1996 Toyota Camry Reviews

1996 Toyota Camry LE 4 cylinder from North America

Year of manufacture1996
First year of ownership2010
Most recent year of ownership2010
Engine and transmission 4 cylinder Automatic
Comfort marks 9 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
9.0 / 10
Distance when acquired150000 miles
Previous carHonda Civic

Summary:

I would buy another one, but I'd make sure I maintained it

Faults:

I bought the car with 150,000, and 2 weeks later the check engine light came on (solenoid was broken).

3 weeks later, the brakes got so hot that it melted the plastic rims on the tires. Needed to replace the master cylinder and the brake pads.

1 week later, the check engine light came on again and it was the catalytic converter. Now it won't pass smog... $800.00 and still fixing it.

Obviously, the people didn't maintain it and I'm getting to pay for all the damage caused by lack of care.

General Comments:

I love the car, as it's very comfortable to ride in, stereo sounds great, and it rides well.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th May, 2010

20th May 2010, 19:34

I agree, you probably bought a Camry that was not well maintained. I recently purchased a '96 Corolla. It has 177,000 miles. However, the person I bought it from had all of the service records. My Corolla was very well maintained, no problems as of yet. I love it.

21st May 2010, 03:00

A faulty solenoid, brakes, and catalytic converter are all wear-out parts, not caused by lack of care, and to be expected on a 14-year old car. You cannot expect perfection on a used car that old with that many miles on it. And all things considered, having just those few problems is really not that bad. Imagine the costs you may have incurred with a '96 Ford, Chevy, or Dodge! You'd be probably talking engines and transmissions.

21st May 2010, 14:49

Or a newer low mileage Honda or Toyota low mileage with trans failures and engine sludging. We bought new GM.

21st May 2010, 19:47

What was the point of posting that exactly? I can't afford a new GM myself, or any new car for that matter. If I could afford a new car though, the last car I'd be looking for is a GM.

1996 Toyota Camry LE 3.0 V6 from North America

Model year1996
Year of manufacture1996
First year of ownership1996
Most recent year of ownership2010
Engine and transmission 3.0 V6 Automatic
Performance marks 10 / 10
Reliability marks 10 / 10
Comfort marks 10 / 10
Dealer Service marks 7 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 10 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
9.4 / 10
Distance when acquired32 miles
Most recent distance233600 miles
Previous carToyota Celica

Summary:

Best car ever

Faults:

Major unplanned repairs have included rack and pinion at 90,000 miles; exhaust manifold at 200,000 miles.

General Comments:

I bought the car brand new with automatic, V6, A/C for $21,000. It has been incredibly reliable and really fun to drive. It now has close to 230,000 miles.

I've been good about maintenance. I do the oil change myself every 3,000 miles and started using synthetic oil (I buy Super Tech, Wal-mart's brand) at around 150,000 miles. The engine does not burn a drop of oil. I use Toyota oil filters or Mobil 1 oil filters only.

I also get the transmission oil changed every 30,000 miles, radiator water, brake fluid and power steering fluid every 30,000 miles.

Spark plugs, timing belt, and all other belts and water pump every 60,000 miles.

I only use very good gas like Exxon or Shell. I put some Marvel Mystery oil in my gas every other tankful.

I use a K&N air filter.

I wax the car by hand once a year.

I just finished a trip to Carlsbad New Mexico with my wife, and I averaged 33 mpg with the A/C on at 65 mph. That's on a six cylinder engine!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th March, 2010

1996 Toyota Camry DX 2.2 liter from North America

Model year1996
Year of manufacture1996
First year of ownership2001
Most recent year of ownership2009
Engine and transmission 2.2 liter Manual
Performance marks 5 / 10
Reliability marks 10 / 10
Comfort marks 8 / 10
Dealer Service marks 6 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 7 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
7.2 / 10
Distance when acquired91000 kilometres
Most recent distance265000 kilometres
Previous carToyota Tercel

Summary:

These Camry's are built like tanks!

Faults:

None of my major repairs were done at the dealer. Except for the timing belt they were usually hundreds more in their estimates for the work.

Clutch at about 160 000kms. Cost me about $600.

Radiator went at the same time as the clutch.

About the same time I had to change the electric motor for the front passenger side window. That cost $500. Ouch!

At about 200 000kms the AC stopped working, I never got it fixed.

Front shocks were replaced a few of years ago, at about 210 000kms. Cost about $600.

I found the brakes lasted forever. 140 000kms on the back and about 80 000 - 100 000kms.

It needs the rear shocks replaced, but at this point it is pretty much a beater and I am reluctant to put any money into it.

General Comments:

I bought this car off my 74 year old mother when she could no longer work the clutch. She bought another Camry to replace it. It was like new when I got it, she never took it over 90kms an hour (60mph). I was much harder on it and it started to cost me when the rad and clutch went. This car is definitely a grand-ma's car, but other than the pretty routine repairs mentioned above it has been bullet-proof. It is very reliable and really well built. It is even still on its original stainless steel exhaust system!

For a Japanese car it is big and heavy with a very soft smooth ride. This one, being a manual 5speed it is surprisingly quick.

Looks wise, the interior has been very long wearing, but the exterior has suffered from our salty winters here in Eastern Canada. Most of the lower panels are galvanized so they do not rust easily even when the paint started to flake off, but above the windshield on the roof there is a bad rust spot that has been growing for 4-5 years. I noticed other Camry's have the same problem.

At 260 000kms I am not too worried about the body outlasting the mechanicals. The engine is good and uses no oil, but everything else is starting to feel and sound like an old taxi. Bumpy and rattly. I would buy another one with low miles on it in a second. I love this car. Great for camping, road-trips and super comfortable for commuting.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 23rd June, 2009

Average review marks: 8.2 / 10, based on 31 reviews


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