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.