1997 Toyota Camry CE review from North America

This was my first new car, and I hoped that the Camry would be exceptionally reliable. I have been disappointed.

The V6 - 5 speed combination is very good, but it was available only with the CE trim level - this is the most uncomfortable car I've owned since my 1968 VW bug.

The cheap interior trim began breaking immediately. The flimsy plastic rear cup-holder - located at perfect kicking height - broke when the car was a year old. I passed on the replacement - $68.

I thought I'd let the dealer do the work, but abandoned that strategy when they pumped all four tires to 39psi following an oil change (max pressure for the tires was 32psi).

At 30,000 miles the front brake rotors had to be turned. The dealer wanted $300 but a local shop did it for $65.

The cheap Dunlops that Toyota provides wore out at 33,000 miles, and I replaced them with Michelins which are now only half worn.

At 60,000 miles the power steering developed a slow leak - I'm afraid to analyze it, but I have already learned that Toyota parts aren't cheaper than any other make (in spite of Toyota's high volume production).

At 62,000 miles the cheap plastic and aluminum radiator failed - the parts were $300 and I paid a mechanic another $200 to do the job. The replacement is as fragile as the original. What happened to brass radiators?

Anyway, my new Camry has cost as much in maintenance as my previous ancient Peugeot. So much for reputations.

The Toyota V6 engine is a wonderful powerplant, but the rest of this car has been very disappointing.

Toyota appears to have cut corners to save money, and they appear as maintenance problems later in this car's life.