The Toyota Camry is a very, very good car. It's almost perfect.
It's well built, reliable and very competent; its only failing is that it doesn't bother the Richter scale of automotive excitement.
If logic prevailed when we bought cars we'd all be driving the Camry, or cars very similar to it, but it doesn't. Invariably we buy cars mostly on emotion, what it looks like, what it sounds like, what it feels like, and on those counts the “wide body” Camry doesn't rate and it drops down our shopping list.
The Camry is bigger in almost every important dimension than its popular predecessor. The model range began with the four-cylinder Executive, with the CSi and Ultima offering increased trim and feature content.
All were available in either sedan or wagon body styles, except the luxurious Ultima — which was only available as a sedan.
Six-cylinder models were badged Camry Vienta until 1995 when they were broken away from the Camry range under the Vienta badge. The styling was ultra-conservative and was roundly criticised for being bland and boring. The base engine was a 2.2-litre four cylinder. Fitted with dual balance shafts in the sump the four-cylinder engine was smooth enough despite its size, but struggled under the 1400kg weight of the bigger body.
As a result, performance was modest. It took some 11 seconds to go from rest to 100km/h. For better performance, Toyota offered the silky smooth 3.0-litre V6. Power was impressive at 139kW and it could reach 100km/h less than 10 seconds after leaving rest. There was a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed auto with the four-cylinder models, but the V6 was auto only.
Drive was front-wheel. The Camry is generally robust and reliable, but with odometers now off the scale they should be approached with caution.
Servicing is even more important as a car ages, so look for a verifiable service record showing regular maintenance has been conducted. Look for signs of a crash: mismatched paint, poorly fitting panels, doors that don't open smoothly, signs of water leakage inside and in the boot.
The four-cylinder engine is sound, with no major problems. Cam belts need to be changed as per service recommendation, around every 150,000km, and it's important to make sure it's done to avoid expensive internal damage. Engine ancilliaries, such as starter motors, are prone to failure but replacements are readily available.
The auto trans is generally robust, but can develop problems. The rear bearing in the overdrive can be a problem, and they can also stick in gear and fail torque converters as miles mount up. Competent handling, responsive steering and decent brakes assist in avoiding a crash, but solid body construction and airbags enter the play when push comes to crunch. Also check seat belts for wear and tear on the webbing and the retractor, and replace if necessary.
Toyota Camry
1993-1997
Engine: 2.2L/4cyl 95kW, 189Nm or 3.0L/V6 139kW, 269Nm
Economy: 11.3L/100km (4cyl) 11.6L/100km (6cyl)
Price: A base Camry sedan will go for $3500-$4700 and add $500 for a wagon. A CSi will cost $3800$6200, with $500 more for a wagon. The Ultima sedan will set you back $5000-$7500. The V6 starts from $4500 going up to $8500 for the Ultima.
RATING 68/100
Verdict: Good build quality and sound engineering ensure the Camry will have a long life making it a good used choice.
RIVALS
Holden Commodore VR
Years: 1993-1995
Price: $4000-$5500
Ford Falcon EF
Years: 1994-1996
Price: $3000-$5000
