Why are you a Gen3/4 owner?

[LynchburgCSI]

I'm looking for some opions. As many of you guys know, my gen 3.5 is dead and i'm trying to decide what i want to replace it. A lot of the gen3 guys want me to stick to a gen 3... but i like the idea of a gen4.5 (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=b&make=TOYOTA)

That 4.5 I love. So this is what I think I want:

A newer car (gen 4.5) with an automatic and the 1MZ-FE for under $8000ish with less than 150k miles if possible. I refuse to own a red car (we already have 2) and i prefer a gray interior to a beige one. But thats not really why I'm making this thread. I'll have time to look for a car. And i don't have ANY money right now.

So the question is this. Why should I chose a gen4.5 over a gen 3/3.5 or vice versa? Give me some feedback.

['_']

Personally I like the overall appearance of the Gen4.5. I also like the little differences too (the way the gauges look, location of cup holders, push button circulation, etc). But I didn't choose the Camry I have now, it was actually given to me.

[Creeps228]

Yeah i didnt chose my camry either, it was a present from my mom and it has its sentimental valves. I love my gen4 because of all the things that she and i went through. Although Toyota shitted on the gen4 i still love it. i would like to have the digital HVAC that the gen4.5 have but you cant pick and chose. She reliable and spacious. i just love my camry and i wont let it go...

[95PimpingCamry]

Again, I didn't choose my car, but I prefer the gen 3.5, specifically the '95 for 2 reasons:

1) I think it just looks better, again specifically the gen 3.5.
2) OBDI. OBDII can be a pain in the ass from time to time, and with OBDI I don't need a scan tool, just a paperclip. If you wanted a V6, you would have to get a '92 or '93 to keep OBDI.

I think both gen 3 and 4 are rock solid, so that shouldn't be an issue.

[LynchburgCSI]

OBDII isn't an issue...my scan gauge II survived the wreck.

I dunno. I liked my gen3.5's looks and i think the gen 4.0 is so-so. the Gen 4.5 looks like it'll be a nice change.

keep the feedback coming!

[Hajoca]

I have Gen4 and 4.5

I wish that I had the gen 3, due to the fact that they appear to be more solid... and Emmissions suck up a lot of time when trying to do self repairs and diagnosis.

[bigbird]

i have owned both. i like the look of both. the gen4 is sleeker and sharper. the gen3 is smooth and curvy, 2 completely different styles. from a modding stand point they are about the same(v6) if your goin for an auto. the gen 4 does have a few more bolt ons avalible but other then that they are pretty equal. the gen 3 seems to be built a little better(with exception of the door handles). they are also just as reliable.

now personally i like the gen3 more for a few reasons.
1. i think it looks better. the gen4 i think only looks really good with the TRD kit where as the gen3 i think looks great lowered or kitted.
2. theres a coupe...which your not looking for. and that trumps all IMO.
3. like i said, the quality seems a little better, but with non essential stuff.
4. the gen3 is cheaper to insure, get parts for and buy. insurance for my coupe SE is the same as my 97 V6 was.
5. the auto tranny in the gen3 has that magical PWR button which is kind of a joke on the 5sfe but it really helps the V6 with down shifting and high rpms. the gen 4 is more seneitive with down shifting then the gen3 when PWR is off but i perfer the auto in the gen3 much more.
6. all this combined with the fact that most performance parts made for the solara/ gen4 camry fit on a gen3 seals the deal.

many feel the gen3 camry is the best camry built. i think its a little better then the gen4...but just a little. they ar both much better then antything before or after. i do however like the gen4 more for its ease of manual have. but that doesnt matter so that doesnt count.

[LynchburgCSI]

Thats right bird! I forgot you had both.

I think the selling fact here may be the insurance (since i'll have to pay for the difference now), the ECT button and the fact that i'm more familiar with the gen 3.

Anyone have any argument against it or any more details? Anyone have any info on why a 4.5 would be better than a 3.5?

[the94camryman]

The gen4 has a slightly bigger aftermarket. That's the only reason I can come up with.
But I'd still take a gen3 over a gen4.

[eyeball96]

It's obvious how I feel!...Gen 3/3.5 all the way, period!

[Gothmog3VZ]

- Gen 3 has a nicer, curvy shape (IMO)
- Will be way cheaper to insure than a newer Gen4
pretty damn reliable (unless you're like my idiot friend who wound up having to scrap his '92 5S-FE... but I digress)
- You're already familiar with Gen 3's
- PWR button (although haven't tried it myself - 5MT )
- I own a Gen 3. That makes it 84645 times better than the Gen 4

The reason I own a gen 3 is that it was a present from my parents, and I'm sentimentally attached to her, since my dad bought her when we moved to Montreal 12 years ago

also, it's just plain awesome

[LinuxGold]

I prefer 3rd generation Camry is because it's more "luxury", in my opinion where 4th generation Camry is more "thinner", hence, bony.

[hill8570]

Just using my wife's old rig (a Gen3) as a daily driver until it gets handed down to my son in three years or so (assuming he proves himself worthy by being able to change the timing belt blindfolded ). Personally, I prefer the better diagnostics in the OBD-II rigs (try monitoring short-term fuel trim in a OBD-I rig some time - ha!), but, OTOH, this JPN-made rig is cheap to maintain. Styling-wise, the Gen3-Gen4.5 are all good for me...my wife currently drives a 2008 (Gen6?) -- damn thing looks like it was overinflated (kind of like the 2AZ-FE 4-banger motor, 'tho, and it's a nice, quiet ride).

[abew330]

i agree with bigbird. well put big

Originally Posted by bigbird

smooth and curvy
now personally i like the gen3 more for a few reasons.
1. i think it looks better. the gen4 i think only looks really good with the TRD kit where as the gen3 i think looks great lowered or kitted.
2. theres a coupe...which your not looking for. and that trumps all IMO.
3. like i said, the quality seems a little better, but with non essential stuff.
4. the gen3 is cheaper to insure, get parts for and buy. insurance for my coupe SE is the same as my 97 V6 was.
5. the auto tranny in the gen3 has that magical PWR button which is kind of a joke on the 5sfe but it really helps the V6 with down shifting and high rpms. the gen 4 is more seneitive with down shifting then the gen3 when PWR is off but i perfer the auto in the gen3 much more.
6. all this combined with the fact that most performance parts made for the solara/ gen4 camry fit on a gen3 seals the deal.

many feel the gen3 camry is the best camry built. i think its a little better then the gen4...but just a little. they ar both much better then antything before or after. i do however like the gen4 more for its ease of manual have. but that doesnt matter so that doesnt count.

95pimping i believe you can also use a jumper to jump TE1 and E1 on the diagnostic port under the Hood for obd2

Originally Posted by 95PimpingCamry

2) OBDI. OBDII can be a pain in the ass from time to time, and with OBDI I don't need a scan tool, just a paperclip.

my gen3 was given to me. fam got it in 98 or 99 and i took over in late 00 /01

since then i have been reading any and all info here on TN about my gen3. thanks everybody (fellow TN members)

havent owned a gen4/ 4.5 but would perfer gen 3 over it. i have driven one

gen 3 seems more soild. wish there were more performance parts available
but i have gotten a little creative adding anything to my gen3. for example projection lights. everybodys gen3/ 3.5 on here is unique because of it (rear perfrom parts)

gen3 looks better.

[360glitch]

Why am I a gen 3 owner? It fell into my lap. It has proven to be an excellent daily driver. However, if I was given the opportunity to "upgrade" to a gen 4 I would not do it, unless the gen 4 had something super awesome about it. +1 for a Gen 3.