Originally Posted By cape cod joe I just read your whole post av to my DW and she is just shaking her head with your thougtfulness and mostly your rocket scientry? Where do you'all come from? It's scary here with the omniscient people of LP Are you in Ontario Av?
Originally Posted By avromark I'm not in California no I may be. The 2nd 12v plug is on the console passenger side, so you can plug your iPod and cell phone in at the same time. If your tires say Tiger Paw Nailgard, they're self sealing tires, not quite the same as run flat, but it does mean you can usually get to a Tire Store or whatever if you pick up a smaller nail or something without having to put on the spare.
Originally Posted By avromark In the event your fuel pump cuts off (Ie if your rear ended) there's a red button in the trunk (I think right side) you can press to get the fuel pump back on so you drive the car to the side of the road etc.
Originally Posted By cape cod joe Man you are so far over my balding head. Av--Let's wait till amana then I'll go through my myriad questions as I had trouble with the adjustable steering wheel on the test drive today. Just one question--front wheel drive? We have snow around here.
Originally Posted By avromark Yes front wheel drive. the tilt mechanism is the small stalk on the left (or maybe right), not under the wheel like most imports. You just pull it while moving and stop pulling when it's in the position you want.
Originally Posted By avromark oh and bad news, iPod has to run through an FM transmitter this radio was designed way back before iPods were hot so it has no aux input.
Originally Posted By avromark Your talking to someone who test drove EVERY mid size on the market a couple of years ago, test drove every minivan on the market when my mom purchased hers, did the same with full size SUV's with dad. I never go by what others think, I like to see things myself.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess I've had a couple of Tauruses in the past 10 years (a green one even!) and we REALLY liked them. They were comfortable and very reliable. My husband is a mechanic and really knows cars, so he did insist I get an extended warranty just in case the tranny ever went out, but it never did. I have an '06 XLE V6 Camry now and am hoping I like it more than you liked yours! Anyway, enjoy your new Sable.
Originally Posted By cape cod joe Susan--Saturday I looked at the 07 camrys as both toyota dealers live here at the Ridge Falmouth Toyota and Hyannis Toyota (the 2 main towns on cape). They were around 20 so we just couldn't afford it, hence the white 05 Sable. DW and I LOVE it. I can't tell the frickin difference anyways about what car is what. My name is expert AV
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess So many of the cars look so similar now! I noticed the the new Ford 500's look a lot like the Camry's, as well. (If our Ford dealer had been more helpful, the 500 was originally my first choice.) I like the spaciousness of the Sables and Tauruses, the leg & head room and comfort of the seats. It sounds to me like you got a really great car!
Originally Posted By avromark You mean the Camry looks like the 500. If you have the V6 - keep EVERY gas receipt, if your engine develops sludge you will need them. They wouldn't replace the engine since I couldn't prove the previous owner (I bought mine used) always used Premium Gas. Do your oil changes on a Camry using severe duty, always. Hopefully they put more supportive seats in the 07, the seats in mine had to be the most flaccid peices of umm Eisner ever installed in an auto. BTW a snowmobile is technically to heavy for a Camry to tow. As well on the last gen, they downrated the HP rating when it was tested. Apparently Toyota likes to test engines with no loads (Take all accessories off, run it on race fuel). Under new SAE rules they aren't supposed to do that. For the Taurus - over 200k, i've replaced my shocks, struts twice (My car has a hitch on it, figure it out), i've also done my front wheel bearings, "Transmission Kit" every 80k, oil changes every 5k, it's on it's 2nd (or 3rd if you count Winter Tires) set of tires. I've done 2 tune-ups. I have not had a single accessory fail, or anything else break, ok some seat trim, but I've also been known to load it beyond the gunwhales. (I have a rooftop box to give you an idea) You'd be amazed at the damage you can do when you place wrought iron fencing into it heh.
Originally Posted By avromark When she does get replaced i've limited it to (depending how gas prices and my paycheck go) Chevrolet Impala, Ford 500 (only if it's 07+ when they put the 3.5 in it), Mazda6 (I want a stick!), Dodge Caliber and Honda Civic. If I get the latter 2 i'd have to keep the Taurus or borrow my parents car to tow. My wish car toy is a Mustang (Or if more affluent a Corvette) BTW more then one auto magazine has put the Camry behind even the Hyundai Sonata, noting that Toyota's aren't as bullet proof as thought. Rememeber perception always lags behind reality. Car & Driver in this months issue also rates the Yaris behind the Kia Rio (Mrs. Nurmi will love to hear that), Toyota was the standard, 15 or 20 years ago. Taurus was the first affordable modern automobile (remember when cars were square?). I've heard the arguement about resale value, well it's inflated, a $15,000 Toyota would be in significantly worst shape then say a $15,000 Buick. As well if Toyota's were truly cheaper to own and run, wouldn't every single cabbie and Police Dept buy one. The top 3 police cars are not built in USA, the Camry is, so American Pride is not the issue. I doubt Cabbies care where their cars are made. GM's 3.8l is considered to be the most bullet proof V6 ever made. Part of the reason the average Toyota lasts longer is that the average owner does all the maintenance, tends to be more affluent, and generally takes better care of it because they fear hurting their resale value and hold it dear to their hearts because it's a beloved Toyota. I know people who on their surveys will lie and not put that they had a problem on their Toyota because they feel they'll be the odd person out and somehow the problems they had were their fault. Think about it, what do poorer people, "rednecks" drive. If that Chevy really wasn't good, how come so many of those old trucks still beat around, I doubt "rednecks" treat them with Tender loving care. Treat it like I treat my car (I drive well, I do all maintenance) but I tend to truly use the utility of it, you may find it's not as good as you think.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess Ack!!! Well now you've got me all depressed and worried! I spent a lot on it, and got everything "top of the line." It's the first time I haven't settled, you know? I do have to say, though, after owning my Windstar (NIGHTMARE) that this feels/drives like a dream in comparison. I just hope it doesn't ever disappoint me! I do take reallllly good care of my vehicles (my husband's fanatical too about upkeep and maintenance), so my fingers are crossed!
Originally Posted By avromark See then again, my parents have 3 Windstars, the last one outlived the vehicle it was supposed to replace, one was average, one we only kept for a 2 year lease so we don't know long term what it would be. There are people that swear by their K-cars, their are people who have had problems with a M-B, you mileage and your experience will be different, I know people who have had one camry that was trouble free, and another that wasn't. Even if you and your husband bought identical cars, you would not experience identical problems. Say you drove more then your hubby, you couldn't say, oh in my car the right headlight burnt out at 72,000, expect it to happen. Perhap's he'll have a tire explode, perhaps nothing will happen. But do one thing look at the thickness of the door, and press the sheet metal in. This "saving" of weight results in a faster car, and one that will use less gas, but will be more prone to rusting in a rust belt, and is less likely to keep you safe in a collision. No matter what they say, more metal around you = more protection. You can take an SUV with a horrible 2-star crash rating, have it in a collision with a 5-star crash rating economy car, the SUV will win every time. Life is a compromise, your Camry will use slightly less gas, be faster, but it will need premium gas in V6 form. However despite what they say it will not do as well in a real world collision as a Taurus, if you like I can send you many many pictures i've collected over time. Your Taurus had a fuel pump reset, meaning after a collision if the engine cut off, you could restart. Your Camry most likely has electroliminescent gauges, I believe in 07 the doors auto-lock like a 87 Taurus would, for years the Camry didn't even have that. The Ford has a Personal Safety System, the Camry has well mine had, umm smaller tires that were cheaper then the Taurus. In terms of van's my parents have owned since 84, Chrysler's, Ford's, GM's, Mazda's and Toyota. Each one was different. Each had different problems. None were trouble free. Again ANY van will more often then not have a transaxle problem. A Truck is made tough, by nature of what it does. a Minivan is based on a car. By nature it is heavier, and less wind resistant. As well a van has a huge interior. You're much more likely to go over payload without trying. (stuff in 7 people and some sports equipment for example) as well a family is more likely to run the minivan with say 3 or more people and lots of groceries in the back, and the car empty. If you live in SF, you're brakes will go fast. If you tow, you're looking at lots of shocks and struts, If you accelerate like Mr Andretti, we'll you're looking at more gas use, and you're tires will wear faster. The Camry engine is more efficient, however Honda, Nissan, GMC, Chrysler, etc can make more power and still use regular. Did you buy the Camry on reputation, or did you look at Accords? Did you research, using multiple sources? Did you use a check list when comparing cars and keep notes? Don't just rely on Edmunds or Consumer Reports (They clinically evaluate), try Car & Driver (they look for sport) , Motortrend for another opinion. Check the net, canadiandriver.com for example bases reviews on practicality. Just becuase the source is not american doesn't mean it's not relavent to you. You may also have different priorities. For example they may say "Not very sporty" you may read that as "Not Tempermental", they may blast something for being "Huge", you may read that as "Room to keep Kevin from teasing Kate" They may say "has a weird radio control" you'll say since "I only own 2/3/4 cars I don't think that'll bother me, in fact to me it'll become normal" You'll notice although the Camry uses "High Quality" Materials, you may notice for example the sunvisors are a bit thin. You may notice that (unless it's changed in 07) the cruise control is on a stalk. I like the buttons on the wheel. If you're buying something, if you carry groceries, show up with stuffed bags, if you carry something big like say suitcases, see if empty ones will fit in the car. If the dealer makes a comment, well then they aren't a good dealer. At one dealer who will remain nameless they told me I couldn't test drive with another person in the car, well I want to test how it handles with someone in the back seat. If you have kids, bring the carseat. In a recent test, the Ridgeline got the best fuel economy and was the fastest empty. But once loaded it got less mileage then a HEMI, so if you load it up, load it up. It also dropped by around 40% in acceleration, but the Mitsubishi Raider, barely dipped down. Remember fuel economy, etc is conducted in a lab. Not in "your" world conditions. Whenever I purchase something (not just cars, but especially an expensive thing like a car) I evaluate everything, I don't leave a stone unturned. I also hate the LCD display used by many Japanese manufacturers for their radios. BTW I kid you not the local Ford dealer beside the Toyota dealer always has Toyota's in for oil changes, tires, shocks, etc. Basically anything that's not "specialized" Wear items, routine maintenance. Probably has something to do with price. And FYI both dealers are owned by the same person.
Originally Posted By avromark Oh and I live very close to a Lexus plant if you want a Bias. I almost accepted a job there.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost So what's all this to do with being Canadian? Did I miss something or did this thread take a drastic swerve someplace?
