Nick's Camry Trail.

[Nick :D]

Hi guys (and gals). I ran across this forum a few days ago and have become obsessed haha. I think it is so GREAT to have a huge forum dedicated to Toyotas.

Heres some basic info.

In 2004 my dad bought a white '04 Camry XLE as his "company car" when we moved for his new job. So of course he got everything as upgraded as he could get.
So then, last year, my mom started working again and wanted something to drive around in that wasn't a minivan haha.
So my dad sold the minivan, bought a Cadillac Escalade, and gave the Camry to my mom.
Beginning of this year, my mom bought a Nissan Rogue and now I have the Camry .

Only thing is...this car suits the "Camry is a Grandma car" stereotype perfectly haha.

So, being a teenager in high school, this doesnt really sit well with me.

Finally after debating and debating with my father, he finally gave me the "OK" to do anything I wanted to it.



So Saturday, the first thing I did was remove all of the gold emblems using the Fishing Wire and Hairdryer method. Worked like a charm. I took those and painted them with flat black outdoor heavy duty paint. Words can not express how much better they look now, which is really something for me because almost everything I paint...I ruin. Which sucks, and since I am a perfectionist when it comes to aesthetics, I usually end up dis-owning most things i paint haha. But back on topic - The emblems came out GREAT.

Sunday was pinstripe day. There was an ugly gold pinstripe on my car that had to go. So I carefully peeled them off (It took foreeeeeevvvveeeeerrrrr), and removed all leftover residue.

It came out really nice.

So here are my future plans. I would love some input and opinions

I plan to go for a white and black theme.
All chrome must go, and I am painting over it with that flat black.
I want to add:

-TRD Plate in front
-TRD Plate COVERS
-VVT-i Emblem
-Black rims and Low-Pro Tires.
-A whole bunch of other stuff.

I want to keep it classy, yet more masculine than what it was.
I definitely don't wanna do much to the inside, it is already how I like it. I just need to improve the outside.






Here is some pics

Ok here is the back of my car before any mods.



Here it is today. With the black emblems and the pinstripe gone.





Still more to do on the painting front.

Also, after school I did the "Clean GPS Mount" mod to my car. I was soooooo tired of that suction cup bull.



Thanks for reading and check back to see my car as it evolves

[Nick :D]

I hate to double post, but if this will thread will be better suited in the "Show and Share" forum. Please move it

[lammydi]

Welcome to TN.
You're on the right track with getting some rims and low profile tires. After the rims then lowered it with either H&R springs or TRD/Eibach then you're good to go.
Btw, the black emblems came out nice!

[Nick :D]

Yeah, I am very excited about new wheels haha.
Thank you I LOVE the black.

Yeah I am definitely going to drop it some. But I am still trying to decide whether to get 18's or 20's. I think 20's might be to flashy for how I want this car, and the 18's might give it more of that sporty look.

My friend insists that I paint my headlight housing black. So we might do that tomorrow.

[PRINCESS PEACH]

Welcome to toyotanation.

Have you thought about lowering before wheels, or after wheels?

You might want to consider turbo...

Be careful if you bake ur headlight btw.. If you have a heatgun, that would be preferred.

welcome again!

[akira751]

Originally Posted by PrincessPeach

Welcome to toyotanation.

Have you thought about lowering before wheels, or after wheels?

You might want to consider turbo...

Be careful if you bake ur headlight btw.. If you have a heatgun, that would be preferred.

welcome again!

[lammydi]

Originally Posted by Nick :D

Yeah, I am very excited about new wheels haha.
Thank you I LOVE the black.

Yeah I am definitely going to drop it some. But I am still trying to decide whether to get 18's or 20's. I think 20's might be to flashy for how I want this car, and the 18's might give it more of that sporty look.

My friend insists that I paint my headlight housing black. So we might do that tomorrow.

For the theme you are after....go with the 18's. 19's would be the biggest. 20's is just too big for you. (for me also)

[PRINCESS PEACH]

go 18s. Listen to yoda.

[Nick :D]

Originally Posted by PrincessPeach

Welcome to toyotanation.

Have you thought about lowering before wheels, or after wheels?

You might want to consider turbo...

Be careful if you bake ur headlight btw.. If you have a heatgun, that would be preferred.

welcome again!

eh....Not really. I think I am going to wait until I get some new wheels before I drop it.
I just would rather throw down that money whenever I get it all done.

Haha, funny thing is...I almost bought a turbo kit! But then I found out the kit was crap and it would be a little too expensive for right now.

Thanks, my friend has done his and a few of my friends and they all came out great so hopefully he knows what he is doing. I will be watching him like a hawk haha






Heres some more pics of plans.

[Trojan]

welcome to TN. yes, x2 on getting 18's--perfect size for a gen 5.

[Nick :D]

Originally Posted by lammydi

For the theme you are after....go with the 18's. 19's would be the biggest. 20's is just too big for you. (for me also)

Originally Posted by PrincessPeach

go 18s. Listen to yoda.

Originally Posted by Trojan

welcome to TN. yes, x2 on getting 18's--perfect size for a gen 5.

Ok GREAT. Thats what I needed to hear 18's were what I had originally planned and I just needed some input from people who know haha

[PRINCESS PEACH]

don't paint your grill. Just get the SE/RS grill

leave your trunk lid if possible. If it really bugs you, just paint it white.

[Nick :D]

Originally Posted by PrincessPeach

don't paint your grill. Just get the SE/RS grill

leave your trunk lid if possible. If it really bugs you, just paint it white.

Hmm. I don't know. It seems like thats the same exact think but without the chrome. And thats all I want to paint. In fact, it seems like the SE grill adds MORE chrome around the edges.

About the trunk lid, yeah.... I am still trying to decide on that one.

[LXS-mode]

uhmm.. white camry.. 05 XLE might have wood grain right. uhmm..


see here..

20" VIP wheels.. not chrome but alloy.
negative camber.
Coilovers slammed! or koni adjustables.
Asian gen 5 lights..
VIP'ed body kit!

its hard to explain ehehehe//

[LoudCamry]

i have a 03 camry se, i went with 18' rim, first thing when i got my car was tint and lower, front and rear trd strut bar then come the rim, i recenlty just remove all the camry and toyota emblem.
i suggest you getting an 05 se grille.

also havingd black headlight look great too. i have stock se headlight so it black already.

Originally Posted by ebumdude

The more you hang around, the more you will learn. The more you learn, the more modifications you blow money on....

have fun modding you car