New Toyota Camry Quality...

4209 Views 40 Replies 31 Participants Last post by steve97, Mar 13, 2005

1fastLE

Discussion Starter · Jun 30, 2004 (Edited)

JD Power & Assoc., the most respected name in automotive ratings, rates the new Camry's quality in the category of 'does not really stand out.

More shockingly, the Hyundai Sonata (2004) is the highest quality car in the midsize class, by a HUGE margin.

Ratings (5-star system):

*New Toyota Camry*
Mechanical Quality-***
Feature & Acc. Quality-*****
Body and Interior Quality-***
Overall Quality-***
Performance-***
Comfort-***
Features & Instrument Panel-***
Style-**
Overall Appeal-***

*New Hyundai Sonata*
Mechanical Quality-*****
Feature & Acc. Quality-*****
Body and Interior Quality-*****
Overall Quality-*****
Performance-****
Comfort-*****
Features & Instrument Panel-****
Style-*****
Overall Appeal-*****

The Hyundai even matched the Camry in the retained value class.
For more info, http://www.jdpower.com/cc/auto/index.jsp#

I am just wondering from the 5th gen guys if you are having very many problems with your cars. I know Camry's are great cars, and I know that Hyundai has made a huge turnaround, but I didn't know that it was this huge.

I'm planning on buying another car as a daily driver, and while doing research I noticed that the Hyundai was the bast in class by a longshot, and I'm seriously considering it over the Camry and Accord. All opinions welcome, I think this could be a good discussion. Overall Toyota is still on top, but are they surviving on their reputation and about to be passed up by Hyundai?

[edit] I am also considering a scion as a daily driver just cause I want one soooo bad. [edit]

See less See more

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

grapefury

· #2 · Jun 30, 2004

scion TC... mmm sweetness, forget the review

a94autoCamry

· #3 · Jun 30, 2004

woot woot?? :clap: :wiggle:

2wickedtoyz

· #4 · Jun 30, 2004

you have to admit the gen5 camry isn't that nice to look at stock it doesn't have the same flavor as the gen 4 or 3

Talisman

· #5 · Jun 30, 2004

2wickedtoyz said:
you have to admit the gen5 camry isn't that nice to look at stock it doesn't have the same flavor as the gen 4 or 3

I think it has the exact same flavor as the gen 3 and gen 4, Boring. All you guys need to except the fact that every Camry that has ever come out is a bland looking car.

grapefury

· #6 · Jun 30, 2004

looks are all opinion.

1fastLE

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 30, 2004

I'm not so worried about the looks as I am the Mechanical Quality. Camry's are classy cars, not overstyled, not ugly or completely bland. The design surely leaves you with a lot of customization options, and a good custom camry will look better than a good custom accord in my book. Just lacks the flair in stock form.

2wickedtoyz

· #8 · Jun 30, 2004

Talisman18 said:
I think it has the exact same flavor as the gen 3 and gen 4, Boring. All you guys need to except the fact that every Camry that has ever come out is a bland looking car.

do you see how much taller they got?

See less See more

3

Talisman

· #9 · Jun 30, 2004

Yeah, they did get taller but they are all still pretty bland.

39571

· #10 · Jun 30, 2004

Talisman18 said:
Yeah, they did get taller but they are all still pretty bland.

you don't deserve to have a camry

I think gen3 are awesome, good body styling, with few mods they look awesome.
Compare all 1992-1996 import cars, camry would stand out in its class.

BigE

· #11 · Jun 30, 2004

I had my '04 since late Sept. 03. 6100 miles, I haven't had one problem yet. The only thing is a cracked windshield that started from a rock chip. I've noticed there's less sound dampening materials used in the gen 5, campared to gen 3, so there's a bit more wind noise. But overall, I like the Camry and enjoy driving it. The front of the car IMO looks great, the rear from the sides could've used a little more work.

But in some of the other links that I saw the skirts and body kits for the gen 5, it looks awesome.

From my point of view, Camry's are just great cars all around, not oriented towards just looks (Mazda 6) or performance (Maxima). And I don't think Toyota's gotten worst in quality, just that others are starting to catch up, so Toyota would need to do something more other than riding on the bulletproof reliability reputation to capure more market share.

See less See more

Phi

· #12 · Jun 30, 2004

The quality of Camrys has dropped dramaticly since the intro of the Gen4 in '97. Having had the past 4 generations of Camrys (Gen2-Gen5 inclusive) in our family, I'm much more aware of the corners that were cut to reduce costs.

My favorite Gens were the 3.5 and 4.5 by far. Heck, even the Gen2 was solid.

My dad is somewhat disappointed with his Gen5 when he compares it to the previous Gens. Materials are cheaper. There's seems to be less attention to detail. Little things that most ppl would just pass off were elimintated like pwr passenger seats. Paint quality is lower. If it wasn't their rock solid reliabilty record and brand loyalty, I'd prolly be a Nissan or Honda owner.

Admiral93

· #13 · Jun 30, 2004

:werd: My Father's Gen5, to me isn't as clean when it comes to "fit and finish"( build quality, fittings, qualitiy of materials, etc.) as my Gen3. The Gen5 is still a great car, but Toyota will need to step up to the Korean car makers in the next few years, or they will just get walked on.

P.S. They can start by getting rid of the Solara and bringing back the Camry Coupe. :saythat:

GaviN

· #14 · Jun 30, 2004

IMO I think the 92-94 Camry's are the best looking. I mean yea, it looks a little bland but its a damn good car. My Camry's quality greatly surpasses that of my 2003 Nissan Altima 3.5SE. My Camry rides much smoother with less wind and road noise and is a joy to drive. I honestly choose to drive my Camry on long distance's as opposed to driving my Altima. The interior of the Camry is so solid and comfortable with good materials from the dashboard to the seats. My aunt has a 99 LE-V6 5sp and just by sitting inside her car I can notice where Toyota cutback on stuff but its still a well put together car. But basically all automakers today are drastically cutting back on fit and finish quality. My friend has a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S430 and his leather is a joke comapared to the 93 Camry's leather. My Camry has just over 222,000 miles and neither looks or drives liek it. I love it !!

See less See more

SmokingTires

· #15 · Jun 30, 2004

Talisman18 said:
I think it has the exact same flavor as the gen 3 and gen 4, Boring. All you guys need to except the fact that every Camry that has ever come out is a bland looking car.

Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know the Camry was suppose to be Toyota's top sports model. I was under the impression that it was A FAMILY CAR!

Why would they need to make it flashy? They run forever, and come with the options people need. They aren't out to blow peoples minds.

As for the Sonata. It is considered a luxury sedan. It is not compariable with the Camry. However, it could be compared with the Avalon. The Camry equivelant would be the Elantra.
(And don't question what I said. I have an Elantra, Sonata, and a Camry

)

And who cares what JD Power says? Get what you like. Not what someone else tells you is good. Don't be someone elses bitch.

1fastLE

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 30, 2004

I think you may have missed the point of the thread, about Toyota being surpassed by Hyundai. As for what you said about the Elantra/Camry comparison. Whether you own one or not I disagree, and so does JD Power. The Sonata is a midsize, just like the new Camry. Older camry's were compacts, but not the new ones. If you have an older camy than I understand how it's about the same as a newer Elantra. Anyway, I thought this thread would be interesting, and it sure is.

98CamryLE

· #17 · Jun 30, 2004

Talisman18 said:
I think it has the exact same flavor as the gen 3 and gen 4, Boring. All you guys need to except the fact that every Camry that has ever come out is a bland looking car.

Hey now, I don't think Camrys are boring or bland. I love my car, and it, for the most part, is bone stock. (mainly Toyota accessories).

Style is in the eye of the beholder. We all have our own personal opinion of what cars are bland, sporty, luxurious, ect...

Personally, I think Buick Centurys are boring/bland, but that doesn't mean there isn't a loyal following out there somewhere that tunes them up to be, um, super geezermobiles or something.

We don't have to accept anything. If you think Camrys are boring/bland, that's great! I respect your opinion, but please don't tell us what we have to accept. We are all free to have our own opinion.

Camrys may be bland to you, but I rather enjoy the nice body lines that my car sports, along with its combination of plush ride and nice cornering abilty. Keep in mind that my car is stock.

Thank you in advance for accepting the fact that some of us believe that Camrys are good looking cars that are NOT bland or boring, even when they are stock.

See less See more

93 Camry LE V6

· #18 · Jun 30, 2004 (Edited)

My biggest compaints with the 02'-04 Camry is the interior. I think there is too much hard plastic now, as opposed to previous years. Why did Toyota (as well as Honda- they are guilty too) do this? Also, the tail lamps are too large and the instrument cluster is "un-Toyota" like. If you had never owned a Camry before, you would probably not even notice, but if you was a owner of ANY year Camry before the 2002's, you can see the difference.

Mosquito

· #19 · Jul 1, 2004

consider this: my v6 03 camry le cost the same price as our v6 93 camry, and my 03 also has abs + alloy wheels

the only problem I had (13k miles) was closing the trunk from the outside, somehow I closed it, then I couldn't open it from inside,there was no tension on the lever... I made an appt with toyota but two days later it fixed itself and I cancelled the apppointment.
and I agree with the poster above that rear from the side doesn't look very good

93 Camry LE V6

· #20 · Jul 1, 2004

I have heard that the 2002's (perhaps the 03s and 04s as well?) are plagued with squeaks and rattles, which was something that was unheard of in a 96-older (97-01s as well?) Camry. My old 93 Camry LE V6 had 212K when I sold it and it was 100% squeak and rattle free. Last year I heard someone that bought a 02' Camry new, complaining of excessive dash and door rattles. I am not sure if the 03s and 04s improved, but the 02s surely seemed to have had a problem.

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.