A little info requested from the Sig Forum members. It's time to replace the wife's car. We rented a 2022 Camry XSE and she loved it. (Me not so much, I'm a Subaru Legacy fan) We are looking to buy a late mode (not new) Camry with at a higher end trim package.

1) A recommendation on a good Camry forum? I always join a car / motorcycle for tips, tricks, and repair how tos. I've visited a couple but a good one would help.
2) Is the car a let down after a couple of years. I don't know anyone that has owned one. (I know, I need to get out more)
3) What would be the expected mileage for one. Are they 200K vehicles? (We do typically drive the car for about 10+ years)
4) We're looking to get one in years ranging from 2019 - 2022. Any year in that range I should avoid?
5) Any other info on the car would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

I cannot answer your questions persae. But as far as longevity you should be golden.

I would like to buy a new awd version with manual tranny. Wife is not too interested in a car vs suv though.

I have sat in one, not driven one. I believe you could get 35+mpg on the freeway at 75.

Not interested in a hybrid version.

I am wondering what one would say about cargo and trunk space.

Good luck.

Had a 2013 SE version with the 3.5L six. I preferred the tighter suspension but not everyone wants that, and the six delivered MPG of about 30 tank to tank during the warmer weather. I'm a high mileage user when I worked a territory, and that included stuck in city traffic as well as the interstate to get there. I sold the car when the job ended. Went about 160K with only the AC compressor dying at the very very end. Drove it nicely 98% of the time but suspect it didn't like being floored when someone desperately needed passed.

By my experience, a pretty solid car.

We have a 2012 SE 4 cylinder with about 110k on it. Its never been in the shop for anything other than routine maintenance.

I'm a big fan of Toyota's 3.5L six cyl/fwd drive train, aka Scotty Kilmer's favorite, and currently have a Toyota Avalon that I like a lot. Just a little bigger than a Camry, gets 26-27mpg highway at 75mph and 20+ around town.

We went to a few dealers today to kill some time. They had no new cars and very few used. Dang, a 2022 Corolla with 10K miles: $27,000. That seemed like a big price for a Corolla. Looks like we've picked a bad time for a car purchase.

Probably the worst time ever to buy. Sit tight if you can.

This is the last year of the Avalon, if there are any leftovers... which is gonna be rare in this market, grab one.

Every month Toyota has been revising their production numbers for the year.... downward. The chip shortages continue and China has C19 lockdowns on and off for the last 3 months. The supply chain is FUBAR. Everyone is re-aligning their supply chains out of China and back home (or closer to home) asap. It will take time to re-align the supply chain but in a couple of years, things will get back to semi-normal... assuming there is no WW3.

quote:

Originally posted by doublesharp:
Probably the worst time ever to buy. Sit tight if you can.

Yeah, we're deciding whether to repair her car (front and rear main seals plus some transmission issues) or buy. After researching prices and looking for ourselves, repair seems like the viable option. I read all car advice threads on this forum and I knew it was a bad time to buy, I just didn't realize how bad it was.

Had a 2013 xle 4 cyl that I used for work, was bullet proof for 120k miles before I sold it. 4 cyl didn’t need a timing belt replacement also. My mom has a 2018 Se with a 4 cyl and also has had no issues.

What part of the country are you?

I am really tired of the doom and gloom. I bet I could give you a dozen dealers with inventory with in 1000 miles of your location that would be happy to have you show up and buy a new one off the lot for msrp or slightly less.

Geeez it is so tiring to listen to the "sky is falling" when it comes to new cars.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: old rugged cross,

My wife has driven Camrys since 1992, with the exception of an Outback from 2011-2019. The Camrys were mostly leases, so no excessive mileage. I bought the 2003 when the lease expired and traded it at 155K with nothing other than routine maintenance aside from replacing one wheel bearing.

We bought a new Camry SE in 2019 when the Outback started having head gasket issues. I was surprised how much quicker the Camry was than the Legacy we had at the time (both 4 cylinder). It will also get about 37 mpg on the highway.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
What part of the country are you?

I am really tired of the doom and gloom. I bet I could give you a dozen dealers with inventory with in 1000 miles of your location that would be happy to have you show up and buy a new one off the lot for msrp or slightly less.

Geeez it is so tiring to listen to the "sky is falling" when it comes to new cars.

No Utah. I'm not talking about new cars. The wife has decided on a 2019 - 2022 Camry XSE with one owner would be her preference. We're also not all doom and gloom. We can wait it out without much difficulty. I have checked and continue to check Denver, Las Vegas, and No Utah dealers. My apologies for coming off doom / gloom, that wasn't the gist I wanted at all.

quote:

Originally posted by Bytes:
We went to a few dealers today to kill some time. They had no new cars and very few used. Dang, a 2022 Corolla with 10K miles: $27,000. That seemed like a big price for a Corolla. Looks like we've picked a bad time for a car purchase.

Wow, that must be a Hybrid 2022 Corolla.

I bought a new 2020 Camry LE 4 cylinder almost two years ago, at $26K out the door.

2020 Hybrid Camry was ticketed at $39K and change.

bytes, look at these two for starters. buy under msrp. Pick the one you want. Fly in, pick up drive home. All in a day or so.

Grapevine Tx Toyota
Wilsonville, Or. Toyota.

Oops, I see used. I have no idea why anyone would buy used right now. You are going to pay as much or more than a new price for used. ???

Even if you save a few thousand. Would not prefer to break the car in. Rather than buy one with 20-30k miles on it and wonder why the previous owner traded it in, to save a few bucks?

And no, not you doom and gloom. In these threads it is always about no inventory and chips this and that. There are new cars to buy.

I also think the dealer will treat you differently if you buy new from them vs used.

My mom's 2000 Camry lasted 16 years and 244,000 miles before it developed a bad oil leak that wasn't worth attempting to fix, In the 16 year period that my mom owned the car all it ever required was routine maintenance and the only other work done to the car was having the timing belt replaced and rear struts replaced. I bought a 2015 Camry XSE and now have about 110,000 miles on the clock and other than oil changes, brakes and tires I haven't had to spend any money on the car. The car has been 100% reliable, still looks good inside and outside and no creaks or rattles while driving. The Camry is a solid car that if treated right and properly maintained should last well over 100,000 miles.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
bytes, look at these two for starters. buy under msrp. Pick the one you want. Fly in, pick up drive home. All in a day or so.

Grapevine Tx Toyota
Wilsonville, Or. Toyota.

Oops, I see used. I have no idea why anyone would buy used right now. You are going to pay as much or more than a new price for used. ???

Even if you save a few thousand. Would not prefer to break the car in. Rather than buy one with 20-30k miles on it and wonder why the previous owner traded it in, to save a few bucks?

And no, not you doom and gloom. In these threads it is always about no inventory and chips this and that. There are new cars to buy.

I also think the dealer will treat you differently if you buy new from them vs used.

Thanks for the heads up rugged cross. Both dealers are a bit out of my way but I'll take a look. Maybe a nice excuse for a road trip in a car that gets decent mileage I'll also explore buying new with used prices the way they are.

To share a sentiment...not exactly experience about your chosen vintage...I love my 2004 Camry XLE four-cylinder with 204,000 miles. My daughter is using it now, but someday it will come back to me. There is no better transportation; only different!

It’s a very bizarre market when used cars don’t depreciate, new cars hard to come by. I’m thinking about trading my Accord for a Telluride or a pickup; looks like I could get within 5 grand of what I paid for it new in 2018.