Camry LE Review: "Has the champ finally let down its guard?"

[roteague]

I thought some might enjoy this review of the new Camry.

"Despite Toyota’s “when does a car become more than a car” zenvertising, Camry folk treat their rides like a household appliance: use, admire occasionally, forget. For the 2007 model year, America's favorite four-wheeled conveyance has become… a stylish appliance. That said, the new Toyota Camry is no Sub-Zero ‘fridge or Dyson upright. For all its extensive improvements, the model has sacrificed much of its traditional depth of character on the altar of style and profit. In fact, the new Camry raises an important question: has the perennial mid-size sales champ finally let down its guard?

...

The Camry’s new schnoz says Mazda 6- albeit an older, overweight version with multiple neoplastic lesions. The Camry’s back end is pure BMW-Bangle– though Chris and Co. wisely treated their over-sized taillights to high dose design-studio chemotherapy, and Toyota didn’t.

...

The grandiosity continues within. The Camry’s once frumpy interior now sports a spizzarkle of curves, two-tone plastics, fake aluminum and premium cloth trimmings. (Quasi-brougham velour front seats mock Recaro's finest.) At first sight, the hard plastics seem tucked away. Look a little closer, feel around a bit, and the quality subsides. The passenger side dash and window switchgear flaunt inconsistent, Hyundai Excel-ish gaps. The dash-to-console trim needs a good automotive orthodontist.

The petro-chemicals’ unyielding character speaks of factories even GM would fear to frequent. Rounding out the Camry LE’s **** list: chintzy door handles attached to tin-can portals that shut with all the reassurance of an Enron 401k.

...

Given the current mechanical problems with the Avalon, massive worldwide recalls and our tester's quality shortcomings, the question must be raised: is Toyota cutting too many corners? For over a decade the Camry LE consistently provided the American consumer the four-wheeled equivalent of the FDIC. Now that a Ford Fusion SE offers tighter panel gaps, unique style, strong V6 power and uber accident-avoidance adhesion for the same 24-large; now that Hyundai’s in the hunt, Toyota's breadwinner may no longer have a "lock" on the high quality, high value sedan market. "

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1826

[2007CTS]

He really didnt like the car.

[tama z71]

holy hell. do those guys praise anything?

[guitarlix]

That's by Sajeev Mehta. You don't want to read some of his other reviews like the Buick Lacrosse review. He can be brutal, sometimes for good reason, but at other times, just for the heck of it.

[jon21]

That person sound somewhat snobbish.

[LAMRONH]

Originally Posted by jon21

That person sound somewhat snobbish.

He's not a snob, he's just better than other people.

[01cavalier]

Wow, he really doesn't like it

[mystikranger]

Given the current mechanical problems with the Avalon, massive worldwide recalls and our tester's quality shortcomings, the question must be raised: is Toyota cutting too many corners? For over a decade the Camry LE consistently provided the American consumer the four-wheeled equivalent of the FDIC. ...Toyota's breadwinner may no longer have a "lock" on the high quality, high value sedan market. "

HaHaHaHa! Finally people are understanding what we've been saying!

[SSrevolution]

There is no way that car is that bad. This guy is crazy.

[Tomko]

Originally Posted by tama z71

holy hell. do those guys praise anything?

Yes, Porsche.

[GMFreak8]

Wow, not sure what to think. This guy reviewed a toyota like he does a GM, I'm speechless.

[Tiger]

I'd love to counterpoint him, but must admit I've got nothing. What he says rings of the current Toyota truth.

[gerardo_zg]

Originally Posted by tama z71

holy hell. do those guys praise anything?

Originally Posted by 01cavalier

Wow, he really doesn't like it

Originally Posted by 2007CTS

He really didnt like the car.

You think so?

[Old Dood]

Originally Posted by Mags

So when this site bashed GM vehicles, they were biased, and now they're good.

MF

I was thinking the same thing...

[nsap]

Originally Posted by Old Dood

I was thinking the same thing...

Please... Who is celebrating? Really, I don't read one post that is celebrating this review.

Surprise, surprise. Never fails. Everytime an import review is less than perfect someone brings up the "well they were biased until this review." Even when no one has celebrated a damn thing.