Actually found a 5-speed Camry ('02 SE) to replace the wife's Exploder (15mpg not good). Anything potentially fun about this car (besides the reliability and low fuel cost)? Seems to drive just fine, clutch felt a bit stiff compared to my Focus and the steering was overly boosted, but that was it. I'm hoping this thing will be fuel, oil & tires for the next 100,000 (has 77K now).
the back seat?
Most tests I've read about this car, and Toyotas in general, say the sterring feel is lacking. I'm surprized that as a former(?) Focus owner you haven't noticed that.
To me "overboosted" steering = lack feeling
It's a Toyota, which generally translates as "boring." Boring to drive and boring to maintain, because it generally doesn't need any.
These are not bad things in a daily - my '00 Corolla has done all of them for the last 220K miles and routine maintenance is putting gas in it. Which at 35 MPG doesn't happen that ofen.
Comparison point - I bought a company leased 06 malibu, with 60k on the clock a few months ago. Yes, the steering is a bit vague, but wtih IRS in the back and four wheel disks, it handles surprisingly well and is not the appliance I thought it would be. The chassis, suspension geometry and seats, it shares with the Saab 9-3 help a lot. Now I need to canablaize a 9-3 for the better struts, bigger sway bars, etc.
Oh, 28.5 in mixed driving and over 35 on the highway, with the GM ecotec 2.2 and room for 4-5 comfortably. It's my first GM since my 1988 Cavalier and I'm both surprised and happy with this Malibu.
Jack
Interesting on the malibu, Jack. I'd like to see what the maintenance is when it rolls to 160K miles. Keep a good log and let us know. I can post my maintenance log on our 97 Camry that we bought in 98 with about 30K miles on it. I would really like to see GM make decent cars, and make them here in the US with US parts.
+1 on the more US parts, in more US car that ARE MADE HEAR IN THE USA. And please god one more thing make them RWD.
+1 on finding a manual
If you rearrange the letters C-A-M-R-Y, you get MY CAR. Enjoy it. I love old Camrys (everything from the 1990s that didn't carry over into 2000s).
confuZion3, I've noticed that too on the MY CAR thing. The generation before our's had the separate CAMRY letters on the trunk. I though it would be easy to re-arrange those into MYCAR. Can't do it on our 97.
Does the 02 still have a 5SFE? If so, at timing belt time, BE SURE to pull the oil pump off and replace the O ring behind it. It'll only take you an extra 15 minutes and will save your motor.
You can also get other words as well. Ry Mac, YRMAC, YMCA R, Marcy, and YRM AC.
confuZion3 wrote: If you rearrange the letters C-A-M-R-Y, you get MY CAR. Enjoy it. I love old Camrys (everything from the 1990s that didn't carry over into 2000s).
I love old camry's too. do the new ones still have a complex independent rear suspension? My 87 had a very neutral limit and was easy to slide sideways on the skinny 14" tires. They have gotten big and heavy however.
HoonerZX3: did you search for a manual tranny or did you just happen across this one?
And MY RAC. Reminds me, this one time in Band camp there was a girl with a camry that.....
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