Camry to Keep Its V6 Option
01-23-13, 01:31 PM
#61
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I can confirm that Michigan roads definitely do SUCK big time. I have family in Bay City. Holy hell you'd think it was a war zone. The state and many towns are broke, no money to fix or even maintain things.
01-23-13, 04:58 PM
#62
Lexus Test Driver
That's true to some extent, though a well-designed turbo can help quite a bit at higher altitudes by preserving more of the sea-level power as you climb. That's why turbos, both in cars and in General-Aviation piston aircraft, are generally popular out west in the Rockies.
01-24-13, 08:30 PM
#63
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I respect your opinion, Mike, but what's fine on glass-smooth Georgia roads in your part of the country may not be fine on roads in the Northeast and Great Lakes. You have to see and drive on some of those roads to believe it. Here in the D.C. area, we have all types...ranging from glass-smooth to severely pockmarked, depending on age/traffic and the amount that is locally spent on maintaining them.
Several auto-enthusiast magazines are either Headquartered in Michigan (primarily at Ann Arbor) or have office (s) there. They say the same thing in many of their tests...they like stiffly-sprung underinnings/tires on smooth surfaces, too, but the local roads in MI really do a number on them, not only sometimes causing tire/wheel/suspension damage but also causing premature squeaks/rattles in the cars from the pounding. That's why they like to take their cars south for an increasing number of their comparisons/tests (particularly to the Virginia International Raceway).
Agreed. But, of course, in your GS Hybrid, the "extra cylinders" are provided by the electric motor.
Several auto-enthusiast magazines are either Headquartered in Michigan (primarily at Ann Arbor) or have office (s) there. They say the same thing in many of their tests...they like stiffly-sprung underinnings/tires on smooth surfaces, too, but the local roads in MI really do a number on them, not only sometimes causing tire/wheel/suspension damage but also causing premature squeaks/rattles in the cars from the pounding. That's why they like to take their cars south for an increasing number of their comparisons/tests (particularly to the Virginia International Raceway).
Agreed. But, of course, in your GS Hybrid, the "extra cylinders" are provided by the electric motor.
I wish the new Rav-4 kept the v-6 but at least the Camry keeps it
02-21-13, 10:57 AM
#64
Update
Toyota's Camry sedan was just redesigned for the 2012 model year, but the Japanese automaker is already updated the mid-sizer with new interior refinements. The Camry's updates will bow for the 2013 model year.
In an effort to improve the Camry's interior appointments, Toyota is replacing the sedan's hard-touch door panels with new soft-touch units. The softer door panels will be installed on LE trim levels and above (including Hybrid), meaning Camry L buyers will still have to make due with the 2012 model's hard plastics.
However, base model Camrys (Camry L, Camry Hybrid LE) do gain Toyota's Display Audio screen as standard equipment for 2013.
For 2013 all Camry LE models will come with center armrests that match the car's interior color. In 2012, the Camry LE's center armrests were black, regardless of interior color.
Finally, Toyota is adding a rear cross traffic alert to 2013 Camry models equipped with the automaker's Blind Spot Monitor system.
The 2013 Toyota Camry is available for order now.
02-21-13, 01:54 PM
#65
Lexus Test Driver
Toyota's Camry sedan was just redesigned for the 2012 model year, but the Japanese automaker is already updated the mid-sizer with new interior refinements. The Camry's updates will bow for the 2013 model year.
In an effort to improve the Camry's interior appointments, Toyota is replacing the sedan's hard-touch door panels with new soft-touch units. The softer door panels will be installed on LE trim levels and above (including Hybrid), meaning Camry L buyers will still have to make due with the 2012 model's hard plastics.
However, base model Camrys (Camry L, Camry Hybrid LE) do gain Toyota's Display Audio screen as standard equipment for 2013.
For 2013 all Camry LE models will come with center armrests that match the car's interior color. In 2012, the Camry LE's center armrests were black, regardless of interior color.
Finally, Toyota is adding a rear cross traffic alert to 2013 Camry models equipped with the automaker's Blind Spot Monitor system.
The 2013 Toyota Camry is available for order now.
02-21-13, 03:33 PM
#66
Lexus Fanatic
Say what? The 2013 Camry has been on sale for months. Do they mean the 2014??? Either way, this should be an embarassment to the company to have to do such trim changes so early on. This is the same story as the Civic's emergency refresh, just on a smaller scale. Both are shameful misteps that these automakers should know better with. It's only been 15-20 years now that Counsumer Reports, all auto magazines, and most carblog sites have put trim and materials at the top of the list and under the magnifying glass.
Glad they made the minor enhancments.
02-21-13, 05:44 PM
#68
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Say what? The 2013 Camry has been on sale for months. Do they mean the 2014??? Either way, this should be an embarassment to the company to have to do such trim changes so early on. This is the same story as the Civic's emergency refresh, just on a smaller scale. Both are shameful misteps that these automakers should know better with. It's only been 15-20 years now that Counsumer Reports, all auto magazines, and most carblog sites have put trim and materials at the top of the list and under the magnifying glass.
.Please. The 2013 Camry has only gone on sale recently. The 2013 model wasn't even on Toyota's website until a few weeks ago. Late last year they were still selling 2012 models.
The work on this generation Camry was started before Akio Toyoda became CEO; he didn't have as huge of an influence on this car as some of the newer Toyota and Lexus products.
This is not as bad as the Civic, which has several glaring flaws. Hundreds of thousands of happy 2012 Camry owners in the US can't be wrong. Unlike the Civic, the Camry never had a ride quality problem to begin with, a schizophrenic handling problem, or the existing problem the Civic still has which is an ergonomically goofy interior and 1980's interior boxy styling.
Furthermore, it's good that Toyota is being pro-active and making improvements to the materials as opposed to doing nothing.
Besides, the mid-cycle refresh for the Camry should be substantial. It's great to see they upgraded the interior even before the mid-cycle update arrives.
. Less beige and more black material also gives it a classier look.
02-21-13, 09:23 PM
#70
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good updates
02-22-13, 12:44 AM
#71
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All they did was put the XLE vinyl padded areas on the LEs and SEs that don't have leather. And only on the front doors, because they've learned another stupid cost cutting move from GM by cheapening out on the back doors. They changed the headliner to a woven cloth too and added the stitching to the XLE door panels to distinguish it from the lesser models.
An improvement, but not where it needs to be and it should've been done from the start.
An improvement, but not where it needs to be and it should've been done from the start.
Last edited by 84Cressida; 02-22-13 at 12:47 AM.
02-22-13, 12:53 AM
#72
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02-22-13, 01:30 AM
#73
Lexus Test Driver
You guys are too kind. It's nice Toyota is making hurried improvements, but it's uncharacteristic and should not have had to happen in the first place. Now, adding more black to a light-colored interior is backward and actually another cost-cutting measure. Black simulates vinyl and cookie-cutter cheapness (one color for all interior trim colors = cost-savings). This is a step backwards. The color-matched 2012 with diagonal stitch line looks richer.
02-22-13, 02:56 AM
#74
You guys are too kind. It's nice Toyota is making hurried improvements, but it's uncharacteristic and should not have had to happen in the first place. Now, adding more black to a light-colored interior is backward and actually another cost-cutting measure. Black simulates vinyl and cookie-cutter cheapness (one color for all interior trim colors = cost-savings). This is a step backwards. The color-matched 2012 with diagonal stitch line looks richer.
02-22-13, 06:08 AM
#75
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My wife and I looked at a 2012 Camry. We had been looking at other cars within the same category that day. We both sat in a Camry in the Toyota dealer's showroom, took a look around, got out of the vehicle and walked out of the dealer's door. It's clear the Camry sells on its badge rather than its qualities. It was horribly uncompetitive.
I also think it's foolish that in order to get the less ugly SE model one must forgo the amenities found in the XLE.
I also think it's foolish that in order to get the less ugly SE model one must forgo the amenities found in the XLE.
Last edited by Outrage; 02-22-13 at 06:12 AM.