I Drove A Toyota Camry Today...
I Drove A Toyota Camry Today...
....and became sea sick.
Seriously, I am not one to rip on cars, but I can make an exception.
This car was provided by the VW dealer as our Passat is in for service (they don't know what the problem is yet - 2006 2.0T).
When I took my 8 in to have the battery and starter motor checked, the dealer kept it overnight, back in December, as they wanted to do a cold start in the morning after leaving it out overnight.
They gave me a Ford Focus.
The Camry drives like a bigger Ford Focus - floaty, mushy, numb steering (the Camry is worse than the Focus), and not only that, but Toyota managed to dial in a feeling of cheapness into the drivetrain, too, which is really surprising.
I can't believe the Camry is one of the best selling cars; it's one of the worst cars I've ever driven.
'Japanese Buick' is an insult to Buick.
Seriously, I am not one to rip on cars, but I can make an exception.
This car was provided by the VW dealer as our Passat is in for service (they don't know what the problem is yet - 2006 2.0T).
When I took my 8 in to have the battery and starter motor checked, the dealer kept it overnight, back in December, as they wanted to do a cold start in the morning after leaving it out overnight.
They gave me a Ford Focus.
The Camry drives like a bigger Ford Focus - floaty, mushy, numb steering (the Camry is worse than the Focus), and not only that, but Toyota managed to dial in a feeling of cheapness into the drivetrain, too, which is really surprising.
I can't believe the Camry is one of the best selling cars; it's one of the worst cars I've ever driven.
'Japanese Buick' is an insult to Buick.
Guys, it's an '09 with 6,200 miles on it. 4 banger.
The acceleration is decent for a slushbox 4 when you hammer it, but it does not make the refined sounds I expected from Toyota - nor nearly.
The steering is not only vague, but feels as if it - it's hard to explain - it feels like it goes in and out, between just super numb and light but there, and not there at all, if that makes any sense.
There's torque steer even though it's a 4 banger, and I swear to you that the switchgear in the 8 as far as radio controls, cruise control, wiper stalk, is better, as is the piano black compared to the cheap silver center stack in the Camry.
This is NOT the ES350 like car that the 1998 Camry was that I drove year ago.
It seems that Toyota is on a mission to become the new GM, just as The Truth About Cars has said.
If we are forced to drive cars like this, just give up cars altogether. I'd rather walk or take my bike.
The acceleration is decent for a slushbox 4 when you hammer it, but it does not make the refined sounds I expected from Toyota - nor nearly.
The steering is not only vague, but feels as if it - it's hard to explain - it feels like it goes in and out, between just super numb and light but there, and not there at all, if that makes any sense.
There's torque steer even though it's a 4 banger, and I swear to you that the switchgear in the 8 as far as radio controls, cruise control, wiper stalk, is better, as is the piano black compared to the cheap silver center stack in the Camry.
This is NOT the ES350 like car that the 1998 Camry was that I drove year ago.
It seems that Toyota is on a mission to become the new GM, just as The Truth About Cars has said.
If we are forced to drive cars like this, just give up cars altogether. I'd rather walk or take my bike.
Has the whole shit.
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
I drove the previous generation Camry and it was exactly the same. Apparently the general American public looks for a car with severely numb handling, "guess and check" steering inputs, and brakes that are unsure of themselves. It was actually a little bit scary to drive, it felt like if I had gotten into trouble, I would have been unable to save myself. I'd have to just brace for impact. Why would people want that!? That was just plain awful, but people eat it up! What the hell, America?
waht do you expect? its good for the market its for. mom's don't want a rough ride wherever they go.. the lightness/numbness of the steering makes me sick...i havent driven a camry, but drive my mom's accord every now and then, and its the worst feeling ever...
You Dumbass!!!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
From: New York
Storm Trooper
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 0
From: Freakmont, CA
Most people aren't car enthusiast, and haven't really experience what a well put together car feels like. They have always just had something to get them from A to B. I haven't driven the new one, but drove the old one quite a bit, and I have to agree with you 100%. The focus was better, lol.
You know, I hope there's no one on these forums that drives a Camry, and if so, I just wanted to emphasize 'but some people like cars like this, and there's nothing wrong with that.'
Yeah renesisSE3P can probably back this up, but most people want to be comfortable like they are in bed...a water bed...completely disconnected from the road and the environment outside. The Camry does just that. It's big sister/brother the Avalon is worse, I got one as a loaner once. It was literally painful and nausiating to drive.
That they hate driving is either a cause, or an effect, or a bit of both.
That they hate driving is either a cause, or an effect, or a bit of both.
..
Registered
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 9,134
Likes: 26
From: Houston
My wife's car is the previous generation Camry. As a daily driver car it's just fine. Her's is also the 4 cylinder. It's no rocket but it's no slouch either and at freeway speeds it's got some decent pickup if you need to pass. It's roomy inside with a good amount of cargo space making it a great car for long trips. It is not a sports car and doesn't pretend to be one. It's a good car for what it was designed for.
I've had a 2000 Civic EX since I bought it new. Now it's got just over 200K miles on it. I drove that car everyday and got used to it. Nothing ever seemed wrong with it to me. It was a commuter car that did it's job and returned me with 40 mpg. My wife's Camry is far and away a faster vehicle, more comfortable to drive, is smoother and quieter. Once I bought my '90 RX-7 back on January, I started driving it everyday and have done so continuously for the past 2 months. I drove the Civic again the other day and it wasn't what I remembered. It was damn slow! Very sluggish off the line with no power anywhere. My little 160 hp n/a 13B feels like a torque monster by comparison! However with me having a 100 mile roundtrip commute to work and back, I'm going to start driving the Civic again.
It's all based on perspective. When you get used to a performance vehicle, driving something that wasn't designed for the same purpose just doesn't feel good anymore. I guarantee that if you drove a Camry everyday and were used to it, it wouldn't feel that bad. Of course then getting into an RX-8 would feel like getting behind the wheel of some expensive exotic! The Camry actually isn't a bad car. It was designed for a purpose and role that it does very well. That's why they sell so good. You are just used to a car that was designed for higher performance.
I've had a 2000 Civic EX since I bought it new. Now it's got just over 200K miles on it. I drove that car everyday and got used to it. Nothing ever seemed wrong with it to me. It was a commuter car that did it's job and returned me with 40 mpg. My wife's Camry is far and away a faster vehicle, more comfortable to drive, is smoother and quieter. Once I bought my '90 RX-7 back on January, I started driving it everyday and have done so continuously for the past 2 months. I drove the Civic again the other day and it wasn't what I remembered. It was damn slow! Very sluggish off the line with no power anywhere. My little 160 hp n/a 13B feels like a torque monster by comparison! However with me having a 100 mile roundtrip commute to work and back, I'm going to start driving the Civic again.
It's all based on perspective. When you get used to a performance vehicle, driving something that wasn't designed for the same purpose just doesn't feel good anymore. I guarantee that if you drove a Camry everyday and were used to it, it wouldn't feel that bad. Of course then getting into an RX-8 would feel like getting behind the wheel of some expensive exotic! The Camry actually isn't a bad car. It was designed for a purpose and role that it does very well. That's why they sell so good. You are just used to a car that was designed for higher performance.
The Professor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,479
Likes: 7
From: Omaha, NE
My parents have one, 09...
Its very roomy, gets good gas mileage and was affordable.
Actually it has tons of torque off the line(much more than rx8) since they have a really steep 1st and 2nd gear so the 4 cyl is easier to drive in stop and go traffic.
After that the gears are mileage oriented and can make high speed merging on the highway an experience in pedal mashing.
Yeah it does feel like it has unsure steering and handling, but its really nice on long trips since everything is so soft it just glides down the highway.
Not a car that I would want to drive aggressively at all.
Its a nice daily drive.
Its very roomy, gets good gas mileage and was affordable.
Actually it has tons of torque off the line(much more than rx8) since they have a really steep 1st and 2nd gear so the 4 cyl is easier to drive in stop and go traffic.
After that the gears are mileage oriented and can make high speed merging on the highway an experience in pedal mashing.
Yeah it does feel like it has unsure steering and handling, but its really nice on long trips since everything is so soft it just glides down the highway.
Not a car that I would want to drive aggressively at all.
Its a nice daily drive.
Last edited by staticlag; Jun 12, 2009 at 11:14 AM.
Why can't they make a car that's comfortable without feeling like it's unsafe?
I'm not kidding. The two cars I've driven that have actually felt as if they'd be unsafe at freeway speeds, especially in an emergency situation, are the Hyundai Azera (rental on vacation) and Camry.
I'm not kidding. The two cars I've driven that have actually felt as if they'd be unsafe at freeway speeds, especially in an emergency situation, are the Hyundai Azera (rental on vacation) and Camry.