Just drank the kool aid

[919Maniac]

And bought a 2002 Camry SE. The car is really going to be for my wife due to her long commute. My wife wanted stick shift and we finally found one about an hour away from home. Of course, ours is the 4cylinder since 6 = no sticks.

Things I've noticed thus far. It still boggles my mind, but I just realized today in the rain that this car has NO ABS!!! WTF?? I just assumed it would have it since it was an '02 Toyota. What were they thinking??

Second - The gas mileage is awesome compared to our Exploder (duh!). I don't think the gauge moved at all during my ride home from the dealer.

Third - It's a peppy little car, the 4 doesn't feel as gutless as I thought it would. Definitely more torquey than most 4s I have driven.

Fourth - It may SAY "sport edition", but it doesn't really mean it! The car is well damped and doesn't do anything scary really, but the steering is way too numb and overboosted. Like most front drivers heavy understeer is the order of the day in turns. On back roads my modified Ford Focus would destroy this thing.

Fifth - The stock steelies & tires will be getting the old heave-ho. They are tres ugly. Any recommendations on attractive wheels for this car? I think they'll do a lot to improve it's look.

Lastly - Found out today that the fogs don't work. Could be burnt out bulbs or???.... any common problems with them? I know the prior owner had a "kickin' system" installed in the car - might that have something to do with it?

I love the car overall, the above are the few things I thought could be improved. I look forward to enjoying Toyota reliability for a while instead of "Fixed Or Repaired Daily" which I've had for the past six years.

[ThurzNite]

#5... On my other car w/stock steelies/hubcaps, I replaced with 17x7.5 Volk Gram Light... stylish, yet functionally lightweight.

[eyeball96]

Do a search in the Gen 5/6 section, u'll get more responses there to ur ?'s...and post pics when u get a chance.

Congrats to u and ur wife on the purchase of ur Gen 5...I'd love to have a 5spd.


BTW...with just a few mods u can make that camry handle much better than that Ford Fucus!

[919Maniac]

Originally Posted by eyeball96

Do a search in the Gen 5/6 section, u'll get more responses there to ur ?'s...and post pics when u get a chance.

Congrats to u and ur wife on the purchase of ur Gen 5...I'd love to have a 5spd.


BTW...with just a few mods u can make that camry handle much better than that Ford Fucus!

Thanks for the responses, I have been doing some searching as was suggested (I know it's annoying to always get the same questions) and have found some good information.

With all due respect, I know this is a Toyota forum but the Camry out handle a Focus?? I don't know about that. I love all cars and tend to look at them objectively. The Focus is the same platform that fought for the World Rally Championship for years. It is one of the best handling FWD platforms around. The Camry is a family sedan for the American market - a very different beast. The Focus can be a reliability nightmare and is somewhat short on motor (at least the original Zetec), but out handled by a Camry? - doubtful

Oh, on my Focus I also happen to have a full Eibach suspension and 17" wheels - it is pretty much glued to the road....

[eyeball96]

I understand ur doughts. I've never driven a Ford Focus, so I may really not know what I'm talking about.

I do know that on my gen 3 Coupes I have H&R sport springs and a TRD RSB on each with 17's and if they took turns any better, they'd snap my seat belt and throw me out the window...seriously. I've scared the shit out of myself with these two cars.(thought they were crashed for sure) esp with the 94 SE.

U'll be suprised at the difference, a few suspension mods will make to ur "Family Sedan"....Oh and I forgot to say "Welcome to the Nation"!!

[PhatRoyale]

Originally Posted by ThurzNite

#5... On my other car w/stock steelies/hubcaps, I replaced with 17x7.5 Volk Gram Light... stylish, yet functionally lightweight.

There's no such thing as "Volk Gram Lights", as they are two brand names under the Rays Engineering company umbrella.

[BlueFusion6851]

If you want a decent drop... TRD made springs for the 5th gen SE camry, dropping ride height an inch all the way around... Couple that with decent rolling stock and a rear sway bar and you've got better looks and handling in one package.