Joined
·
12,190 Posts
I think I've read pretty every 2007 Camry review on the interweb, including user ratings. I'm really surprised at the disparity between the reviews. What is going on here? Reviews range from raves to all out rants. What's the story here?
For example:
Yahoo autos, overall car is rated 2.5 stars out of 5. Not exactly stellar.
About auto buying guide. 4 out of 5 stars.
Automobile.com review:
e-opinions 3.5 stars out of 5
about.com 4.5 stars out of 5
Car.com review snippets:
For example:
Yahoo autos, overall car is rated 2.5 stars out of 5. Not exactly stellar.
About auto buying guide. 4 out of 5 stars.
Automobile.com review:
2007 Camry Motor Trend Car of the YearAt the end of my daylong test, Im resolved that this new Camry is by far the best vehicle available in the midsize class.
e-opinions 3.5 stars out of 5
about.com 4.5 stars out of 5
Car.com review snippets:
- The biggest disappointment was the lack of a luxurious feel and the low quality craftsmanship that is apparent.
- What more should a Camry deliver? Quiet, for one, and our Camry was not quiet inside. At idle, valvetrain noise gets into the cabin, and once underway, the engine exhibits a whine not unlike that of a General Motors V6. Refinement doesn’t seem to be a strong point with this engine. Add in the irritating wind noise that seems to be coming from the windshield wiper arms, and the significant road rumble coming up through the floor, and the Camry is much louder inside than expected.
- Surprisingly for a Toyota, there were several quality issues I noticed upon inspection of the Camry. On the exterior, I found hood gaps that varied from side to side, the gaps where the A-pillar met the fenders varied in size, and a strip of black window trim was coming un-glued and was bowing out.
- Inside, the bad news continued. The small door behind the shifter was poorly centered and the instrument panel displayed gaps around its perimeter. Several parts weren’t flush where they came together and the A-pillar covers felt loose and sloppy. I also felt a better grade of plastic could have been used on the interior surfaces, which would have helped rid the Camry of the rental car feel that plagues many midsized sedans. Honestly, I was surprised to see this many quality issues with a Toyota.
- No car with a $31,000 price tag, regardless of whether it’s a Chevy or a Toyota, should exhibit the kind of quality issues we found with our 2007 Camry XLE V6 tester. Among the points most notable were irregular gaps on the sides of the dash; a dash cap that was lifting by the side vents; sections around the instrument panel that were not flush; inconsistent gaps around the glovebox and the cubby forward of the shifter; loose pillar covers; a squeaky shifter plate cover; open spaces between the rear door plastic panels and the leather inserts; multiple grain patterns throughout the cabin; and a fuzzy headliner in lieu of preferred mesh. To its credit, this Camry featured soft leather, a light-colored wood that only I seemed to appreciate, and soft plastic on the dash.
- But, c’mon people, this is a Toyota Camry, the godly car pointed to for decades as a shining example of what imports were doing right and Detroit was fouling up – namely, building a quality vehicle. Based on the details of several Toyotas we’ve recently evaluated, including this Camry, it’s obvious that times have changed. Buyers blindly opting for Toyotas based on reputation owe it to themselves to thoroughly inspect their chosen model before signing on the dotted line.
- We’ve come to expect this kind of indifferent assembly from the former Big Three automakers – in particular General Motors. But after taking a close look at the way our 2007 Toyota Camry was assembled and the materials used in its construction, and comparing these observations to the sticker price and what we uncovered in as thorough a probe of that $27,000 Hyundai Azera we test drove the same week, I have no other choice but to conclude that Toyota has lost its Camry mojo.