2001 Toyota Camry LE from North America - Comments

I think many of the commenters who bash domestics and rave about imports haven't driven a domestic in decades. One commenter who raves about his 17 year old Tacoma admits to not driving a domestic since 1992.

A recent Ford review is from a person who had never owned a domestic, and he raved about the new Ford. A Honda owner admits that the new Ford Fusion is a much tighter, smoother and better built car than his Accord.

People who have driven anything built by U.S. auto makers recently (or in the past 10 years) will quickly admit that modern domestics are as good, and in most cases better, than imports. I make it a point to test drive many different cars, both foreign and domestic, to keep up with current trends. No import I've driven has impressed me nearly as much as the Ford Fusion or Chevy Malibu.

As for warranties, they seldom matter to me. As a mechanic I drive only reliable cars, which for me means Ford, GM or Chrysler, and I never require any repairs, even in the first 100,000 miles. When you drive a Ford 300,000+ miles with only one muffler, 2 hoses and several brake jobs, you don't worry about the warranty.

Same for my Dodge, which required only 2 timing belts, one hose and 2 brake jobs in over 200,000 miles, or our Buick that required nothing but brake jobs in 277,000 miles.

I have to tell you all that I have had 20 years of car nightmares with GM cars, and even worse my Dodge Dynasty that required 3 transmissions was the worst of all. Chrysler makes some nice looking cars but I will never trust them. On the plus side I have a 2002 Cavalier that has been pretty descent, but it only has 45,000 miles on it. Don't buy a Hyundai either. I have a 2000 sonata that has been garbage. I have spent thousands of dollars on it to keep it going. Currently looking into a Camry as I have friends that have put over 200K on them and sold them in still good running condition. Also had a ford. It's true what they say. Fix Or Repair Daily.

"Currently looking into a Camry as I have friends that have put over 200K on them and sold them in still good running condition. Also had a ford. It's true what they say. Fix Or Repair Daily."

I've never known even ONE individual who got 200,000 miles out of a Camry without very major repairs. Our friend who is an import fan has 130,000 miles on his Camry. He sheepishly admits to over $4000 in repairs (so far) but still maintains "Japanese cars are better". As for Fords, none of ours ever required ANY repairs before 150,000 miles, and none ever had an engine or transmission replaced in over 300,000 miles. Our company's Rangers routinely go 300,000 miles with no problems. Our current 2006 Fusion is an extremely solid and reliable car. I guess that's why Consumer Reports rates it TWO FULL LEVELS ABOVE CAMRY in predicted reliability. Ford has just as many "recommended buy" vehicles as Toyota, and beats them in reliability. If you fall for Japanese ad hype, you've no one but yourself to blame. We got burned on a Honda and will never buy a car based on false ads or untrue claims again... EVER.