe this is badly needed to play an even field with 4 cyl Accord.
You can find 5-speed Camrys, but unfortunately for me they never have ABS. Toyota feels that you are a cheapskate if you want a 5-speed (as opposed to someone who enjoys driving and likes the better acceleration and fuel mileage), and they never have ABS, or much else. Hopefully they will match Hondas standard ABS next year, but I doubt it.
any plans for a 5-spd auto across the board, but that does not mean it is not going to happen! LOL
You are right though, it would be a very good thing for them to do, if for no other reason than it has helped Honda EPA-certify its 4-cyl auto this year at 26/34 for mileage, which is above Toyota's ratings.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I was taking a walk the other night and happened to walk past a new Camry. It had pulled up to the intersection I was crossing, and I happened to notice how quiet the engine was! I hardly could hear it. I then thought, "This must be the V6 since it's so quiet", but no! It was the 4-cylinder!
There have been 3 times I have started my 4 cylinder Camry and did not think the car was running the engine is soooooo quiet. It really is amazing the engine is so quiet, peppy, smooth and relatively fuel efficient.
Of course as soon as you pull out and the rattles start all is lost.
Those who subscribe to Consumer Reports, while rewarding the Camry in many categories be sure to designate the rattle area as quite substandard. Perhaps future owners will then get a rattle free car!
By the way, anybody put there ever hear of Jetson brand tires. I have used these on every car I owned as replacement the tires to those supplied with the new car. They always were superior in price, ride and longevity to the Firestone, GoodYear and even Michelines that came as original equipment on these cars. Personally I have to believe they will be superior to the junk Toyota put on my new Camry but then there are those who say certain tires will make the car more quiet, handle better and react better in bad weather. I am stuck with the junk on there now until they wear out but was just interested in some tire feedback.
I skipped the full 120k service which would have cost $450(no timing belt),instead paid ala carte for a tune up $180(platinum plugs,air filter,pcv), cooling system flush $60, oil chg $20, and tire rotate $20 for at total of $280 and saved $170. I did have the front brake pads replaced at $150 which seemed a bit high.
Can anyone give me a review of the ride of the SE vs the LE? Did you drive both and decide on one or the other due to the ride? Do you find the SE ride too firm or stiff over rough roads? Inreased road noise over rough roads? The SEs are hard to find in my town, so it's hard to drive and compare. Thanks
The Accord automatic gets 24/33mpg (not 26/34), the manual gets 26/34. So it is really just a little better than the Camry. Both are really quite good.
The SE is firmer, but not uncomfortably so. If you aspire to take ANY turns quickly, you should go with the SE. You'll also get a moonroof included in the base price.
Can be replaced. Heck, if you are a good negotiator, you can have the dealer swap the tires on one SE for the tires on another. Go with the SE. Our LE has been great- suits my parents needs exceptionally. But if you're like me, and would appreciate a bit more roll control and surefootedness, I think the SE is a great option. ~alpha
Just bought a new XLE V6 with leather/VSC. Thanks to the board for alerting me to the engine upgrade. Q's about the maintenance for this car: 1.It does have a timing chain? 2. What intervals do you guys use for oil changes. 3. What's the recommended plug replacement mileage? When I read the manual it refers to engine numbers and I am not sure what engine number the VVT-I has. Thanks. BTW I couldn't believe that the first offer from the dealer was sticker!!!
Some time in the next few months I will be trading in my 99 LE with 120k miles for a new vehicle. I will be looking at the usual suspects. Obviously the Camry has been great, but I may want a change.The Accord looks nice all around with good reviews so far,but have not test driven,and the dealers can be a pain at Honda. The Passat while a well made solid car seems priced too high,but they have plenty on the lots.The Altima interests me with its fine engine and exterior design,but I have enough info on it yet.Then of course there is the Camry,seems to have slipped a bit on the reliability scale(at least with the rattles), and the side crash tests could be a little better.Other than that it again looks like a winner. Any thoughts?
We also shopped the same 3 cars, all 4 cyls automatics, and are replacing a 2000 Camry LE 4 cyl automatic.
The Altima, is nice, but feels a significant level down in refinement compared to the Accord and Camry. The car just feels "tinny" (sp?) and the interior materials, as stated in several magazine reports, seem to be less substantial then the others here. Dash design seems too over-styled to us, and we don't care for the orange speedo and guage lighting in this car. Roomy car. We just don't care for it.
The Accord is very nice, probably the quietest Accord ever built. The road noise in previous Accords has always kept us away from them. This car is quieter, but not up to Camry quietness. The quality seems high, the pricing is good, the dealers here advertising the LX auto for $17,900. The seats feel overly firm to us (50ish folks..can't believe I'm getting that old!) Not sure if we like the dash layout, the controls for the radio/AC seem confusing, but I'm sure with a little time, it would be easy to learn. The ride was firm, not harsh. Roomy.
The Camry is the quietest of all 3, and seems to have the comfiest seats. The dash seems very plain, but it is just simple, everything is there. We have been debating between the LE and the SE, for the extras that are provided at about the same cost (moonroof, 4 wheel discs, leather steering wheel, sport suspension, better seats/materials, etc). As I posted earlier, the 2 dealers in my town don't have any SEs in stock, and the next town is 2 hours away. We drove there over the weekend, and drove an SE. WOW! Very nice handling, firmer than LE, but not as firm as the Accord. We are getting a Camry SE next week, from out of town.
Has anybody ever seen a Camry LE with ABS and manual transmission? Does it exist? I know it seems like it is available according to Toyota brochure and website.
I know you can get that combo on the SE, but I dislike the silver gauges, and the useless spoiler (not a kid anymore), and the sunroof makes head room barely tolerable in front and intolerable in the back. I do prefer the handling and interior of the SE though.
I can't answer your question directly, but Toyota shows options in the brochure and website that may not be avail in your region. Not sure why, but that is the case. I currently live in Arizona, but am moving to Calif soon, and will be buying my car in CA. In AZ, the JBL radio is virtually on all SEs I have seen, and in CA, out of HUNDREDS avail, not one has the JBL radio. Weird!
BTW,I have seen several SEs in CA without the spoiler, as after Jan of this year,it is now an option, and the moonroof standard. The moomroof is a "delete" option...supposedly. LOL
If the spoiler is an option, and the moonroof is a delete option, then I can live with the gauges. Of course I am probably in the same boat still, as you suggest. Just because it is technically available does not mean I can get it.
I may wind up with an Accord LX which I feel is very comparable. That way I can get ABS manual and no sunroof. The problem is I don't want a first year Accord as they have had problems with new models lately (Civic, Odyssey) as has Toyota with the 02 Camry. I am aware that these are mostly little things like squeeks and rattles not major mechanical issues.
Last July, we purchased a 2002 Camry LE V6. We now have over 8,000 miles on the car and the only problem has been the infamous heat shield rattle that this board helped to diagnose and have fixed. The car was asembled in Kentucky. It has been perfect and the quietest car we have ever owned.
Thanks for hearing me out, just wanted to give some good news about the 2002 Camry.
Maxhonda: The salesman told me that the XLE V6 I bought had a chain. I guess he was as ignorant as the rest of them. I found Honda salesmen always to be courteous and more knowledgeable. The only obnoxious ones I ran across in our search for a car was a Toyota salesmen who flew into almost a livid rage when we said we were looking at Hondas and started bad mouthing them even making moronic statements like "you'll pay 3 times as much"(which would be 60K we reminded him).
Anyway, what is this heat shield rattle and is it widespread?
Can anyone tell me why CR has the Camry at average reliability currently?
Finally I purchased 2003 LE V6 VTT-i. Just picked it up yesterday with 4km on speedometer. The complaints I had so far were:
a) The glove box light did not work. I could not access to the light bulb, so not sure the light bulb or wire connection problem ? b)The car was stalling when brake was applied to make it stop (not happened all the time)
Before bring back to dealer, I want to make sure all the fluids are in correct level.
Can anyone show me to how to check transmission fluid ? With engine off, and it was still hot, the transmission fluid was well above the "hot mark" ! Is that normal ? Thanks in advance
When you say "stalling" do you mean the engine actually STOPS running? That it is dangerous and the car should return to the dealer immediately to find out what is going on. That is unacceptable behavior of any car, let alone one that supposedly has a reputation for quality. Please specify. ~alpha
I felt "stalling" but the engine was still running. I did not look at the RPM to see if it was really fluctuating. The other possibility that the could transmission shift to lower gear ? The problem only happened twice, I am afraid that when I bring back to dealer then they would say NFF (no fault found).
Being a 3 generation Honda owner I had a real hard time passing up the new one for the 2003 Camry LE I now own. After a month of driving here are some thoughts. Incredibly smooth ride and quietness for around 18K. Love the power driver's seat. I was going to need to hand crank the Honda's in the LX model. I know the new Honda's ride and noise levels are much improved but when I drive my 97 Accord and then the new Camry the difference is astounding. The upgraded sound system is great and worth the extra money. To me it is amazing the features you get for the price when I compare it to what I paid 6 years ago for a new car. Less than a 2K increase in price for a bigger engine, more room, better ride and less noise, more features such as anti-lock brakes and auto locking doors and many others. So far no rattles or any noises just quality and comfort. My son loves the roomy back seat. I know this seems like a little thing but this is a family sedan! The back seats in the Accords measure as big but when you sit in them they curve on the outside which seems to reduce their usefulness. Now that I have driven it a while I have adjusted to the different style of handling in the Camry. Just took some getting used to. I would admit that the dash is a little plain but everything is easy to find and understand at a glance. So far I am very pleased with my choice of new vehicles.
I've had my camry 4le-auto for about a month now with 1000 miles, but I am still getting very poor gas mileage... about 23.5 each fill. I do about 70% highway driving, so i'm not sure what gives, i am expecting about 28. I don't drive it to hard either. am i still in the break-in period where it should get better within the next 500 miles?
Generally, you don't try to check ATF levels with the engine off. Most manufacturers say to put the car in Park, leave the engine running for a minute of so, and check the trans fluid with the engine on. Since more of the fluid will be circulating, as opposed to lying there in the case, my guess is you'll find it at the correct level.
If you want to check it with the engine off, you must do it with the drivetrain stone cold, before any startup in the morning. And even then, the reading may be suspect.
Both the Accord and Camry are awesome cars for the money. The Camry is slightly bigger inside, quieter, and has a bigger trunk. The handling on the Accord, however, is more like a true performance Sedan, while the Camry is a bit squishy in cornering. Both are incredible cars for what you pay.
Junepug, Thanks for instruction. It works now. I am not really sure that you called it "new feature to save battery". Most of the time, I would like the glove box light turns on without operating head lights. Assume that if the glove box is left open, it would take 15 days to discharge the battery (with 1W light bulb)!
canoe-thank you for clarifying your problem. make sure you correctly describe the issue if you do indeed bring it back to the dealer, perhaps they can help you, now that you know it is not the ATF.
Our 2002 LE 4cylinder now has nearly 27,000 miles on it. No major issues, a few interior trim problems though; cupholder foam insert broke, and glovebox lock seized. Both fixed under warranty.
Fuel economy on the car has consistently hit 27 MPG in a mix of city highway.
Very pleased thus far. Excellent ride, outstanding power/economy mix, sufficient, though not outstanding quality, excellent room, good looks. Great car.
also, I was at NYIAS today. WAAAAAAY too many people, but got a GREAT look at the new Solara- this looks like a home run- for those who want an auto trans.
well, i guess i'll just wait and see if the mileage improves. I've only filled the tank 3 times, so maybe it will get better as the car ages.
on a side note, I've seen ads in the paper where "camry le's auto, all with msrp $20,469" are listed as $15,999 after the $1k rebate. I was skeptical at first, so i called to see if there were any hidden fees, and the dealer said no. Is this for real? i guess it shouldn't matter since i already bought my car, but i would be upset if i paid so much more. =(
I have had an 03 Camry XLE 4cyl for a couple of months now. Just about 2000 miles on it. My mileage so far has been mostly 27 mpg on 13 mile 60 mph 1 way trips to work. Took a 500 mile round trip last weekend and averaged 32.4 for the trip. Nice to go 500 miles and still have 1/4 tank left. When filled it took 13.9 gallons. The trip computer though is always reading 3 to 4 MPG higher than my manual calculation. Had a couple of rattles that were fixed by dealer. It is very quiet and smooth. Have a hard time driving our other car, 96 Taurus sometimes, spoiled. My opinions, Seat bottom could be a tad longer,as was Accord. I didn't go Accord because of smaller size and trunk and stiffer ride. I find no problems with Camry ride or handling. Have put it into a few curves at pretty good speeds, but unlike Car and Driver, etc, I don't drive slolems every day. I think your mileage will improve but will take a little longer than you think. These newer engines have very tight tolerances and some believe won't achieve maximum fuel economy until after 4k to 8000 miles.
I find the dash, radio and HVAC controls very much to my liking. When I test drove the Accord, I was having a problem with the integraded radio/hvac design. I'm sure that with time and practice you would get used to it. But in that area, I find simple and easy is better for me. Both nice cars though.
Actually, if you read the owner's manual the transmission fluid should be hot and just idling it or running it a few miles does not do it. at least 10 miles needs to be driven for a truly accurate reading. Even more in the winter. If you check it with engine off it will read high, when engine on but not hot it will read at the low end of the hash marks and when the fluid is hot it should read at the top of the hash mark or certainly in between. Hot is the truest indicator of fluid level.
ABS standard on all models - just like the Accord.
Even an $11,000 Ford Ranger has ABS standard. You would think a family car like the Camry would have it too. For those who feel they can drive well enough to beat the ABS - what are you doing in a Camry?
Right now lack of ABS on a 5-speed is what is keeping me away from a Camry.
I do agree with the exhaust routing - what is up with that. Also has anyone noticed that the Camry seems to have more than its' fair share of wrinkles in the seat fabric - not every car, but if you look at several at the dealer it is obvious.
About seat fabric wrinkles- our Camry does not have them, but I did notice that our last generation Corolla does. Annoying, but not causing any functional issues.
Everybody complains about the exhaust, but really, its never been a problem, it just looks awkward, and it has since the 97 redesign. IMO, who cares?
With regard to safety equipment, I agree with everyone that states that ABS should be standard. And if it cant be standard, I'd like to see ABS and Curtain Airbags as a bundled option for the LE and SE 4 cylinders. I think the curtains should be standard on XLE models (would also be good, as it adds differentiation between the LE and XLE... with pwr seats, keyless, etc. now standard on LE, the differences have been lessened).
I dont like the Asian taillight treatment, especially if it is coupled with the ugly front fascia on that car.
jbollt, go to post 5429 and you can see the link...I like it..and I do care if they fix the exhaust hopefully before I buy, but if not Camry is still on the top of the list..
3.3-liter VVT-i V6 engine won't make a big difference even if Camry get it, because solara only has 225HP with it, so Camry will still be behind the competition in terms of HP. But 5 speed automatic sequential sounds good.
I like to see more Camry have VSC package, it seems that a lot of deal have very few or even no Camry that has VSC package.
I would like to see they use solara SLE guage, or white EL.
You can send your comments of what you think about the car to Toyota using email option in their FAQ, or phone call, or mail. I have send them a couple emails before.
Comments
You are right though, it would be a very good thing for them to do, if for no other reason than it has helped Honda EPA-certify its 4-cyl auto this year at 26/34 for mileage, which is above Toyota's ratings.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Of course as soon as you pull out and the rattles start all is lost.
Those who subscribe to Consumer Reports, while rewarding the Camry in many categories be sure to designate the rattle area as quite substandard. Perhaps future owners will then get a rattle free car!
By the way, anybody put there ever hear of Jetson brand tires. I have used these on every car I owned as replacement the tires to those supplied with the new car. They always were superior in price, ride and longevity to the Firestone, GoodYear and even Michelines that came as original equipment on these cars. Personally I have to believe they will be superior to the junk Toyota put on my new Camry but then there are those who say certain tires will make the car more quiet, handle better and react better in bad weather. I am stuck with the junk on there now until they wear out but was just interested in some tire feedback.
~alpha
~alpha
BTW I couldn't believe that the first offer from the dealer was sticker!!!
No, the Camry has a timing belt. Which means they probably recommend changing it every 60K miles.
I believe the spark plugs are also recommended to be changed every 60K miles.
The Altima, is nice, but feels a significant level down in refinement compared to the Accord and Camry. The car just feels "tinny" (sp?) and the interior materials, as stated in several magazine reports, seem to be less substantial then the others here. Dash design seems too over-styled to us, and we don't care for the orange speedo and guage lighting in this car. Roomy car. We just don't care for it.
The Accord is very nice, probably the quietest Accord ever built. The road noise in previous Accords has always kept us away from them. This car is quieter, but not up to Camry quietness. The quality seems high, the pricing is good, the dealers here advertising the LX auto for $17,900. The seats feel overly firm to us (50ish folks..can't believe I'm getting that old!) Not sure if we like the dash layout, the controls for the radio/AC seem confusing, but I'm sure with a little time, it would be easy to learn. The ride was firm, not harsh. Roomy.
The Camry is the quietest of all 3, and seems to have the comfiest seats. The dash seems very plain, but it is just simple, everything is there. We have been debating between the LE and the SE, for the extras that are provided at about the same cost (moonroof, 4 wheel discs, leather steering wheel, sport suspension, better seats/materials, etc). As I posted earlier, the 2 dealers in my town don't have any SEs in stock, and the next town is 2 hours away. We drove there over the weekend, and drove an SE. WOW! Very nice handling, firmer than LE, but not as firm as the Accord. We are getting a Camry SE next week, from out of town.
I know you can get that combo on the SE, but I dislike the silver gauges, and the useless spoiler (not a kid anymore), and the sunroof makes head room barely tolerable in front and intolerable in the back. I do prefer the handling and interior of the SE though.
BTW,I have seen several SEs in CA without the spoiler, as after Jan of this year,it is now an option, and the moonroof standard. The moomroof is a "delete" option...supposedly. LOL
I may wind up with an Accord LX which I feel is very comparable. That way I can get ABS manual and no sunroof. The problem is I don't want a first year Accord as they have had problems with new models lately (Civic, Odyssey) as has Toyota with the 02 Camry. I am aware that these are mostly little things like squeeks and rattles not major mechanical issues.
Click on "Public" on the left side of the screen, then type in Solara and hit search. There are a lot of shots there.
~alpha
Thanks for hearing me out, just wanted to give some good news about the 2002 Camry.
Anyway, what is this heat shield rattle and is it widespread?
Can anyone tell me why CR has the Camry at average reliability currently?
The complaints I had so far were:
a) The glove box light did not work. I could not access to the light bulb, so not sure the light bulb or wire connection problem ?
b)The car was stalling when brake was applied to make it stop (not happened all the time)
Before bring back to dealer, I want to make sure all the fluids are in correct level.
Can anyone show me to how to check transmission fluid ? With engine off, and it was still hot, the transmission fluid was well above the "hot mark" ! Is that normal ?
Thanks in advance
~alpha
I did not look at the RPM to see if it was really fluctuating. The other possibility that the could transmission shift to lower gear ? The problem only happened twice, I am afraid that when I bring back to dealer then they would say NFF (no fault found).
If you want to check it with the engine off, you must do it with the drivetrain stone cold, before any startup in the morning. And even then, the reading may be suspect.
I am not really sure that you called it "new feature to save battery". Most of the time, I would like the glove box light turns on without operating head lights. Assume that if the glove box is left open, it would take 15 days to discharge the battery (with 1W light bulb)!
Followed your instruction, the fluid was within acceptable range.
Our 2002 LE 4cylinder now has nearly 27,000 miles on it. No major issues, a few interior trim problems though; cupholder foam insert broke, and glovebox lock seized. Both fixed under warranty.
Fuel economy on the car has consistently hit 27 MPG in a mix of city highway.
Very pleased thus far. Excellent ride, outstanding power/economy mix, sufficient, though not outstanding quality, excellent room, good looks. Great car.
also, I was at NYIAS today. WAAAAAAY too many people, but got a GREAT look at the new Solara- this looks like a home run- for those who want an auto trans.
~alpha
on a side note, I've seen ads in the paper where "camry le's auto, all with msrp $20,469" are listed as $15,999 after the $1k rebate. I was skeptical at first, so i called to see if there were any hidden fees, and the dealer said no. Is this for real? i guess it shouldn't matter since i already bought my car, but i would be upset if i paid so much more. =(
otherwise, the car is great!
3.3-liter VVT-i V6 engine & 5-speed automatic sequential that is coming out with the 2004 Solara
Fix the exhaust pipe that looks like it is falling when you are behind the car
Tail light enhancement being used in the Asian market
Well we can always wish...
Even an $11,000 Ford Ranger has ABS standard. You would think a family car like the Camry would have it too. For those who feel they can drive well enough to beat the ABS - what are you doing in a Camry?
Right now lack of ABS on a 5-speed is what is keeping me away from a Camry.
I do agree with the exhaust routing - what is up with that. Also has anyone noticed that the Camry seems to have more than its' fair share of wrinkles in the seat fabric - not every car, but if you look at several at the dealer it is obvious.
Everybody complains about the exhaust, but really, its never been a problem, it just looks awkward, and it has since the 97 redesign. IMO, who cares?
With regard to safety equipment, I agree with everyone that states that ABS should be standard. And if it cant be standard, I'd like to see ABS and Curtain Airbags as a bundled option for the LE and SE 4 cylinders. I think the curtains should be standard on XLE models (would also be good, as it adds differentiation between the LE and XLE... with pwr seats, keyless, etc. now standard on LE, the differences have been lessened).
I dont like the Asian taillight treatment, especially if it is coupled with the ugly front fascia on that car.
~alpha
thanks!
I like to see more Camry have VSC package, it seems that a lot of deal have very few or even no Camry that has VSC package.
I would like to see they use solara SLE guage, or white EL.
You can send your comments of what you think about the car to Toyota using email option in their FAQ, or phone call, or mail. I have send them a couple emails before.
Look under "Toyota's U.S. Headquarters Contacts"
http://toyota.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/toyota.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp- .php