Maiden Voyage with the 2007 Camry LE - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Old Dood · 04-12-2006, 09:14 PM

Well I took out my new 07 LE to work today. Of course it was raining. Handled pretty good. Took me a while to get use to the feel of it. I am use to a heavier car.

On the way home from work today from Novi Mi to Lansing Mi taking I-96 all the way...I ran into a Cloud burst. (Just past the I-96/US 23 junction) The winds were hitting me dead on from the west. The Camry was being pushed around a bit, however, she held the road better then I expected. No hydroplaning at all. The wipers kept up with the rain. There was a point when I was thinking about pulling over the rain was so heavy...but I never want too because I figure that is even more dangerous. Funny thing was I was following a 06 White Camry SE and behind me was a Prius. We all stuck to the center lane and plowed through the storm.

On the way down to work I got 34mpg...on the way home in that wind I got about 28mpg. I was pushing it too. Going about 75-80 at times. I am very well pleased with this little car.

s_ajanthan · 04-12-2006, 10:26 PM

congrats, so were there anymore cars in your Toyota Caravan?

wish I could spend the cash on a new Camry but I have thousands in student loans to worry about first...

05Cam-Weasel · 04-13-2006, 01:04 AM

congrats on the car...she'll be good to you, don't worry

Old Dood · 04-13-2006, 08:16 PM

They came in today....I was driving home on my second day with this car from work. As I stated before 70 miles one way. I get a call from my tire dealer that my new rims are in and they had time to install them. GREAT!

I get there and they start to work on the car and come to find out neither one of us thought about the Tire Sensors....*sigh* They call up my dealership and the dealer said just write down the numbers on the gauge and they can "re-set" them tomorrow when I take it in for my protection package work being done.

They get them on the car...everything looks good. My tire sensor is NOT going off. These guys put the monitors back exaclty as they were on the old rims. Everything seems ok...then we look at the lugnut holes/wells/whatever you call the area where the lugnuts sit in and the black paint is not clean. There are 1 to 2 lug holes/wheel that are bad/sloppy paint jobs. My friend that runs the shop had the American Racing dealer in the store at that time and we all were just STARING at them. The American Racing guy tried to buy me off with $5-$10 per tire to make it "worth my while". I just looked at him...I was insulted. It is not about the money. It is about the look and the quality. And after spending $500.00 on rims in the first place what is $20.00-$40.00 dollars anyways? Then he suggested that "I" paint them in.....Grrrr!

I just looked the guy in the eyes and said I want a swap out. He told me he can't have me drive on them whiile I wait for them to fly in a new set. I told him this is not my problem....this is your problem. The tire store is closing in ten minutes and I am tired...they are tired....make it happen! So this guy calls his "boss" and then says to me...drive it as long as you need too...we will get in a set next week and swap it out.

Old Dood · 04-13-2006, 08:36 PM

Sure...let me get it back from the dealer tomorrow after it has been detailed. It is real dirty from the bad weather....*sigh*...the curse of a Black Car.....hehe

Old Dood · 04-14-2006, 10:15 AM

Well I went back to my Tire Dealer this morning to tighten the lugs after 20 miles. Then after talking with my friend that runs the shop I decided to swap ouy for a Diamond Finsh of the Casino Rims.

I figured the Black ones will scratch up eventually just by getting rotations. The socket fits real tight. I was also "trying" to be a "nice guy" over all too. To get this out of the way and move on. To get these defected Rims back to American Racing with minimal miles on them. My Tire Dealer appreciated that....American Racing...well they are another story. I met the guy that "runs" their shop this morning When I went over there with my Tire Dealer friend to look at the Diamond Finish. This AR guy was a total A-hole. Arrogant, selfserving, weasel. He was saying that "...this "problem" should have been caught before hand..." Meaning he was blaming the Tire Dealer. My friend at Quality Tire (local owned business...not a chain) is too even keel and nice of a guy to argue the point....so I stepped up and said..." You are right Rusty...it should have been caught before hand...in PRODUCTION...Your so-called Quality Control should have seen this before boxing and shipping the product" Rusty didn't have much to say after that. I could tell Rusty doesn't like being "corrected"...Boo-Hoo RUSTY. I told my nice friend later afterwards"...some times you have to use a 2x4 to get people's attention. Never be shy about standing up to bullies..."

I have NO use for Rude, Arrogant, Selfish people. Business is more then making MONEY. It is about good working relationships between peoples. In short the "Long Dollar"! So now I have a brushed Aluminum Rims on my Camry. It really does look good. Turns out we needed to put in a O-ring on the inside of the rims anyways. I was getting a shimmy with the Blacks ones and I watch the kid balance these tires. They were dead on. Once we put on the NEW Rims that rode like I was on Glass...smooth.

My Camry at the moment is at the Dealership getting it's Protection packages done. I will snap some pics later and post them. I have pics of these Black rims up close to show the defects. From reading allot of posts here and learning from you experienced people...I know for a fact that NONE of you would have accepted these rims.

Old Dood · 04-14-2006, 07:15 PM

Here it is with the Bad Black Casino Rims: (Yes this is before the Detail)

Old Dood · 04-14-2006, 07:15 PM

Here is what I am talking about:

Old Dood · 04-14-2006, 07:18 PM

After the Detail at Spartan Toyota: (Errr... Sorry for the Large Pics...)

Old Dood · 04-14-2006, 07:19 PM

I am no photographer...look at the crooked steering wheel...*sigh*

The Radio is in the cubby...

Mrs Dood:

Me...OLd Dood:

Old Dood · 04-14-2006, 07:43 PM

This is where my good friend helped me install the Satellite Radio. Good people...they have techs that have worked there for 25-30 years. Next Week I have a Spoiler coming, Mud Flaps and the Rear Bumper guard. You all are infecting me with "Tweaks"...heHe

EDIT: Hmmm...Seems I need to order a Chrome Exhaust Tip now too....it is never going to end....

touringcamry · 04-14-2006, 08:57 PM

The black rims look good on the car.
Now how about some black tint for the windows?

Old Dood · 04-14-2006, 09:06 PM

HeHe...I was wondering when I was gonna be asked about tints. I will "think" about it. Mrs Dood is pissy now because I ordered a Spoiler. Silly Woman...

02AspenGreen · 04-14-2006, 09:10 PM

I thought you had an XLE?

Old Dood · 04-14-2006, 09:17 PM

Me? No..no! There wasn't even any on the lot when I saw this one. Now they have them of course.

This was an "Impluse Buy" in a sense. After my "order" was breaking down on a Corolla LE I wanted...I threw the Sales Manager a curve and asked for a price on this one. It was the only Camry on the lot with a sunroof and a 2.4L engine. It also was the only black one. They had two grey ones. (I am so tired of grey cars)

When the Sales Manager and the Owner looked at this deal and knew my Corolla one was F'ed up...the Owner said take "two bills off"....I could not refuse that.