07 V6 LE--4 Month Review - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

moeharri · 09-04-2006, 06:37 PM

When I first bought the 07 LE V6 Camry, I compared it to my 05 XLE I4 Camry. I'd like to now provide some feedback on the 07 after having driven it for about 4 months, 4,000 miles.

Pros:
* Gated shifter (didn't like it before, but now it's "fun")
* Remote built into key (also didn't like before, but would now like my 05 remote to be part of the key)
* Smooth and quiet V6
* Awesome armrests--I love to be able to hold the handle while my arm is on the rest
* Softer seats than the 05--I like this
* Pretty quiet ride in the city and on the highway
* I still like the clock color (white-ish)
* Very soft pulling door handles on the outside, they feel very nice and smooth
* Nice exterior and interior design overall

Cons:
* No lighted entry? Unlocking the car at night doesn't turn on the interior lights. Is this happening for everyone else?
* Insanely dim trunk light--I cannot see anything when the trunk is open at night
* V6 still doesn't seem super peppy, but I admit my expectations are probably too high
* JBL is OK for some music, really bad for other music it seems
* JBL sound compensation doesn't really work very well, still have to adjust the volume when getting on or off the highway
* I miss the dual layer arm rest
* Bluetooth works, but wife said there is a lot of wind noise/slightly hard to hear without me having to talk pretty loudly
* Trunk seems a bit small or awkwardly shaped
* Relatively loud blinkers since the interior is so quiet
* Sport shifting seems to take 1-2 second to change gears, so I don't use that feature as often as I would have

Neat "tricks" (maybe these are well known, but they weren't to me):
* Holding the eject button on the JBL ejects all CD's in a row
* Holding the load button on the JBL loads all CD's in a row
* Hitting lock on the remote twice turns off the interior lights at night
* Holding the "next track" button on the steering wheel to change CD's
Anyone have any other cool "tricks"?

If I had to purchase a car again, I'd still buy the Camry over its competitors, but for my next car, I will definitely shop around to see what the competition is offering (Sonata, Accord, Passat, Altima, etc) and a few other entry-lux cars (ES350, 3 series, C class, G35, Maxima, TSX/TL). I'd love to hear anyone's feedback about their Camry's and how you're getting along so far

07i4 · 09-04-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moeharri

Cons:
* No lighted entry? Unlocking the car at night doesn't turn on the interior lights. Is this happening for everyone else?

You better check the light switch or with the dealer. Even my CE has illuminated entry (that's what it is called in manual).

moeharri · 09-04-2006, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 07i4

You better check the light switch or with the dealer. Even my CE has illuminated entry (that's what it is called in manual).

This is a shot in the dark (no pun intended), but maybe it has something to do with me having a moonroof? Like maybe the dome lights (well, reading lights actually since it's not in the middle of the car like normal) are wired differently in moonroof vs non-moonroof cars? Can anyone else confirm their lighted entry, especially with a moonroof. If so, I'll stop in to my dealer soon as it'll start getting dark here pretty early in just a couple of months. Thanks!

LunarMist · 09-04-2006, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moeharri

This is a shot in the dark (no pun intended), but maybe it has something to do with me having a moonroof? Like maybe the dome lights (well, reading lights actually since it's not in the middle of the car like normal) are wired differently in moonroof vs non-moonroof cars? Can anyone else confirm their lighted entry, especially with a moonroof. If so, I'll stop in to my dealer soon as it'll start getting dark here pretty early in just a couple of months. Thanks!

I have a moonroof on my 07 SE and have illuminated entry so either you didnt set the light switch to the right position or something else is wrong.

moeharri · 09-04-2006, 10:36 PM

In reading the pdf owner's manual, I see the setting can be disabled, so I'm guessing the dealer will need to re-enable it. Hopefully they won't charge :-(

PS My light switch is set to door or auto (can't remember what it's called).

wilfredcruz · 09-05-2006, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moeharri

Cons:
* No lighted entry? Unlocking the car at night doesn't turn on the interior lights. Is this happening for everyone else?

* Insanely dim trunk light--I cannot see anything when the trunk is open at night

* JBL sound compensation doesn't really work very well, still have to adjust the volume when getting on or off the highway

Check your light switch it should be set on "Door", if it is something else is wrong.

The trunk light is a 3.8w bulbs, I believe, I swaped it for an 8w bulb, from the vanity lights, much better. or you could get an LED panel with 24 or 36 LEDs and solve the problem

The ASL on the JBL, doesn't work at all just a mistake by Toyota, hope they'll fix it.

thoots · 09-05-2006, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilfredcruz

The ASL on the JBL, doesn't work at all just a mistake by Toyota, hope they'll fix it.

Mine does, though it's pretty subtle. While you're moving at speed, turn the ASL on and off, and you should hear at least a small difference....

moeharri · 09-05-2006, 07:03 PM

Thanks, I'll definitely have to look for an 8W bulb and see if that helps. I'm surprised how dim they made the trunk light compared to the 05.

ben805 · 09-06-2006, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moeharri

Thanks, I'll definitely have to look for an 8W bulb and see if that helps. I'm surprised how dim they made the trunk light compared to the 05.

How about both low and high beam? are 07 brighter than the 05?

moeharri · 09-06-2006, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben805

How about both low and high beam? are 07 brighter than the 05?

I haven't noticed a difference in the headlight performance compared to the 05. I haven't driven a ton at night yet, but that'll be coming in about 2 months as winter approaches.

moeharri · 09-09-2006, 10:39 PM

Yay, I figured out my illuminated entry problem! It turns out that the 07 Camry only illuminates entry if the doors were locked before the unlock button is pushed on the remote. My 05 Camry illuminates even if the doors weren't locked, which is definitely preferable. Well, I'm glad just to know how to get it to light up (either start locking my doors in the garage or lock and unlock it as I walk to the car if it wasn't already locked).