Decisions, decisions... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

TBayToyotaBoy · 12-02-2008, 05:55 PM

So the only other 25th anniversary V6 Camry in town is up for sale. Body is pretty good, reasonably well maintained, plus my car is identical so I have a giant shed full of spare parts. The guy wants $800 OBO (around $650USD right now, I believe). In order to buy it, I'll have to sell my Celica.

I need some cool, rational voices to chime in for me here, because I'm having trouble deciding. If you guys could have two Camrys that you love, but you had to sell your summer ride, what would you do?

Bah! Why is it always so complicated?!?!

kesando · 12-02-2008, 06:09 PM

How does his car compare to yours? Mileage, running condition, etc?

TBayToyotaBoy · 12-02-2008, 09:10 PM

The body is better (but not perfect--EVERY gen2 up here has at least some rust), it has half the mileage of my Camry, but since I've been keeping up on my maintenance lately, mechanically they're about the same.

It's an auto, which would usually be a thumbs-down for me, but part of me wants to have a 5-speed V6 and an automatic as well, for city driving.

GregElliott · 12-02-2008, 10:04 PM

Well, in my humble opinion.. you wouldn't really be gaining anything by purchasing it. Even 40 years down the road I don't see the Toyota Camry being a collector item (Anniversary Edition or otherwise).
If it were me, I'd be happy with the variety of having the dependable practical Camry and a nice toy, the Celica.

bigfootbryce · 12-03-2008, 03:34 PM

I don't think you would want to exact models. The only reason I would have two would be the spare parts. And, I think in the position your in you can't throw a dead cat without hitting at least 4 spare parts of your camry.
Keep the Celica, keep maintaining your car, and keep on keepin on.

Good luck! Either way sleep on it a couple of days.

***HomeGrown*** · 12-03-2008, 08:53 PM

Being not overly-fond of the 1991 body style Celica, I'd say go for the Camry (that's not really a rational point of view though, because obviously you do happen to like that style Celica).

I'd base your decision on which will better serve you overall, and in the long run. If the Celica is a better, more solid & mechanically sound car than the Camry, I'd keep the Celica. On the other hand, the new Camry might save you a ton of upcoming body work you were going to do on yours. Presumably this one needs much less body work than yours?

TBayToyotaBoy · 12-04-2008, 12:48 AM

Thanks for all of the input, guys. I appreciate that I can sound you all out on a tough decision like this, and get a variety of entirely valid opinions. Part of my decision is based on the fact that my Celica is less practical in snow, so it's a handicap for about three months of the year. However, Greg's "toy" comment applies: both my fiancée and I enjoy rolling up to friends' houses in a sports car--it allows us the illusion that my unemployment is not crippling me (I say "me" because she's making money hand-over-fist and drives a brand new car).

Bill, the sale Camry would, in fact, save me a lot of bodywork; and yes, I have spare parts coming out the wazoo for the V6 (spare starter, alt, distributor, window regulators, cap'n'wires, gaskets and seals, oil/air filters, the list goes on...) while I have very few for the Celica.

I think I'll take sound advice and sleep on it...if only my insomnia would piss off...

***HomeGrown*** · 12-04-2008, 06:47 PM

That being said, I'd almost have to advise you to keep the Celica (free personal advice!

). You really have to weigh-in the emotional value of the Celica, as it's an entirely valid reason for keeping it, and even more so if it's something that both you and your fiancée are enjoying together! If you sold the Celica, you may be kicking yourself come the first beautiful day of Spring.

That's pretty much the reason I sold the '89 Camry 5-speed I had, and *ALMOST* jumped on that Camry All-Trac I found, but I really wanted a Gen 2 or Gen 3 Toyota 4x4 (my '88 is a last-year Gen 2). I can always get good use out of a truck anyway.

Any possible way to get the 'new' Camry & do some quick part-swapping (if there's anything better on your existing car), and then sell the one you have now? Of course, that would require parting with $$ you already don't have, until you get the other car sold.

kesando · 12-04-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeGrown

That being said, I'd almost have to advise you to keep the Celica (free personal advice!

). You really have to weigh-in the emotional value of the Celica, as it's an entirely valid reason for keeping it, and even more so if it's something that both you and your fiancée are enjoying together! If you sold the Celica, you may be kicking yourself come the first beautiful day of Spring.

That's pretty much the reason I sold the '89 Camry 5-speed I had, and *ALMOST* jumped on that Camry All-Trac I found, but I really wanted a Gen 2 or Gen 3 Toyota 4x4 (my '88 is a last-year Gen 2). I can always get good use out of a truck anyway.

Any possible way to get the 'new' Camry & do some quick part-swapping (if there's anything better on your existing car), and then sell the one you have now? Of course, that would require parting with $$ you already don't have, until you get the other car sold.

That's what I was thinking. Keep your Celica and end up with a super clean Camry!

TBayToyotaBoy · 12-05-2008, 12:52 AM

Yeah, I think I've found a solution. There's another gen5 Celica for sale in town with low miles but bad body. I'm gonna pick that up for $200 or so instead of the other Camry, so I'll have parts for both of my cars. This way I get to keep the reliable winter car (man, is that Camry good in the snow... one year I actually plowed a street with it--two feet of snow and it didn't get stuck). I also get to keep my summer toy, with a low-mileage spare engine to throw in there in the spring.

It's been a hard choice, especially considering the increasing rarity of the special edition 1990 V6's (I've always been cheezed that the previous owner of mine removed the spoiler, and I was looking forward to having one intact). Oh well, body work it is!!!

Again, I appreciate the rational contributions you all gave. Sometimes it's just too tough to make the decision for oneself.

rty · 12-05-2008, 09:05 AM

I wouldn't sell a Celica for a Camry, and I wouldn't sell a 5spd Camry for an auto Camry because I find the auto Camry very boring to drive.

***HomeGrown*** · 12-05-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rty

I wouldn't sell a Celica for a Camry, and I wouldn't sell a 5spd Camry for an auto Camry because I find the auto Camry very boring to drive.

I really enjoyed the 5-speed Gen 2 I had briefly. Have to say it was a lot more fun to drive than the slushbox.

TBayToyotaBoy · 12-05-2008, 10:52 PM

I agree, the auto trannys are less fun to drive. Every auto I've had (not many, I assure you) hasn't lasted long--I sell them as soon as another good 5-speed Toyota comes up...

***HomeGrown*** · 12-06-2008, 05:41 PM

Yeah, I'm pretty uneasy about the tranny in my '91. It's been slipping when cold for a long time now (over a year), and just recently it's dripping tranny fluid on the garage floor. Now that I have my truck, I really don't see myself getting involved with a 5-speed swap into that car, as much as I'd like to. I also don't see myself putting a lot of $$ into getting the auto fixed, either.

kesando · 12-07-2008, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeGrown

Yeah, I'm pretty uneasy about the tranny in my '91. It's been slipping when cold for a long time now (over a year), and just recently it's dripping tranny fluid on the garage floor. Now that I have my truck, I really don't see myself getting involved with a 5-speed swap into that car, as much as I'd like to. I also don't see myself putting a lot of $$ into getting the auto fixed, either.

Really? Thinking about selling the Camry soon? Mine slips a little when cold also but I think the level is a bit high... Mabey thats what could be causing the slippage?