Shopping for a used camry

[David85]

Thinking of getting a camry when I am in australia (I am canadian) in december later this year. I have a family member there that will need a car and we might end up shopping for one when I arrive.

Are there any specific quirks that I should keep an eye out for with these cars? So far I've found them to be very solid and cheap to buy in good condition.

So far I've decided on the era right around 1990 give or take with a 2L engine and 5 speed manual. Love the fact that the engine is non interference and I think they get reasonable fuel economy. I've never owned a toyota though.

Should I avoid carburated engines?

I don't think there is much difference between the north american camry and the australian and suggestions or insight are welcome.

Thanks,

David

[ycartf]

I have not owned a carbureted Toyota, so I cannot speak to that. While we have loved our 1990 V6 Camry, I would go with the I4 you mentioned. We also have a later model Camry (1997) that is I4, and it is so much easier to work on many things on the I4 (spark plugs, timing belt job, etc) plus better gas mileage (or "kilometerage" in AU?). So good choice on the 4 cylinder. Aside from that, just the usual things that you would look for with any used car as far as I am concerned.

[David85]

Thanks for the info. I heard that the 3rd generation camry might not be as reliable as the 2nd but like I said, I don't know much about toyotas.

[ycartf]

We had a Gen3 Camry (1995 I4) in the past, but back then I did not do much maintenance past oil changes and brakes. I do remember that the coolant reservoir on that one had crumbled / dry-rotted, as it has on my daughter's boyfriend's 1992 Gen3, and on the only Gen3 (with a reservoir) I could find in the Montgomery, AL Pull-A-Part yesterday. So the coolant reservoir for sure is/was a weakness on them (although easily remedied with a reservoir kit and imagination). The only thing I have heard of as far as unreliability on Camrys was the sludge problem in some Gen4 Camrys ... mostly V6 I think. We bought my sister's 1997 Gen4 I4 and have never had sludge problems (change it regularly).

[Jimnist]

Hmm...i think the gen 3's are alright. Maybe a bit better since they're younger, lower k's and less rust, although that really does depend on each individual car. My parents bought a gen 3 and had it since new, IIRC, it was pretty reliable, but i can only comment up to about 160km's. It blew up one night, we believe it was arson (someone crashed into our front fence and pulled a runner, but luckily someone got their details), but there was no evidence.

My gen 2 has done 310 500km's and is going pretty well. Main problem is corrosion(rust on body + radiator) then my 2nd gear syncho; crunches when you don't downshift properly.

[David85]

Ouch! that sucks.

Since the cars are in australia, corrosion isn't as big a problem since there is no road salt. Cost is also a concern and I've seen some really nice 2nd generation camrys for under $2000 AU. 3rd gens can be close, but are still more on average since they are newer.

Average odometer reading seems to be a little under 300 000 ks. But they seem to be ok with high kilometers from what little I've seen.

[Jimnist]

Originally Posted by David85

Ouch! that sucks.

Since the cars are in australia, corrosion isn't as big a problem since there is no road salt. Cost is also a concern and I've seen some really nice 2nd generation camrys for under $2000 AU. 3rd gens can be close, but are still more on average since they are newer.

Average odometer reading seems to be a little under 300 000 ks. But they seem to be ok with high kilometers from what little I've seen.

Well, i guess compared to somewhere that has road salt, rust won't be as bad/ non existent under the body. But if it lived outside most of it's life, dust, dirt and small leaves collect in:
>the windshield trim, causing rust around it - the rear can lead to other spots of rust i.e. boot lip, top of fuel hole
>wheel guards/fender
>Along the bottom of doors

All the common places.

I think someone here did 400 000 miles on their gen2. Another ran the car without oil for about a week or 2. So 300k km's will still have life, you just can kill these things Good maintance history is a bonus too

[Musikmann]

I have a Gen2 V6 LE (inherited from father and bought new) and have had no major problems but have been told by a 25-year Toyota veteran shop manager that the 4-cylinder models are much more reliable and longer-lived. I don't remember what he said I have to look forward to. I only have 120,000 miles on the 19 year old beast.