I've been hanging out in the Camry forum for awhile and now have jumped the fence and have decided to post something here.
I'm a (fairly) happy owner of a 2007 Camry LE V6. Overall I really love the car...except for the transmission! The car is at the dealer awaiting a new tranny (authorized by the factory) but there's a chance that Toyota will take the car back under the California Lemon Law. Anyway, I'm seriously considering either getting another Camry or perhaps a RAV4 (V6).
I've read quite a few postings so I'll try not to dredge up old postings (or rants). I was just wondering what the general thoughts were.
- I already know about the V6 engine...it's the same one thatr Lexus has had and has been in the Avalon and now the Camry. It's powerful and overall very good on gas.
- What about the ride?
- Transmission?
- Sight lines?
- Interior noise?
This may all be a mute point as I'll likely just go for another Camry but this transmission thing has me somewhat skitish about the 07 models.
Thanks
__________________
Scott Wallace
(A.K.A. BoloMK33) shwallace@ca.rr.com
2007 Camry LE V6
I've been hanging out in the Camry forum for awhile and now have jumped the fence and have decided to post something here.
I'm a (fairly) happy owner of a 2007 Camry LE V6. Overall I really love the car...except for the transmission! The car is at the dealer awaiting a new tranny (authorized by the factory) but there's a chance that Toyota will take the car back under the California Lemon Law. Anyway, I'm seriously considering either getting another Camry or perhaps a RAV4 (V6).
I've read quite a few postings so I'll try not to dredge up old postings (or rants). I was just wondering what the general thoughts were.
- I already know about the V6 engine...it's the same one thatr Lexus has had and has been in the Avalon and now the Camry. It's powerful and overall very good on gas.
- What about the ride?
- Transmission?
- Sight lines?
- Interior noise?
This may all be a mute point as I'll likely just go for another Camry but this transmission thing has me somewhat skitish about the 07 models.
Thanks
I am very pleased with my 2007 FWD Rav4 Sport V6.
Great handling with the Sport suspension. Stiffer with better performance than the standard suspension but that's what I like.
Trans: let it shift or use the gated shifter. The trans is much better than most and I am not a fan of automatic transmissions. My fun car is a Bullitt Mustang.
Sight lines: very good vision except where the spare tire covers a portion of the back window ... but no big deal.
I can speak to a 2005 RAV4 (wife's), She loves the vehicle. Its a 4cyl. Gets between 32-35 mpg on highway. Ride is good, but firmer than a Camry (have had 4 of those over the years). It used to be the RAV4 was built on the Camry chassis and running gear--don't know if that is still true, especially with making it larger.
With our 2005 we have one interior noise problem though--might be worth checking it out on a new vehicle during a test drive. If the rear windows are both lowered abut half way (or more) here is a very annoying "droning" sound accompanied by pressure waves that you can feel on your ears. At first I though we might have gotten a rear flat, the sound was similar to a tire rolling after being blown out.
Other than that noise, no problems at all. She likes that it handles like a "slot car" , something she cannot do in the Tundra!
The RAV4 is very nice overall. I got the FWD 4 cylinder model for price and mpg reasons. I drove the V6 and was very impressed. It has a 5 speed auto compared to the 6 speed auto in new V6 camrys. The 06 and newer models have a lot more room than the previous design, making them something I actually can comfortably drive. My parents had an 01 and it was too small.
It's been three weeks since I picked up my 06' 2WD V6 Rav4. I had to go with base, that's all I could find, no one around had V6 with third row option. It's my first SUV, I drove minivans forever. And this baby rocks! Acceleration is amazing, and gas mileage so far is awesome. I average 23-24 mpg in 100% city driving. It's better than I thought. Visibility is excelent. Some road noise is expected for this price. Could do little better on the corners, but that might be due to tires. I am upgrading to 18 inch wheels and see maybe that will help. Overall very pleased.
My wife has a 2005 with a 4cyl and 5 speed manual and 4wd Base. I would recommend strongly against the 5 speed - as the clutch action is abrupt and the E-throttle doesnt work well with it - engine overrunning and jerky. The engine is fantastic though with incredible midrange torque similar to a turbo, downside, she only gets about 26 MPG and overall about 70/30 highway/town and she is very conservative driver (which makes me insane in the passenger seat - 29 mph in a 30 zone WTF!?). The Car has become very noisy lately (15K miles) with what sounds like a wheel bearing or CV joint racket (loud whirring). Maybe its just a bad tire (not crazy about the handling on the Toyo A14 tires). The car feels VERY light at normal speed but when pushed the handling is atrocious compared to a decent "sporty" sedan. Any old suzuki truck or Subie impreza would leave it in the dust in the dry. We paid 18K US$ with NO trade last year on a 22+ sticker at a presidents day sale; after four counter offers we started to walk away from the table and the sales mgr caved. Not a bad car, though not extremely solid like the Old Suzuki full frame Vitara, but time will tell and I'm sure the engine is a hell of a lot better than suzuki junk engines which ALL seem defective.
It used to be the RAV4 was built on the Camry chassis and running gear--don't know if that is still true, especially with making it larger.
Other than that noise, no problems at all. She likes that it handles like a "slot car" , something she cannot do in the Tundra!
1) I thought the Highlander was based on the camry style architecture and the Rav on its own (was originally a jacked-up celica all-trac in the first gen).
2) Take wives' comments on handling with a grain of salt (unless your wife is Danica Patrick) Our 2005 Rav 4 turns into a real handfull once you push it hard ( as in an avoidance manuever) But no jacked up car could handle well at 8ths given the need to avoid tip-up vs washed out understeer.
Still very pleased with my 2007 Toyota Rav4 Sport 6cyl FWD.
My recent fill ups have shown that my mileage is averaging right at 25 mpg and I make fair use of the Sport suspension and 268 HP especially on sweeping freeway ramps.
I bought my wife a Rav4. She likes it a lot, she likes the way the rear door opens. We were lucky and found a limited with leather heated seats and u bet we got the V6. Myself I think the ride is a little stiff but road noise is the best of all that type I tested. I prefer the ride of the Avalon . If you got the cash get the Lexes or the Infinity and then you can wish you bought the Rav V6 when you get smoked buy those little Toyotas. I will admit the interior is a little, I won't use the word cheep but it ain't what you would find in the high end SUV's. All in all for the $$$$ I think it's great but only get the V6
I purchased my 07 Rav 4 Sport, 6cyl, front wheel drive in September of 06. I am stilll very pleased with everything about the vehicle. I really like the Sport suspension as the Rav handles more like a performance car. With 268 hp it accelerates like a performance car.
As a photographer I can carry my photography equipment to weddings and still have a fun car to drive. The Rav is a huge upgrade from my former mini van (that had to be hauled by truck to the dealership three times during my six years of ownership).
Given Toyota dependability, I am looking forward to a couple hunderd thousand miles of trouble-free driving with my Rav!
Feel free to ask any questions about my 07 Rav 4 experience.
Considering a RAV4
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