Oh..What a feeling

Author's Rating:

Pros: Solid Toyota Quality, Smooth, Quiet, Roomy, Comfortable.

Cons: Cheap Tires

The Bottom Line: 
Buy it, you can't go wrong. A car does not get much better than this.

Author's Review
When we were looking for a car, and it came down between the 2003 Camry LE and 2003 Honda Accord LX, both automatics. We choose the Camry. The Camry is everything we expected.

The current "tall" body style took a while to get used to. At first glance, it looks like a much bigger car. But the length is basically the same as the past generation Camry. The extra height translates into extra head room in both front and rear. The higher seating position also makes getting in and out of the car much easier, without the "sinking" into the seat feeling in some cars.

The driving position is also perfect with the steering wheel aligned with the seat, which is supportive for both long a short trips. The side bolsters are not as deep as in some sports cars. Then again, the Camry is not a sports car. All the controls are logically placed within reach, with good solid feel on the buttons / knobs, and don't have that cheap plastic feeling like some other cars. The Camry comes standard with all the features such as AC, PW, PL, cruise control, CD, Cassette, keyless entry, and etc.

Power from the 2.4L 4 cylinder engine is ok for normal driving. The engine is smooth and quiet on the hwy, like the V6. But a bit "noisy" at idle and in city driving. Again, I use the term "noisy" in the Toyota sense, which is quieter than most engines from other manufactures.

The MPG in the 4 cylinder is also impressive so far (6 months) with combined around 30mpg. The engine is still new (4,000 miles), so these are unofficial numbers. The 4 speed automatic transmission shifts smooths, and without attention, the way it suppose to be.

Trunk space is also good with lots of room, split folding rear seats, and low lift. Nothing to complain about. And the spare tire is a full size.

The ride is smooth, quiet, and feels like a car costing much more. The Camry does give you a sense of a solid secured feel. Maybe because there seems to be a lot of metal on the car. Camry also has a 5 star crash rating.

So what do I not like about the Camry? The suspension, is precise, and comfortable, but a bit soft. With the standard 15" wheel and the cheap tires, the handling does not inspire confidence when turning at a high speed or push during sprited driving. I would assume this would have an impact on braking too. Camry is not a sports car, but a bit firmer suspension and better tires would make it a perfect car for most families. The Camry SE model does have 16 wheels and more aggressive tires, not to mention a firmer sports suspension. I believe that should be standard on ALL Camrys.

The handling issue on Camry is just my taste, while others feel the suspension is perfectly ok. Some performance tires and shocks could make the difference when it's time to replace them. We will see.

The LE model is now the "base model." And it's loaded with everything where I can't think of any options to add, except maybe a CD changer. We were able to get the advertised price of $17,999 which is way below MSRP. That's a great bargain for a lot of car, let alone a Camry. Look in the newspapers for deals.

Final note on the new 2003 Accord LX. I find these two cars to be equal and you really can't go wrong choosing either one. The major difference is summary is that the Accord feels a bit better in performance duties. The ride is a bit more firm, and the new 5 speed auto may put a smile on "gear heads" who must have it. The Camry is a bit more quiet, solid, and with a smoother feel. I have owned both Honda and Toyota, so the quality and reliability is all top notch. It all comes down to styling preference and which dealer can give you the better deal.