1997 Toyota Camry XLE review from North America

Nothing so far. Car was well taken care of by an elderly couple before I acquired it.

I've heard tell of a problem with the oil stem seals, but I haven't experienced anything related to this so far (i.e. smoke during startup and increased oil consumption).

My parents bought me this car because of its low-mileage and that Toyotas are typically very reliable.

I've had no problems so far with this car. Major step up from my last car, a 1992 Ford Taurus which was constantly leaking coolant or some other fluid and was in the shop on a regular basis.

The car is relatively comfortable for only having cloth seats. Over a long trip they can be a bit hard, but I prefer the firmness.

Gas mileage is passable (~20 in city, ~27 on highway). However, Toyota recommends that you use 89 octane fuel instead of 87. With a 17 gallon tank, this can make intermittent fill-ups a bit more expensive.

V6 engine is quite good. The Camry is noticeably quicker and handles better than my old Taurus. 4-wheel disc brakes and ABS also contribute towards better performance, as well as safety.

My only complaint is with the headlights. This has been mentioned before, but the headlights in the late 97-99 Camrys only use one bulb for both low and high beams. The illumination by the lights isn't as good as the newer (2000-2001) Camrys, which use different bulbs for high and low beams.

Overall, the Camry is a a relatively sporty, reliable mid-sized family sedan that is perfect for a smaller family or, in this case, a college student away from home who needs a reliable sedan.