Quote:
Originally Posted by boris bubbanov
You've uncovered the 3 'weaknesses' in the Toyota Camry.
1) Not worth keeping once wrecked;
2) Unlike a Mercury Marquis or a Saab 900, 200K is about all she wrote;
3) V-6 Gas mileage could be a lot better.
|
I have the 4 cyl. now (averages 27 mpg - highway only is obviously much better).
The car has endured being hit over 10 times. The latest hit by the school bus was in the same area as 4 times previous - left rear quarterpanel, behind the wheel well. This seems to be where most of these Camrys get hit.
Funny you mention the 900 - I went to check one out some years back (used). It was DOA, the seller was firm on the price, but wouldn't put any money into it to get it running. They let me poke under the hood, and I liked what I saw (being an old VW owner) - all the Bosch FI and such looked immediately familiar.
I like some of the recommendations, but think that I'm in a pickle. Most of those cars would probably be rattled loose in short order. The average strut is no match for the roads I drive on. The plus with the Camry is a soft suspension, but even it has been beaten up (of course - 200K on the original struts, this is to be expected).
I'm gonna check out the Subarus, but I'm leery of parts costs (I get most of my Toyota stuff from a local rebuilder or TAP in Arizona, and have saved huge bucks). My wife and sis-in-law have Volvos that are breaking the bank. I had an '89 Jetta that was a money pit - I vowed to steer clear of the Euro cars after that one.
The ultimate would be an FJ cruiser, but I don't even want to know the est. MPG on one of those.
I liked the Ford Escape before it got obese in the last few years, but I'm sure that the earlier ones probably have wimpy struts and such. I've seen the stock rear drums, and they look sad.
I guess I either need a beater for the city roads, or something off-road approved that can take a beating, and just suck up the poor/fair fuel economy.
I'm also very gun-shy with Dodges. The folks I know that've bought one in the past few years have all had early-on problems like blown seals at 10K and such. I didn't know they offered a CVT model. It's worth a look if it can handle rough asphalt and concrete.
The Coopers are a blast to drive - my sister and her husband had one. Total bone shaker, though, I agree. Everything gets hit downtown in these parts, no matter how small. xAs, Fits, Priuses, Civics, and Yarises abound everywhere with caved in quarter panels and bumpers.