Thoughts on an '02 Camry

I am thinking about getting this car. It is an 02 Toyota Camry, engine has 61K miles on it. Very minor cosmetic dings on it, inside is in almost perfect shape. A/C blows cold, drives great, brake pedal is a little mushy, will get the fluid flushed if I get it.

It has AM/FM stereo, and I think CD. The guy selling it is my former boss, who has been working on my truck for a long time for almost free, so I don't think he would sell me a known problem car.

Price seems good, I looked on EBay, and saw a some selling for a a little more, that had over 100K miles on them. After driving a 2 seat truck with a standard transmission for so long, an automatic transmission would be one heck of a luxury. And cruise control? :drool

He is asking $5400.

Most cars and trucks I can find around here in the $5K range have more like 140K miles.

Oh well, if you got this far, thanks. Any good/bad experiences would be good to know about.

 

My only experience with the Camry was an '86 and I LOVED that car! The only problem I ever had was the timing chain had to be replaced but by that time the engine already had almost 200k on it.

I sold it to my dad who used it for pizza delivery, and I think he said he sold it with about 250k on it still running like a champ.

So in short, my experience with the Camry was a very good one!

 

Thanks for the info. After shopping around a bit more, this is looking like a pretty good deal considering the low mileage in the engine.

 

The Guy has been driving a 1994 Camry for as long as I've known him and we still use that car. Matter of fact, I drive it to work every day because it rides so much smoother and drives so much nicer than the 07 Corolla does.

We've had to make two repairs to it since I moved here in 2004, one to the rear brakes (I made a thread about that, scary experiences when brakes fail!), and we've replaced one of the belts inside the engine somewhere. But overall it's a wonderful car, and I consider it 100% reliable. Nearly 300K on the meter.

 

The only things I can think of, would be to give it a good once over from a mechanical standpoint.

60k is about the average life of wheel bearings, so as long as you don't hear any "humming" from the front end while negotiating a sharp curve, at road speed, no signs of excessive wear yet.

Give the front tires a good look. Uneven wear can tell you alot about the suspension, and steering. Excessive wear on the inside is usually indicative of worn ball joints. If the ball joints are inverted, the other sign they are worn can be a vibration at highway speeds. Excessive wear on the outer edge of the tires, usually indicates worn tie rod ends. When you get under there, make sure the ball and socket are tight on the inner, and outer ends. The inner tie rods are threaded right into the steering rack, and you can feel any wear on the inner tie rods by moving them left to right.

As long as she doesn't "hop", the struts are most likely in good shape.

Also, don't forget about the timing belt. Most last about 60k-90k miles, depending on make. The Camry has what is called an "interference" motor. If the belt snaps, the motor will be ruined. The valves clearing the pistons depend on the engine timing. In a "non-interference" motor, the valves, and pistons cannot make contact by a failure of the timing.

That's the gritty basics I can think of...

 

Timing belt! :hyper That's the one we replaced, I just couldn't remember the name! :-D The Guy was very adamant that it needed to be done before the belt snapped... after reading your explanation on what the belt does, I now understand why he was so insistent. It was very affordable too, especially compared with replacing an entire engine!

 

Hmm, timing belt. As the engine is a replacement, that would be replaced by me as well. I don't mind spending a few bucks on a used car, as you don't know how it was treated. Car drives great! Like I said, brakes are a little mushy, so will have the brake fluid replaced, and bled, if I get it.

Tire wear is even, no grinding when turning, rides very smooth.

Current hooptie has a timing chain, been through that twice... Lots o' labor for that. Just a belt, no prob, I can pay to have that changed every 50K miles.

 

Thanks for the reminder, I have to check back and see if I changed the belt because I'm way past 50K miles.

I haven't had a lot of cars but my first was a Toyota Celica and the current is an old Lexus.

I had a timing belt break when I was 16 at 48K miles. It's a bummer to have the car die middle of the road out of nowhere. I wish it was the only time I've had a car die in the middle of the road and wish they were all that easy to fix!

You get a good deal on a nice Camry, take it. I've had 3 Toyota products, best cars I've owned by far. Reliable, stable, safe. Kind of fun too!

 

I had an 02 Camry and kick myself everyday for selling it.

 

Would be ironic if the one I am most likely getting was yours... :-D

 

Hey there Fred. I've been in the auto business for just about 30 years and in my honest opinion, the Camry is one of the best cars ever made.

I've had customers with well over 300k miles, as long as they are properly maintained.

The only serious problem that I have seen is with engine sludge. More common in the V-6, than the 4 cyl.

Check this link: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/01/toyota_sludge_settlement.html

Toyota is well aware of this problem and in most cases, will help you out with repairs.
Maintenance records are your best defense.

I personally would buy a Camry over practically any other car. JMO.

Good luck. :wave

 

Thanks for the info BigFurry. This one has had the engine replaced, possibly due to sludge, I don't know. Looks like my Xmass bonus this year is going to be very nice. I will get the Camry when I get my refund from Uncle Sam. :-D

Will definitely change the oil when I get it.

 

IRS accepted my return, waiting on the refund, then I get a new used car. :-D Power seats, cruise control, automatic transmission, holy... I won't know how to drive it. :-D

 

As much as possible.

I mentioned I love our Camry, right? We might never buy another type of car again.

 

Mimsy, you don't know how much I am looking forward to my 2nd Xmass bonus. :cool The old truck is almost old enough to drink! It will go to a good home, I get something newer.

 

Get a CarFax Report....

 

Car Fax, would be nice. The car has 111k miles on it, the new engine around 66K The guy selling the car is the same guy that has done over $2K work on my truck for nothing.

Sometimes reputation goes a long way.

 

Reputation, or relationship.... if you genuinely believe the seller is an honest man, then go with your gut instinct.

And post pictures!

 

It is a done deal. Just waiting on my Federal Tax refund. Oddly less than last year even thought I made the same $. We shall leave that for the future HBT that will not be created. :-D

 

I have two words:

FORENSIC AUDITS

My only worry, WHO PAYS FOR IT?

The solution?

IDK

rolleyes

 

Got the car today! I likes it. Cruise control, power seat. :-D Drives great.

 

Crappy photo, but this is my new ride. I love it! For a 4 banger, it has some power. :-D The inside of this car is pristine. :drool

Looks like we are getting a bit of frost. There is nothing wrong with the paint on the top and trunk.

 

Nice looking car. And the drive so smoothly...

 

Bad news. Looks like the front main seal is leaking oil. :cry Not a cheap repair, seems they pretty much have to pull the engine to get to it. But, it is a small leak, I will just check the oil all along and save up for the repair.

Ironically, I talked to the guy who got my old truck. He works for the guy that works on my car. He bought my trade in. Feel bad for him. The transmission dumped on him... I can still drive my ride.

As Is, No Warranty. Sometimes, you get lucky.

 

Too bad about the leak.
I have an '03 4 cylinder that I bought from a rental company in '04 with 27,000 miles at $15K.
Had it checked out before I bought it and was told that the rear brakes
needed cleaning and adjusting which I did about a month later - helped a lot.

I read about the engine sludge problem about a year After I bought it.
I've been buying Mobil 1 synthetic and have the dealer do the changes.
They say they don't mind - I hope. rolleyes
It is more expensive but I don't mind since it's probably better for the engine and supposedly less likely to create a sludge problem.

I was amazed at the mileage the first time I took a trip - about 33 or 34 mpg.
Fortunately, no problems.
Guess I'll have to ask about the timing belt.

I really like the car and it is more peppy than I expected.

Sure wish I had a garage.
Maybe I'll eventually take a lesson from my neighbor who keeps a cover on his "toy" Porsche 911 turbo.

 

I have had a lot of autos in my life (once i had 4 in a year) including Jags and and a number of muscle cars but it may just be my age now as i have settled on a Toyota RAV4, it has all the comfort of the Jaguar but with reliability (something the Jags lacked) it has all the bells and whistles you get with a more expensive auto and i love it.

I am not sure how many more auto's i will have before i go to the big junkyard in the sky but without doubt they will be Toyota's, i love em.

P,S Fred,It's not such a huge job to haul the motor out, if you are at all handy with the wrenches it can be done in an afternoon.