SE V6 - Youthful?

I am buying a SE V6 this week. Many of my friends have told me a Camry is for old men / women. I disagree considering how the 07+ SE V6 is designed and rides. I know guys in their 40's at work that don't drive an SE V6 because the "sport" ride is so harsh.

Thoughts from Toyota Nation?

I think the se is very youthful. Its comes with rims, lip spoiler, ground effects different grille and headlights and fogs. What more can you ask for? I love this car im 23 now and this is my second camry.

Not sure how old you are but get what ever you like. As for the "harsh" ride, i think the car drives very smooth.

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150207&highlight=age

You'd be surprised at how many young'ens own a Gen6 Camry.


I am buying a SE V6 this week. Many of my friends have told me a Camry is for old men / women. I disagree considering how the 07+ SE V6 is designed and rides. I know guys in their 40's at work that don't drive an SE V6 because the "sport" ride is so harsh.

Thoughts from Toyota Nation?

I think what you really like is all it matter.
I got few of my friends said that I have weird taste of color selection when i chose my Camry... :D As long as i like it, and I think the car is worth my $$ to spent on, i will never regret:)

<--- 20

If you really want to buy a camry then go for it. don't listen to your friends. I'm 20 and I own an 04 camry. anyone saying that camry's are for old men/women are stupid IMO!!!

First I've heard of people thinking the ride on an 07 SE V6 is harsh. I actually quite like the ride on my car, which I think is rather smooth.

Lots of people think the Camry is an old man's car - perhaps because old men are wise, and they know a good thing when they see it! But my observation is that it definitely seems like more older folk and women tend to prefer the 4 cylinder base model. But not the SE-V6.

I'm in my mid 30's and to be honest, never gave the Camry a second look until the 2007 came along - I was considering the Acura TL Type S, the Infiniti G35 and the Maxima - but I loved the Camry's complete package far more.

Ultimately get what you want and to hell with what others say.

It's a moderately priced sporty family sedan...........

I am 23. I would have never considered a Camry prior to the Gen 6. My decision also has been impacted by the fact that my entire job revolves around the world of Toyota.

My prior vehicles have been:


1. 91 Camaro
2. 97 Mustang
3. 99 Grand Prix GT
4. 06 Impala LT

If anything my Impala has been closer to what I mentioned in my first post.

I am buying a SE V6 this week. Many of my friends have told me a Camry is for old men / women. I disagree considering how the 07+ SE V6 is designed and rides. I know guys in their 40's at work that don't drive an SE V6 because the "sport" ride is so harsh.

Thoughts from Toyota Nation?

Camry SE V6 is a very "intelligent" choice. Sure, you can get into "higher performance," but the SE V6 gives you plenty of performance along with reliability, room for a family and plenty of cargo, and state-of-the-art safety.

Anyone who thinks that the SE V6 ride is "harsh" (like I once did), probably hasn't driven an SE V6. I was very surprised to learn that the ride is still very smooth and quiet, and is more "firm" than anything else -- not "harsh" at all. I tend to think that the extra weight of the V6 engine helps damp the ride very effectively -- I sure think my 2008 SE V6 "soaks up the bumps" in the road far better than my 2007 I4 XLE ever did.

The SE V6 does indeed handle very well. As my recent "photo" thread shows, I headed "over the mountains" to the coast this weekend, and it was just an incredibly COMPETENT combination of ride and handling through the mountain twisties. Not only did I cruise through tight switchbacks with confidence, it was just as smooth and quiet as it was fun and "sporty."

And of course, there is an abundance of power. There's certainly no need to go elsewhere if it's "power" that you desire.

Plus, as compared to other Camry models, I sure prefer the SE seat over all the others, with its effective bolstering. Plus, I like a black interior, only available in the SE. Same with the three-spoke steering wheel -- the four-spoker on the other models puts spokes right where I want to grab the wheel.

In the end, with all of the choices in the market, there remains something very compelling about the Camry in general, and the SE V6 in particular. I've certainly never owned a car with such a high level of competence in both ride and handling at the same time. I truly like the looks of the car, and I recognize issues such as quality, long-term reliability, utility, and safety, in which Camry excels.

As for "young folks choosing Camry," well, gosh, you can get plenty of performance and handling, especially in an SE V6, without sacrificing all of the things I've identified above. I think it boils down to how "there's more to a car than just performance." Oh, I suppose some folks can afford "just a performance car," alongside something that'll do all of the other jobs a car needs to get done, but for the rest of us, it's pretty smart to get something that's just as practical as it is fun to drive.

<- 19

<- 19 as well.

I've gotten more or less the same comments about my SE V6 as well. But after seeing kids picking up a new Civic or tC, I can still say that the end of the day that I can fit so much more while being so much more comfy, and still be go so much more faster.

I think the SE isn't stiff enough in terms of suspension, so does many others that get springs/coilovers, lol.

I don't think that Toyota was gunning for the younger demographic but a lot of young people are buying them.

I never considered getting one until I got really, really, old (34).

I never even planned on buying one. I was looking at a fully-loaded super white Matrix. I just happened to walk through the used car lot and see the Camry (the one i own now), I test drove it, told them i want it and put a deposit down, pending on the sale of my car. 3 days later my old car sold and i owned the Camry 2 days later. :D

Edit: Forgot to say, i was 25 when i bought.

I don't think that Toyota was gunning for the younger demographic but a lot of young people are buying them.

I never considered getting one until I got really, really, old (34).

Same here...34. I got older and the car got 'younger'

Before the Gen6 Camry came out, I wouldn't consider a Camry because it was a granny or family car in Gen5 form.

But with the new design, I'd say it's VERY youthful! I'm 21 and I have an SE V6.

Classically, Cams have been rather boxy, like the early Corolla/Accords. People primarily have went by the sleek= younger approach (along with influences in marketing). As the body styles started changing gen 5,5.5 and 6, people are finally starting to change their notions.

I would have to agree with what many have already said.
I never would have considered a Camry until I got "STUCK" with one when I rented a car to go to the Oregon coast.

I have to say I loved it, we put about 1300 miles on it that week and I loved the comfort, looks and ride of the 2007.

5 months later when I say the 0.02% lease financing I jumped.

I love my Camry, actually taking it in for it's first oil change tomorrow :confused:
Have to drive my old POS which I actually thought was really nice before I got my Camry lol.

Btw 35 here as well, I have had everything from a camaro to a celica to king cab pickups, to buicks and oldsmobile and even a kia. And my Camry is the nicest, fastest, most comfortable car I have ever owned out of all of them.

Went to Toyota Dealer yesterday to test drive the SE in both 4-cylinder (I4?) and V6. I love the V6. Ran so smooth and nice pickup and very quite. With the 4-cylinder, didnt have that good of a pickup and wasnt as smooth. Then again, the 4-cylinder was brand new with all covers on it while the v6 was driven so I dont know if that would matter. Took the same route and everything. I would get the v6 but with gas prices on the rise even more, I think the 4-cylinder would fit me. I got a heavy foot and I might take advantage of the v6 and probably would end up giving me lots of speeding tickets.

26, 27 in 2 months. Hoping to get it by end of the year or same time next year (2009 or 2010 model)

I agree with wetherburner, in my mid-40's maybe I am young at heart but I think the 2007 SE w/V6 totally ROCKS !! if not, would have gone for a G35 Coupe, Acura TL S, etc. Not only is it a smart practical or "intelligent" choice, but the car performs & handles extremley well, and has knockout looks... especialy with a sunroof, upgarded audio and a decent tint job.... honestly I could not see myself in a boring 4 dr family sedan... having owned 2 dr coupes such as Camaros, Challengers, Mustangs and Firebirds all my life... so in answer to your question Heck YES !! to the SE V6 being youthful set of wheels... :D

I'm 30, and I come from playing with Mazdas. Had a 99 Miata that was off the charts in mods; made it into magazines etc, then I just had an 04 Miata with a crazy suspension. My daughter is almost 3 months, and I wanted to get a family car. I also wanted gas mileage.

On a recent trip, cruising speed of 80-85mph I avg'd 30mpg with a few bursts to 120, and getting behind trucks doing 50-55.

If it wasn't for the 07+, I wouldn't never considered a Camry. A bunch of us here (Im a salesman for Jones Toyota in Bel Air MD) have 07+ Camry SE's. We stand behind what we sell!

I get more compliments from young people about my 2007 SE V6 than people in my age range.
Most recently, the 19 year old daughter of a woman I'm seeing said it was a "really nice car", the first time she saw it last week.

I'm 52, and in 10/2006 when I test drove a 2007 Camry SE V6, I first test drove the 2007 XLE V6 and then the 2007 SE V6.
As one who's always preferred cars that have some level of performance (every car I've ever had, I modified the engine for more power), I thought the XLE V6 handled like mush.
When I then drove the SE V6, I quickly realized that I preferred it over the XLE V6.

To me. the stock SE V6 with Borla exhaust is a good daily driver, with a good balance between performance and fuel economy.
And with the transaxle problems I had now fixed, it's a winner.
Additionally, I like the styling of the SE better than the standard Camry.

A high performance Big Block V8 it's not, but it gets about 3+ times the mileage.
And I can always drive my 1967 high performance Big Block V8 when I feel like paying for the gas.

Reasons I got my Camry SE...

1. Good looking
2. Pretty fast although not much of a handler but it's not like I'm going to Pikes Peak anytime soon...
3. Relative low maintenance costs (holding true so far 2 years going)
4. Excellent interior space
5. The no frills Japanese interior design (which I like not like the Honda interiors with their buttons galore...blah).

Not on that list is what my friends think. I can care less what they or anyone else says but I'm happy with my daily driver mom-mobile and I'm gonna drive it like I stole it until it falls apart.

I'm 30, and I come from playing with Mazdas. Had a 99 Miata that was off the charts in mods; made it into magazines etc, then I just had an 04 Miata with a crazy suspension. My daughter is almost 3 months, and I wanted to get a family car. I also wanted gas mileage.

On a recent trip, cruising speed of 80-85mph I avg'd 30mpg with a few bursts to 120, and getting behind trucks doing 50-55.

If it wasn't for the 07+, I wouldn't never considered a Camry. A bunch of us here (Im a salesman for Jones Toyota in Bel Air MD) have 07+ Camry SE's. We stand behind what we sell! I hope you didn't have your 3 month old daughter with you on that trip where you did 120 mph. bursts?

Of course not, speed limit when she's on board...

I'd say it's youthful enough... it's not a civic, but a step up... so like a transition onto an older ppl geared car, like caddy's and TL's and ES/GS/LS's

when i was 18(2001) i was given an es300 97model, nice car drove the hell out of it. it made me like the camry.hell when it was time i wanted a se camry, but left my mind open and out of everymid size sedan w/ 4 cyc. the toyota owns....altima sl is a close second, but i couldnt fit in the rear seat with out my head flat agains the headboard. third is the legacy(i love it ,wife hated it)
so here i am with a loaded out i4 red SE at 24 married with no kids and a family car.. i would say it is geared to people who have taste.

Altima SE V6 was my other closest option. But its CVT transmission is boring. The style, torque, and 6-speed close ratio A/T convinced me to buy Camry SE V6. It has more horsepower than the TL and has lower price tag. The TL's engine is noisy and clunky too - typical Honda.

I love my07 Camry SE with the v/6 motor. Great car by the way I'm 50 years young. Car makes 2 years old in August with 3900 miles so far as a weekend driver. Have a 94 Chevy Z-71 truck as a daily driver which is bright blue and the SE is black so the blue is easier to keep clean than the black. Nevertheless the SE is great to drive.

I am 30 and love my Camry! I previously drove a 01' BMW! I have to say that the Camry is pretty much up to par with the Bimmer as far as power is concerned.


Shane

I'm 21 with a 2yr old and the Camry suits me and my lifestyle just fine.

Looks like a lot of people pick SE, but SE model is about 20% vs total # of Camry sold. Maybe the LE model is more like a family car, and Toyota target 30-40 age ground for their butter & bread LE model.

Looks like a lot of people pick SE, but SE model is about 20% vs total # of Camry sold. Maybe the LE model is more like a family car, and Toyota target 30-40 age ground for their butter & bread LE model.
I was 18 when I bought my LE :)

I'm 23, I just purchased my 09 SE yesterday

I was 18 when I bought my LE :)

:thumbup:

i was also 18 when i bought my LE :clap:

I guess I am way to old by your standards for an SE-V6....maybe that is the reason I don't have one :D

My friends brother (in his low 20's I think) just bought an '08 SE V6. So yeah, your freinds will laugh at you, but your car is probably faster then thiers, and you can haul the groceries around, so you'll get the last laugh. :-P

Just got my 09 SE Wednesday. The car feels very youthful. The power and ride are awesome.

I don't know why I waited so long to buy a Toyota.

My daughter grew up with me driving Camry's. Her first brand new car, though, at age 22, is a Scion tC. Has the expected Toyota quality so far - 16K without a single problem. And a real thrill to drive.