1990 Toyota Camry DX review from North America

It has a valve stem seal leak, but it is very small and has not gotten worse in the last 100,000 miles. It is so minor that you can't see the difference of the oil level on the dipstick after 3000 miles, but there is some oil in the bottom of one of the the spark plug wells. This hasn't caused me any problems, so I don't plan to fix it.

Radio died after supersized diet coke was spilled into the cassette opening. (don't lend out your cars people!)

Umm, plastic covering over the rear hatch and rear wiper motor broke when I had to swerve with a 450# V8 engine loose in the back of the wagon (I am lucky not much else broke!!!)

Some small spots of rust are beginning to appearing in areas that have been mistreated IE: The two quarter-sized dents from hitting a deer, the bend on the door when a family member opened the door as we were backing out of the garage and caught the tip of the door, etc...

The air dam under the car is bent. (Hunting trails or snow-plowing without the plow, take your pick)

Oh, one real thing: These cars are super easy to steal! The responding officer was good enough to tell me this as I stood in the parking lot of our local shopping plaza with a load of stuff. They found my car two days later. No harm except a blown speaker and a bit of a surprise when uber-loud spanish-language rap blasted me as I inserted my key! Get a decent alarm.

So basically, NOTHING!!! in 19 years and 274,000 miles!

This vehicle was routinely abused, taking me on muddy rutted hunting trails, hauling concrete for the foundation of my mother's home (top of a mountain in the rockies), and driving many rural roads which do, in fact, have a _few_ potholes. I have a one hour commute, and if the roads allow, I regularly travel at a rate considerably higher than the speed limit. So, I don't baby the car.

It never, I repeat, NEVER has failed to start, needed emergency service, or stranded me anywhere.

Why?

1) It's a real gem of a car. Built right, when the Japanese were trying to show up the american builders.

2) I perform all preventative maintenance and I do use the best available materials to do so.

What don't I like?

I'd like more power, but I do also like the 30MPG (at highway speeds (65-75), about 28 at higher speeds (95-105), more if I slow-poke. Which I don't.)

It could have a better stereo system (though I fixed that rather easily)

I'd like a larger fuel tank. I drive a lot and would like to have more than 360 miles of range.

But I can easily put up (or remedy) the negatives.

Of all the cars I've owned and family members have owned, this is by far the most reliable and long-term best investment I have ever made. It has done everything I've asked of it, and I ask a lot.

If they still made this car, I would buy one again in a heartbeat, and so would a lot of my friends and family members.