Toyota Camry Solara 2003 test drive - 2008
Do not wait ...
The current Kamri has become the best-selling business class sold in Russia for the third year in a row. But her predecessor was much less fortunate. In terms of sales, it was significantly inferior not only by European analogues, but also by its chief Japanese competitor - Nissan -Maxim. The main problem of Kamri was that it was too American. A smooth body squeezed from a block of ice with a minimum of detail, the same spineless interior of inexpensive materials. Kamri resembles a makdonald's hamburger, suitable only for quenching hunger. And if such fast food is enjoyed behind the ocean with pleasure, then in Europe and Russia, a business class car requires more sophistication.
Respect for Kamri, you begin to penetrate only after some communication with her. The car simply conquers in combustion. In terms of smoothness and silence in the salon, she is able to argue with much more expensive and thoroughbred cars. But they also promise supern hope ... Therefore, if you have nothing against the Americanized design of Kamri, you can start to look closely at it.
American? It's OK
The lion's share of Kamri offered for sale was brought from the USA or Canada. There are much less specimens from Europe. Due to the high euro exchange rate, there are now too high prices for the Saacond Hand. Cars, once sold in Russia with new ones, do not make the weather either - there were too few of them.
The Americans have a simpler decoration of the cabin and a softer suspension, as well as lighting technology and a frequency of frequencies of the radio standard of the American standard, from European machines. In addition, cars with a 2.2-liter engine can flaunt with subtile 14-inch wheels and drum rear brakes instead of disk. But the strangest feature of the Americans is fixed tightly, unrelated side mirrors. Naturally, they are regularly broken off ...
Many European and most American Camry with a 2.2 liter engine are equipped with a velor salon. Even six years later, these chairs look pretty decent
But all these are trifles. As for reliability, the mechanics have nothing against the Americans. The main thing when buying a car from the USA or Canada is to check the condition of the oil in the engine. As you know, the Yankees love to save on the quality of oil, and often do not bother to replace it at all. Therefore, if black resin is under the oil -packed traffic, it is better to immediately refuse such a machine. Even just good oil (aggressive flushing - in no case) begins to lift tarry deposits, and they can ruin the motor.
If the state of the oil (and the entire car) is satisfactory, in the future, the American specificity of Camri will manifest itself only in the periodic appearance of the Chering Engine inscription on the dashboard. Since the environmental norms in the United States are especially stringent, the electronics controls sometimes go crazy from our gasoline. But in most cases, the light bulb is extinguished by a simple removal of an error from a computer.
This was the design of the stern until mid -1999. Then the lanterns became larger
Everything is working
The Camry body must be checked mainly for recovery after the accident. There should not be obvious foci of rust even on 6-year-old cars with Moscow registration. But if good corrosion resistance for a modern foreign car is the norm, then the reliability of the internal equipment of the Camry body is simply phenomenal.
The air conditioner is reliable, the salon does not begin to creak over the years. Even in electrical equipment there is not a single (!) Statistical sore - after 5-6 years of driving in salted Moscow, everything works. True, the elements of heating the seats refused the early machines. But this drawback was soon eliminated, and there are no more complaints about the body and its insides.
The most popular motor is 2.2 liters
Two gasoline engines were installed on the previous Kamri: a 131-horsepower 4-cylinder with a volume of 2.2 liters and a 190-horsepower 3-liter V6.
Powerful and noble V6, of course, is good. But the cars equipped with him are rarely found - mainly those that were sold in Russia with new ones. The fact is that initially inexpensive Camry with the engine of such a cubature is unreasonably expensive after customs clearance. Therefore, 2.2-liter versions are taken from America and Europe. It is clear that such an engine does not turn a large and heavy Camry into a queen of autobahns. But for a relatively calm ride, it is enough.
Two examples are discussed about the reliability level of Camrei engines. The first. The timing belt on both changes after 100,000 km. But at the same time, the belt rollers are not necessary for the first time at all. They calmly live to the second replacement of the belt. Second. The valves do not have hydraulic compensators - the gaps in them are regulated by interchangeable washers. In theory, such a design should require regular verification and adjustment of the gaps. But the mechanics say that for complacency they can be checked for thousands of a hundred. And you can not check - the gaps will still be normal ...
After that, it does not seem surprising that no serious problems behind Kamri's engines are found. If they were not diluted in first life, then in the second they will serve you faithfully.
Engines in operation
The spark plugs on both motors serve on average 10,000-20,000 km. By the way, platinum candles are installed on the V6, and ordinary, cheaper mechanics do not recommend applying instead of them. The timing belt changes after 100,000 km.
Among common for both engines of probable malfunctions, it is possible to note the refusal of the executive valve of the recirculation system of exhaust gases (EGR). At the same time, the motor begins to stall when the gas is discharged and the neutral stop (or in the mode D of the machine). If you are especially baking about the ecology, replace the valve. Or just drown out the recirculation highway.
In addition, oxygen sensors in the exhaust system sometimes refuse our gasoline. There can be from one to four by car, but usually one one fails. To extinguish the Check Engine light bulb or to normalize the engine and fuel consumption, the sensor must be changed.
2.2 l
About 150,000 km on this engine, a pump and an oil pump oil seal can flow on this engine (located next to the front crankshaft front oil seal). If the motor is equipped with a ignition system with conventional high -voltage wires (an option with individual coils is also possible), over time, the wire of the fourth cylinder (engine engine) begins to pierce the first. It is better to replace the whole kit.
V6
After about 150,000 km, the motor will begin to jump under the hood when gas supply/discharge. Change its front support.
How much does a replacement cost, $
Spark plugs 4-cyl. 18+35 V6 96+120 belt timing 4-cyl. 48 (152)*+225 V6 56 (166)*+300 Executive valve EGR 212+20 oxygen sensor 202+20-30 Water pump 122+285 Oil pump oil pump 7+275 set of wires 72+25 engine support 172+35
* The cost of rollers
Mechanics or machine gun
A manual box is found only on some 2.2-liter machines. But most of them and all, without exception, are equipped with a machine gun. Let's start with him.
Before buying, the machine must be checked for smoothness and clarity of switching, as well as the state of oil and the presence of its subtexts from below (especially if a machine with a towing). In fact, problems with the box are unlikely. But the Toyota mechanics, accustomed to the super-adventure of the mechanics of Toyota, say that if the machines refuse, then for some reason more often on Kamri.
When this happens, repairs in the workshop specializing in automatic machines will cost about $ 2000. But most likely you will not know much trouble than replacing oil every 40,000 km. Keep in mind that on a 2.2 -liter version of the main transmission and automatic transmission are separate. Therefore, draining the oil from two corks, do not forget to pour the fresh dexron (we were not mistaken - namely it) also in the differential.
The manual box is generally impeccable. It happens that wheeled caskets flow, but this is extremely rare. Therefore, you have to change the oil after 40,000 km and approximately in the interval of 100,000-150,000 km replace the clutch.
How much does a replacement cost, $
Drill -90 clutch (set) 285+300
Chassis: exemplary endurance
When it comes to the resource of the details of the Camrie chassis, the mechanics first remember the supporting cups of the front shock absorbers, which pounded on irregularities on irregular machines. They were once replaced by cups of a new model and no longer returned to this. If we talk about regular replacements, Camrei most often call on a lift for replacing bushings (every 30,000-40,000 km) and racks (70,000-90,000 km) of stabilizers. But all this is a penny.
The first more or less tangible investments in the chassis begin only to 100,000-50,000 km (provided that the car drove along our roads all the time). During this period, you will replace shock absorbers and brake discs in a circle (the latter easily withstand three sets of pads) and, possibly, a couple of front hub bearings. But since all these details can be selected non -original, at this stage, Kamri will definitely not ruin you.
Then you can calmly ride to about 200,000 km, when the time comes to change the front pendants and steering rods with the tips. But most likely these troubles will fall on the shoulders of the next, third owner.
Among the likely unscheduled failures, you can note the souring of brake calipers (if they are not cleaned and not lubricated on each), as well as the appearance of leak or knocking in the steering rack after 150,000 km. However, the rake is successfully and inexpensively repaired, and even the bulkhead of one or two calipers - all the more pennies. Therefore, we can safely say that the chassis of the 4-5-year-old Kamri will not become an article for constant and large expenses for you.
Buy?
The previous generation Kamri was discontinued in 2001 and formally has already gone beyond the heading for three years not age. But if you want to buy a business class car at a similar price and subsequently invest as much as possible in it, look for this particular model. After all, the choice of a used car is determined not only by the cost of this model in the market, but also by the cost of its maintenance. From this point of view, the previous Kamri seems to be a super -domestic acquisition.
Although the prices for it are very attractive. The post-bosses of 1999-1001 with a 2.2 liter engine cost $ 14,000-17,000, and with a 3-liter V6- $ 17,000-21,000. Doreophone machines are even cheaper- from $ 11,000.
As for the reliability ... brought from Europe or America with a mileage of 80,000-00,000 km Kamri can drive around Russia as many more without driving the owner into large expenses. Of all the business class cars I know, only one is capable of Maxim, in addition to Camrei, in addition to Camrei. This is in case you don't like Camrei.
New, with a guarantee, for the same money
Since the prices for the previous generation Camry are low, new cars for the same money will be much more modest. Instead of the 1997 early instances, one can only consider Rio and emphasis - the models of three classes below. Even if you tuned in to the restyled version of the 2000 model, at the price of an alternative to it can be maximum Japanese golf-class machines. Is this size too small? Then dig a little more and you can look towards the sonata or Magentis.
Alexander Konov
Source: Magazine buy a car [04/05]
