1998 Toyota Camry LE V6 from North America - Comments

My dog broke the center armrest. The dealer was nice enough to fix it under warranty.

Change holder doesn't stay shut well. This was caused when an after-market alarm was installed. (The fuses are hidden behind the change holder.)

The original General brand tires only lasted 30k miles. I switched to longer life tires and still have them on today.

No other problems.

Some people think the car is dull. I happen to like the styling. It's practical and it's pleasant. It doesn't grab anyone's attention. It's the perfect car for people who don't need a status symbol. If reliability is your game, this would be your star player.

I test drove a 4 cylinder model before buying the V6. The 4 is very slow. At only 136 hp, it is far below the performance of an Accord or Altima. The V6 is a far better choice. At almost 200hp, it moves pretty well. There's a catch, the V6 added about $2,000 to the bottom line.

The car rides very smoothly. The ride is almost as smooth as the Lexus ES300, Camry's cousin.

Although this is far from a sports car, the handling could be better. It gives a distant feeling. Toyota values comfort over sport, but comfort is what most Camry buyers want anyway.

Reliability couldn't be better, I haven't had any repairs or defects other than normal maintenance. I would suggest however, if you do get the V6, use premium gas. The higher octane helps performance. It also seems to help the car start more easily in extreme cold.

Controls are arranged very well. One word describes the layout: practical. Everything is where it should be. The only exception would be the trunk release, which is on the floor next to the door. The dash would be a better place.

My only major complaint with this car would be the headlights. They provide only so-so illumination at night. The high beams seem to illuminate the tops of the trees more so than the road ahead. Toyota solved this problem with the 2000-01 model, which have separate high and low bulbs. 97-99 models use one bulb for both.

This is a great car.

I think that your comments about the Toyota Camry are pretty much spot on. Maybe the American Toyota division should take a look at Toyota Australia's suspension rates (I.e. firmer springs & dampers) as we tend to prefer handling over ride compliance, not that the ride of our vehicles will shake fillings out of your teeth!

Seriously, though, the Australian Camry handles with very little body roll, & near neutral handling with an extremely mild touch of understeer when pushed extremely hard.

With the V6 & 5 speed manual combination, this makes for one Q-car which is innocuous to the law enforcement brigade.

I have one comment about the higher octane fuel causing your car to start easier. Actually, the lower the octane, the easier the car will start. The higher the octane in the fuel, the harder it is to ignite during combustion. This is why higher octane fuel is recommended for engines that have spark knock/detonation problems. As a matter of fact, if you aren't driving a vehicle that requires premium fuel, your wasting your money. Regular octane ignites easier and is better for cold weather operation. Do the research and you will see.