'92 or '97 Camry 2.2 5SFE ?

[steve76]

Hi Everyone,

I'm thinking on buying a 2.2L manual Camry here in Hungary. There are two cars in sight, first is a garaged piece from '92. It spent continously 17 yrs in garage from '94 and has 112k miles on the clock. It's doing about 6-7k miles a year since it's a third car(!). Owner told he's exchanged only front shock absorbers, otherwise it's in original condition, apart from the wearing pieces exchanged. I'm going to see it this Saturday. It only misses A/C, but has a sunroof, that I really love. It's equipped with steel rims only.
Another one is a '97 piece, almost the same, a little more on the clock, about 140k, but has A/C, heated leather seats, alloy wheels, but it's not a garaged car. Actually I have seen it. And it's really nice. It misses the sunroof, but is in very good condition overall. The '92er is cheaper too.
Question is, which one to go for? Technically is there any major difference, that would be better on any piece if them? I've seen on the net, on parts dealer pages, that 92-93 was a little cycle, then from 94 it's another. How tough to build in an A/C to the '92er one? Of course it wouold be a Camry piece, I'd get soon. How many mpg should I expect? I use cars most of the time in the city in Budapest, but I have a daughter and occasionally we're going on a trip around country. Thanks for any help!

Steve
Hungary

[steve76]

Actually that '97 Camry is probably produced in 1996, '97 means just the registration here. Please anyone correct me on this, if I'm wrong. So there is not any XV10chassis made after 1996, I don't know about hot to handle this in the light of European or North American registration. Does anybody know where were these produced? In Japan, in Europe? Or only in Japan?
Thanks again!

Steve

[JimBowNut]

Send me the VIN and I will run a vehicle inquiry on it. It'll tell you a few things about accessories and what came on the car originally.

jim

[fenixus]

go to www.toyodiy.com/parts
and enter the car's VIN over there, it will give you the full chassis code which specifies many things country of production, destination market, sub-model, engine, transmission, etc.
VIN specifies the production date and factory (and some other stuff too like air bags, etc.), toyodiy should be able to give you correct production date based on VIN you entered.

once you know the full chassis code (e.g. MCV20L-GCPNKA for '02 Solara SLE V6) just google it and you will find some info on this car, some online dealers give details of cars, and their websites are indexed by google (no more diagrams though).

besides, you can always take a look at the sticker located at driver's door jamb, there is production date and country of origin over there.

[steve76]

Thanks guys! I'll give it a try, once I get the code, and will report how this thing turns out.

steve

[steve76]

I got a chassis code of the 3rd gen CAmry I wish to get in a few days hopefully.

Code is:
JT153SV1000374144

It's a 2.2 5S-FE one.
It was manufactured 12/95. Registration is 02/97 , is that different normal?
Today or tomorrow we will take a close look at it from under.
Will post results.

Steve