Camry labelled "boring" ?

Seems that because a lot of conservative types (read older folks who like to car-pool to go lawn-bowling) have picked the Camry in years gone-by and dont look like switching, has caused the Camry to be somehow tainted as an uninspiring vehicle.

Personally I couldn't care-less but, I think on a technical level this is bullshit. The only thing on the car which can be likened to being functional only with no regard to 'feel' is the clutch. It is too long a throw, and tooo indistinct, making well-matched rev-changes difficult,....or is it just my car?

Jason ('96 manual)

Reply to
Jason James
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I'd have to agree. I'm older and just inherited my dad's 2002 LE when he quit driving. It has 20k miles and it is *very* boring to drive around town. It has little pep, it's extremely difficult to see over the trunk to the rear end (where are those wheels?--I usually have no problem adapting to where the wheels and corners of a vehicle are located), and the interior is blah. It's also much too big (unless you regularly have 2 people in the back seat and need a ton of trunk space).

Then again, I looked at a *lot* of vehicles when I was new car shopping last year. The vast majority are boring. Some of the peppy sports car type sedans are OK, but most were totally blah. The Camry is a *treat* when you actually get out on a road and have to drive a ways--it's super smooth.

But I've just adapted; it's fine for a basic car but pretty boring. When I want some driving thrills, I hop on the Ducati.

Reply to
Big Kahuna

Jason, Are you just trying to say you can't afford a new Camry? I don't blame you for wanting one as Toyota redesigned it to attract a younger market, which, judging by your post, I assume you are. As I like to think of myself as an old fart, I guess I'm one of the "conservative types (read older folks..." you refer to, although I don't like to car-pool or lawn bowl. Can't stand all the bitching when I want to race someone. (Wanna race? Makes me feel "inspired".) I feel your pain on the outdated body style, my '97 Camry (read my older folk wife's) is an automatic but, I'll bet it will out-run your '96 w/manual and an ace-fireball manual shifter behind the wheel. (You are an ace-fireball shifter aren't you?) My Camry had this "technical level" malfunction you speak of but, fortunately it was under warranty at the time so they fixed it free. :-D davidj92

Reply to
davidj92

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Reply to
karinhall

Something tells me you are a bit smaller than average size.

Yes, Camry's are boring, because you don't have to worry as much about mechanical problems as most other cars. That is the kind of boring that many people are looking for.

Reply to
Mark A

Nope,

I'm 6'2" and 180lbs. I d>"much too big?? Man, you haven't owned any "big" cars until you've had

Point taken: most Americans are obsessed with huge, gas guzzling cars. I think those are pretty obscene in 90% of the cases.

Still, unless you need to haul around passengers or gear, the Camry is pretty big. Even when you compare it to the Camrys from 5, 10, and 15 years ago...it seems to get larger with each remake.

I drive solo 95% of the time. Something the size of a 3 series bmw, audi a-4, or even a Civic is fine size-wise.

And of course, my Ducati Monster is "just right!" Hahaha.

Reply to
Big Kahuna

Maybe it is just YOU. Try setting the seat a notch closer up and perhaps setting the seat back a notch more vertical. Cars with hydraulic actuated clutches often benefit from a fluid flush at the slave cylinder.

--
    - Philip
(linehaul driver, retired)
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Reply to
Philip

Be careful .... those Ducatis get pissed off at their riders and do toss the rider on the ground.

--

    - Philip
Reply to
Philip

which,

Nah,...past 50, but that doesn't mean I automatically want to shell out more money for a newer car.

w/manual

Huh? Where did all this come from?

So you're saying the long-throw clutch was a fault?

Jason

Reply to
Jason James

My sister had a 1995 Camry XLE V6 automatic and hated it. She seriously felt it was uncontrollable and "unsafe" to drive because of the lack of road feel. Eventually she gave up on it and bought a Honda S2000, which she loves and drives everywhere with the top down, regardless of weather.

My view is that her Camry was a joy to drive. It was quiet, the seats were great, and a 600 mile / day road trip wasn't a problem. Even the factory head unit / CD player sounded OK with the stock speakers. OTOH, her Honda is rough riding and I'm tired after only a two hour trip. You can't hear the stereo with the top down (even with a power amp and new speakers in the front -- and back). Not that I drive the car with the top down, because it is too windy and noisy and messes up my hair...what little there is left of it.

As in all things in life, YMMV.

Reply to
Travis Jordan

As the clutch-plate wears, the diaphragm fingers move towards the release bearing. In a cable-release system you can adjust the bowden so you still have a clutch which disengages at the same point as when the clutch was new,.....not so with a hydraulic clutch,...agree?

Jason

Reply to
Jason James

Height is not the only way to measure a person's size size.

Yes, I know what you are talking about with regard to excitement. But (usually) one can't have everything, and some people are willing to have a less "exciting" car if it is more reliable.

I almost bought an Accord, which is a little more exciting than a Camry, but I wanted the EX version and it only comes with a moonroof (unlike the Camry XLE where the moonroof is optional). I needed the extra headroom that comes without the moonroof, so I had to "settle" for the V6 XLE.

I would generally rate the Accord and Camry to be about equal in reliability. But the non-interference engine of the Camry (at least the one I have) is plus over the Accord.

Reply to
Mark A

I vote with your sister, I enjoy a car with some feel to it. My fun rides are a 69 Alfa Berlina and Spider Jr., it doesn't have to be fast to be fun. However for commuting, boring can be good, so I'll keep my 95 Camry until it wears out.

Mitch

Reply to
Mitch

I'm 45, and have been driving Toyota pickups since 1985 (3 of them). I just bought a Camry last month. My son turned 16 and needed something reliable, so I let him have my 1999 Tacoma with 150,000 miles on it. Thought I would try the sedan, since I'd have the truck available for hauling stuff.

I'm amazed at how much better the ride is in the Camry. I know pickups are supposed to be rough riding, but the difference still surprised me. My wife has a 2-3 year old Volvo, and the Camry is comparable in smoothness, acceleration, etc., at about half the price.

Hugh

Reply to
Hrk3

like

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wife

Yes they are comfortable (I have a painful lower back) yet very precise in their steering and suspension with no instability that I've noticed at posted speeds on any surface. Plus the frontend is built with substantial components that dont need replacing every couple of years, unlike some of the local stuff.

But we know all this ! ;-)

Jason

Reply to
Jason James

my dad's 2002 LE when he quit driving. It has 20k miles and it is *very* boring to drive around town. It has little pep ========== Does it have a tachometer? I like to use the Redline complete fuel system cleaner with every tankful to add power. It may take a while to adjust to the Camry. Power deliver is very smooth. Torque peak should be around 4,000 rpm and horsepower peak around 5,000 rpm, so you need to learn to use the throttle and transmission to move the engine speed into those ranges for maximum acceleration. Accelerator pedal travel is very long for smoothness. Plus, having inherited the car from a sedate driver, the "intelligent" electronic transmission will need time to re program for more aggressive shift patterns. Try adjusting the throttle cable linkage to insure a fully depressed pedal fully opens the butterfly valve in the throttle body. With the throttle fully on the floor, the transmission should come close to redline in each gear. That's one reason I like to run synthetic oil. If you press the throttle somewhere past the 60% point, the transmission generally downshifts to deliver more power. On the highway, this will take you to around 75 mph in second gear. The Camry driving experience was designed to impart "serenity", so best effect is achieved by timing movements to glide through traffic smoothly. Some people misinterpret competence for lack of performance. Because the Camry does hold the road well, and accelerate with minimal vibration, it can feel like not much is happening. That's why I mention the tachometer. There's a nice bit of power between 4,000 to 5,000 rpm, actually beginning in earnest around 3,500 rpm. The dual overhead camshafts allow the engine to breathe, and the intake runners are designed to impart "inertial supercharging effect." The cam is tuned for maximum economy. The "FE" in the engine designation is "fuel efficient." But if you push the engine beyond the economy range, it responds very well. Be sure you're running the stock air filter. Cheap aftermarket paper elements can stifle air flow. Make sure the oil is clean if you're running the engine hard. Obviously check the tire pressures to achieve the proper balance of handling and economy. Also, obvious, the plugs and wires need to be in good condition. That little engine can scream given a chance, and still keeps on purring afterward. Key is to utilize available power above the "economy" range. Full throttle redline in first gear is only around 30 mph, but you get there fairly quickly. Excuse me for saying so, but much of the appreciation in the Camry is in enjoying the refinement. It will move quickly when you get on it though. Practice.

Reply to
Daniel

Jason James wrote: || Seems that because a lot of conservative types (read older folks who || like to car-pool to go lawn-bowling) have picked the Camry in years || gone-by and dont look like switching, has caused the Camry to be || somehow tainted as an uninspiring vehicle. || || Personally I couldn't care-less but, I think on a technical level || this is bullshit. The only thing on the car which can be likened to || being functional only with no regard to 'feel' is the clutch. It is || too long a throw, and tooo indistinct, making well-matched || rev-changes difficult,....or is it just my car? || || Jason ('96 manual)

This is bloody 2005. No need for Stone Age standard transmissions. Get an AT, already.

Reply to
Libe|ralsarelairs|

Disagree. As the clutch friction plate thins, the hydraulic actuator system compensates. The 'engagement feel' -may- change over time but the "free play" does not. Same thing happens in a vehicle with four disc brakes.

--

    - Philip
Reply to
Philip

Nothing stone age about a manual transmission, especially if you like efficiency and you know how to shift.

Mitch

Reply to
Mitch

Bzzzt. Wrong answer.

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Reply to
Travis Jordan

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