Camry's Handling

[ryannel2003]

I have a stock 2000 Camry LE and I drive it all the time. When I was driving down a curvy road today, I started wondering why every car magazine I read says the Camry has "soft" handling or say the car isn't fun to drive. This is my first car and I realize the Camry wasn't made for carving corners, but I was surprised how mine takes the corners. I took it through one corner going 65mph, and the car came to life. The handling was nimble with barely any roll and the steering was very precise and required little effort. Remember, this is a bone stock 4 cylinder Camry and after driving it today I think it will stay stock forever. I'm sure the 5th and 6th Generations handle even better than mine do, but still. I think the car is fun as hell to drive, but that's just me. Anyone else agree with me? Thanks

[AutoBox]

well...compared to other mid-sized / mid-class sedans of those years 97-01 i guess it handles ok

but add a rear sway bar, upgrade your struts, and some sticky tires and it starts to get more interesting. a lot of people on here will say that dollar per performance ratio suspension upgrades are well worth it for the camry.

drive safe

[ryannel2003]

yeah i've only driven a couple of other cars ('98 Monte Carlo, '00 Explorer) and compared to those of course the Camry is going to handle better. I would like to drive a '98-'02 Accord and see how it drives compared to my Camry.

I would like to add some suspension stuff so it handles better. Not sure though, I like the way it handles right now. Has good feel/balance to it.

[ryannel2003]

yeah i've only driven a couple of other cars ('98 Monte Carlo, '00 Explorer) and compared to those of course the Camry is going to handle better. I would like to drive a '98-'02 Accord and see how it drives compared to my Camry.

I would like to add some suspension stuff so it handles better. Not sure though, I like the way it handles right now. Has good feel/balance to it.

[leasaunce]

change the springs, shocks, rear sway bar, bigger rims and it will be like a family sports car.....hahahaha

[RningOnFumes]

If you're happy with it now, keep it that way until it's time to replace them....then upgrade.

[v-cam]

I thought mine handled good too, until i drove a slammed V8 falcon on coil overs..... then i realised why car mags say its soft, becuase they drive real sports cars that in comparison, leave it for dead.

However, upgrade you suspension (i did) and people begin to say "wow! this car really handles! i cant believe its a camry!!!!" I proved it against a motobike on a downhill run, he said he was struggling to keep up in the corners!!! (CBR600)

hehehe... i love sleepers...

[Tom 2000]

While it's far from a BMW, I think the gen4 Camry handles pretty decently also.

A friend of mine has a /00 Accord EX (4-cyl). It handles very good, but the ride is definitely stiffer. I think the Camry has the ride and the handling dialed in pretty well.

I changed the wheels from 15s to 16s about 3 years ago and pretty happy with it. Still rides very good, but even more stable, especially changing lanes on the freeway. About the only thing left that I am considering down the road is getting some polyurethane sway bar bushings.

[ryannel2003]

Compared to a BMW or Porsche the Camry probably drives like a Town Car, but since the other two cars I have driven aren't really sporty at all I can say that mine handles very, very well. What I really need to do is drive my friends '02 Honda Civic EX and see how it compares to my Camry. Not in the same class, but I know his is faster than mine...

[camrycoupe95]

Camry might handle ok for the mid-priced family car that it is.

Go to the dealership and test drive a purpose built, all-around performance car and see what fun you're missing.

Here's some homework, forget that Civic.....find a dealer with an LS1 Z28 or Trans Am, drive it like you stole it and report back here.

[v-cam]

once you can repeatedly turn into side streets (90 degree direction change) doing 45mph (like my gen3) then you can safely assume your car handles well!

[V6LE_CAMRY]

My camrys suspension sucks. I get alot of torque steer when the road is rought and not straight at all. When i turn or take corner it feels like the whole car want to go to it's side. Could it be that the shocks are worn? even if the ride is nice and sometimes smotth when going staright?

[v-cam]

^ more than likely yes. Plus the proggressive rate stock springs make the stock camry a shocker on the rear end. It feels like the rear wallows deep and then springs back before you have finished the cornering.

Makes the rear feel almost "disconnected" from what the front is doing. Very bad stock handler.

Upgrade your shocks and springs and add some nice rims with wider tyres and you will be hitting hard into corners without a worry. You will lose some "smoothness" out on the highway though. But once you hit a corner, you remind yourself of why stiffer suspension is better!

[Aussie_Camry]

^

Yeah I got better springs, shocks and wider performance tyres and you would be amazed how well a Camry can handle. Compared to all other cars Ive driven (not many, around 4) and been driven in (lots) its up their. The striking thing as well in relation to handling was how easy the car was to drive when I first test drove it, usually I felt uncomfortably initially at least in other cars, like a relatively new Accord I drove a coupla times, but with my camry staight away I felt comfortable with its prity precise handling and good cornoring ability. And its understeer is quite predictable as well and easy to get yourself out of hairy situations

[v-cam]

^ in additon - I found that understeer was reduced substantially. If I go in to a corner too hot, the front will turn in sharply while the rear decides to follow just as eagerly resulting in a nice, controllable oversteer slide.

Very fun, and very predictable. Easily the best money spent on any camry.