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Hey all, long time Honda owner here and I can't believe im doing this, but I think I wanna get a Camry instead of a Accord this time.
Background story.
First Honda was a 92 Manual accord, Loved that car for 4 years until a Dodge Durango rear ended and totalled it. From then on, I was only going to buy Honda after having crap from Ford, GMC and Dodge.
I then got a totally decked out 98 Accord V6 EX that I had up until July where I the plowing side panel of a plumbing truck picking my Accord up and pushing me into a concrete barricade.
Needless to say, I got scared shitless and decided to never own a small car again. In desperation, I asked for a raise and got a 2001 Toyota 4Runner since August.
Flash forward to now, and the gas is absolutely killing me. I just moved out on my own for the first time and Im definently not made of money and this 4Runner is proving more expensive then I had hoped. Plus, a new girlfriend doesn't help the money either.
Either way, Im trying to sell my 4Runner and decided if im REALLY gonna do a Camry this time around. I went and test drove one for the first time in my life, a 2002 LE. Afterwards I went and drove a 2003 Accord EX Vtech 4 and here are my thoughts.
2002 Camry LE
Pluses VERY quiet all around.
Huge Trunk
Good acceleration and torque for 4cy
Absorbed bumps and road noise well
Easy, well laid out dashboard
Roomy interior for size
Fold down rear Seat
Full sized spare
Minuses Very spongey brake *I hate it*
Liquidy feeling turning
Blah interior
Wussy Grandma styling
Analysis Im *driving* a well built car. Period
Car personality Riding a cloud
2003 Honda Accord EX
Pluses
Aggressive and Responsive handling
Instant highway response and torque from pedal
Quieter then 6th gen
More *stylish* dashboard
Aggressive looking style
Side airbags standard
Minuses
Smaller interior
Still suffers from road "jitters"
No fold down rear seat
Smaller trunk
Dohnut spare
A/C still "lugs" engine
Analysis
Im *part* of the car
Car Personality
Flying a get fighter
All in all, I was amazed how out quiet and refined the Camry was, especially at highway speeds and absorbing road noise, it was so freaking quiet, my last 2 Honda were deafning loud in comparision.
However, the spongey brake is a major frown. Im used to very precise and instant braking from my past cars so im gonna have a hard time getting used to that.
Im also wonder if the SE package with a tighter suspension and larger wheels will help the car have a more *sporty* feel to it rather then feel like its just plowing into the corners unlike the Accords. IM really stuck, I need to reduce my expendatures but I don't wanna get a crappy car or one I hate in the long run. Me and my girlfriend plan on taking road trips together and I wanna car that will be able to do it all on the highway and be a good gas economical car within the city.
What should I do guys? I don't wanna spend more then $15,000. It sucked that the Camrys don't come standard with side airbags, ABS and EBC like the Honda's do. Are the SE versions hard to find or am I better of spending more on the XLE?
do what you think, since you test drove both.. but this is a toyota site.. so im guessing more for the camry? but its what you like, i dont think the camry has a grandma look.
Ok, you mentioned the SE in the title, but were referring to the LE in the post. The SE has a factory strut bar which makes a surprising improvement in the handling properties of the car. Weasel has an 05 and is rather young and loves it. I helped him put an Injen intake on it and it grunts enough to impress an S2000 owner.
If power is a problem, consider the SE V6 over the LE V6. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. If there are other "smaller" issues like spongey braking remaining, fix it with the aftermarket. TRD brake pads, stainless steel brake lines and Redline fluid could make your car feel 100x better!
The 4 cylinder has enough power for me and I wanna save on gas, its killing me financially.
I guess im wondering if spending the extra on a used SE is worth it to gain the extra, especially the suspension enhancments? Are SE's popular and easy to find at auto auctions? Im having a local car company shop for one for me and they go to Denver, Salt Lake, Seattle, Portland ect..ect...
I am leaning towards the camry more, it just feel so much more refined. Im kinda tired of Honda's "Harsh and rigid" driving feel, even in the 2003 model
If i had the money and was choosing between a new accord and a new camry, i'd take the accord v6 6spd. Then Gen 5's are too damn big, they're not like the sexy gen 3.5's .
__________________
The worst part of dying is being alive.
No, I don't not have the time, money, skill, knowledge patience, need or desire to do aftermarket. After decking out my 98 Accord and having it destroyed in a wreck, I was done modifying cars, its a waste.
Anyhow, new girlfriends kill budgets. But hey, sex is worth it.
LOLOL. nice.. yeah go with the SE suspension is better than the LE's i think its a little bit lower also. go test drive a SE and see if you can tell a difference.
I do not regret to have Camry LE. I think every penny is worth, I love it and like it. But my son wants to have Civic which has problem with Ball joint ( my friend's 2 times fixed), so I decide to buy Toyota Scion, too bad cannot get it yet in Canada. Mostly, Honda can be modified, but Toyota not (IMO).
I liked the SE feel over the LE, no doubt (I bought an SE).
However, depending on price and availability, you could always have the SE suspension put into an LE (or close enough). You can buy the springs, struts and sway bars and have a mechanic install for you.
How many miles did the LE that you drove have on it? Could it be that the suspension was a little whipped anyway and shocks needed replacing? That could have made the plow into turns problem worse than it really is.
Look up the braking distance for the gen 5 camry, you will find that it is respectable. The spongy feel is just that, 'a feel' , the car physcially stops very well even though the pedal can be soft at times. NM369 was right, for a couple hundred bucks you can improve the pedal feel if it means that much to you.
Used camry's are everywhere, get one at a good price and that will give you some money within your budget to do a couple upgrades. I know you don't want to, but it may be the best solution overall.
The SE also has a more "sporty" interior. Plus if you look hard enough, you can find an I4 with a 5-speed Manual. You can also EASILY get 34mpg from the sucker.
__________________
Employed at Toyota in Parts, again.
My riced out crapmobile Camry: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/228043...y-xle-sedan-4d '96 Camry: 2MZ Supercharged.....
'95 Corolla AE101: JDM Tails/Trunk Panel/Grill/Headlights with BiXenon Projectors. JDM Lighted Ignition Keyring and Cabin Air Filter
5 Lug Corolla WHAT?
If i had the money and was choosing between a new accord and a new camry, i'd take the accord v6 6spd. Then Gen 5's are too damn big, they're not like the sexy gen 3.5's .
I cant stand people who say the Gen 5's are "TOO BIG"... too big compared to what? There are MANY cars which are bigger than the Gen 5. Who wants to drive around in small, cramped ass car??? My grandmother owns a Gen 4 Camry and I have a Gen 5. There is a HUUUUUGE different in roominess. I am 5ft 9in tall. Not real tall by any standards but not short either. When I get in my grandma's Gen 4 I feel like I'm getting into one of those clown cars at the circus. I have to do all types of special contortions and manuvers to just get in the damn thing. Then when I'm in the cabin im all cramped and feel like i'm in a confined space. Don't get me wrong, I love the Gen 4s. I actaully talked my grandmother into getting one. But then I bought my Gen 5 and there differences were clear as night and day. The car is higher so I dont feel like i'm "skydiving" down into my seat like on a Gen 4. There is no problem getting in or out because the cabin is very spacious, and the ceiling is quite high so its perfect for my height. I never though I would hear people complaining about a car being more roomier and comfortable. Who wants to drive around in a sardine can??? The Gen 5s come across as monsters when sitting next to Gen 3s or 4s but Altima's are just as big, so are Maxima's, so are Accord's, so are Lexus ES 330s and LS430s, so are most Benz's, so whats all the downing of the Camry's???
Hey all, long time Honda owner here and I can't believe im doing this, but I think I wanna get a Camry instead of a Accord this time.
Background story.
First Honda was a 92 Manual accord, Loved that car for 4 years until a Dodge Durango rear ended and totalled it. From then on, I was only going to buy Honda after having crap from Ford, GMC and Dodge.
I then got a totally decked out 98 Accord V6 EX that I had up until July where I the plowing side panel of a plumbing truck picking my Accord up and pushing me into a concrete barricade.
Needless to say, I got scared shitless and decided to never own a small car again. In desperation, I asked for a raise and got a 2001 Toyota 4Runner since August.
Flash forward to now, and the gas is absolutely killing me. I just moved out on my own for the first time and Im definently not made of money and this 4Runner is proving more expensive then I had hoped. Plus, a new girlfriend doesn't help the money either.
Either way, Im trying to sell my 4Runner and decided if im REALLY gonna do a Camry this time around. I went and test drove one for the first time in my life, a 2002 LE. Afterwards I went and drove a 2003 Accord EX Vtech 4 and here are my thoughts.
2002 Camry LE
Pluses
VERY quiet all around.
Huge Trunk
Good acceleration and torque for 4cy
Absorbed bumps and road noise well
Easy, well laid out dashboard
Roomy interior for size
Fold down rear Seat
Full sized spare
Minuses
Very spongey brake *I hate it*
Liquidy feeling turning
Blah interior
Wussy Grandma styling
Analysis
Im *driving* a well built car. Period
Car personality
Riding a cloud
2003 Honda Accord EX
Pluses
Aggressive and Responsive handling
Instant highway response and torque from pedal
Quieter then 6th gen
More *stylish* dashboard
Aggressive looking style
Side airbags standard
Minuses
Smaller interior
Still suffers from road "jitters"
No fold down rear seat
Smaller trunk
Dohnut spare
A/C still "lugs" engine
Analysis
Im *part* of the car
Car Personality
Flying a get fighter
All in all, I was amazed how out quiet and refined the Camry was, especially at highway speeds and absorbing road noise, it was so freaking quiet, my last 2 Honda were deafning loud in comparision.
However, the spongey brake is a major frown. Im used to very precise and instant braking from my past cars so im gonna have a hard time getting used to that.
Im also wonder if the SE package with a tighter suspension and larger wheels will help the car have a more *sporty* feel to it rather then feel like its just plowing into the corners unlike the Accords. IM really stuck, I need to reduce my expendatures but I don't wanna get a crappy car or one I hate in the long run. Me and my girlfriend plan on taking road trips together and I wanna car that will be able to do it all on the highway and be a good gas economical car within the city.
What should I do guys? I don't wanna spend more then $15,000. It sucked that the Camrys don't come standard with side airbags, ABS and EBC like the Honda's do. Are the SE versions hard to find or am I better of spending more on the XLE?
Grrr im so confused....
I dont know where you live but you wont even find a used 2002 SE for $15,000. Brand new SE's run between $19,000 and $23,000+ depending on options and accessories. Gen 5.5s do come with ABS standard but if you wants Side Airbags you have to get that in the form of an Option combo which will also come with Traction Control. I don't know what you mean by "hard to find". Toyota stocks up dealerships with all trim levels. But I must admit, I live in the Washington, DC area and I went to go test drive a 2006 SE V6 and my dealership was COMPLETELY sold out of them. SE's sell like hotcakes in the DC-area unlike other areas. There wasn't an SE V6 in sight. They had plenty of 4-cylinders but I wanted to test drive a V6. You'll spend more on an XLE only if youre into a more luxurious ride. If you're not into that than the SE is the way to go.
I dont know where you live but you wont even find a used 2002 SE for $15,000. Brand new SE's run between $19,000 and $23,000+ depending on options and accessories. Gen 5.5s do come with ABS standard but if you wants Side Airbags you have to get that in the form of an Option combo which will also come with Traction Control. I don't know what you mean by "hard to find". Toyota stocks up dealerships with all trim levels. But I must admit, I live in the Washington, DC area and I went to go test drive a 2006 SE V6 and my dealership was COMPLETELY sold out of them. SE's sell like hotcakes in the DC-area unlike other areas. There wasn't an SE V6 in sight. They had plenty of 4-cylinders but I wanted to test drive a V6. You'll spend more on an XLE only if youre into a more luxurious ride. If you're not into that than the SE is the way to go.
I live in Montana, Toyotas depreciate more here. Here is a KBB listing for one
Montana • October 19, 2005 2002 Toyota Camry SE Sedan 4D
Equipment Air Conditioning
Power Steering
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Tilt Wheel
Cruise Control
AM/FM Stereo
Cassette
Single Compact Disc
Dual Front Air Bags
ABS (4-Wheel)
Power Seat
Rear Spoiler
Alloy Wheels
The Kelley Blue Book Suggested Retail Value is representative of dealers' asking prices and is the starting point for negotiation between a consumer and a dealer. This Suggested Retail Value assumes that the vehicle has been fully reconditioned and has a clean title history . This value also takes into account the dealers' profit, costs for advertising, sales commissions and other costs of doing business. The final sale price will likely be less depending on the vehicle's actual condition, popularity, type of warranty offered and local market conditions.
I cant stand people who say the Gen 5's are "TOO BIG"...
I agree, the Gen 5 is actually a great size for a 4-door sedan. I had a Gen 3 for 10 years and many many times I wished it was bigger. The gen 4 just never did anything for me, I was actually considering not buying a camry again because I didn't like the gen 4's at all.
I now own a gen5.5 SE and have no complaints. Size is great and gas milege is awesome.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LunarMist
I am 5ft 9in tall. Not real tall by any standards but not short either.
Yes, you are short :p
I am 6'5", 245lbs and I fit perfectly into a gen 5.5. I couldn't even get my legs into a gen 4. I still have no idea how I drove a gen3 so comfortably, but I will say the seat had to be in the exact right position or I didn't fit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LunarMist
then I bought my Gen 5 and there differences were clear as night and day. The car is higher so I dont feel like i'm "skydiving" down into my seat like on a Gen 4. There is no problem getting in or out because the cabin is very spacious, and the ceiling is quite high so its perfect for my height.
Really, you are short enough to fit into just about any car. I know people taller than you in gen 4's and they fit fine. I on the other hand have a HUGE problem findind a car to fit in and the gen 5 is great.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LunarMist
I never though I would hear people complaining about a car being more roomier and comfortable. Who wants to drive around in a sardine can??? The Gen 5s come across as monsters when sitting next to Gen 3s or 4s but Altima's are just as big, so are Maxima's, so are Accord's, so are Lexus ES 330s and LS430s, so are most Benz's, so whats all the downing of the Camry's???
Some people don't like how bigger cars handle and brake. That is why I got the SE package, to me Toyota did a great job hiding the 'big car' feel on the SE package. The LE drives like more of a big car. I think that is what ECale3 was getting at.
The Altima is a smaller car than a gen 5 camry. I can not fit comfortably in one. The way I tell is to get into the driver seat, adjust it for me, then get out and try to sit in the back seat behind the drivers seat. In the Altima, I couldn't do it, in the gen 5.5 camry I do it no problem.
The Maxima is about the same size.
The accord is a little smaller, but the seat position is all screwed up for me. Even though there appears to be enough "room" in general, I can not get comfortable in the accord driver seat. And yeah the accord is noisey too.
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You can also EASILY get 34mpg from the sucker.
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