Quote:
Originally Posted by Tek
I am buying a SE V6 this week. Many of my friends have told me a Camry is for old men / women. I disagree considering how the 07+ SE V6 is designed and rides. I know guys in their 40's at work that don't drive an SE V6 because the "sport" ride is so harsh.
Thoughts from Toyota Nation?
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Camry SE V6 is a very "intelligent" choice. Sure, you can get into "higher performance," but the SE V6 gives you plenty of performance along with reliability, room for a family and plenty of cargo, and state-of-the-art safety.
Anyone who thinks that the SE V6 ride is "harsh" (like I once did), probably hasn't driven an SE V6. I was very surprised to learn that the ride is still very smooth and quiet, and is more "firm" than anything else -- not "harsh" at all. I tend to think that the extra weight of the V6 engine helps damp the ride very effectively -- I sure think my 2008 SE V6 "soaks up the bumps" in the road far better than my 2007 I4 XLE ever did.
The SE V6 does indeed handle very well. As my recent "photo" thread shows, I headed "over the mountains" to the coast this weekend, and it was just an incredibly
COMPETENT combination of ride and handling through the mountain twisties. Not only did I cruise through tight switchbacks with confidence, it was just as smooth and quiet as it was fun and "sporty."
And of course, there is an abundance of power. There's certainly no need to go elsewhere if it's "power" that you desire.
Plus, as compared to other Camry models, I sure prefer the SE seat over all the others, with its effective bolstering. Plus, I like a black interior, only available in the SE. Same with the three-spoke steering wheel -- the four-spoker on the other models puts spokes right where I want to grab the wheel.
In the end, with all of the choices in the market, there remains something very compelling about the Camry in general, and the SE V6 in particular. I've certainly never owned a car with such a high level of competence in both ride and handling at the same time. I truly like the looks of the car, and I recognize issues such as quality, long-term reliability, utility, and safety, in which Camry excels.
As for "young folks choosing Camry," well, gosh, you can get plenty of performance and handling, especially in an SE V6, without sacrificing all of the things I've identified above. I think it boils down to how "there's more to a car than just performance." Oh, I suppose some folks can afford "just a performance car," alongside something that'll do all of the other jobs a car needs to get done, but for the rest of us, it's pretty smart to get something that's just as practical as it is fun to drive.
As long as i like it, and I think the car is worth my $$ to spent on, i will never regret
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