Toyota Camry Is Motor Trend Car of Year

AP ^ | 11/22/06 | TOM KRISHER

[MoodyBlu]

re the F150. Mine is a 1997, bought in March of 96 when the new style came out, and has 230,000 miles. Never fails to start, gets OK mileage for a truck (16-18), and although I would like a newer, more comfortable ride, just can't see paying the 40 large for a new F150 or a Tundra, which I love!

Sigh!

[-YYZ-]

The Avalon is a pretty decent size inside, bordering on large. The Japanese mid-size cars are starting to border on large, at least to the point where my 6'3" frame finds them reasonably comfortable. But as you say, my standards were set with smaller vehicles. My last car was a Sentra. The cars you mention ARE large. Huge, even. I don't know why they don't still make cars as wide as the late 60s/early 70s American cars. The width is what really made those cars big, although to be sure they had plenty of room lengthwise, too, as a 25' long car should have :)

My Accord is actually just big enough for me, leg room wise. I'd like something even roomier, although I don't want to go much larger outside. The Ford 500 looks to be pretty roomy.

[sittnick]

Designers at every auto company are facing nearly identical constraints. EPA requires this, DOT requires that, NHTSA requires the other

Beep, beep! We have a winner. This is the conundrum of modern automobile manufacturing. How do you please different bureucracies that have conflicting goals. An automobile has to have a certain amount of mass to be safe in a collision. It also needs a certain amount of weight to deal with certain road conditions safely. However, mass decreases fuel mileage. Mass also requires more energy and therefore leads tomore emissions.

So, what happens? The old station wagons that used to haul nine people went away. I suspect those rumble seats don't meet the new standards, and hey, you can't put two kids up front anyway, 'cause the airbag'll smoosh him (when is a safety featurE NOT a safety feature?) And who wants a car loaded with all those headrests and shoulder belts?

So, the family with kids in sports gets an SUV (kids and gear, also family vacations). Minivans fill in okay, but they are no good for hauling a boat or trailer. (Since the departure of the Astro Van and Ford Aerostar) People USED to be able to use full size sedans for these (pre FWD days). I know a number of large families that had to go up to a 12 passenger van to fit their family. Which of the governments goals were served by that? The only truly large vehicles are priced out of the range of budget-watching families. If I weren't in the rust belt, I think I'd pick up a full size Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Wagon.

[eraser2005]

Not only the Sonata, but the Ford Fusion has a big price advantage, as well... Around here, a well-equipped 4 cylinder Camry will run almost $21k new. A well-equipped Fusion goes for about $17k new.

And Consumer Reports has the Fusion rated as more reliable than the Camry and Accord

And you can get the Fusion with AWD, if that floats your boat (not available on the Camry)

The Camry is a fine vehicle, but there are many truly competitive vehicles out there available for less....

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Foo.

BUY AMERICAN

[eraser2005]

Well, if you want a truck for use as a truck (and not as a rolling style statement), you can still get a basic F-150 for under $20k.