Toyota Camry Problems

BASICALLY, the H point is the spot where your hip is located when you are sitting in the driver's seat. It can be raised by lifting the base of the seat, the height of the floor or even the whole vehicle. So cars such as the Toyota Camry have a high seat position, but a Subaru Forester has a high H point because of gravel-road suspension settings. You really need to walk around a few showrooms to see the difference.

CHECK the history of the car, its service record, etc, so you know what it has been doing. Also, get one of the motoring associations to check over it for you if you're not confident. It should have had the cam belt changed by now, so check to see this has been done. Otherwise you will be up for that. The asking price is steep, despite the low mileage. I would be trying to negotiate it down to $9000 or even less. Remember, it's a buyer's market out there.

No, I don't. I once asked the late Rene Rivkin, an avid car collector, if he thought buying classic cars was a good investment, and his answer was an emphatic no. There is nothing about the Camry wagon, including rarity, to suggest it will appeal to collectors in the future.

THE answer depends on the condition of the cars. Without knowing that it's hard to make an accurate call, but my feeling is the Camry has too many kays on it, the Leganza is too expensive and the long-term durability of Daewoos is unknown to a large extent, which leaves the Saabs. Of the two, I would go for the one with the lower kays, though there isn't much in it.

TOYOTA generally doesn't recommend converting its cars to LPG. Fuel use of 9.9 litres for 100km is fairly economic, and the car probably would lose performance if converted.

YOUR car is the 30 Series and has the 2AZ-FE 2.4-litre engine. There is a kit manufactured for that model by Sprintgas (ph: 9350 5500). Ask Sprintgas for its experience on the Camry, and perhaps talk to others who have had their cars done.

IF YOUR car is running well with no stalling or rough running, I wouldn't bother with the service. The service manager is more than likely trying to stooge you into handing over more money for something that isn't needed. An injector clean costs about $100. As for fuel system cleaners, my view is they can be effective if you use them regularly, but they don't work so well if you use them only when there's a problem. They are more a prevention than a cure.

TOYOTA dropped the Camry wagon from its line-up because its sales figures were falling and demand for Toyota's extensive range of four-wheel-drives was growing. The decision freed space at Toyota Australia's factory at Altona for the building of the Aurion, and made it easier to build export sales for the Camry and Aurion sedans. The real replacement for the Camry wagon is the Toyota Kluger, which is now available also as a front-wheel-drive car. You should consider it.

ANY new model will be more expensive than the last. That's the way it works. As for reliability and maintenance, I think they are very similar. The Mazda is a well-built car, as is the Camry, and both drive well. I would go for the Mazda6 over the Camry for a better driving experience.

THOSE early Camrys are tough, reliable cars, but they won't survive long if you don't service them. The main thing is to change the oil and the oil filter, something you could do yourself. If it has other problems, take it to a mechanic. As for its value, your car is getting close to the end of the road. Depreciation doesn't come into it at such an age, its value is determined by its condition. If you don't service it and have the problems fixed you will have trouble selling it. In good condition it will probably be worth $1000 to $1500.