Drove an '09 SE I4 today. - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

87Camry5Speed · 08-19-2011, 03:55 PM

After sampling that '11 LE rental last month, I arrived at the conclusion that the Camry makes a lot more sense with an automatic than it does with a manual.

Told my dad and my salesman to keep an eye out for a suitable Camry, so far nothing has turned up, but there was a CPO '09 SE in Magnetic Gray on the lot. Black cloth interior, moonroof, everything you need and nothing you don't.

This one was an I4 with the 5-speed auto, yes I know the powertrain is worlds apart from the '11 I just drove. Way beyond what I could afford to begin with, but this was only a fact-finding mission, anyway.

I must say that the 5-speed auto isn't helpful at all going up and down steep hills. Hunts between gears endlessly and throttle tip-in is needlessly aggressive. I also found shift quality around town to be less than spectacular, it just kind of slides into the next gear instead of firm, positive engagement- but then again it is a family sedan. It just seems like the trans is always saying "hey bud, sure you want to do that?" Don't recall the 4-speed auto in my brother's 03 SE I4 doing the same. In fact I actually prefer that engine/trans to the early Gen6. 06 SE perhaps?

Other than that it drove like an SE should- very nicely. You can safely take turns at speeds that would put LE's or XLE's on the rocker panels, and there's no wallow. Nice and firm. And the all-black interior is leagues better than the two-tone gray in my LE- looks so much classier. Like the SE gauges too.

My conclusion- go V6 and play Roulette with the U660 of doom, or keep my 5-speed.

***arabianobsession*** · 08-20-2011, 09:45 AM

FYI, both the gen 6 5 speed auto and the gen 6.5 6 speed auto are going to gear hunt so much that it will drive you mad. You already know how great the manuals are to deal with, the nasty beasts they can be

My opinion? If you're going to sell your 2008, get a Gen 5. You'll be much happier with it all around.

MJZ · 08-20-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabianobsession

FYI, both the gen 6 5 speed auto and the gen 6.5 6 speed auto are going to gear hunt so much that it will drive you mad. You already know how great the manuals are to deal with, the nasty beasts they can be

My opinion? If you're going to sell your 2008, get a Gen 5. You'll be much happier with it all around.

Or you know, the dozens of other brands out there instead of going backwards to an older Toyota...

***arabianobsession*** · 08-20-2011, 10:02 AM

^I was assuming the OP wanted to stick with a Toyota, as that's what the general tone of the thread seems to be.

If not a Toyota, get a manual trans. Maxima. It will not disappoint whatsoever.

87Camry5Speed · 08-20-2011, 01:32 PM

Looking to stay Camry. This is based on positive experience with the 12 or so others we've had in the family. Kristi, I agree, an 06 SE I4 might be the way to go. It's a 4-speed auto so there's not as much hunting, and I get better Gen5 build quality. Not concerned about losing little things like MP3 capability because I can simply put in a new stereo.

As I've mentioned in the past, not thrilled with the trans or the shifter in this thing. I had a '97 Mustang GT with a Pro 5.0 Power Tower short-shifter, so everything I drive with a stick is compared to that, unfair as it is. Shifting this thing is as pleasurable as stirring pudding, that's about what it feels like.

My brother has an '03 SE I4, 4-speed auto, I enjoy driving it. It's well-programmed and, to be honest, felt better than the 5-speed in the 09. Easier to deal with. "Less is more..."

***arabianobsession*** · 08-20-2011, 01:44 PM

^Unfortunately, our clutches are drive by wire now. Other manufacturers use the same thing but at least they "tune" it to make it more exciting

People always ask me why I prefer driving my 95 Mustang over my brand new Camry with 6000 miles, and that's what I tell them-the shifting isn't very inspiring.

87Camry5Speed · 08-20-2011, 01:48 PM

With an SN95 the shifter is in a different ZIP code ergonomically but you're right, feels so so much more precise. Never cared for hydraulic clutches, felt like it was easier to tell when the clutch bites with a good ol'-fashioned cable.

87Camry5Speed · 08-20-2011, 01:52 PM

Can we verify what gen5 years had the 4-speed? Looking at 06's online that show 5-speed auto...

***Punks_Not_Dead5*** · 08-20-2011, 02:14 PM

06 is Gen 5... 07+ Gen 6

***arabianobsession*** · 08-20-2011, 02:37 PM

^Yeah, we've established that but he wants to know which Gen 5 years come with the 4 speed auto and which come with 5.

workerant · 08-20-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabianobsession

^I was assuming the OP wanted to stick with a Toyota, as that's what the general tone of the thread seems to be.

If not a Toyota, get a manual trans. Maxima. It will not disappoint whatsoever.

Or go over to Lexus.

I just look at Camry on Wiki... wow it has come a long way. Gen6 is the best looking of course.

cocoLatte · 08-20-2011, 05:21 PM

2005-2006 comes with 5speed auto with ABS standard. anything before that were 4 speed auto.

SilverBullet · 08-20-2011, 05:34 PM

so that means my car is a 4-speed? oops

lol

but i agree with arabian, get a gen 5 if you're going to get rid of your '08 and want to stay camry. from what i've seen on the forums here, it has a lot less problems than the gen 6 and the transmission is smooth(er) than the 5-speed.

DOHCammer · 08-20-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabianobsession

^Unfortunately, our clutches are drive by wire now. Other manufacturers use the same thing but at least they "tune" it to make it more exciting

People always ask me why I prefer driving my 95 Mustang over my brand new Camry with 6000 miles, and that's what I tell them-the shifting isn't very inspiring.

Can you tell me what you mean by drive by wire clutch? I read this term you wrote earlier in the week and looked your clutch system up in the parts catalog. The Gen 6.5 still has a hydraulic clutch, it just has an internal hub mount slave cylinder instead of the old style external mount slave. The clutch master still hooks directly to the pedal with a clevis pin and hydraulic lines/hoses supply fluid to the slave. I didn't see any solenoids or actuators in the system.
I had an 02 SE 5 speed that also shifted like crap. For one thing the shifter is too far to the right. Perfect for right hand drive but not in the right place for us. I could never be smooth with the drive by wire throttle applications. I've driven sticks all my life and that car was just not smooth at all. You can ask my son (87Camry5Speed), I can be silky smooth with most any stick. Even my old 04 Mustang GT was smoother. I had an MGW shifter in that, talk about short throws!

molson.david · 08-21-2011, 12:04 AM

Quote:

I arrived at the conclusion that the Camry makes a lot more sense with an automatic than it does with a manual.

I had cars with manual tranny and I liked them, but camry built for family driving, not "fast and furious" driving.
manual subarus are fun to drive, my best memories about manual tranny came from legacy.wrx-even hotter, but to small for me.I even drove sti-simply the beast,quickest and fastest car around city, but to noisy and bumpy for me.
get last gen. subaru legacy, you wont be disappointed.