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Turned down the extended warranty once we were told we could buy it at a later date, said forget the alarm, but wife caved in on what I think is "Gap insurance". We're paying cash for the car, but this insurance ($750) will pay the difference in what the payoff is on a total or theft for a total of $25000. Also included "free" VIN etching - I can have that done at the local police precinct for free......
Anyway, looking forward to many years of service from the Camry. Wife's 91 Tercel was a good little car until the small, expensive things started to go. Got 12 years and 72K miles out of it...
So, here's a new member of the Camry "family"! Hope to not have to post in the "problens" section!
Deke
I am not sure what benefit gap ins has when paying cash. My understanding is it covers the difference in the ins. value and the loan/leas value. Cliffy can probably answer though.
As he explained it, it covers the car for 5 years against an accident that totals the car or theft. If our insurance co gives us $18000 for the car next year, we will get the difference from this other policy to total $25,000.00 so we can replace the car with no out-of-pocket expenses. They also pay all the DMV fees and dealer charges.
Anyway, my wife let me sit in the car in the driveway last night. Maybe tonight I'll actually DRIVE it....
Owner's manual still sits in the glove box. Me? I'd've read it cover to cover last night!
Black pearl emblems on the Aspen Green reminds me of the USAF black markings on the OD Green aircraft...real stealthy!
Deke
Accord sedan with side air bags (NO side curtains)
Altima with side and curtain air bags
Camry sedan with side and curtain air bags
Mazda6 with side and curtain air bags
I'd put the Altima,6, and Camry with the side/side curtain options above the Accord with only the chest side airbag.
~alpha
This Camry is NO comparison at all to the old 91 Tercel she had since new....
First, I couldn't get over how much space I had! The Intrigue, though a larger car, seems to have less "elbow" room. With the moonroof,I was afraid I wouldn't have enough headroom....WRONG! Door openings are wide enough that I don't bang my knee on the dash (like in my Olds) or rub on the weatherstripping....
Engine is TOO quiet! Had to really listen to make sure it started! Smooth power (thanks to the VVT-I and dual cams - but why does the owner's manual state FOUR CAMS?). Tranny is "like butta" and I never felt a shift. Still trying to find out what that fifth gear is...
The cloth interior feels like real quality material that will hold up for quite a few years. May just invest in covers for the front to keep them that way.
Ride is great, no bucking or jouncing on the crappy NYC roads.
Only "complaint" I have is the soft brake pedal. Guess I'm too used to the hard pedal (little travel) in the Intrigue.
Now to start ordering accessories - rain guards for the windows, foul-weather floor mats, dusters....
Deke
Yes, I totally agree with you about soft brake pedal and little travel. When I made the measurement of the travel distance for pedal, it was within specs.
When I occasionally drive a friend's 68 Road Runner with manual drums...THAT'S another story altogether! Not having driven a non-power, non-front disc car in a while, it takes quite a few stops to adjust.
Deke
What you are describing is a total replacement insurance. I have it on my boat. I have never seen anything like this offered on a car, especially through the dealership. Look over the contract carefully and make sure it is what the guy claimed. If it really does pay the difference between the insurance settlement and a pre-set value of $25000, it sounds like a decent deal.
Check it out!
~alpha
how much is VSC worth? I really want safety, so the question is, how central is VSC if you want safety? Note: I live in the midwest with some bad winter drives sometimes.
Thanks for opinions, insights etc.
Thanks ---<Rick
For me, anyway, I'll insist on the VSC. Ditto ditto head-curtain airbags (reduces side injuries by almost a half).
Narrows the list quite a bit, unfortunately. E.g., the Mazda-6 doesn't offer VSC or equivalent. What's left?-- the -v-6 Camry, the Passat, and 2004 Prius are it in the low-20s range. Anyone know any others? (The $30-ish cars typically offer these options, e.g., the Acura TSX... I really wish that car was in my budget range, but ...).
As for the three, I judge the Camry crash tests (if supplemented by head-curtain bags) to probably beat the Passat (the latter was tested with side bags, the Camry without). Too bad you have to get the v-6 Camry to get VSC; I wish they offered VSC on the 4, but they don't. (Passat offers it as a cheap add on right from the base.) The maintenance will probably be cheaper and more flexible on a Camry (since Passats can only be handled by specialists and dealers, while any competent mechanic will be able to work on a Camry. If my goal is a car that will run like a top ten years from now, Camry seems the best bet, no?
The Prius is the most exciting, but there is the risk of buying something brand new, before the crash tests, rollover tests, reliability data, first-year problems, etc. So...it looks like I'll be in a Camry soon. Will let you know. Thanks.
He also said we could order the car, but there would be no guarantee they would even build it and, of course, no set delivery date. He said he had ordered an '03 Corolla S with ABS in March and they still hadn't built it! This was in late September.
I really wanted the VSC for the sloppy Winter roads here as my Olds Intrigue has Traction Control and I haven't gotten stuck even once.
I talked the wife out of an SUV because of the VSC in the Camry... Now I look like the bad guy...:-)
He did find us an LE with most of the options in the Convenience Pkg B, but no VSC/airbags.
Whether or not he was pulling our leg, I can't tell you.
Deke
~alpha
Does it have child seat tether anchors and/or LATCH on all 3 rear seating positions? If not, on which positions?
What brand/model are the tires, and are they good?
Does the V6 model feel noticeably more nose-heavy compared to I4 models?
Is there a button for the driver to lock out (disable) all power windows, so that a child seating at the rear cannot play with the window while the car is moving?
Can I set the (base) audio system to have sound coming out from the front speakers only (i.e. not to disturb sleeping passengers at the back)?
When I turn off the (base) CD player (or the car), does it remember the exact track and location to resume playing next time? (If not, maybe the beginning of the track?)
Thanks.
I highly recommend them to all of my customers buying Camry's. Not sure where to find a photo online, but your dealerships parts department should have a brochure with a photo.
I've heard no comments on "nose-heaviness"
Tire brands vary depending on the build cycle.
Size is P205/65HR15
Yes, there is a window control lock out button.
Yes, you can adjust the stereo to the front speakers only.
The CD player does pick up where it left off.
Anyway, the only complaint I have is that I don;t get to drive it often enough! Smooth, quiet, but a REAL touchy throttle...need a light foot.
Car has Continental Touring tires, and I hope they're decent performers in slop.
Deke
What I was wondering if they will be changing the instrument cluster (LCD or elctroluminscent -- like Honda Accord or Chrysler Pacifica) or the dash?
Any info will be greatly appreciated.
As per Toyota's typical 4th year freshening, the 05 Camry can be expected to have revised front and rear styling, though what it will look like is anyone's guess. Recent iterations of the 4 cylinder engine seem to be producing 160/161 hp (as in the 04 Highlander and RAV4)so perhaps there will be some tweaking of this same engine in Camry/Solara for 2005.
3 or 4 hp is not likely to be noticeable through the seat of the pants, FWIW, it would likely just be a change to put the car on even par with Accord/Galant/6, which all produce 160hp, but less torque than the current Toyota 2.4L.
I'd guess there would be some trim/equipment upgrades as well. I personally would like to see ABS standard finally, but we need another 9 or so months for any real information.
~alpha
I've been away from this board for awhile, so forgive me if this has been discussed. The one thing I've never quite adjusted to is the short seat bottoms -- I've love another couple of inches of extension to help with thigh support. I look with envy on cars that have a little extender you can adjust to your comfort, or just longer seat bottoms to begin with. Has anyone had any success with modifying these seats in that regard, some kind of an extension piece, whatever, or another seat entirely?
Just wondering. Thanks.
no problem with the seat being too short though
1. Avalon definitely has more room. The driving feel and quietness is about the same as Camry.
2. SE V6 3.3 liter engine does not seem to have noticably more power than LE V6 3.0 liter engine. Some people say they can feel the difference. I drove one in the morning the other in the afternoon, not one immediately after other maybe that's why.
3. When I sat on back seat, at highway speed like 60 MPH, I heard more wind noise than I espected from Camry. Maybe I've been reading too much of how quiet Toyota/Lexus are therefore my espectation is higher than it should be.
I think Jiamin, you feather footed both cars during your test drive which is understandable. If you nailed the pedal I think you definitely would have felt the difference.
Toyotas' options are more flexable and confusing than Hondas. I'll let my friend decide what he wants first, then get down to price from carsdirect.com or other sources, and compare among dearlers.
Apologies, Karen.
Deke