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Scraping under front Camry bumper

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21K views 15 replies 13 participants last post by  Netforcer  
#1 ·
I have a 2007 Camry with less than 1,000 miles on it that I drive very carefully and am especially cautious about issues that could cause scraping under the front bumper, considering how low it is.

My first "incident" with this car was when I was coming out of a Toyota dealership parking lot when I attended the "new owner's clinic. There is a slight incline as you leave the parking lot, before you enter the road. I was at a complete stop, waiting for traffic to clear, then slowly pulled out onto the road, and heard the front bumper hit the pavement. DARN!!!

When I drove back by there the next day, I discovered that the particular entrance/exit I used has a shallow drainage "ditch" at the end of the incline, with a storm sewer grate. I would have never expected having a problem exiting a Toyota dealer parking lot. :sosad:

Is there any hope at all that you can get years and years driving time in these cars and NOT experience situations like this?
 
#3 · (Edited)
The suspension being low is not the problem, the front bumper kit is pretty low, you have to be careful where you drive it and going up inclines, theres really no way to aviod besides paying attention to the steapness of the driveway, etc that you are entering. Also be sure to not park to far in into some parking spaces that have the cement blocks because that can scrap even worse. My moms camry already had to have the whole front bumper redone cause she doesnt realize how low the bumper is and shes a girl ( no offense).
 
#4 ·
Never have scraped mine in 19 months and 21,000 miles of driving!!!!
 
#9 ·
I also make a point of not pulling all the way up into a parking spot. There is one shopping center I refuse to go because there is such a steep incline.

This situation, however, caught me totally off-guard. I drove down the road the other day, looking at the entrances to the business properties, off the roadway. NONE of them have the issue that I ran into at the Toyota dealership with the drainage "ditch" at the bottom of the incline. It's the equivalent of driving through a pothole.

During daylight hours, I may have noticed the potential hazard ... but at night ... I just didn't notice it. I just don't understand why the cars have to be designed in such a way that this is even an issue. My daughters' older model Alero and Malibu have the same issue ... so it is not just Camry's. :sosad:
 
#13 ·
....... I just don't understand why the cars have to be designed in such a way that this is even an issue. My daughters' older model Alero and Malibu have the same issue ... so it is not just Camry's. :sosad:
they are cars they are all like this it is not a design issue.
its the length of the wheelbase and its unavoidable.

or you could go out an buy one of these and not worry about the front bumber scratching anything:
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