Considering 2009 Camry SE or LE 4 Cyl Models - Feedback Needed

[2002Camry]

I currently have a 2002 Camry LE V6 and was looking for a second car. I was aiming for one of the following models:

2009 Camry with the Touring Package
2009 Camry SE with the Leather/Moonroof combo

What is the reliability of these cars and what issues should I look for? Is one model better then the other?

Thanks

[sky03]

get the SE

[ohhey]

Originally Posted by 2002Camry

I currently have a 2002 Camry LE V6 and was looking for a second car. I was aiming for one of the following models:

2009 Camry with the Touring Package
2009 Camry SE with the Leather/Moonroof combo

What is the reliability of these cars and what issues should I look for? Is one model better then the other?

Thanks

I have an 07 and the 09 and love them. However, I would get the V6... the 4 just isn't worth it... in money or gas. The V6 is very satisfying, even with a car full of (overweight) adults when it matters most. Plus you get the cool dual exhaust.

[Kazz]

Originally Posted by 2002Camry

I currently have a 2002 Camry LE V6 and was looking for a second car. I was aiming for one of the following models:

2009 Camry with the Touring Package
2009 Camry SE with the Leather/Moonroof combo

What is the reliability of these cars and what issues should I look for? Is one model better then the other?

Thanks

Tough choice. I have a 09 Camry LE with leather I4. I would have picked the SE with leather except the back seats do not fold down, they only have the pass-thru. Unfortunately that ended my looking at the SE. As well the SE was $3000 more plus another $1700 for the V6. I picked the I4 over the V6 for 2 reasons. One being the V6 was roughly $1700 more and since the main reason for this car was to work and back it wasn't worth the money for me. However I enjoyed the V6 power and saying that I could see myself using the extra power for fun thus using more gas. The I4 is more than capable in providing the power needed. I had a V6 2.4l ford and this Camry blows it away. Hope this helps some what.

[Frodo65]

Originally Posted by 2002Camry

I currently have a 2002 Camry LE V6 and was looking for a second car. I was aiming for one of the following models:

2009 Camry with the Touring Package
2009 Camry SE with the Leather/Moonroof combo

What is the reliability of these cars and what issues should I look for? Is one model better then the other?

Thanks

If you can swing the extra $$$, the Hybrid is IMHO a superior choice in the era of $4/gal gas. Power level is about equal to your V6, gas mileage is mid 30's to low 40's around town if you take 'er easy, and you get to avoid the G6 problem child: the 6 speed auto you get with the V6. With gas < $2/gal, the new V6 is a nice unit, but with the prices twice as high and likely to head higher after election, it's a choice likely to be an ever bigger pain in the gas.

The big issue with the Hybrid is availability and dealer greed - price and equipment levels are roughly comparable with the XLE V6, but the short supplies and high demand make the "street level" spread much higher, as discounts will be tough to get.

[PRINCESS PEACH]

power on a hybrid is nowhere near the V6. I hear a lot of hybrid owners even comparing it to the 4 cylinder.

[98CamryLE]

Originally Posted by Frodo65

If you can swing the extra $$$, the Hybrid is IMHO a superior choice in the era of $4/gal gas. Power level is about equal to your V6, gas mileage is mid 30's to low 40's around town if you take 'er easy, and you get to avoid the G6 problem child: the 6 speed auto you get with the V6. With gas < $2/gal, the new V6 is a nice unit, but with the prices twice as high and likely to head higher after election, it's a choice likely to be an ever bigger pain in the gas.

The big issue with the Hybrid is availability and dealer greed - price and equipment levels are roughly comparable with the XLE V6, but the short supplies and high demand make the "street level" spread much higher, as discounts will be tough to get.

The hybrid is a completely different animal from the LE and SE. Anyone considering an SE Camry (or "touring" package) wouldn't like the hybrid model at all. Its body motions are very... um... Queen Mary 2. The extra weight of the hybrid components, its suspension, and steering take most of the joy out of spirited driving. In addition, its continuously variable transmission does not exactly promote excitement. Even if its relatively quick for a hybrid (7.7 seconds to 60), it feels much slower because of the CVT.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my hybrid... but a sporty Camry it is not. I agree with you that its comparable to the XLE (probably the 4 cylinder rather than the 6), but I highly doubt the hybrid model would satisfy the original poster.

[98CamryLE]

Originally Posted by PrincessPeach

power on a hybrid is nowhere near the V6. I hear a lot of hybrid owners even comparing it to the 4 cylinder.

It actually has quite a bit of punch. The electric motor provides instant torque that really makes the car fly.

Unfortunately, because of the CVT, it feels like extremely slow. It actually has as much horsepower as the Gen 5 3.0L V6, and will perform as such if you push it.

But if you're a hybrid owner, you probably wouldn't be interested in fast acceleration times. Your eye would be on the mpg display rather than the speedometer.

[2002Camry]

Thank you everyone for the wonderful information.

I love my current 02 LE V6, but it seems that all V6's recommend premium fuel (I only use premium on my 02), I want to get something more economical. The Hybrid is also a consideration, but small trunk, slow CVT, and lackluster driving dynamics makes me rethink it.

I will test drive the LE 4 cyl and SE 4 cyl and go from there.

[bandit]

Originally Posted by 2002Camry

Thank you everyone for the wonderful information.

I love my current 02 LE V6, but it seems that all V6's recommend premium fuel (I only use premium on my 02), I want to get something more economical. The Hybrid is also a consideration, but small trunk, slow CVT, and lackluster driving dynamics makes me rethink it.

I will test drive the LE 4 cyl and SE 4 cyl and go from there.

A Camry isnt even a sports or luxury car where premium is needed. You use premium because you choose to. You can use 87 Octane and the car will run fine.

I'm driving a 2009 SE V6 and I'm using 87 Octane. If gas is cheap enough, I'll maybe spoil "her" and give her 1 premium fill to change things up a little.

You can get Hybrid and change suspension to SE. A forum user here has done it.

[glenn14]

Originally Posted by 2002Camry

Thank you everyone for the wonderful information.

I love my current 02 LE V6, but it seems that all V6's recommend premium fuel (I only use premium on my 02), I want to get something more economical. The Hybrid is also a consideration, but small trunk, slow CVT, and lackluster driving dynamics makes me rethink it.

I will test drive the LE 4 cyl and SE 4 cyl and go from there.

I have the SE I4 and enjoy my car alot. It gets great mpg and is sporty
with the 17'' Alloys and body kit and spoiler. Plus you get the stiffer suspension and leather wrapped steering wheel. I went for looks and function
when I bought my Camry.

Glenn

[Dragon88]

Another vote for 2009 SE I4. I love mine, just the right combination of luxury, economy, sportiness, fuel-economy, and ride comfort. I can do some "spirited" driving as I choose, but at the same time if you drive normally people will be extremely comfortable in your car, to the point of falling asleep all the time as my passengers normally do. The SE leather seats are awesome. V6 would be a good choice as well, but the SE option is key.

[captainmike454]

I started by makeing the most economical deal possible 2009 Camry I4 auto trans $17,400 but when my car was delayed in arriveing at the dealership I then stepped up to V6 LE for another $3300 and have no regrets the 268 HP V6 6 speed auto is an awsome combo that runs on regular gas and gets great milage.

I do not regret spending extra for the SE as I like the looks of the car without the spoilers and body kit but I have ordered the Ultra raceing swaybar and strut tower brace also installed the K&N drop in air filter to boost performance.

[ohhey]

Originally Posted by 2002Camry

Thank you everyone for the wonderful information.

I love my current 02 LE V6, but it seems that all V6's recommend premium fuel (I only use premium on my 02), I want to get something more economical. The Hybrid is also a consideration, but small trunk, slow CVT, and lackluster driving dynamics makes me rethink it.

I will test drive the LE 4 cyl and SE 4 cyl and go from there.

This is NOT correct. The Gen 6 Camry V6 does not need premium fuel. I uses regular gas. That will save you a buch of money right there.. over the car you have. Ask to dealer to check the manual on both the 4 and 6 and see what fuel is recommended. Don't take my word for it.

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted by PrincessPeach

power on a hybrid is nowhere near the V6. I hear a lot of hybrid owners even comparing it to the 4 cylinder.

Let's be objective, and look at the numbers. The total output of the hybrid drivetrain is almost 190 hp (187hp IIRC). That's right up there with the performance of the previous generation V-6 Camry (of which I owned an example). The I-4 gasser offers only 158hp, adequate, but nowhere near the hybrid's output. Torque (which is really more important that hp anyway)? The hybrid offers about 240 ft-lbs, 200 of which is available instantly, right off the line, with no spool up of the ICE required at all. That's vastly more than the 160 ft-lb that the I-4 offers (and you've got to wind the I-4 up to 4k rpms to get at the torque). No, the hybrid won't give you the same performance as the current 3.5L V-6, but it will beat a Gen-5 (or earlier) V-6 hands down.

Look at the Road and Track numbers. The hybrid Camry is good for 0-60 in 7.3 sec. The 2GR powered V-6 does it in 6.1 seconds (blazing). The Gen-5 3.0L V-6 could only manage the same in 8.5 seconds. A current I-4 will take almost 9.5 seconds.

Comparing the hybrid to an I-4 is insanely incorrect. (And yes, I've owned a Gen-5 I-4 as well).