Front Bumper Hole

[Duffman...]

Hi All

I'm new to the site and have to say I'm learning a lot from you guys.

I have a quick question. Why do some Camrys have a tiny hole in the front bumper. Actually I think I seen it on other Toyota models as well. What is it purpose. I was looking at a few 2006's and noticed that some had the hole while other did not.

Thanks All

[Hawkeye-SE]

It's for the tow hook.

[BlackCamSe]

Some have the tow hook behinde the bumber slots ans some have the cut out in the bumper

[white3ch0c0late]

^Its the Japan-built ones that have the cutout in the bumper. The Japan-built ones also have tow hooks hanging right under the rear bumper. All US-built ones that I've seen don't have them. Mine is Japan-built.

[jimmyjim27us]

Yep, my new 06 was built in Japan and has the tow hook in the front of the bumper.

[drunken_panda]

I understand that the rear eyelets are used when shipping over cargo ships, but why do the Japanese built ones get the eyelet in the front bumper too? Is that what they tie the front to?

[jimmyjim27us]

another different item is that in the camry's made in japan, the mirros on the side of the car are smaller than the ones made in georgetown. strange.

[Duffman...]

WOW

So the ones with the hole are made in Japan and the ones without the hole are made in the USA. Is there a big difference between a Japan made Camry and a US made Camry??

I know people who have VW's and alot of them would perfer VW's from Germany rather then the ones built in Mexico. Are people the same about Toyota's??

[white3ch0c0late]

Japan-built Camry's are generally better quality than USA-built.

[jimmyjim27us]

I would have to agree that the Camry's made in Japan and far better quality than the US-made ones. My 04 was made in Kentucky and had creaks and noises from the day I took it home, my 06, Japan-made does not have one sound to it. Very quiet ride no noises yet.

[cuttooth]

what hole in the bumper are we talking about? can someone take a picture of it?

[jimmyjim27us]

see this thread, the last pic shows the bumper with the hook up on the front.
Pics of my recently purchased '05 [56K beware]

[Hajoca]

From my experience, body tolerences or fit and finish is done nicer in Japan. Coinciently, the japanese production line speed is usually slower than the american counterpart.

A close friend of mine was on the project at Honda UK, and 400 si's sent to Japan for verification all failed due to sloppy body fitment.