07-30-2005, 03:55 PM
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#1
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AF Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: denton, Texas
Posts: 6
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Opinions Needed
The Camry is a great car, no debate there. I've always owned GM V-8s(suburban & pickup) for these are rugged & easy too work on, but after 30 yrs. gas prices & we don't need the big size have me ready to down-size. Are there any midsize GM cars that are worth buying used and are the V-6 engines(Toyota & GM) alot more headache for the home mechanic than the I-4 engines? I'm leaning toward a Camry, but occasionly I come across a midsize GM car(lumina, malibu, etc) at a tempting price, but my research seems to warn the GM cars are less reliable/more trouble. Thanks for any opinions
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07-31-2005, 04:28 AM
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#2
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AF Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Irvine, California
Posts: 309
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I've driven 4 cylinder Toyotas since 1980 and have been most pleased with their simplicity, reliability, etc. As you probably already know, the Camrys are made in Georgetown, KY and I believe you'll be very happy with a 157 hp, 4 cylinder Toyota Camry. 
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07-31-2005, 09:20 AM
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#3
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AF Regular
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Falmouth, Massachusetts
Posts: 294
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Re: Opinions Needed
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Originally Posted by Bossman
I've driven 4 cylinder Toyotas since 1980 and have been most pleased with their simplicity, reliability, etc. As you probably already know, the Camrys are made in Georgetown, KY and I believe you'll be very happy with a 157 hp, 4 cylinder Toyota Camry. |
The Camry was introduced in 1983. I used to own a 1985 Camry and it was very reliable. very simple to work on. JOET/CAMRY
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07-31-2005, 12:04 PM
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#4
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AF - Advisor
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: B'ham area, Alabama
Posts: 518
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It's not really a headache to own the v6's.
Honestly... If you keep any of the v6's in semi-descent condition, and you compair it against the same year i4's in average, or less condition, they get the same gas mileage.
The typical range for any of the v6 Camries (Pre 3.3L 3mz-fe) is 20-25mpg average. If you flog any of them over a whole tank, you can drop it to 18mpg. When I wasn't flogigng my car (Pre-turbo) it would get 24mpg. I finally got it up to 25mpg with some nice work I did right before I put the turbo on. Go figure.
The only headache with the v6's is that you need to take the upper intake air chamber (what you would call the intake manifold, but ours is 2 piece) to change the spark plugs easily. It's a 10 min job once you've done it once, but it's pretty slow for non-mechanics the first time around.
You *can* change the plugs with an assortment of flexi-shaft extensions, a joint, and some normal extensions. It's so much easier to just take the intake off...
Old people hate fuel injection, especially Japanese fuel injection, and are scared of it - thinking it is some mystic thing.
Old people are stupid. Troubleshooting EFI is easy... 90% of the time, the computer tells you when you have a problem, what the general problem is, and what you need to look for to fix it.
99% of the time, the problems are still mechanical, because electronics themselves don't break... So you don't really need any electrical knolwedge to troubleshoot 99% of any possible problems.
You'll like Toyota engines. They're more over-built GM engine's are. More parts, but the parts used have a hundredth the failure rate.
If you don't want to give up big vehicles, you need to look into the Toyota v8 truck/suv's. They get great gas mileage, and don't let the relatively small displacement fool you.
32 valves (4 a chamber) they breathe a lot of air without the displacement. Get a newer v8 with vvt-i (Varriable cam timing trickery), and you'll get an amazingly broad powerband, and great gas mileage. A friend of mine bought an '05 4.7L Tundra in February. It's no race truck, but the power delevery is great, and he's getting 23mpg with it. (2wd)
__________________
Toysrme257th - AIM about anything, anytime; including v6 turbos.
World's second ES 300/3vz-fe Turbo.
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08-02-2005, 03:55 PM
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#5
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AF Regular
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Bakersfield, California
Posts: 84
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Re: Opinions Needed
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Originally Posted by Toysrme
Old people hate fuel injection, especially Japanese fuel injection, and are scared of it - thinking it is some mystic thing.
Old people are stupid. Troubleshooting EFI is easy... 90% of the time, the computer tells you when you have a problem, what the general problem is, and what you need to look for to fix it.
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Define OLD !!
__________________
1988 Camry LE
4 cyl Auto
335,731
1994 Volvo 940 Turbo
1992 Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel
2006 Mustang GT
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08-02-2005, 06:57 PM
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#6
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Resident Chemist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Rockville, Maryland
Posts: 7,061
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Re: Opinions Needed
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Originally Posted by Toysrme
Old people hate fuel injection, especially Japanese fuel injection, and are scared of it - thinking it is some mystic thing.
Old people are stupid.
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You're in trouble now.
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08-04-2005, 07:12 PM
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#7
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AF Regular
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Bakersfield, California
Posts: 84
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Re: Opinions Needed
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Toysrme
Old people hate fuel injection, especially Japanese fuel injection, and are scared of it - thinking it is some mystic thing.
Old people are stupid. Troubleshooting EFI is easy... 90% of the time, the computer tells you when you have a problem, what the general problem is, and what you need to look for to fix it.
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Lets see now...Fuel injection was invented for diesels by some "STUPID OLD" guy back in 1910 !!
Fuel injection was available on 1957 Corvettes for "STUPID OLD" old guys to buy back in the dark ages!!
I guess it a good thing those stupid old people hated, were afraid and were just downright mystified by fuel injection HUH !!
__________________
1988 Camry LE
4 cyl Auto
335,731
1994 Volvo 940 Turbo
1992 Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel
2006 Mustang GT
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