Sadly, my '01 Corolla (technically a Prizm, but they're for most intents and purposes the same vehicle) was totaled in a wreck last week. I was on a rural highway approaching a crossroad . . . cross-traffic was supposed to yield. One car didn't, I couldn't stop in time . . . long story short, I need a new car. And the spin was so violent that my head hit the windshield on the passenger's side . . . yeah. They don't make car restraints to hold you in a really bad crash-spin. Fortunately for me, the other driver was in a Hyundai Accent, one of the few cars on the road smaller and lighter than an '01 Corolla (and not one of the many ubiquitous pickups or SUVs that often seem to clog Texas roads); but the experience has made me want a larger car. Not huge, but big enough to feel safe in.
My rental company provided me with a car for 30 days; about a week is up, and I've really enjoyed the '07 Grand Prix (though I miss my car's doors . . . it had 107k miles, but the doors and trunk still went *thunk*. The GP's don't, and it's got less than 7k!). Well, the size, anyway; it's very stable, comfortable and enjoyable to drive, communicates what seems to me a good amount of road feel while not being so much that it's annoying when I'm on one of the rougher roads, and has plenty of power to pass and merge.
So, I want a safe car that's reliable, gets decent mileage, and is bigger than a compact. And I don't know how much I have to spend - I'll know after they appraise my Prizm, the other driver's insurance pays it, and I can then ask for a new loan. But I expect it'll be between $5000 and $8000, likely towards the lower end. The car that best fits what I want and need, that I trust to serve me well for at least a few years to come (I drive quite a bit - averaging 1600-2200 miles every month, mixed highway/city), time and time again my research comes up with a 2000 or 2001 Camry LE. The Accord costs too much and the model years I could afford aren't as safe as the Camry. The Lumina, Malibu, Cutlass . . . let's just say I've already experienced the lovely set of expensive problems that accompany your average GM 3.1L V6 engine, and have no desire to repeat that experience. Kias and Hyundais are improving rapidly, but still can't match the Camry's safety or proven reliablity.
So, it's gotta be a Camry LE. But I do have a few questions:
1. Any problems peculiar to the 00 or 01? Large-dollar regular maintenance items that tend to crop up at a particular mileage?
2. I read somewhere that ABS is standard on the 01 LE . . . but I've read elsewhere that it's only an option. Which is true? I heard great things about the Camry's stopping distance, but after driving cars with and without ABS, I'd really like to have it on the next car I buy.
3. I'm a little concerned about the I4's acceleration. The Prizm was rated 0-60 in nine seconds. In practice, I found it to be only slightly slower than that - yes, I do test these things, just like I track mpg with every fillup. =P I read that the I4 Camry took 10.9 . . . is this true? And if so, has anyone had any problems with that, or is a number just a number? I mean, the only other car I'd consider right now - a Civic (though it's a compact, it does have a great safety rating if I can't afford even a middle-aged Camry) - says it takes 10.5, so I guess maybe it's not too bad . . . but still, it is a concern. Especially when you've got a 3-ton Ford Expedition coming up on your bumper at 80 . . .
4. Fuel economy. Even with the I4, it's rated only a little better than the 3.8L Grand Prix rental I'm driving. Now, I've yet to fillup on it - probably will tomorrow - until then, I can't report its ACTUAL mpg. But if the I4 gets only a little better than the V6, I might try to look harder for a Camry with a V6.
5. V6 owners: what about economy for the V6 for the model years I mentioned? I'd like to be able to compare real numbers from both engines, if you guys would be kind enough to post 'em!
Sidenote: I think it's funny . . . the 01 Corolla and Prizm got bad reviews due to bland styling and unexciting driving, but I loved my baby. Reliability, economy, build quality . . . sure, the sound system wasn't as good as the one in a Neon, or my old '01 Malibu (which I sold to get the Prizm), but that's not what was most important. On ANOTHER sidenote (lol), if I (as seems likely) can't really pick and choose very much, I'll probably have a Camry with the factory sound system. How good is it? I'm not expecting terribly great things, but I do love to listen to all kinds of different music, and NPR, so it'd be great if - well, it's more out of curiosity than anything else. I'll find out for myself soon enough, but am curious to know about you guys' experiences. ^^