The local dealer has a 97 and 98 Camry on his lot and I swear they are identical. Is there a difference in the lights, sheet metal, trim? How do you tell them apart? Or he's got 2 98's. Thanks for your thoughts.

I believe in 1998, they started making it so after you shut the car off and the lights are still on, opening the door will make them shut off automatically, therefore there was no need for the headlight chime you hear when the driver door is open and the lights are on with the car off. I don't think in 97 they had this feature. So, if you want to check it out this way, open up the door, turn the lights on and see if it chimes. If it does, it's a 97.

Thanks, But are there no differences in the looks of the cars? It seems every model year has a little bit different taillight or insignia or SOMETHING to tell them apart. These two cars I saw are identical!

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/generations/articles/46002/article.html

Evidently, American consumers liked the new Camry a lot, making it the best-selling car in the U.S. for 1997.

Side-impact airbags became available as an option for all 1998 Camrys. The V6 earned LEV status, which the inline four already had. The anti-theft system was improved via an engine immobilizer. And again, the Camry was the most popular car in America.

A coupe, called the Camry Solara, returned to the lineup for 1999. Unlike the previous Camry coupe, which was barely discernable from the four-door sedan, the Solara had a look all its own with its swoopy roofline, heavily creased sides and unique nose and tail. Although it used the same platform as the sedan, the Solara was tuned to deliver a sportier feel through a tightened suspension and recalibrated, firmer steering that gave more feedback to the driver. Additionally, a Sport package was optional on V6 models, and it featured 16-inch alloy wheels, a stiffer suspension and a rear spoiler.

The Solara was available in SE trim with either the four-cylinder or V6, and the leather-lined SLE which came with the V6, and either engine could have a manual or automatic transmission. An SE's equipment level was similar to an LE sedan's and likewise, the SLE was loaded up like an XLE sedan.

The Camry sedan received DRL (daytime running lights) as standard on LE and XLE models and was included on the CE if it had optional antilock brakes. Other changes included upgraded sound systems with both CD and cassette players and a shuffling of color choices.

Outthere Too..

I believe in 1998, they started making it so after you shut the car off and the lights are still on, opening the door will make them shut off automatically, therefore there was no need for the headlight chime you hear when the driver door is open and the lights are on with the car off. I don't think in 97 they had this feature. So, if you want to check it out this way, open up the door, turn the lights on and see if it chimes. If it does, it's a 97.

My 92 Camry XLE has the headlights auto-off feature (When the door is opened). Also, there is no chime for the lights. Of course, this may be because it is an XLE, but I figured all Camrys had it.

You could be right, Andy. However, I thought I heard a chime from a guy getting out of his Camry... I asked him what year it was and he said it was a 97.

OK I'm still confused, but I guess what I'm hearing everybody say is that there is no way to tell a 97 from a 98 by looking at it. True?

I had the auto off headlights when you shut the car and open the door on my old 86 DX Camry so they are nothing recent.

Mike

My 92 Camry XLE has the headlights auto-off feature (When the door is opened). Also, there is no chime for the lights. Of course, this may be because it is an XLE, but I figured all Camrys had it.


my 93 XLE does the same thing.

there is no way u can tell the difference between the 97 & 98 camry's, unless u look @ the VIN number n the sticker on the side of the driver's door..........and i am pretty sure 97 camrys have the auto turn-off headlite feature, coz i have one....

You could be right, Andy. However, I thought I heard a chime from a guy getting out of his Camry... I asked him what year it was and he said it was a 97.

Did he have a moonroof? If you leave your moonroof tilted open (or slid open) when getting out of your car, a chime will go off to alert you. I'll look at the big window sticker from when my car was bought new. It MIGHT have been an extra option to have the auto-off lights.

My 92 Camry XLE has the headlights auto-off feature (When the door is opened). Also, there is no chime for the lights. Of course, this may be because it is an XLE, but I figured all Camrys had it.

My 97 (LE) has the automatic headlight feature. It's saved me a ton of battery charges.

I think about the only visual difference is in the 97 model the front inner door panel is like the rear doors it has that style of grab handle, while the 98 is like the drivers door.