Prospective gen 3 buyer questions

[s i n k]

I'm looking into buying a 3rd gen Camry as a vehicle to be used strictly on a newspaper route.

Is one of the engine options (4- or 6-cylinder) more reliable than the other?

Are either of the transmission options notorious for reliability or the lack thereof?

If you were buying this gen Camry, what are some "known issues" you would look at first? Ones specific to these vehicles, perhaps. For example, from my experience with S-Series Saturns, I know to look for a slam when shifting into reverse.

Contribution appreciated...!!

[SexieWASD]

Both engines are very reliable, but the IL4 is much easier to work on so the labor time will be less for that engine. Both transmissions are also very reliable, but a standard is always more reliable than an auto in every make and model that I can think of, where the biggest job you should ever have to have to have done is a clutch replacement.

I would check the struts and springs, the struts wear out before the rest of these cars, and the springs sag but don't break when they are worn so people often won't replace them when needed. Check that the steering feels smooth and doesn't have more resistance at spots, because the universal joint in the steering column gets water in the pins on older cars and will start to rust. The torsion bar on the top right of the engine wears out too, but that is easy enough to replace anyway. Check that the bumper supports are not rusted out, it is kind of hard to check but mud, dirt, oil, and water from the road will collect under the rear bumper cover and rust it out.

That is all that I can think of right now.

[whip_cracker]

Check that the car has been serviced when it was meant to... ie, seals, belts, oils and fluids of any sort were changed/replaced when they should be.

It's a Camry mate, these things are normally bullet proof... I'd be going a 5SFE 2.2L 4 banger... parts are cheaper usually, easier to service as mentioned, etc. The trim model you buy is up to you. I dunno what the low end and top end models are, but I'd be going for one that doesn't have all the bells and whistles... just more things to worry about.

Transmission... go an Auto... unless you wanna keep the car in gear all the time? Up to you mate.

Haven't even got a clue what a Saturn is... :S hahaha

Your only problems will be the ceiling lining falling in, door trim material peeling off, possible CV joint issues and engine mounts... that's the only real issues I've ever seen anyway. Camrys have one of the most reliable and most sophisticated engines in the world, you're normally fine mate.

[Simpler=Better]

Get an auto with the inline 4.

Don't bang on saturn man! Those things are bulletproof too!

[hill8570]

As SexieWASD mentioned, the suspension is probably the most trouble-prone part of the Gen3s. The power antenna is also a joke. Eventually the plastic tank on the radiator will develop a hairline crack -- easy enough to check for dried coolant around the top seam. The engines and trannies are both pretty reliable, although the oil seals tend to start leaking around 100k miles or so (valve cover, distributor o-ring, crackshaft and oil pump seals). The 6-banger is really shoehorned into the engine compartment -- the 4-banger is way easier to work on. Less weight, too, so your paper route mileage should be better.

[Heat]

Originally Posted by hill8570

As SexieWASD mentioned, the suspension is probably the most trouble-prone part of the Gen3s...

Just to toss out a price, my mother paid about $850 to replace the front and back struts on her (now mine, soon to be somebody else's (it's for sale)) '95 LE, as well as to fix a torn boot.