[01GS430]

I will be commuting to my job which will be 75 miles each way on the interstate. I currently drive a 2001 GS 430 with 55k miles. I was looking at getting the Camry for better gas mileage. I currently get 25 mpg on the hwy in the Lexus, and it requires premium fuel. What would be better for hwy driving, the V6 or I4. Also, which engine will last longer since I will be putting 30k miles a year on the car and plan to keep it to 180k. Those that drive long distance everyday, do you enjoy the camry during the long commute?

 

[JSM1284]

I get 29 HWY in my V6. I think the V6 will outlast the 4-cyl. But thats my personal opinion.

 

[Epsilon]

Why not get the Camry hybrid?

 

[01GS430]

I looked at the Camry hybrid but I don't want to spend that much on the car. I want to get something close in value for what I can sell the Lexus. I bought the Lexus used almost two years ago for $23k and it had 45k miles on it.

 

[white3ch0c0late]

I get 29 HWY in my V6. I think the V6 will outlast the 4-cyl. But thats my personal opinion.

Almost all V6s last longer than i4's... there's just less overall stress on the engine throughout its life. To get the same kind of acceleration on my '02 4cyl LE that I would on my '07 V6 LE, I have to average around 800 more RPMs than on the V6. (About 2200 vs. 3000).

My vote is for the V6.

 

[Mistabullet]

As for comfort, some people are complaining about the seats in the Camry but those of us with the SE's (Which come with the sport seats, but i'm not sure if this is limited to the V6) feel as though they are the best seats we have been in.

I would recommend an 07 V6 SE :thumbup:. You'll be paying more for the V6 then you would for the I4 but your mileage won't suffer much (only 2mpg according to EPA) & according to JSM1284 & white3chocolate the V6 will outlast the I4.

Comfort: SE V6
Long Lasting: V6
Fuel Economy: I4 (But only 2mpg better then V6) Best of all, niether V6 nor I4 require premium gas

2.5/3 aint bad.

Here's the thread about the seats: Most uncomfortable seats

 

[wireless]

I get 31 mpg highway in my V6 with an average speed of 78 mph. I drive 85 miles round trip commute, but that is not highway driving (DC Traffic).

 

[gdanaher]

I'd say you want the I4 for the commute. I bought a V6 this year because I didn't feel like the I4 had enough power to get out of its own way in traffic or at higher altitudes when it had any kind of load. On the other hand, once at highway speed, the I4 does just fine, and the mileage is better. Finally, it has a transmissiion with few initial problems, the car represents about 75% of all the Camry sales, is readily available, and the price is likely more negotiable.

 

[danorthface]

maybe a prius.. or just stick with the I4 camry

 

[ghettosled]

as for the longevity difference between the i4 and v6, i think its a toss-up. while there is less stress of an v6 in comparison, there are a large number of people with older generation camrys with the i4 that have well over 200k miles on the clock and no problems. with proper maintenance, either engine should last with no/little problems.

maybe im biased because i have an older i4 camry, but im only up to 119k miles.

 

[Klutch]

Get a manual 4cyl!

 

[ieee_raider]

For those suggesting a hybrid, you apprently don't know the truth of hybrids. (Don't get me wrong, I love them) ... while they are great for in town driving, you don't get the return on investment for highway driving, which is what the original poster said he was doing.

I suggest the V6. We've gotten as high as 33 actual mpg on pure highway driving with ours.
You can also pass people with no hesitation or problems. You could hit 120 and not even know it.

I don't have experience with the 4-cyl other than a test drive, but I do know from that test drive that it had nowhere near the balls that the V6 had.

 

[01GS430]

I think I will be leaning towards the V6. I like the V8 power in the Lexus, and I have heard that the new Camry V6 is just as fast as the GS430 on the highway. The GS430 had 300 hp but I heard the rating was lowered with the new standards to 288 hp. I believe the Camry V6 is around 268 hp. The GS weighs in around 3,800 lbs. With the weight difference, I can see the Camry being just as fast or faster at highway speeds.