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There seems to be more interest in this type of vehicle (Mercedes will be offering 4WD in all there vehicles). Toyota offers most if not all of their vehicles in 4WD format in Japan. Some of them are pretty impressive. My favourite is the Caldina. This sports wagon is a beautiful peace of machinery (inside and out). From the pictures it appears to be based on the present Camry. I'm hoping they will bring it North America. No way.. it might cut into Highlander sales (Kluker V in Japan).
I have an 02 Camry LE. It seams the passenger door lock will not open all doors in the car...at times...is there a setting for this. Example: I leave the car while I run in to pick up a video. I lock the car behind me since the wife and kids are waiting in there, I throw my keys in my pocket, come back with a video, 2 popcorns and a few drinks, my wife pushes the unlock switch on the her (passenger) side to open my door...nothing happens....?
~alpha
We had two 4th generation Camrys- a 97 and an 00 LE 4A, pretty simlarly equipped, both leased, and both did well over the 39,000 miles we had them. Interestingly, our 97 USA built Camry had slightly fewer niggling issues than our 00 Japanese built model. My biggest peeve of this generation is the merely adequate power from the 4. It was fine for most circumstances, but you really needed to dig in with the go pedal for anything substantial, a detriment to fuel economy. The auto transmission did shift well; enough to maximize the power available. The 2002+ 2.4L offers much better response in all situations, especially passing, and our avg. fuel economy is better.
~alpha
PS- Happy Holidays to all!!!
The Camry just finished 3rd in a 10 car family comparison test. The tested model was the SE V6 w/ VSC/Side Airbags, Premium Pkg and a few odds and ends.
Not a bad finish for a 3 year old vehicle.
~alpha
:-)
I also read "A Toyota Camry History" with great interest. I owned a 91 DX nicely equipped which I had purchased new in October 90. People used to come up to me in the street and asked me about the car. Paid $14500 with tax, reg. and lic.
Best car I've ever owned. Seven years with no mechanical breakdowns whatsoever. It was somewhat underpowered while carrying more than 3 people, especially if the A/C was on. Paint scratched easily. Other than that, no problems.
It was completely re designed in 1992.
BTW, Merry Christmas to all.......
~alpha
I can just see CR's evaluation giving promise to the Amanti but kudos to Avalon. Kia, like Hyundai, do not keep value well. The Amanti may be as good as or better than the Sonata (different cars) but with all the rebates and terrific warranties, they don't compare to Camry/Avalon.
In other words,we all know that Kia will have to labor long and hard to beat Toyota or Honda at their own game. I'm stating the obvious.
I really dont respect the edmunds.com test teams, and even the writing itself is much less compelling than that, for example, in Car and Driver. Still, as I said before, I'd prefer a strong showing to a weak one anyday.
~alpha
Don't get me wrong. The 4 is VERY peppy and offers an outstanding blend of performance/fuel economy- ours averages about 27/28 MPG depeneding on who in my family drives it, and where.
You should test drive the two and make your own judgement as to whether or not the added zip and refinment of the 2 V6s are worth their premium in cost and fuel over the 4. All are excellent engines.
~alpha
The Camry may be boring to some, but I still have a grin on my face every time I drive it. Based on 11 months of ownership, this car has been absolutely flawless.
Doug
We do have a 2003 Highlander with the V6. A decision not based on the power, but on potential low resale values on a 4cyl in this class of vehicle.
Also, are you aware that for 2004, the SE V6 Camry now has the 3.3L 225hp and 240 lb. ft. engine that first debuted in the Lexus RX/Toyota Sienna? The 2004 HL also uses this engine, and here, it produces 230hp and 242 lb. ft. Just for your information...
~alpha
PS- Where/from which dealer did you purchase your Camry SE 4A, which color and which options did you choose?
alpha--any info on a HL update? will it be 05?
doug--took the words right out of my mouth. he said exactly what I would have said. I love my 03 xle 4 cyl every time I get in it.
jbolt--Order man, order! You said "The only item I miss, is the upgraded radio CD (would have liked a 6 disc changer), but it evidently wasn't available in this zone." You would think with the abundance of camry's out there you could find one you liked. I was just like you, I could not find exactly what i wanted so I ordered a car. I am almost positive that i have the only 03 camry xle 4 cyl that was originally sold in the SE with premium pkg HU and heated seats, side airbags, and floor mats only, LOL.
I also miss the auto headlights in my sable. The camry has auto off headlights. If you leave the headlights turned on, will they come back on when you start the car the next time? this seems like a big drain on the battery if that is the case, so I turn mine off and on when I need them. FYI, auto on/off headlights is a feature in canadian camry's. Wonder why they did not make them std on US models. If you look in your owners manual you will see the auto on/off headlight stalk described. I was thinking of asking my dealer if they could install it in my camry. Anyone tried this or had it done?
This is the classic rip off. Guess what, shavings are normal around the magnetic plug, perfectly normal. Is fluid burnt, smell burnt if no and operates fine then I would say this shop you went to borders on fraud. If you are concerned get a second opinion.
In any case, I could have sworn that XLE Camrys in the USA came with auto on/off headlights, in fact, I am almost positive I remember our dealer told us the only Camrys of the new generation so equipped were the XLEs. Oh well, just goes to show that one cannot know everything.....
Happy Motoring, and New Year...
~alpha
PS- the Highlander has been updated with new available features and MINUTE styling changes for this, the 04 Model Year. A third row seat is now available, as are two row side curtain airbags with front seat mounted chest airbags. As I mentioned, the V6 is now exclusively the 3.3L. A full redesign should appear in fall 2005 for the 2006 model year.
For all V6's came with 4 disc brake, ABS and aluminum rims as standard (in Canada). You can not get 4 disc brake with LE 4cyl.
As far as fo the 6 being more quiet...temper the cars quietness with the fact that if you have the ultra quiet Conti tires your super quiet Camry will get noiser anyway when you replace those tractionless death traps with a decent gripping set of tires.
I say go with the four and save on gas or get something that at least looks sportier!
GOOD LUCK!
S = Standard
O = Part of Option Package
A = Available as an Accessory
N/A = Not Available LE LE V6 XLE XLE V6 SE SE V6
EXTERIOR
Aluminum Alloy Wheels N/A S S S S S
Full Wheel Covers S N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Headlamps
Aerodynamic Multi-Reflector Halogen
Automatic Headlamp Control System
LE Limited Edition SE XLE
Aerodynamic multi-reflector halogen headlamps S S - S
Aerodynamic multi-reflector halogen headlamps with blackout sport trim - - S -
Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with auto-off feature S S S S
You have 60K on the Toyota 2.4L that was introduce in the USA in Sept. 01? Now thats impressive milage.
Like I said, either of the V6s are the choice if passing on two lane roads is paramount. Both are marginally smoother than the 4, but there is a clear economy trade off... the Camry is rated by the EPA at:
23/32 2.4L 4 auto
20/28 3.0L 5 auto
20/29 3.3L 5 auto
~alpha
Additionally, the current Camry does NOT use the same engine as the one in your brother-in-laws 94 model, whose 2.2L 4, even when brand new, would not have been as smooth and refined as the newer 2.4L engine (which is NOT related to the old iron block 2.2 I just mentioned).
Finally, the 84 Supra did NOT use a V6, but rather a straight six, and those engines are among THE MOST smooth available, used up until very recently in Mercedes Benz models, and still used in BMWs. So thats an invalid comparison as well, because straight sixes are inherently some of the smoothest engines available due to design, and a straight six is not an option in ANY Camcord.
Just food for thought.
~alpha
PS-Happy New Year! ( I hope everyone realizes that we are truly lucky to live on a continent where we can debate such minute details...)
I have nearly 1,500 miles on the BF Goodrich Traction TAs and am enjoying them very much. With respect to the noise that you mention, I can only assume that the OEM Continental tires were whisper quiet, because the TAs still seem extremely quiet to me. My basis for comparison was the set of Michelins that were on the 03 Accord EX-V6 that I sold prior to picking up the 99 Camry LE. Now, part of the difference might be in the additional undercarriage sound deadening on the Camry, but even on a noisy stretch of the bypass that runs through town, the TAs seem much quieter.
I do not want to put any Contis on for comparison purposes given your reports on their traction problems.
For the latest fuel economy can be found at
http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo_library/display_release.html?id- =2004camry_s
EPA ESTIMATED FUEL ECONOMY (mpg)
5M 24/33
4ECT-i 23/32
5ECT-i 3.0-liter 21/29
5ECT-I 3.3-liter 20/29
I understand and respect your points regarding the 4 cylinder engine, and I agree that inherently, 4s are more prone to vibration than V6s. HOWEVER, my point is the the current 2.4L in the Camry is perhaps the smoothest 4 cyl on the market, and your experience with an 89 1.6L and a 95 2.2L are NOT indicative of how the 2004 Camry 2.4L will behave post 60,000 miles.
~alpha
For 2002 4cyl Camry, Toyota introduced balance shaft in this engine for reducing vibration. So the vibration may not happen in here (compared to 89 Corolla or 95 Camry).
Hope this helps.
~alpha
I have a new 2003 toyota camry aspen green. It seems that clearcoat don't repel water and when the car is wet like in the morning or when it rains the water just embeds it self in the paint. Do you think Toyota should cover this under warranty and also is it wise to get it rotary buff.
Other problems:
(2) "Cold Shift Shock" - will give you whiplash when shifting from reverse to drive,
(3) Odor problems - occasionally will smell like rotten eggs,
(4) Rolls backwards - if stopped on an incline the car will roll backwards unless you accelerate quickly,
(5) Clunking noise - when accelerating, something sounds like it has rolled to the back of the car (no - nothing is in the trunk!)
(6) Rattles, rattles, rattles - depends on the day and the time, but everything has rattled on this car
I got sick of dealing with a dealership that kept telling me the car was "normal". A few months ago with only 26,000 miles I tried to trade it and could only get $14,500 on a trade-in. Talk about sickening! The car rides good but is NOT worth the money. No doubt if I can ever get rid of it - it is my last.
Has anyone seen any solutions to these problems - especially the transmission problem??
After I posted my earlier message I read your post and see you have the same problem with the rotten egg smell. DId you take this up with the dealership and how often did it happen. About the trans, there is a slight jerk in situations when you slow down and speed up again from 2-3 or maybe it is 1-2. I think there was some documenation about the 5 spd. Trans which is what I have not being as smooth as the 4 spd.
2) "Cold Shift Shock" - will give you whiplash when shifting from reverse to drive, - The vehicle should come to a complete stop before shifting to drive from reverse. It's a good way to damage the transmission if you don't. I wonder if this relates to #1?
(3) Odor problems - occasionally will smell like rotten eggs, - My 2002 XLE doesn't have it.
(4) Rolls backwards - if stopped on an incline the car will roll backwards unless you accelerate quickly, - Normal
(5) Clunking noise - when accelerating, something sounds like it has rolled to the back of the car (no - nothing is in the trunk!) - Don't have a clue.
(6) Rattles, rattles, rattles - depends on the day and the time, but everything has rattled on this car - Have an occasional rattle in the windshield area which goes away when the car warms up. All that rattling sounds like my uncle's old truck when we use to take it out in the back country roads that had many potholes (never tried to avoid them).