[theenterprise]

Hi there,

I used to have a '97 LE v6 that handled wonderfully on the highway.
You could take it up to 80 and it felt solid.

I got a 2001 LE 4 cylinder, and it handles completely different.
I recently got some new Goodyear all-season tires, which did help a bit, but its just not the same.

Anyone else had the same experience?

Is there any way to improve it?

Thanks

 

[ukrkoz]

Much less weight on front end?
What exactly is that you feel different? Besides needing to stab a 4 cyl all the time to giddy up?

 

[qqzj]

Hi there,

I used to have a '97 LE v6 that handled wonderfully on the highway.
You could take it up to 80 and it felt solid.

I got a 2001 LE 4 cylinder, and it handles completely different.
I recently got some new Goodyear all-season tires, which did help a bit, but its just not the same.

Anyone else had the same experience?

Is there any way to improve it?

Thanks

Comparing used cars is not going to help. So many things are different. If you only worry about handling, of course 4 cyl is better. Less weight up front. Yours handle badly probably due to worn struts and all the rubber parts (ball joint, tie rod, engine mount, end links, lateral arm etc). You can simply swap out the rear sway bar out for a whiteline one. Look at my signature, you can get a few ideas.

 

[norm356]

Also, a 4 wheel alignment can transform a car's handling (but, as qqzj pointed out, only if the bushings, ball joints and struts and springs are all in good order).

A well sorted 4 cyl will feel a bit more sprightly than a V6, with several hundred pounds up front (even more so if manual transmission, dropping another 150 (or so) lbs of dead weight). However, the V6 has much more accelerative torque, so its engine is far less stressed (and less noisy) getting up to speed, which although is only a noise, and not a feeling, can color the experience.

 

[theenterprise]

What's interesting is that the '97 camry v6 had 70k miles, while
the 2001 has only 25k as of now...
You'd think it would be the other way round...

 

[Kingdom934]

Both cars should have the same tire size.

Personally, the biggest thing I've seen with these cars is if the struts were replaced at one time. I don't think the different sizes in the RSB and FSB would cause that much of a change in handling.

Also note, I find the 1997-1999 seats to be softer than the later 2000-2001. I wonder if that is playing any role in the 'feel' of the car?

 

[theenterprise]

Kingdom934-does that mean you don't think upgrading to a whiteline rear sway bar would be worth it?