My mother had finally decided that she wanted a new Toyota Camry. So my parents called in “Dawn the Negotiator”. It took a lot for my mother to part with her 1990 Toyota Camry, and neither of my parents wanted to dicker with a car dealer. Since I’ve had experience with Toyota Camrys and enjoyed a good jousting match, I was happy to take on the task.


What We Wanted

My parents did not want a fancy car. They definitely wanted a Toyota, since all the Toyota’s in our family have proven reliable with few repair costs outside of routine upkeep. I asked for their wish list, and it contained all the features of their 1990 Toyota with no extras.

In their seventies, my parents no longer take long road trips. They needed a reliable car for their local shopping jaunts and appointments. My father wanted a car with easy to open doors so that he could easily get in and out of it. My mother is petite and needed a driver’s seat that offered a height boost so that she could have a good view while driving.

They also wanted a car that drove well on regular gasoline. Their last car demanded premium-grade gasoline, which pinched their wallet.

Since members of our family often drive each other’s vehicles, I also thought it would be nice if I liked the car, too. The Toyota Camry CE seemed to fit their needs and wallet.


Toyota Camry CE – the car

Before settling on the Toyota Camry CE (a 4-door sedan), I checked the other Toyota models, comparing features and pricing. The internet is a wonderful search and comparison tool. I showed my parents photos of the car, called my local Toyota dealership and found they had two in stock, and off we went on a road trip.

At the dealership, my mother took one look at the Blue Ribbon Metallic paint job on the car and fell in love. For a low-end model, this Toyota Camry CE has a sporty exterior. It looks more attractive than the exterior of my 2002 Toyota Camry.

Here is a list of the car’s features:

* 2.4L 158HP 4-Cylinder DOHC 16V VVT-i SFI Engine
* 5-Speed ECT-i Automatic Transmission
* 16" Steel Wheels, tires with Full Wheel Covers
* Spare Tire (not full size)
* Power Assisted Rack & Pinion Steering
* 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
* Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
* Airbags (door, front, rear side, driver’s knee)
* Child Restraint System (Latch)
* Direct Tire Pressure Monitor System
* Air Conditioner with Pollen Filter
* Rear Window Defogger
* Cruise Control
* Digital AM/FM/CD/MP3 Player with 6 Speakers
* 60/40 Split Rear Folding Seat
* Power Windows and Door Locks
* 18.5 gallon fuel tank

My parents were happy with the interior, too, though I thought it had a sparse appearance. The interior is a medium and light gray with light gray velour upholstery. The lines are clean and basic. No frills. The car has a center console between the two front seats (a deep storage area with one small tray). There is also a center gearshift. Large dials control the air flow and air conditioning and heat. The glove compartment is enormous.

The radio/CD combination is an upgrade from their last car, which had a radio/cassette player. The controls are large buttons, and there are also controls for the music along the steering wheel. When I first saw the digital clock, it seemed miles away from the driver area. It is located at the top of the dash, recessed so that it sits close to the window rather than near the passengers. However, the clock is easy to read. The temperature digital readout is located near the mileage counter on the dashboard near the fuel gauge.

The backseat holds three passengers. If one or two are sitting in the backseat, the center of the seat folds down to reveal two cup holders but no storage area despite there being space for some. On the back of the front seats are expanding pockets that will hold a minimal amount of material such as maps (nothing of any bulk). Overall, the backseat accouterments are basic. Definitely not stylish. The car has floor mats (front, back and trunk) that match the upholstery.

The trunk is large, plenty big enough for a full trunk of groceries or assorted packages. This car came with a Cargo Net and First Aid Kit package. The controls for lowering the backseat are located in the trunk and easy to access. The trunk also features an emergency release handle on the inside. The one thing we didn’t realize about the trunk until we needed it was that there is no place to anchor a rope to tie down the trunk when carrying an oversize item.

The window sticker said the car offered an average of 24 city MPG and 33 highway MPG with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,471 (though with gas prices hopping up and down, I don’t know how accurate that figure is or what it’s based on).

Note that this low-end Camry does not have keyless entry. I love the keyless entry on my 2002 Camry and can’t imagine not having it. However, my parents are quite happy with regular car keys.


So How Does It Drive?

This car offers a smooth ride, and it takes corners well. If sudden acceleration is needed, a push of the gas pedal delivers a burst of speed. I’ve ridden in the front seat as well as the back. Both offer a comfortable ride with plenty of leg room. Braking is a smooth process as long as even pressure is applied to the brake pedal. A cat ran in front of me the other day, and the car stopped on a dime when I stomped on the brake. The emergency brake has a solid feel to it, too.

The center automatic gearshift looks as though it belongs on a race car. Instead of a vertical path, like in my Camry, this gearshift has a zigzag pattern as one moves it from gear to gear. At first I thought my mother would have trouble using it. She surprised me by immediately taking to it. She loves it. I found the gearshift easy to use. As the stick moves between gears, the dashboard shows which gear is engaged.

I’m glad this car has an ABS braking system. The one on my Camry saved me from an accident while traversing an icy hill. I warned my parents that when the ABS engages, it makes a grinding noise so that it wouldn’t startle them.

A great feature of this car is that the driver’s seat has height adjustment. This perfectly suits my mother who needed that extra boost in order to have clear vision on all sides. The driver’s wheel has tilt adjustment as well. Her feet easily connect with all the pedals. The driver and passenger seat adjustments are manual, not powered.

My father likes the way the windshield fluid disperses in a fine mist across the front window. Their old Camry squirted the fluid in two solid streams of liquid. The mist-like delivery on the new car evenly disperses the fluid across the window for the wipers to swish across.


Negotiating the Deal

The sticker price on this car was $20, 417.00. After some back-and-forth haggling, I talked the price down to $18,500. I also had the dealership throw in four free oil changes for my parents and one for me. Camry’s don’t have a large markup, so we are very happy with what we paid.

When my parents returned to pick up the car, they did not notice the gas tank was only half full. The car was supposed to come with a full tank of gas. They weren’t going to say anything. However, when the dealership phoned to ask how they were enjoying the new car, my mother mentioned the gas tank. The dealership said the next time they filled the tank to send the bill to them and they would pay it. Sure enough, the dealership did. Excellent customer service.


Summary

My parents are thrilled with this car. The only downside to the dark blue exterior color is that it is currently showing every spec of yellow pollen it comes in contact with. I have to laugh. The other day I caught my mother “dusting” her car! Wish I had a camera on hand for that one. My parents have owned this car since March, and it is proving an excellent purchase. They couldn’t be happier, and that makes me happy.

I hope you found this review useful.

Enjoy the day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com


Please read my other car reviews:

2002 Toyota Camry XLE

1990 Toyota Camry LE


Copyright 2007 Dawn L. Stewart
Amount Paid (US$): $18,500
Condition: New
Model Year: 2007
Model and Options: CE, Automatic