Gideup 409! A Comprehensive Review of the 2001 Toyota Camry.

What can I say, I love this car. I have been driving this car, off and on for the last seven months. After learning how to drive on a 1992 manual 5-speed Camry I suppose I am a little biased. I did everything in that car, I suppose everyone had a “first” car. You grow up in those cars and have a lot of fond memories.

The new 2001 Camry does not disappoint me, even with my lofty expectations. I love this car. Hey, any company that can make a car to withstand me learning how to drive (a standard no less) and years of my extreme abuse can make a car to suit you!

Introduction:

Toyota has been producing the Camry since the early 1980's. Toyota knows what they are doing, my old 1992 Camry can attest to that! The Camry has been the best car for three straight years. The reason for its popularity is simple- reliability coupled with a relatively plush interior capable of seating five adults comfortably. The solid Toyota reputation and excellent resale value don’t hurt either.

Different Models:

There are four different models available for the 2001 Toyota Camry-

* The CE is the base level Camry. The only option worth noting that comes standard on the CE is the stereo/cassette radio. You can purchase several different options and packages, the most important ones being air conditioning, and power windows and locks. This is the Spartan model.

* The LE is the middle level Camry. It comes standard with air conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control, and a CD/stereo system. I recommend this model as the most bang per buck Camry.

* The Gallery Series Camry is new for 2001. It has all of the same standard options as the LE but has a two tone paint job and interior. I regard this model as a joke, paying more for a paint job is silly in my opinion.

* The top level Camry is the XLE. This is the model I have been driving and I love it. I compare the XLE to the Lexus 300 ES, only cheaper. This model comes standard with all of the LE’s features plus, power seats, power heated mirrors, a steering wheel covered in leather, climate controlled air condition, keyless entry system, and a high end JBL stereo system.

Engine and Transmission:

The Camry is available with either a 2.2 4-cylinder or a 3.0 V6 engine. The CE is only available with the 2.2. The nice thing about Toyotas is that they always almost always start on the first crank. The Camry is no exception. You cannot hear the engine idle, it is just so quiet. Check the tachometer before you crank the engine a second time!

You have your choice of a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed standard transmission. Good luck finding a comparable high end sedan with a manual transmission. We have the 5-speed and I love it. One warning- it took several weeks for the dealer, who had 50 Camrys on the lot, to find a V6 5-speed standard for us. Shifting with the 5-speed is a joy and the feather light clutch makes this a fun car to drive. I have driven the automatic and was dually impressed. Even under extremely hard acceleration the shift points are not noticeable.

I highly recommend the 3.0 V6. Producing 194 horses, torque rated at 209, this engine is fun. I don’t mean sports car fun but 0-60 MPH is 8.6 with the 5-speed manual. Those are pretty impressed numbers from a four door sedan. The 2.2 4-cylinder has a horsepower rating of 136 and 150 torque. I have driven a 4-cylinder standard and was impressed with its peppy engine. I did rev it pretty high, however.

The V6 Camry gets about 27-30 MPG on the highway. I have taken this car on long road trips and have averaged almost 500 miles on a tank of gas. This is one of the best parts of this already outstanding car. The 4-cylinder Camry gets low 30s MPG, very impressive. It is worth mentioning that the V6 takes 91 octane gas while the 4-cylinder only needs 87 octane to be happy.

Handling and Braking:

The Camry offers a smooth ride, allowing you to glide over all but the most rutted roads with ease. You can feel the road with its smooth, light, and quick steering. Remember, though, that this is a sedan and there is no hard edge available here. Look to the sporty Camry Solara coupe for this type of handling. The car handles corners with tight lines even with significant body roll.

Braking is quick and precise. My aggressive driving style makes this imperative and the Camry’s brakes have saved my rear more than a couple of times. It is a little soft, however, which translates into jumpy stops at first. After driving my father’s Mercedes for an extended period, and then jumping into the Camry, I will find myself braking erratically. This is a problem in an otherwise flawless handling car. ABS can be purchased for the CE, and is standard on all other models. The XLE is available with a nice traction control system which can be turned on and off at the driver’s discretion.

Styling:

I believe that the 1992-1996 Camry was pretty sharp. Driving it I felt like I had a pretty sporty looking car. I am sure others will disagree. The 2001 Camry doesn’t look as fun as its predecessor. It is modern, sleek, and conservative, displaying a lot of Lexus qualities. While some view the styling as bland I see it as sophisticated, especially with the XLE’s option 16" sporty aluminum rims. You can entertain friends, family, and clients happily, hard to do in most of today’s “niche” cars. Besides, most people do not buy the Camry for its looks. The classy lines actually make the Camry look smaller than it is.

Interior:

The Camry's roomy and smooth interior instantly puts you at ease. Road and mechanical noise are almost non-existent with the Camry’s superior soundproofing. Both the CE and LE have very conservative layouts and trims. The XLE has a nice wood trim which looks classy. The controls are well laid out. I have never had a problem with reaching any control. Unlike many competing cars you will not have a problem with the steering wheel blocking any controls. The radio and climate controls are simple and easy to operate. One problem with the Camry interior is the cupholders. Toyota has a history of problems in this department. In the front they are between the driver and passenger seats and are covered up when not in use. If you spill some coffee into the holder forget about easily cleaning it up. Besides that the cupholders are very sturdy and easy to use. Between the seats are two cupholders, that when not in use, are neatly covered up. The rear cupholders aren’t as sturdy, a letdown in an otherwise nice backseat.

I have had five large adults in the car at one time. This makes for a tight fit for the middle guy in the back. With only four adults your guests will ride in comfort. Leg room is great, especially for the driver. My father is very tall and always speaks favorably about the available leg room. The seats are supportive and firm, providing enough comfort for even the longest trips. The backseat is large enough for any extra circular activities you might have planned. Ok, not an orgy but anything else is fair game! ;-)

I love the Camry’s trunk. It is just so big. You could hide a body in here, a big body, like my Marketing professor’s body. That is just an example, of course, although he is a big guy and he would fit in the trunk... but only if the front seats were full. ;) If the available trunk space isn’t good enough for you just lower the back seats and you have a huge space to work with!

Conclusion:

I have to mention price here. The Camry is considered to be expensive by most people’s standards. We spent almost $29,000 on our XLE V6 but it was loaded with options including a sunroof (moonroof in Toyota talk), traction control, and a leather interior.

Now most Camrys do not cost that much but a nicely equipped LE will cost you around $22,000-23,000. You could get more options with an Accord or a Taurus, but not the same experience. I learned a long time ago that you get what you pay for and the Camry is a perfect example. We have had nary a problem with the 2001 model and only one small problem with the 1992 Camry. You have to figure reliability into the cost. Out of all of the cars I have driven I have to say that this is my pick for the best all around car. It does everything very well instead of a couple of things perfectly. You cannot go wrong with this car!