Things you like vs you don't like

[niceguy]

It has been 2 months that I drive my 08 Camry SE. Here are my own thoughs about this car:

Good:
- Full body kit with the SE. This is the main reason that I choose the SE
- V6 with 268 hp is powerful, and it is more than I need.
- JBL with bluetooth - good sound qty and bluetooth for my cell phone is added convinience.
- Not only sporty look, but also looks like an excecutive car.
- Back seats are comfortable for your family members.

Bad:
- A pillar is too thick, and it block my view.
- Trunk hinge is kind of old style. My 98 Volvo V70 has better trunk design
- Lighting on JBL is too bright during highway driving.
- Interior use too many plastic

[kkyser]

I currently own an 08 v6 and here is my list:

[kkyser]

Sorry I messed up. Likes - v6 power, mileage, seat comfort, rear seat room, sound system. Dislikes - non leather wrap steering wheel, hinges on inside of trunk (same as Niceguy), non break away mirrors (mine always get hit by someone walking in parking lot). My dislikes are very minor and nitpicky. Overall I love the car and would not trade it for anything.

[geoff5093]

Originally Posted by niceguy

- Interior use too many plastic

Thats true with a lot of cars. I thought the Camry used a lot of plastic, but when I looked inside the newer Corolla's, Yaris, Prius, etc, I feel much better about the interior of the Camry, as the plastic isn't as cheap looking.

[CamrySExxx]

Originally Posted by kkyser

Overall I love the car and would not trade it for anything.

what a lie!

[darksparkz]

1) I definitely dislike the blue glow from the cluster of the JBL radio and A/C knobs
2) Non-folding mirrors
3) Lack of ability to fold rear seats in the SE, understandable due to the design though.
4) Lack of direct iPod integration, understand due to it not being a Lexus
5) Lack of auto roll down windows


Likes:
1) Strong V6 for its class
2) Somewhat reinforced suspension in the SE
3) Great seats
4) People mistaking it for a Camry
5) Everything else

[Yazovets]

I like too many things to list here about my car, but here are some things I dislike:

1) Lack of auto-dimming side mirrors (at least give us the driver's side)
2) Lack of auto-down and auto-up windows for all windows
3) A-pillar obstructs vision when turning
4) Passenger-side seat is only 4-way power
5) Trunk has no latch handle
6) Rear window defroster not powerful enough to react quickly
7) Odometer / tranny gear display inside the speedometer is located too far downwards - impossible to see if the driver's seat back is reclined back a lil more than average
8) Windshield washer fluid tank hole is too small - impossible not to spill some fluid when filling that up
9) No folding side mirrors (whether manually or power)

[niceguy]

My 98 Volvo S70 has fold side mirrors and I found I rarely fold it, maybe 1-2 times a year. I would like to have the signal light on the side mirrow instead, like the Asian model.

[workerant]

Originally Posted by niceguy

It has been 2 months that I drive my 08 Camry SE. Here are my own thoughs about this car:

Good:
- Full body kit with the SE. This is the main reason that I choose the SE
- V6 with 268 hp is powerful, and it is more than I need.
- JBL with bluetooth - good sound qty and bluetooth for my cell phone is added convinience.
- Not only sporty look, but also looks like an excecutive car.
- Back seats are comfortable for your family members.

Bad:
- A pillar is too thick, and it block my view.
- Trunk hinge is kind of old style. My 98 Volvo V70 has better trunk design
- Lighting on JBL is too bright during highway driving.
- Interior use too many plastic

One of the reason I picked SE is for the handling and I find it still rolls. Doesn't hold on to the curve as well as I hope. But then maybe b/c it tries for the comfort too. O well.. cant' have them all.

I like the bluetooth but the voice dial really sux. (when you tell it the number to dial)

JBL is nice. One of my JBL rear speaker died. Replacement was free but they said it would cost $700 if it wasn't under warranty.

JBL, when the random is on and you press next.. it actually go to the next song instead of pick another random song.

JBL, I wish they have a feature that soften the volume. I mean when you press the button to go to next song, why not have it lower the volume and then go to next song instead of doing a dead stop. Like a soft cutout and then next song. Minor details like this kinda bugs me.

I love the roominess. Comfortable for all passengers in the car.

Completely agree with the pillar being too thick. Even a truck can hide in that pillar.

I find the trunk is too high too giving little rear view through the middle mirror.

The light on the JBL head is adjust with your light of the speedometer and stuff on the driver side. You can even turn it off when driving at night. I find it kinda nice if driving long distance and put on cruise then just turn off the lights.. completely dark and only see the light from outside. Of cause you already set the speed so don't really see that anymore.

I don't mine the plastics but need to make then fit tight so that they don't make noise. Want my car quiet, not when hit a little something and there is cracking noise everywhere.

I wish my Leather back seats can fold down too. More cargo room when needed.

The donut spare tire. Just give me the full one. And the cheap paper that covers the spare tire. Someone report that it is easily broke when the tire is not in.

I wish the wireless tire pressure indicator also indicate what the pressures are in the tires. Best if all of them are at the same pressure.

The instruments like the speedometer, I wish it were reverse as in having black background and a light up or white dashes lines + numbers and texts.

Anyway, I can go on and on.. but over all I like the car. Misses my lovely '96 camry 4 banger which died in an accident.

[Tobeit]

Don't forget - you can't have both: A car where you can see everything from inside (tiny pillars, low backend, short overhangs, low window line etc) and have a save and nice looking car. Just remember the dead ugly Taurus from the 90's...dropping drunk for better visibility, eeeew was that ugly. I also need to smile about the complains about trunk handles? Well that would look ugly too to have big handle on their.

I agree with most the likes mentioned above and the main dislike of the none folding seats in SE/XLE...should have thought about a better chassis design w/o sacrificing that very desirable option.

[CharmCityES]

random gen 5er
i own a 2003 SE 2.4 with 57k miles

Good: handling, looks, peppy for a 4 cyl, smooth shifting trans, good ride quality, comfortable, lots of useful options, ergonomic, easy to work on, inexpensive parts, good fuel economy, reliable, tough, handsome amber gauges, nice seats

Bad: brake feel and action, ABS too sensitive, squeaks and rattles, some interior bits are cheap, seats attract lint too easily.

[ebumdude]

The only thing bad.....



Sometimes I wish I still had my F150 on 36" tires..........

Then I remember how much I was paying for gas!

[ibgreen]

As far as the pillars...

Weren't most air bag covers in-dash and on the steering wheels much larger just a few years ago? I figure most pillars will eventually shrink back in size, as well.

I do wish the fit and finish on the center console of the Geb 6 Camrys was better. I looked at more than a few before I ordered mine, and I've never seen one line up. Just plain annoying in a car of this class.

Only 3414 miles, but no rattles...yet

Originally, I didn't like the teal lighting on the radio and center console, but now I find it soothing. I think a seperate control for that and the dash would've been nice, but if they chose to save a little money by not doing that - and pressumably putting it into something more important - I won't fault that.

I hadn't throught of cruising with the dash dark - and I couldn't with my old car - but I'll have to try that on my first long roadtrip this Summer.

OTOH, my old, "lesser" car, a 98 Ford Contour, could have lighted footwell standard, and ten years later, Camry doesn't?

Yeah, I know- that's what mods are for. Much like fog lights. I didn't want a moonroof on my LE, so I couldn't have factory-installed fog lights??

Oh- the stock radio and speakers aren't not bad at all. Too bad the stock antenna in the back window's a toy.

Still, if that's the worst I have to deal with, that's not too shabby.

I do hope the Toyota designers read this and every thread in the forums. It's in no way scientific, but it's some pretty inexpensive consumer research

Now, if that flare just goes away after I take it in next week...

[workerant]

Originally Posted by Tobeit

Don't forget - you can't have both: A car where you can see everything from inside (tiny pillars, low backend, short overhangs, low window line etc) and have a save and nice looking car. Just remember the dead ugly Taurus from the 90's...dropping drunk for better visibility, eeeew was that ugly. I also need to smile about the complains about trunk handles? Well that would look ugly too to have big handle on their.

I agree with most the likes mentioned above and the main dislike of the none folding seats in SE/XLE...should have thought about a better chassis design w/o sacrificing that very desirable option.

The reason for the trunk being high I believe b/c they want to make more space for passengers and yet keep the outside dimension and yet keep the same trunk space. So their only option is to sacrifice the rear window and push the trunk UP. They make it so narrow now that I wish they just switch to a hatch back. I'm OK with the Prius hatch back with a little window at the bottom too to increase visibility. This is safety issue and I don't like sacrificing safety. I don't drive with so many stuff in my trunk so I would like to use that space for visibility.

Or have the trunk like the '96 camera but have the back seat slide so we have option between trunk space or passenger space.

Same reason with the pillar. With a smaller pillar maybe you will see that truck and avoid it so you won't get into that accident and won't require the airbag inside the pillar.

I understand that I can't have it all. But how about option to switch between the two? Press a button and the car change into SPORT MODE. Want more cargo room.. sure, press a button and all the passenger seats deflated and fold into their tiny compartment. Aawww.

[xpeed]

The only thing I don't like about my car is the hubcaps.