xle, 4 or 6 cyl?

[obeythelaw]

I first want to say that this website is full of useful information as are these forums. Glad I came across the website. Secondly, I've drived Toyota's all of my life. From my first corolla with 100,000 miles on it. From that point, I've mostly driven toyota SUVs. I want to enter into the sedan market. Anyway, I'm looking at the 2007 Camry. Either the XLE 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder with the traction control option. Can anyone offer their thoughts? I'm also curious as to why Toyota hasn't (perhaps, never will) offer a Camry with all-wheel drive? It would seem to me if someone wants a really nice sedan with all wheel drive they are priced out of the Toyota market and must go into the Lexus market if they want to stay in the Toyota family. Just a note :-)
Anyway, I'd be glad to know the pros and cons of this model. Anyone out there drive one now?

[caveman017]

My dad and I test drove the i4 camry 07 LE, and although it handled beautifully, It definatly didn't have the power of what my dad is used to in his Audi A4. I personally like the accord better in the 4 Cyl, then again I just don't like the hood look of the 07's in general so

[jjthenovice]

I drove both and I chose the V6. It's much quicker than the 4 and the difference in milage isn't that much in my opinion.

[ToyotaToday]

We all know the V6 is quicker. But also consider the torque. It's a lot of money for the new camry so I would recommend doing a lot of test drives. Ask your buddies to come along and sit in the car, FULL LOAD. Now drive the 4 cylinder and see how it performs uphill, etc. This is when greater torque comes into play. When I test drove the GEN 5 I had the full load test on the 4 cylinder and going uphill, it lacked the amount of power I wanted.

I'm not saying the 4 cylinder is not good, but if it suit your needs, go for it. It's better on gas. Cheaper to maintain, 4 spark plugs to change, less oil to change. Every day commute you are not likely to have 4 or 5 people in your car.

I like the V6 because I like to drive on the highway and at times with 4-5 people in the car. The V6 has no problem passing on the highway.

[njerald]

Originally Posted by obeythelaw

I first want to say that this website is full of useful information as are these forums. Glad I came across the website. Secondly, I've drived Toyota's all of my life. From my first corolla with 100,000 miles on it. From that point, I've mostly driven toyota SUVs. I want to enter into the sedan market. Anyway, I'm looking at the 2007 Camry. Either the XLE 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder with the traction control option. Can anyone offer their thoughts? I'm also curious as to why Toyota hasn't (perhaps, never will) offer a Camry with all-wheel drive? It would seem to me if someone wants a really nice sedan with all wheel drive they are priced out of the Toyota market and must go into the Lexus market if they want to stay in the Toyota family. Just a note :-)
Anyway, I'd be glad to know the pros and cons of this model. Anyone out there drive one now?

Check the forums at edmunds.com also.

I have the '07 XLE 4 cyl and think its great.

0-60 in 8.6 seconds, V6 is 6.1 seconds. http://www.caranddriver.com/roadtests/10873/road-test-review-2007-toyota-camry-se-page3.html

Came out of a 255 HP Chrysler V6 but am happy with the 4 cyl.

I am getting 6-7 more mpg than I did before.

I think you will get about 4 more "actual, real life" mpg on the 4 cyl vs. the V6.

If I had a lot of mountain travel then the V6 would have made more sense because that is where the most obvious difference will show up. The V6 is $1,500-2,000 more intially also.

Drive them both and see what fits your needs.

[jhbhatia]

XLE i4 and XLE v6 are both great cars. Toyota used to offer AWD for japanese markets a while back and not in the state side (gen2 camry alltrac did not have many sales...as such toyota has never experimented again).

What SUV's do you currently have. IMO, if your point is go get from point A to B then i4 is suffice. If you think the i4 lacks power then the v6 pretty much sum's up your answer. We can't tell you what to do. I'm choose an i4 for myself (as i commute a lot) and v6 for my wife (who pretty much drives around the city only).

[chris_gen]

I have gen 5.5 (2005) 4 cyl camry xle for close to a year now and I have noticed that the power is quite sufficent for the car as long as you are not driving up very steap hills. I find that for everyday highway driving it is powerful and I am able to pass people in excess of 80mph.

The real big improvment that I see is that the camry has a very efficent transmission unlike my dodge intrepid. It could be because it is a 5 speed but it seems to put the power to the wheels at all rpm ranges. That is what really gives this car the punch.

The intrepid, while it has a good amount of power, seems to not have the most efficent transmission. I know on the highway it will rumble along at 2500 rpm while the camry doesent see above 2k. This is amazing to me since a 6 cylinder is suppose to use less rpm then a 4cyl. Dont get me wrong.. I love the trep.. just is not that effiecent to run at this point

being that said I only have two complaints about the camry. The MPG calculator seems to be off by about 20% at points. I am noticing even with moderate highway driving it will state that I am getting 32mpg when in reality I am gettting only 27. I can live with that since I live in new york and I only do about 50% highway driving. has anyone else had this problem?

my second complaint has to do with the gas pedal. it seems like I get a 2 to 5 second delay of power if I mash the pedal hard while moving at slower speeds. I have had that checked at my local dealership and they tell me that is normal. It is noticable only at low speed and is quite annoying sometimes. Has anyone found a fix for that yet?

[JMSinMD]

I've owned an I4 Camry, a V6 Solara (which I then supercharged) and a V6 SC'd Camry. Sometimes I get sick of having to put premium in the V6 SC'd cars but after driving my parents I4 I quickly change my mind. Yes, gas mileage is better with an I4 vs. V6, yes you will pay $2000 more for the V6 but it's a different driving experience. With our 06 Highlander 4WD I wasn't going to get the I4 nor FWD, on the other hand I didn't need leather, 6 disc, etc. Drive both and see which you like better. Jon.

[thoots]

I've got a 2007 I4 XLE -- I'm plenty happy with the power so far. I'm a single guy -- if you've got a carful of people most the time, maybe you'd want the extra power of the V6. But, if not, I can't see why anyone "needs" the V6. I'd rather have the better gas mileage, lower purchase price, longer range on a tank, less maintenance costs, and so on. Works for me!

[jjthenovice]

Originally Posted by thoots

I've got a 2007 I4 XLE -- I'm plenty happy with the power so far. I'm a single guy -- if you've got a carful of people most the time, maybe you'd want the extra power of the V6. But, if not, I can't see why anyone "needs" the V6. I'd rather have the better gas mileage, lower purchase price, longer range on a tank, less maintenance costs, and so on. Works for me!

Everything you say is true. The I4 is cheaper, gets better gas milage (IMO not that much better than the V6) and cost less. But (there's always a but) I still like the V6 because when you really need some power, you've got it. The difference in power is not small, there's a big difference. My 01 camry had a 4, my 03 had the V6 and now my 07 V6. I'll never go back.

[u078356]

I also just took delivery of a 2007 XLE Camry v4.

No problem with power for me. Typically, in my daily commute, I am lucky to get up to the speed limit between traffic signals, so for the bulk of my driving here in the flat land of the Texas Gulf Coast, the additional power of the 6 cylinder just wasn't needed.

David

[steve97]

For me, the 4 cyl Camry XLE is perfect. Toyota (and Honda) make strong 4 cylinder motors, and during most situations have plenty of power. Better mileage and easier to work on too.

[obeythelaw]

thanks to all for the replies. at this point i'm seriously considering the V6. I've only driven one car with a v6 and that was the nissan pathfinder (wasn't my car but drove one for about a year). Other than that, I've only driven my corolla (which I loved!) and two different model RAV4s. Those two cars were with 4 cylinder and really want the extra power of the v6. Most of my driving is highway driving. the xle v6 is pricey but i'm at the point where i want to move up a little bit into a more "refined" sedan. Also, I may in the minority, but I think the 07 camry is toyota's best design thus far. Much sleeker than the prior models.

[ToyotaToday]

Originally Posted by obeythelaw

Also, I may in the minority, but I think the 07 camry is toyota's best design thus far. Much sleeker than the prior models.

I would have to agree, the 07 is the best design so far. Every generation seems to be getting better: more agressive, more sporty, and more bold looking. Many critics have comment the Camry is a somewhat boring looking. But now the Camry seems to breaking away from that mode, combining sporty looks in a family sedan. Something Volvo's been doing for many years with its station wagon. Same with VW with its VW Passat, etc.

[rat42]

get a used lexus