My wife and I have owned Camry's for years. They're generally very reliable, but each model seems to have their own quirks. For comparison, a brief history of their relative merits:
The 1987 model had a muffler that needed to be replaced about once a year or more. Just a little rust and the side cladding was better off removed. Kind of a spartan feeling to it as well, but functional and otherwise pretty reliable.
The 1992 model was a major upgrade. No more bad muffler. Quiet. Beautiful upholstery and and plastics. It had a number of little problems, though. The cup holder was placed directly in front of the shift knob, so if you put the car in park, you'd bang your cup. The sill covering the lip of the trunk came loose. The antennae would get stuck. Get a new one and the same thing would happen after only a short while. The hood was held up with pneumatic rods, but they'd lose their holding power over the years and have to be replaced.
The 1997 model fixed all of the shortcomings of the 1992 model. The antennae is molded into the windshield glass, so no problem there. The cup holder was better positioned and the trunk sill can't come loose--different design. The hood is held up by a simple rod, so there's nothing to really wear out. With all of these technical fixes, you'd think the car would be perfect. It wasn't (and still isn't--we still own it). Where the 1992 model had a real feeling of luxury, the 1997 model uses cheap plastics on the dash and the upholstery isn't as nice. From a design standpoint, it's superior. From an aesthetic touch and feel perspective, it's a drop from the previous model.
The 2004 model is as good a Camry as Toyota has made. The touch and feel elements are vastly improved. The upholstery is better--although I still think it hasn't returned to the quality of the 1992 model. More bells and whistles. More room. Smoother and more polished. Rides great. The four-cylinder offers sufficient horsepower for all the driving I do. I had the car for six months, and so far there are no reliability problems. This is probably the best automotive value in the world. Incredible quality, reliability and features for a reasonable price.
I know that Camry's have a reputation for being utilitarian, but I'd rather have reliable than quirky. Everything seems to fall readily to hand. You don't have to think much about driving. It's just a comfortable experience. It's comforting on long trips knowing it's reputation for reliability. Other than a Lexus, can't think of another car I'd rather drive.
Minor complaints: the speakers are pretty cheap sounding (LE model standard issue). Really muddled bass. The layout of the dash is somehow bland. While the radio is nicely integrated with smooth curves (real attention to detail), it's just kind of plopped in the middle of the dash. I'm not an automotive designer, so I can't say what's wrong with it, but it just doesn't feel very classy. Perhaps it should be angled slightly toward the driver.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 21,000
Condition: New Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: LE
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