5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
We have owned Toyota's for over 27 years and my 2007 is probably the last one. We had a 95 Avalon that looked new when it was 10 years old. The paint was perfect. I have gotten to the point where I don't even care about this car because it has so many chips in the paint. It started when it was new and the front end looks like I live on a rock road. I don't know what they've saved by going to a cheaper paint but it has cost them the sales of several vehicles. My entire family has been changing to Honda. It makes me sick when I wash my Camry and my wife's 2005 Honda. We drive the same roads everyday and she has one small chip and mine has hundreds.
The paint on my 2010 Accord is thin and brittle too. It has far too many chips for the 16000 miles it has traveled. My son's 2011 WRX STi has the same problem. To some degree so does my GMC truck. it sucks.
Blame the EPA. They have made manufacturers remove all of the VOC (volatile organic compounds) from their paint formulas. The result has been brittle paint that chips if you look at it.
I hate the fact that a new car has such crappy paint.
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My 2011 camry is the same. Hundreds of paint chips, last Toyota for my family too. Our 2008 jeep isnt cared for as much as our camry and it only has like 2 paint chips, from going mudding and what not. Our camry has never been driven on anything but concrete and black top roads yet it looks like we took a paint sander to it.
'08 Camry, bought CPO.
Paint is flawless.
I drive at least 30 miles a day.
My bumper however, is torn up.
I blame this on being so low (~1" from ground.)
Aside from bumper I love the paint on it.
I wax my car frequently, wash it ~2 times a week, whipe it down every morning.
Mine is silver btw.
I also own a G37, the paint on that is way worse than my Camry.
It's extremely dull, has many swirls, its very chipped.
It's so bad that I'm actually going to have it repainted.
To me, paint is a big issue, I love having a car with a liquid smooth loking paint job.
I'm with Zembonez on this one, don't blame the companies, blame the EPA. standards.
What next- cutting down citrus and eucalyptus trees?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zembonez
Don't be so quick to blame Toyota.
The paint on my 2010 Accord is thin and brittle too. It has far too many chips for the 16000 miles it has traveled. My son's 2011 WRX STi has the same problem. To some degree so does my GMC truck. it sucks.
Blame the EPA. They have made manufacturers remove all of the VOC (volatile organic compounds) from their paint formulas. The result has been brittle paint that chips if you look at it.
I hate the fact that a new car has such crappy paint.
Surprisingly, the paint on my 2009 Scion xB is holding up great! I bought it new and after a year sold it to my brother. He loves the xB and the paint still looks like new at about 40K.
Paint is much more prone to chipping these days. But that doesn't mean they can't use better quality and more layers of clear coat. The higher end Japanese and German cars have good paint. Mercedes uses ceramic clearcoat that is extremely hard and tough. But that would drive the cost of the car up a bit.
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2011 Chrysler Town & Country Touring
2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
2003 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic
2002 Jaguar X-Type 2.5 AWD
More expensive paint, better carpet, more sound deadening, more powerful engines, more options would all drive the price of the car up. It probably isn't easy to build a Camry with everything it comes with and sell it for around 23-30K new.
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My Toyota list:
1982 Corolla SR-5 Hardtop 5 Speed Manual(R154) 1JZGTE
2005 Corolla CE 5 Speed Manual 1ZZFE
2009 Camry LE 5 Speed Auto 2AZFE
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I also own a G37, the paint on that is way worse than my Camry.
It's extremely dull, has many swirls, its very chipped.
It's so bad that I'm actually going to have it repainted.
don't waste the money. I'm sure it can be buffed to near perfect.
If you all think Toyota's paint is weak, you've never owned a Subaru.. If you so much as LOOK at the paint funny, it'll scratch. Softest paint there is..
And for those whining about paint chips, guess what, it has nothing to do with the paint. If a rock hits the hood going 50+mph, its going to do damage. There's no way around chips unless you garage it and never drive behind someone.
Wax wax wax and wax your car.... I have a 96 Corolla that has seen nothing else but street parking over its entire life. Summer and winter weather to the extreme... All I do is hand wax the car every season with a hard shell wax... The paint still looks amazing for an old car. The Dark Green Pearl Metallic paint still shines amazing... My point is you get out what you you put in... And giving up on Toyota b/c of paint??? Would you rather buy a car that looks amazing but it is in the shop every month? I would choose reliability all day long vs. looks...
2011 red Camry SE, 14 k miles. My first Toyota. All prior vehicles, GM.
Within 100 miles I was noticing paint chips... I take immaculate care of my vehicles, nothing other than aspahalt or concrete roadways, moderate following distances. I've probably waxed the damn front end 4 times already. Neighbors probably think I'm nuts. Considered 3M film for $500 for hood, pillars and bumper, but I'll wait and see if the paint "firms up" with a little more aging...
I ran out and bought a Toyota factory "paint stick" from the dealer, and have been repairing the chips. Probably have 50 repaired on the front bumper, hood, pillars and door edges. Even the paint in the "stick" is practically "see through" and does not hold up well. This is my only disappointment with the car.
My last new vehicle was an '02 GMC Sierra pickup... very few chips over 115k, which inculudes some gravel travel.
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