Drove an '09 SE V6 yesterday and...

[Sedan Man]

...the car had only 49 miles on it but when I was pulling up to a stoplight and slowing the car down, it had a very noticeable jerk from 4th to 3rd, maybe 3rd to 2nd gear. Not sure. Kind of a brisk snap you could feel in the cabin very easily. I have heard so many problems with this transmission...is this one of them or something different?

Aside from the tranny jerk I loved how the car drove- smooth but very tight and composed. Good power of course. Parts of the interior still bother me in person and during bits of our test drive I could here little ticks and pops of the hard plastic shifting ever so slightly in turns and over bumps. Seats were extremely comfortable too. It's a nice car for sure.


The few of you who know my posts are familiar with the fact that I've been trying to decide between a '05-'06 SE V6, Gen 6 SE V6 or '03 Lexus GS300 for a while now. After test driving the SE V6 I went over to service and talked with one of their Master Techs who I know quite well and who has worked on all of my cars at one point or another. I asked him what kinds of things he has seen with the Camry behind the scene and he said that he flatly would never buy one. He has worked for Toyota for 17 years and said he would simply never buy a 6th generation Camry because of the transmission problems, shakes, rattles, and the chintzy interior. He called the Tundra and Camry Toyota's primary examples of growing pains, but he did note that their newer cars- Corolla, Matrix, Highlander, and Sequoia had been built to a totally different standard, and that of the "old" Toyota that we all know.

I guess that at this point, I will probably rule out the Gen 6 Camry from my list. As beautiful as the car is (especially many of the ones on this board) and as wonderfully as it drives, I am just to wary of the on going quality quibbles, even into the second full year of production. The cheap and hollow plastics on parts of the dash and the little pops and ticks while driving would drive me nuts so I just have to admit that. Maybe Toyota will make some big changes for 2010, but until then I think I am going to keep shopping for an '05 or '06, or a GS 300.

[Yazovets]

There is nothing wrong with the Gen6 Camry in terms of the interior quality. The car is very fast (in V6 form) and handles great, too (in SE form). I love my SE V6.

However, Toyota has been having serious problems with the 6-speed manumatic transmission on the V6 models.

Common problems are shift flares (tranny slips) in the 2-3 shift and 3-4 shift. Also the 5-4 downshift sometimes is rough and you get a kick in the butt.

My particular car exhibited all 3 of these issues. On Sunday my transmission died completely and the car had to be towed. It's at the dealer right this minute. It should be ready on Wednesday or Thursday with a brand new transmission!

[ledebuhr1]

I thought most of these issues were limited to the 07 model year. I havent heard many complaints from 08-09 owners.
When you buy a Camry V6 isnt it learning how you drive, and it shifts based on your driving style?

[Yazovets]

Originally Posted by ledebuhr1

I thought most of these issues were limited to the 07 model year. I havent heard many complaints from 08-09 owners.
When you buy a Camry V6 isnt it learning how you drive, and it shifts based on your driving style?

I have no idea if it learns or not. What I do know is that it physically has troubles shifting, so learning your habits does little to help.

After I get my new transmission done, this will bring the grand total of repairs on this car to over $10000 so far.

My car is getting newer and newer each time something happens because I keep getting new parts.

So far I have a new hood, new roof, new sunroof rails and new transmission!

[PRINCESS PEACH]

Originally Posted by Yazovets

I have no idea if it learns or not. What I do know is that it physically has troubles shifting, so learning your habits does little to help.

After I get my new transmission done, this will bring the grand total of repairs on this car to over $10000 so far.

My car is getting newer and newer each time something happens because I keep getting new parts.

So far I have a new hood, new roof, new sunroof rails and new transmission!

rofl his car gets newer and newer! loll

To the OP: Sure the Gen6 has fallen behind on reliability. But if I were you, I'd get the Gen6 because the percentage of cars affected is extremely small. You won't regret getting the Gen6.

[bandit]

Originally Posted by Sedan Man

The few of you who know my posts are familiar with the fact that I've been trying to decide between a '05-'06 SE V6, Gen 6 SE V6 or '03 Lexus GS300 for a while now. After test driving the SE V6 I went over to service and talked with one of their Master Techs who I know quite well and who has worked on all of my cars at one point or another. I asked him what kinds of things he has seen with the Camry behind the scene and he said that he flatly would never buy one. He has worked for Toyota for 17 years and said he would simply never buy a 6th generation Camry because of the transmission problems, shakes, rattles, and the chintzy interior. He called the Tundra and Camry Toyota's primary examples of growing pains, but he did note that their newer cars- Corolla, Matrix, Highlander, and Sequoia had been built to a totally different standard, and that of the "old" Toyota that we all know.

Ask Toyota owners/dealers/mechanics and each will give their opinion. Some will hate and some will love. You'll never get a true answer. Its you who decides whether you like it or not.

[bandit]

Originally Posted by Yazovets

I have no idea if it learns or not. What I do know is that it physically has troubles shifting, so learning your habits does little to help.

After I get my new transmission done, this will bring the grand total of repairs on this car to over $10000 so far.

My car is getting newer and newer each time something happens because I keep getting new parts.

So far I have a new hood, new roof, new sunroof rails and new transmission!

I would think some parts are recycled.

[PRINCESS PEACH]

Originally Posted by dcemureviews

I would think some parts are recycled.

the dealer usually tells you if the tranny is new or rebuilt. mine was new when they replaced it Thats right! The only 4 cylinder Camry with tranny problems in the world!!!

[bandit]

Originally Posted by PrincessPeach

the dealer usually tells you if the tranny is new or rebuilt. mine was new when they replaced it Thats right! The only 4 cylinder Camry with tranny problems in the world!!!

Stuff like that I would think it would be new/rebuilt and would have to tell you. But I was referring to hoods, rails, etc.

[Yazovets]

Originally Posted by PrincessPeach

the dealer usually tells you if the tranny is new or rebuilt. mine was new when they replaced it Thats right! The only 4 cylinder Camry with tranny problems in the world!!!

I'm getting a new one apparently. But even if I was not, I don't care as long as it WORKS! Besides, as long as I'm still under warranty, I'm not really concerned if the second one dies, too. We have 2 cars in the family, so I don't really experience much "down time". I'm just driving the Benz ML500 meanwhile - I love how I no longer have to watch out for potholes. And there is FAR better visibility from the "cockpit" in the ML. Far easier to park, too.

Originally Posted by dcemureviews

Stuff like that I would think it would be new/rebuilt and would have to tell you. But I was referring to hoods, rails, etc.

All of those parts were new. I saw them with my own eyes when they arrived and they sent them into the paint booth to be painted.

[Tobeit]

To the OP: growing up pains of Toyota , Matrix/Highlander etc a newer car than the Gen6 Camry . Did I miss something?

[Sedan Man]

It's problems like Yazovets' that have me so weary about this car. I have followed this forum since the Gen 6 came out and as if the transmissions weren't bad enough (some of you going through 2-3 transmissions or 2-3 cars), the horror stories about rattles and having dealers tear open the dash on a brand new car to only make it worse in the end, and all of the other little nitpicks just have me turned off. I find many of these problems unacceptable, but especially so into the second year of production.

That said I don't think this is a bad car at all, it's just that other cars fit my priorities better- the top two being quality and reliability. In this case, the Gen 5.5 and GS 300 simply out place the Gen6 Camry by a significant margin. For someone who has a much higher priority for sport or design, the Gen 6 is a great car.

For instance I notice that many of you say that the interior doesn't bother you, but for me it's completely bothersome. The two peices of plastic on either side of the lower dash that extend to the center console feel thin as a bottle cap, if not moreso. They're also noticeably misaligned on every single one that I have sat in. The plastics throughout the interior, while not only thinner, are also much shinier with a less natural looking grain than the old car. Picky stuff, but again it's all about personalities and different strokes for different folks.

[b0r1cha]

the camry is a very sickk looking and performing "family" vechicle. although i dont like classing it as a family car, i guess thats what the original orientation was for the camry.

[GT-R]

Just stick with the I4 and get the ECM recalibrated (TSB work)

[thrawnis]

Personally, I love my Gen6, but I would NEVER recommend purchasing one to anyone I know. Actually, I have dissuaded about 15 people so far from getting one due to the constant problems my car has had between manufacturer defects and poor quality of work at my dealership. Out of five Gen6 owners I personally know, every one has experienced numerous problems ranging from rattling interior parts to one that needed their tranny replaced on their LE V6.

The Gen5 Camry seems to be the best overall value. I will reserve my opinion on the new Corolla/Matrix until they have been out for a fully year or so.