Toyota Camry - NOT another car search, I promise

Since my company car was taken away and the new car ownership program officially starts on April 1st; I am getting $0.51 per mile driving my Dad's 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis; complete with 13 years of an old school Italian guy that smoked cigars and played Andrea Bocelli at high volume and hence blowing out the two pitiful factory speakers.

So I needed to get over to Muncie, Indiana last minute today and quickly rented a car from my local Enterprise. 436 miles round trip today. (being a nice guy it was cheaper for me to rent than them pay me mileage).

I could not believe how nice this car was! Fast? Blowing through the gears I quickly got through third gear at 90mph. Quiet? Smooth shifting? Nice handling? Well, yes on almost all the questions. I was impressed! Of course I have only driven old Datsun's and Chevrolet's most of my life.

Downside? My knee rests on a plastic console and the seat sucked after 200 miles........anyone else on this appliance?

My brother sells them. He says that there is very good reason they sell, but he would rather be driving a (pick one of the following: Fusion, Taurus, Malibu, Accord, Maxima, Altima, Legacy).

Was it the 4banger or the V6? New one?

The 4-banger is adequate. The V6 is just horrific gross overkill for a car like that. But... it's fun.... for a new Camry.

Our company car is a camry and its the most boring car I have driven in my entire life. Its exactly the reason they are often thought of as just an appliance.

I guess all I have to compare it to is a 4x4 trailblazer or a 13 year old, 137,000 mile Grand Marquis with shakey front brakes.

I will admit its better equipped than my 12 year old grand marquis. But I still find the marquis more entertaining to drive.

But it should be pointed out that Im weird

Datsun1500 wrote:

failboat wrote: But it should be pointed out that Im weird

On this board that is assumed ... Why else would you be here?

I read GRM for the health and beauty tips

I'd give a camry with a stick a chance.

I've had one as a rental. Mine was red. Who knew they made red Camry's? It was fine. Nothing to complain about, but not anything I would ever buy. I had more fun driving a Toyota Sienna rental than the Camry.

I wish Toyota would get new designers for their exhaust systems. They always look like they are getting ready to fall off the car to me. They must mount them with a big air gap from the bottom of the car for NVH abatement, but they look ghetto. I guess the average SUV driving person can't see under that nice new Camry or Lexus to see that crap, but driving any of my cars I can and it is enough to make me biased against ever owning a Toyota product. Sure, I could see someday having an AW11 I guess, but can't think of anything else.

Jeremy Clarkson said: Whenever I’m suffering from insomnia, I just look at a picture of a Toyota Camry and I’m straight off.

Canoe eugene.

I've driven a few rental camrys, and There is a reason why they sell well. They do everything they need to at a level of competency that is adequate for the average person. That car is a really good study in knowing your market and designing the product around said markets sweet spot. (which is what infuriates enthusiasts so much)...

Test drove one today - Mrs. Mad Scientist is looking for a proper family car instead of a two door Achieva or a big block Suburban. It's a competent car, but not particularly rewarding to actually push it to its limits. It doesn't snarl like the Suburban when you floor it, it plows if you take a corner hard, and in general, it's sort of like a Japanese attempt at building a Chrysler New Yorker. A car that defines luxury as a lot of gadgets plus a pillowy soft ride. Without the 318 that you'd get in a New Yorker.