redgtxdi
Diamond Member
- Jun 23, 2004
- 5,464
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Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
Originally posted by: NFS4
The best build Camrys were the '92-'96 models. It was all downhill after that. Toyota OVER-ENGINEERED those cars to by a fair margin and put a lot of money into development to insure that the materials used were up to snuff. Just look at the cheapness of the materials in the '97 in comparison to the '96 model.
Our '99 Camry is crap. It required a second engine at 127k km - but I won't hold that against Toyota. We bought that car used with 91k km, so who knows how it was maintained. But we bought from a Toyota dealer so I would assume they would only accepted 'good' cars.
Anyway, the interior is crap. It looks like crap aesthetically and has odd rattles. The button off the radio fell off, some of the interior panels are mis-aligned, various partscreak & rattle at highway speeds and bumpy roads, etc...the only redeeming quality is that it has very little wind noise for a car of its class & vintage.
Our '99 Maxima, by contrast, has a much nicer & better built interior, no rattles, and much more comfortable.
By contrast to both of the above, our old '91 Corolla that I abused heavily had absolutely no interior issues that the Camry has. No rattles, tight as a drum. It was a fun car to drive, even with its 3spd auto.
I'd have to respectfully disagree with both of you on this one.
My '98 is still cherry at 122,000 miles.
They didn't change the '97 Camry *AND* Lexus ES300 at the same time on the same platform because it *wasn't* good. Quite the contrary.
I will say, however, that mine has been meticulously maintained and is a "Made in Japan" model.
My grandmother (85 years old) still drives her '99. Every time my folks visit from North Carolina, they driver her car and my stepdad always comments on how smooth, quiet and comfortable her Camry feels. (My folks are Honda/Chrysler people)
The 2.2L 5S-FE motor is one of the best Toyota ever made......and the whole Gen4 Camry family was a generational change in smooth, quiet & refined.
Aesthetically, the interior of the Gen 4 Camry is fantastic. Gages are well laid out. Armrests at center and either side are perfectly laid out, the radio was fine (though I replaced mine w/ a Pioneer CD player), Climate controls are simple and work well. The interior dash material is fantastic. "Pleather" looking and iwth a nice, soft, supple feel to the touch..........(compared with the dash of my '98 F150 that's the hardest crap plastic I've ever touched in my life).
I'd buy a Gen 4 camry again in a heartbeat! :thumbsup: