Camry SE V6/Altima SE V6/Accord V6 EX-L

[rapsux2000]

So it's getting to that point where I think I am done with my modding days and will start looking for a new car.

I started my preliminary search this past weekend for my new car. I looked at the following vehicles:

1.) 09 Toyota Camry SE V6
2.) 08 Honda Accord EX-L V6
3.) 08 Nissan Altima SE V6

I had the chance to look at all three cars this weekend. I formed some opinions after I drove all three. I narrowed down my selection to two of them. Now, I am researching their various forums to see what their owners are saying about issues and such. What are some of your opinions?

Here are mine:



Camry:

The best styling out of the top three choices. The exterior was hands down the best. The car handled like a dream. The salesman let us take the car on a windy road and test out the suspension. The car never felt insecure on curves and was smooth for a sport suspension on bumps. The car accelerated rather quickly as well considering that there were 3 people in the car with A/C on medium. It of course was not as fast as my current Camry, so I am learning to accept less power when test driving new cars.

Altima:

Great suspension. Best of the three. The car is really sporty on the road. Not as smooth as the Camry though. Salesman was a jerk and did not let me accelerate as quickly as the Toyota guy. It has some guts for sure and felt just about as quick as the Camry. The interior was average, and exterior was nothing to rave about. It looked like a big bubbly and plain sedan.

Accord:

The interior was amazing on the high-end model and the cost was much lower that the Camry with similar additions. The car rides the smoothest of the three as well. It can handle decently too. I was not too keen on the exterior though, but a subtle spolier and some tinting could take care of that.


Overall assessment:

I ruled out the Altima. I read too many negative things about the CVT tranmission's issues in Nissan forums. There were more complaints about that, than the Gen 6 Camry Tranny shift flares and such. I simply love the look of the Camry SE with the lip kit and it drove great, but the interior was easily the worst of the three. It felt cheap and "plain".

I really loved the Accord's interior and ride quality. The Camry seemed slightly faster and looks better too. Right now the Camry's in the lead, but I will wait until about October to make the purchase. I could easily be persuaded to buy the Accord for its comfortable and stylish interior.

Any thoughts? I'll continue to search for issues related to each of them as I prepare to make a purchase towards the end of fall.

[workerant]

Most young ppl go for attraction (Camry). So it feels a cheap inside, but many of my passengers just love it. I'm probably the worst critic on my car. LOL

The Accord make up for what it don't have outside by better from the inside. But hey, you can have 100ppl outside look at your car and judge while only 4 ppl inside your car can judge the inside. LOL

I know I'm being unfair. LOL Boy can the camry make noise when it hit bumps. All the cracking noise from all the cheap stuff.

[teepo112]

Camry SE V6 !!!! Like you said.. it's in the lead. Search your feelings...

[tvsjr]

The Camry will most likely get better gas mileage. Also, I'm not certain, but the Altima 3.5 may require premium fuel - check that one carefully.

The salesman wouldn't let you accelerate quickly? I would've made a beeline to the dealership and walked out. I explained to the salesperson that I would be driving aggressively, to the limits of my training... he might have sucked up a seatcover or two, but he didn't say a word other than to brag on the car.

[ledebuhr1]

You should have test drove a Camry xle v-6. It has a much nicer interior, less sporty but more luxurious. It also rides smoother than the SE model.

[RockXP]

Buy the Accord.

[boloson]

Originally Posted by rapsux2000

So it's getting to that point where I think I am done with my modding days and will start looking for a new car.

I started my preliminary search this past weekend for my new car. I looked at the following vehicles:

1.) 09 Toyota Camry SE V6
2.) 08 Honda Accord EX-L V6
3.) 08 Nissan Altima SE V6

I had the chance to look at all three cars this weekend. I formed some opinions after I drove all three. I narrowed down my selection to two of them. Now, I am researching their various forums to see what their owners are saying about issues and such. What are some of your opinions?

Here are mine:



Camry:

The best styling out of the top three choices. The exterior was hands down the best. The car handled like a dream. The salesman let us take the car on a windy road and test out the suspension. The car never felt insecure on curves and was smooth for a sport suspension on bumps. The car accelerated rather quickly as well considering that there were 3 people in the car with A/C on medium. It of course was not as fast as my current Camry, so I am learning to accept less power when test driving new cars.

Altima:

Great suspension. Best of the three. The car is really sporty on the road. Not as smooth as the Camry though. Salesman was a jerk and did not let me accelerate as quickly as the Toyota guy. It has some guts for sure and felt just about as quick as the Camry. The interior was average, and exterior was nothing to rave about. It looked like a big bubbly and plain sedan.

Accord:

The interior was amazing on the high-end model and the cost was much lower that the Camry with similar additions. The car rides the smoothest of the three as well. It can handle decently too. I was not too keen on the exterior though, but a subtle spolier and some tinting could take care of that.


Overall assessment:

I ruled out the Altima. I read too many negative things about the CVT tranmission's issues in Nissan forums. There were more complaints about that, than the Gen 6 Camry Tranny shift flares and such. I simply love the look of the Camry SE with the lip kit and it drove great, but the interior was easily the worst of the three. It felt cheap and "plain".

I really loved the Accord's interior and ride quality. The Camry seemed slightly faster and looks better too. Right now the Camry's in the lead, but I will wait until about October to make the purchase. I could easily be persuaded to buy the Accord for its comfortable and stylish interior.

Any thoughts? I'll continue to search for issues related to each of them as I prepare to make a purchase towards the end of fall.

actually the accord fully loaded exlv6 is $30930 while the camry v6 se is $31000. not much in price diff plus i paid 28k for my 09 se v6

[tlamot01]

Why are you considering buying a new car? All three of these styles have been out at least since 2008. The Camry since 2007. I really doubt you are going to loose out on quality these days if a car is slightly used. Go for a 2008 in October, and make it an XLE Camry, then throw some lowering springs, strut bar 18" Rims and an extended warranty on there with all the money you saved buying it used!!!

[tlamot01]

PS. My XLE V6 Camry gets consistent 30MPG freeway on regular fuel. No shutting off cylinders required... I doubt you'd get that offer from an Accord or Altima.

[Cartang]

Hi , Go to the SE V6 , nice body kit and improved suspension .

[jayb82]

Altima = V6 with manual trans, std push button ignition and some more bells and whistles
Accord = double wishbone suspension, HUGE front grille (ugly), saturn-like taillights
Camry SE = best looking exterior, better seats, better handling.

[boloson]

Originally Posted by tlamot01

Why are you considering buying a new car? All three of these styles have been out at least since 2008. The Camry since 2007. I really doubt you are going to loose out on quality these days if a car is slightly used. Go for a 2008 in October, and make it an XLE Camry, then throw some lowering springs, strut bar 18" Rims and an extended warranty on there with all the money you saved buying it used!!!

i definitely wouldve bought it used but its very very difficult to find 1 in the color with the exact options u want in it.

[njerald]

$31,000 for SE?? You must be talking about MSRP?

Loaded SE V6 w/NAV - $27,395 + TTL

Loaded SE V6 w/o NAV - $26,345 + TTL

http://fitzmall.com/fitzway/carfind/...4T08:39:18.180


http://fitzmall.com/fitzway/carfind/...1T23:18:30.730

[Black08SEV6]

As a Toyota salesman, I just had an opportunity to attend a ride and drive and was in and out of all the cars a lot. Good choice to rule out the Altima...its junk and well, I hate Nissan, so Im slightly biased.

The Accord, VERY dissapointed. They cheaped out on a lot of little things...prop rod for the hood (air struts on camry), fold down bench seat in the back (well, SE have a V Brace behind the seatss, that why it doesnt fold), the dash of the accord sticks out right where your knees goes when you get in. You have to position yourself just right to not whack a knee or elbow. The dash of the accord looks like it belongs in a Van, the all black buttons are hard to read and you have to memorize where each button is to hit it while in motion. There's not insulation on the hood or trunk lid. That equals noise and stuff in the trunk might bounce up and put reverse dings on the trunk lid. The plastic is super cheap, and the carpet is horrible.

I used to work for Lojack, so I was paid to tear cars apart...hondas I always had to be super careful becuase the plastic snaps just by looking at it. Hondas plastic and interiors have always been cheap. In 2008 with todays technology, I would hope the quality would've improved.

Another thing about the accord...if you have children, or ever will...if your kids are playing ide and seek and decide to jump in the trunk, they are screwed. The emergency release is a hole you sstick your finger in to hit a switch buried deep inside. Camry has the glow in the dark pull tab. There was a story recently, where two kids were found about 2 weeks after a game of hide and seek ended. It apparently wasn't a pretty situation. As a father of a 6 month old, I can relate to that.

Motor trend did a recent report of all the under $30k sedans (currently on newstands) Camry was 3rd (beat by VW Passat for fun to drive and Sonata for value). Accord was maybe 7th or 8th and altima was 9th. My numbers could be off, but the editors bashed the accord.

Honda really screwed up on the accord, it sucks for them, great for us.

I'd be glad to go more in depth, I learned a lot here recently...

[boloson]

yes msrp direct from honda & toyota websites. depending on the states i got a pretty good deal for my SE w/ nav. of course i did the edmunds thing & compared the invoice price before i bought it & what people were paying for it