Camry: America's favorite sedan for almost a quarter Century
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
- Welcome to Auto Chatter. Todays MEGA episode is about the Camry. Join me for a chat about every generation of Camry....Even a old school one that was never sold in North America. Lets see what makes this car a favorite many years back through today, even in the Crossover era! Thank you for giving this one a watch, and I do hope you enjoy it.
I used to root for Camry to win a comparison test...in any magazine. It was never good enough for the magazines. Always 2nd place or lower, perpetually behind Accord.
It was always the jack of all trades, master of none in the tests...But reliable too.
Dated a girl who had a 1992 Camry with the four cylinder and five speed. Best part of the relationship! 😅
They made some Lexus ES models then with a stick too.
Always loved those Camry stationwagans
I remember the 92 and up rocking the double rear wipers!
Yea they did, just saw one the other day on the interstate and cheered! Such a great car, the wagons were outstanding!
@robl7532 prob had 300k miles on it LOL.
@@autochatter I sure hope so. Either way it was doing its job still.
For me, the third generation 1992-96 Toyota Camry raised the bar for the mid-size class. It had classy styling, bulletproof reliability, and excellent built quality. It wasn't just aimed at the Honda Accord, but it was also targeting the then hot selling Ford Taurus as well to become the best overall mid-size sedan in North America.
Agreed 100%
94 Lexus ES300/Camry owner here with 105,000 miles, yep you read that correctly. Got it from original owner with 86k, mint condition with not a speck of rust underneath for $2500, best purchase I've made in my life. Been driving it for 3 years, I keep thinking of selling just because of the age but know I won't get enough money that would make it worth it. This car probably has another 200+ thousand miles to go.
Oh I'd say it could easily do that! I work at a Lexus store and still see some 90s ES models in for service! Someone brought in a SC400 with 60k miles last week that was near mint.
This is one of those rare occurrences where the price of the vehicle goes down over the years. When calculating for inflation, the Camry's were more expensive considering that today, a base model LE starts around $28K as oppose to $30-35K back in the 80s and 90s. I do like the all-new generation 2025s. They look super sharp and get phenomenal fuel economy since they're fully hybridized. If I were to choose a favorite previous gen, it would be the third-gen 1992-96. Even to this day, you can find them on the roads. That says something.
That's my favorite gen too, and yeah...I still see quite a few running around still considering how old they are...And we're not talking car show cream puffs..People are driving them to work and there's a good chance it has 200k plus miles on them.
A video through enough to cover key points and every generation. Yet, simple enough to retain attention. Great video!
Thank you! That's exactly what I was going for.
Camry is the Japan version of Mercedes and the Accord is BMW hence the ride quality difference! Also look at the subtle design quirks accross the eras. Both great automobiles.
They are, and I understand both Japanese companies were going for a different thing. Nissan at one point was probably trying to be the most BMW lol.
My first car in high school was a 2003 toyota camry v6. ❤ toyota silver!
Good color!
Ahhh motorweek and John Davis saying “ Cam-Ray”
I think in the later years he got it right LOL.
He switched to Cam-Ree after the 1992 generation. Though he's still waiting for Honda to figure out what a voltmeter or oil pressure gauge is.
Edit: But they never got rid of the need to work a shift lever like it owed them money.
I could never figure out why he mis pronounced it. Surely they had conversations with toyota reps who would have said the name verbally
@@howebrad4601 One would think that yes.
No surprise there. He used to call them the Orientals.
A good friend of mine just bought a brand New Camry a couple of years ago.. I must say I am quite impressed with it!!
@tomtbi I'm around the Lexus ES models everyday, and they are nice.
Excellent video. My personal favorites were always the new-for-1992 and the new-for-1997. I still see those around town often. I like the 1992 because it resembles that full-size Lexus like you mentioned. That car was ahead of its time and still looks great today. The coupe variant of that generation was cool too. I didn’t care too much for the Solara once that came out. Thanks for the shoutout too. Yes I love my second-gen ES. It’s always been one of fav cars of all time. If I can find a clean ‘92 or ‘97 Camry, I’ll definitely grab one of those too. Plan on making a video on those soon.
Great chatter!
Thank you as always! I look forward to seeing your next vid!
Even though the Camry was boring, it became popular because it was very well-built and reliable. It became the #1 selling car in 1997 beating the Ford Taurus and Honda Accord. However, there was one year the Honda Accord sold more than the Toyota Camry.
Yes...2001
Wait a second, when did it become Saturday?! Chatter on
Well I missed last week, so I made a bigger episode and put it out a little early.
@@autochatter A nice surprise
Fun fact, 2007 was the year Toyota started using the Camry body in NASCAR.
Yeah I remember is was sometime around then.
It was actually around 2005
@@CarringtonHollister Whatever year it was. the US didn't get a performance version of the Camry like the Aussies did. They got. 3.5 liter supercharged engines.
The 97 and 07 were my favorites with 4 cylinders.
It was joked that mechanics hated Toyota's because they couldn't make money fixing them
2:40 - Gung Ho is such an underrated movie. It may as well have been the NUMMI story, except Gung Ho depicts the Americans learning things from Japan. GM learned nothing from Toyota. 😬
I feel the same way!
It was filmed outside of the VQ plant in Pennsylvania, but the insides were filmed in South America for some reason.
@GeeEm1313 Yeah..I can't remember what cars those were, but I think it's what they actually made there at that South American factory. Guess they didn't want to use a actual Japanese brand for the movie.
I think the cars "made" in the factory were AMC Eagles.
@@christopherconard2831 I had to look it up, but they were actually Fiat models that were the fictional Japanese cars .I thought they kind of had a more modern Fiat 128 look about them.
Great video just the kind of stuff I like to watch
Thats awesome! Thank you!
I love a good "AN CAR"
Oh yeah!
After the worst experience with a Plymouth I got a camry . The car was so smooth , even the want to be gangsters wanted them . Mine now resides with my son .... a family love afair
They have been a minimal worry transportation device for decades!
I bought the 02-06 Camry with 141K on odo. It came with the 2.4 L Toyota engine that has documented issues. It develops a head gasket like problem that is actually stripped head bolts. Also, the piston rings weaken and the engine burns oil.
That being said, I have driven the car another 40K miles by keeping the coolant reservoir open ( so exhaust gases can escape ) & topping off my oil & coolant monthly.
I wasn't familiar with that one, but I know the earlier 2.2 4s had some small oil passages, so folks who didn't change their oil often could get some issues. That headbolt issue your talking about reminds me of Northstar engines!
I didn't think I could afford a new car. Let alone a decent hybrid. I found a local dealer that was willing to not add stuff or market adjust. They discounted the MSRP and behold I have just over 700 miles on a month old Camry SE. Thanks Hemet Toyota. An example for dealerships everywhere.
I'm sure the car will serve you well! CA dealership. I work at a Lexus one in Florida.
@@autochatter Orlando?
@@emeyer6963 S Florida.
@@autochatter Cool.
My family has had a 2013 and 2016.
I really liked them at the time. But now I kinda don't really understand the point of midsize sedans like the Camry. The roof was very low. I'm only 5'9 but up front it feels like it's right there and in the back your head is hitting. Same in all sedans I sit in.
If you NEED a sedan these days either buy from a more expensive premium brand or go compact. These larger midsize sedans don't make sense. If you want space for luggage and passengers a CUV or minivan makes more sense. A trunk and sloping roof line is so impractical. Most of the sedans offer very little storage, practicality, seat configurations, and features in the rear.
My buddy has a 2011 base model Highlander. It's shorter than the Camrys we had but so much better use of space. Feels airy and is so practical. Comes standard with so many features a top of the line Camry will never get you. Our 2016 is a XLE V6. Tons of features....but then nothing at the same time compared to that Highlander. The bodies of the Camrys are also ridiculously low. Not comfortable to get in and out of and so easy to damage on our bad roads.
My family has very little interest in ever getting a sedan of any sorts ever again.
That in a nutshell is why crossovers are taking over..The practicality of a station wagon, but without the station wagon or minivan negative image.
@@autochatter Even a hatchback or wagon makes a lot more sense to me than a large sedan.
Get a smaller coupe or sedan for sporty handling.
For comfort and cargo capacity get a minivan, CUV, heck some trucks, or a wagon if you life in Europe.
Call me weird but I love Toyota Camrys and Lexus ES's. Honda Accords are nice but Toyota Camrys always have had a smoother ride. Power output is not important to me.
They are smooth operators for sure! Your not in the minority, as ALOT of people have bought Camrys and ES models.
@@autochatter Even the Corollas are just as smooth. I own a 2024 Corolla Hybrid and I must say that the ride quality is Lexus like.
My family has owned at least three different camrys and is my uncle Rick's go to car. He is on his third or fourth one. Cant remember. My aunt had an 02. My grandfather had an 03 and my grandmother had a 2010. Great cars. Great video. 😊
Thank you! Historically, they have been a solid choice. I'm pleased a video about a import is doing pretty good!
Toyotas 80s styling was nice, a little quirky but attractive. Love the two tone paint schemes you could get on the gen 1 carry. Sure miss more color on cars, and color keyed interiors. Today's cars are really blah blah and I don't find most new stuff appealing at all. Like gen 1 and gen 2. 3 and later just didn't do it for me, styling wise.
I like the 3rd gen...Yeah it was jelly bean 90s, but I liked it. I miss the two tone paint schemes too. I liked when interiors had more color too. The 91 MR2 turbo I used to have had a all blue interior that was cool.
I've liked many Toyotas... this is not one of them. I'd rather have a K-car... boring af too but didn't pretend not to be.
Full disclosure: I've owned several k derivatives but only 1 Toyota... a '91 MR2... that's not a boring car!
Anyway... nice to see our Chattering friend again... so; like, comment, subscribe and hit that all notifications bell y'all!
Thank you!
The ES 300 was the Lexis version of the Camry
One of them yes
16:56 - You must have hated this car in your Nissan sales days. Altima was far smaller and had only one engine option. 😖
Yep...We had a price and "fun" advantage. The weird slightly awkward, little bigger than a Corolla size hurt..The 02 Altima changed the game...But Nissan started using Dollar Tree plastics inside....
The last good generation, before Toyota's quality fell, was the 2002-2006 Camry. Newer designs have since improved the Camry. The Japanese (Honda & Toyota) keep redesigning and improving their cars whereas the American automakers just give up and cancel the model
its been more than a quarter century first becoming #1 in 1997 and repeating every year accept 2001 when it was beaten by the Honda Accord who routinely is in 2nd place in recent years last year for ex Camry sold 291,000 units in the US while the Accord sold 198,000 mind you the Accord debuted 8 years previously in 1976 and was a compact initially as was the Narrow Body Version Of The Camry and the Wide Body Version of the Camry has always been a midsize car now in its 9th gen unless you count the Solara Coupe/Convertible 1999-2008
Yeah...My original title was somthing like America's favorite car since 97...except in 2001...But I got some weird 9/11 vibes from the title.
shouldn't anybody be axing any sedan that sells over 80k units a year, nissan and Hyundai aren't thinking clearly 🤔
Guess the development costs for a next generation were not deemed strong enough.
@@autochatter smh ...
In Australia Toyota has been number one spot for the past 25 years and the range of Toyota's is bigger in Australia with the Hilux utes and the Hiace vans also from 1990s to 2017 The Camery was made in Australia and the 1997 Toyota Camerys must have sold a lot of them because there are so many of them still around the sedan and station wagon also we never got the coupe or convertible also the from 1989 to 1992 Holden sold the rebadged Toyota Camery as tbe Holden Apollo and the Toyota Corana lasted until tge late 1980s because they released are more powerful car called tge Toyota Corana Avante powerd by a 22RE engine didn't sell many but tge 22R engine came out in the 5th generation of the Toyota Hilux from 1994 to 1997 and l own one a 1997 one also the last year of the 22R engine actually on the 30th of September 1997
I wonder... Is today Corolla bigger than first Camry?
It's probably pretty close. The modern Corolla is certainly taller and heavier, but not sure about width or length. Interior space is probably greater in a current Corolla.
I would wager a current Corolla is larger. I just looked..The current Corolla is longer,wider...Bigger all over. Weighs a good 500 lbs or so more too.
Yes. The OG Camry was about 173" long while the 2024 Corolla is 182.5" long.
@GeeEm1313 A Nissan Versa is 177 inches, so it's longer than a 83 Camry too!
We talkin’ cars or old ladies? 🤷🏻♂️
It's a shame we never got the supercharged 3.5 motor. like the Aussies did.
Did Toyota offer the dealer installed TRD one?
@@autochatter I don't know at vacation. in Australia. in 08. and happened upon a dealership. where they had on the lot supercharged Camrys Or in this case Aurion. That's what the Aussies call them.
@pattyjay9999 Toyota has offered TRD Superchargers here for years on certain models...including 3.5 v6....as a dealer installed option with a warranty.
9:36 - Toyota's Supra-powered Cressida was a better comparison to the Maxima. Also better than Maxima.
That's true. I only mentioned the Maxima there as Japanese V6 sedans here were rare then...The Acura Legend was a obvious luxury brand, and the Maxima switched from a inline 6 and RWD like the Cressida, to a FWD V6 for 85.
My grandma had an 89. It was an underappreciated car.
@@autochatterBro, Cressidas weren't no joke My friend had a 91 Cressida & installed a manual gearbox & back-end from a Supra in it . He also add turbo to the engine. That car didn't back down from no 5 series bimmer back in the day.
@robertcamble3543 Cool..He pretty much made a 4 door Mark 3 Supra turbo!
@@autochatter Yeah . The man is a Madchanic from back home with cars . 🇯🇲🇯🇲✌️✌️
Nice 😊
"Hey Billy Joe Bob Bubber- hold my beer cause I'm gonna take a pitcher with my new Camry" 🤣
Well what did you expect? Y'all know that I'm from the South 😎
The Camry may well be the last car sold in America. No matter what other's have built, the Camry is and always was simply a very good car with a very good reputation at a price noted for it's holding value short and long term. IMHO that well-deserved reputation is what's kept it on top, and as long as Toyota doesn't change that recipe it will continue selling. But I do worry, as a lot of folks are still hesitant to buy any form of EV so the change to hybrid-only may end Camry's success. I'd have no worries if they'd offer a decent gas engine alternative but unless sales fall flat on their face I think the ICE Camry is over. Honda and Toyota do their own automatic transmissions in-house, and they're pretty darn good. The other Japanese carmakers have to rely on Jatco who has designed some duds. That has helped the Camry stay at the top and it's still one of the few truly good values in a car you can buy today.
Excellent post as usual. I wouldn't be to scared of this being a hybrid, as Toyota has pretty much perfected those things. But there's a big ticket battery that will be needed eventually for the second or third owner.
20.000$ then= 3.000$ now.
Thank you for the video. I watched. Camry has come a long way. I did want to make a few points. I saw that Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme when you were in the 80's and mentioned the sales. You talked about Lexus ES. That was good and you talked about why it exists and how much it is different from a Camry, but based on Camry. My aunt has a Camry. I never saw it or rode in it. It is fairly new. This is her second Camry. I rode in a Lexus ES and Camry as well. I was shocked you did not mention the Toyota Avalon. I thought I would share this as well. GM sold the late 80's and early 90's Toyota Camry in Australia as the Holden Apollo th-cam.com/video/Q93-GlxZjKQ/w-d-xo.html and th-cam.com/video/mrup1mBX3O0/w-d-xo.html
Well...I want to give the Avalon it's own Chatter sometime. Glad you liked it,, and I still managed to throw a Olds in it!
@@autochatter I liked the fact you showed the different Japanese Camrys. That was interesting. The part that was sad is how the suv and crossover world has killed cars in the United States. I saw the Buick Envision. You shared Camry was taken out of Japan and England and the sedan ranks in the midsized segment are thinning out. That was sad too the Camry is losing its V6. The times have indeed changed. I laughed at the CVT part and you mentioned Nissan. Those CVT's are something else and not in a good way. I liked that you could get digital gauges on the Camry in the earlier models.
Drive an old Camry & stay wealthy. Drive a new car - look rich but stay poor!
I have met several people who have done that!
Sorry as a car enthusiast, I absolutely can’t stand the Camry. It’s the most vanilla car on earth, I don’t care if it lasts forever. It’s boring as hell
The automotive landscape would look alot different, if the majority were enthusiasts like you and me!
Reliable but mind numbingly boring transport...apart from reliability any Camry is about as exciting as a toaster oven at best!
LOL...Its why I found TRD versions a odd thing to offer!
@@autochatter ..In Australia Toyota marketed a "Sportivo" version of the Camry in 1990s it had a rear deck lid spoiler,crap looking alloy wheels,a front spoiler and in the TV advert they said it had "sports headlamps"🤣
@@wonkychikn I'm sure those headlights were good for 10 hp.....each 😀
@@autochatter hahahaha 🤣
Market disruption. Camry stuck it to Detroit with a well made, fuel efficient entry in an increasingly troubled, poorly made American market. 40 years ago. Enter Tesla. Same arguments, same results. Different players. Toyota is ignoring the move to electric and Camry sales are about to drop with a thud. Think Pontiac Phoenix thud.
Maybe, but EV sales lately have been taking some hits, and the public seems pretty accepting of hybrids...A technology Toyota has reliably offered for years.
I love my 2009 Mitsubishi Galant Rally Art.is more fast,beautiful and unique than those ugly,boring and generic camrys.😞😫🤢💩😁😂🤦♂️🤷♂️