Posted on 02/04/2011 5:56:12 AM PST by Graybeard58
I own(ed) a 2005 Toyota Corolla, that I bought new in 2005. I had 100,000 trouble free miles on it, it was a stick shift and the sticker said 36/42 mpg. and it got that and better up until two weeks ago when my son totaled it. All I ever did to it was regular maintenance, new tires, oil changes, new wiper blades and that's it.
I will be buying a 2011 car in the next few days and am seriously considering a new Camry, loaded with stuff for $19,990.
Anybody here have one? Anything to say about them, negative or positive?
That is all I prefer, manual transmission cars. Unfortunately, finding cars with stick shift is getting harder and harder to find !
> I never notice. I’ve had only manual trans cars since 1965, except when I rent. I thought about getting an auto trans once for my wife, but she test drove one and didn’t like it. She also recognized that about the only time an auto trans car is in the proper gear is when it is just starting to move and when it is cruising on an interstate, and you just don’t have the same degree of control with an auto trans.
I had a 91 Camry which I totaled a couple of years ago. Replaced it with a 2006 Honda Civic that was too good of a deal to pass up.
I know this doesn't apply as you're going new but for anybody who is looking for an older Camry, one of the most important things to check is for water intrusion in the trunk. My 91 had it and my sister's 96 also did.
My sister's replacement car had some issues. The steering wheel made a crying noise. I said that was because it was sad. The boot at the base of the steering column on the floorboard just needed some lube under it. The dashboard had a rattle which I fixed using weatherstripping under the climate control panel. Also the rear speaker covers were falling apart. Replaced them. Now it's a great car.
It’s very nice to drive, too.
Cheers
Jim
I hear the price of rice is going to go sky high. Might want to consider that when deciding to buy a rice burner or not ;’)
Seriously though, I used to buy Toyota’s and from what I hear the quality of the brand has really been lowered (materials, workmanship etc) in the same vein that Sony used to be the top electronics brand but has slipped to the middle of the pack.
When I travel and end up driving Toyota’s I am completely unimpressed.
The remaining one has 250,000 miles on it. Still runs like a champ
The other was in a head-on collusion basically completely destroyed the front end. The safety features saved the life of my wife and daughter. (Oh, she was hit head on by an illegal in Florida)
I went to the shop to see if it could be fixed and it was actually being driven around the lot to see if it was able to be fixed
The engine dropped down below the fire wall instead of being driven though the front seat, the radiator was on the windshield from the force of the crash, the hood was bent in half like a folded piece of paper. Both fenders were spread eagle at a 45'angle
The engine was designed to stay attached to the transmission after it broke away from the engine mounts and was still drivable for a few moments with out coolant
Needless to say. I will never own another vehicle unless the name plate says Toyota
Makes complete sense to me / s
Tell him to clear off the snow before he tries driving a car again.
Camrys are built in Georgetown, KY and Lafayette, IN and the US domestic parts content ranges in the 70-80%. The current Camry is as American or even more American than most “American” cars.
I'm proud of you for not throttling him. I would have had a Dr. Strangelove moment, myself. Good cars are hard to come by, and must be treasured, pampered and protected.
What a contrast. I’ve got a 2000 Camry and it chews through front pads. I must be on my fourth set already.
Got Sonata few months back.
Thanking everybody for their input. I never thought this vanity thread would go over 90 replies. Who needs “Consumer Reports” when we have F.R.?
I bought the 2011 Camry yesterday, it’s loaded with goodies. It was an advertised “internet special” listed at $23000 and change, but the “special” internet price was $19,990.
Skilled negotiator that I am, I talked them all the way down to............$19,990. They absolutely wouldn’t budge, I got over $3,000 in discounts and rebate applied. The rebate was $1,000 or 0% financing, couldn’t have both. I was offered 2.49% financing through Toyota, which I also declined, choosing instead to pay cash. The $8,000+ I got from my old car’s insurance helped ease the pain. I plan on driving it until either the car or I expire. I believe, if it doesn’t meet the same fate as my other car, that I will expire first.
To “GreenAccord”
I arrived at the same conclusion that you did concerning the insurance adjuster, it was a fair offer. I am insured locally and I have home owners through the same company plus five life insurance policies. The KBB price I quoted was for a car in “excellent” condition, my car had knicks, dings and scratches the same as most other 6 year old cars but who could tell after it had been wrecked? As you stated, they don’t go by KBB but by their own book.
Just curious. Are you an insurance adjuster?
Odd. Brakes were never a problem on either of our Camrys. Now my 2006 Civic goes through them. Had to replace them at 30,000 miles. I’ve read that front brakes wearing out fast is a major Honda problem in recent years not only with Civics but also with Accords. Some reports on these models had brakes wearing out at as little as 10,000 miles. 20,000 to 30,000 miles seems average for Honda break wear. Our Camrys went 60 to 70 thousand miles before needing front brakes.
Since you and I can't sell our cars for full retail - would you pay the same cost for a used car in someone’s driveway versus at a dealership (I know I wouldn't) - insurance companies don't want to incentivize their insureds to report losses if they stand a chance of realizing a greater financial gain versus selling their car in the (private seller or wholesale) marketplace.
I have a Tacoma (1999) that went 138,000 miles on the front brakes (and that includes four years of pulling a rather heavy ski boat). The rear brakes have 159,000 on them. I know the rear brakes do a lot less work, but still, they have lasted!
Also, the factory clutch still works, although I am sure it will need replacing soon.
So far, in 12 years,I have only replaced a spark plug wire that a rat ate, and, since I was bored, the spark plugs as well at 100,000 miles.
Glad you mentioned about the spark plug wire. My sister had squirrels eating the insulation under her hood. They even got to the ignition wires but we were able to fix that. Been all over the web about how to keep squirrels from doing this but found little useful info. I used a spray from a lawn and garden place to try and keep them away from my Christmas lights but it smelled bad and didn't do much good so I don't think it would help with a car. Anybody have a way to keep squirrels out of the engine ?
Squirrels do pretty much whatever they please. We have them in abundance in my neighborhood and I used to hand feed cookies to the little democrat beggars. Not any more.
Last spring they ripped up some fairly expensive patio furniture to build their little nests with, I assume, or maybe just because the vandals knew they could.
I live in town and shot gun blasts would draw unwanted attention or I'd relieve myself of my squirrel burden.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.