Quote:
Originally Posted by ledebuhr1
I just got my April copy of CR. They dont recomend the 07 Camry v6. It seems that most of the issues were body integrity and tranny problems.
Has Toyota fix these "issues"? I thought they issued a TSB to re-flash the tranny to help the shifting issues.
Has the fit and finish improved?
I know part of the problem is that the typical Toyota owner is pretty fussy. If it were a Buick or Lincoln these issues may not have been noticed.
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Well, let me give you my perspective:
First of all, Toyota is now selling 2009 model year vehicles. Substantial improvements have been implemented regarding many issues reported since the 2007 model came out about two years ago.
Changes have been made regarding the transmission, and I think we're seeing far fewer "new" flare reports lately.
I'm not sure what "body integrity" issues CR could be talking about, unless it has to do with interior rattles. And, changes have been made regarding that -- mostly in the form of installing the dashboard and related panels with thicker/better/additional padding. Again, it seems like we're seeing far fewer "new" reports of stuff like that, and folks who've had the associated TSB work done to their existing vehicles have generally reported excellent results.
I tend to think that CR is "losing it" over time. For instance:
How do they rate the current Honda Civic? It has been a total basket case of substantial problems. If it is "recommended" by CR, then that's pure bunk.
How do they rate the Lexus ES350? It has the same drivetrain as the Camry, and it has had the same transmission flare issues. Even the same kind of interior rattling that has been fixed with extra padding. If it is "recommended" by CR, then it's blasphemous to put the Camry V6 in a penalty box.
How do they rate the previous-generation Honda Accord? The new one has to be too new for any relevant results, but from everything I've seen, you're probably about five to ten times more likely to experience an Accord V6 (or the equivalent Accord TL) 5-speed auto transmission failure
AFTER the warranty expires, than you are to experience a V6 Camry "flare."
I'd agree with your assessment that it may have everything to do with "fussy" Toyota owners being extra-hard on their ratings, as compared to other owners.
In the end, the best perspective I can give you is that "I recently traded in my 2007 I4 Camry XLE for a 2008 V6 Camry SE." Yes, I've been in here for nearly two years, yes, I've heard all of the talk about flares and such, but it's just not the case at all that "everyone" or anywhere near close to it is going to experience the flare. And, I do perceive that all of the first-model-year issues are getting resolved quite successfully. All I can tell you is that my V6 SE is just an incredible automobile -- everything has been utterly flawless so far, and it has an impressive combination of build quality, comfortable/quiet ride, and capable handling.
Finally, I fully expect that the Camry will still show its excellent build quality five or ten years down the road, long after any Accord on the road will be a falling-apart rattletrap. And I think that just about any other vehicle in the market segment will line up somewhere below the Accord.
It's true, the new Camry has had some problems, and the V6 has had the infamous flare problem. But, Toyota has been taking care of the problems, and I don't think that the current Camry you could buy resembles the kind of ranking CR is giving the 2007. I certainly think my V6 SE is built better than anything in the segment, and I still expect it to be more reliable, especially after many years on the road, than anything else in the segment. And that's why I bought it.
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