@@dagabbagool2600 they’ll exist. The feds aren’t going to outlaw your old car anytime soon. These are the cars that put you through school or job training. The car that takes you to that life changing job interview. It’s pretty fascinating.
Or we could just reallocate some of the insane amount of money that towns and cities spend on road maintenance to make more non-driving options. A competent bus system is an easy option to implement without costing as much as some others, and taking a lot of cars off the road.
That thing is a gem! Gold emblems, V6, spotless interior, honestly if you just threw a new set of wheel covers on that and gave it a good detail it would look amazing. That car has life left
This car deserves respect. Just treat it nice, do not trash it, do all the scheduled maintenances, and run it as a daily if you want to see how well it does over time!
@@thystaff742 market demanded SUV because it IS a wagon with the ground clearance of a 70s sedan or wagon. Manufacturer only makes more of what u buy. Now Porsche and Lamborghini and Bentley have to make SUV too
What more does a person need... It is honestly a vehicle that has everything you need, reliable and worth preserving! Please fix it and film its development for us!
We've owned several 300k mile plus Toyotas, in fact we sold our '97 Camry with 380k on it, new owner drove it from North Carolina to Arizona, and is still driving it.
We seriously need to bring back Affordable, Reliable & Fun (Sporty) wagons to N. America. So tired of the SUV overkill already. Very cool to see this find, hope you will keep us updated on it's future. Cheers!
Problem is manufacturers pushed people into SUVs as they could scalp more more money of them while paying less and not having to try so hard by using "light truck" loopholes. Women also preffer to seat high up, so they found perfect storm of worst things. Chicken tax also punishes imports so they are much more expensive than in europe or japan. Subaru is only one left with Outback, excluding Volvo and couple others in premium segment. Outback is cheaper because its made in US so it avoids that idiotic tax. To fix this, law would need to be changed to properly punish people for going for SUVs financially(or not even punish but make it fair and appropriate for the size and EPA things for the vehicle) And get rid of chicken tax, close the light truck loophole so pick up trucks and suvs are not so profitable and easy to push through with no effort for automakers. And then it might slowly get back up. Camry and Accord wagons could come back with lots of other cars from europe and japan as valid and properly affordable choice. In europe we also have slightly smaller wagons as options from Corollas/Civics and in some cases even smaller models got wagons like Puegot cars had wagon/mpv versions for smaller hatchbacks like 207 and 307/308. And it made them incredibly capable. 307/308 even had front facing third row option.
I completely agree. The 3rd row seat in the trunk was such a cool ass feature. I'd prefer a wagon like this compared to most cookie cutter SUVs (although definitely want it to have speed LOL)
The 1MZ-FE is one of the best engines ever made, as long as you keep up on the oil changes to avoid the sludge issues. We had a 2002 Lexus RX300 (1MZ-FE with VVT-i) with 347k miles on it, we only traded it due to rust, it wouldn't pass inspection.
@@zachtravers I had a 13 Tacoma with the 1gr fe 4 litre. I changed the oil religiously and those cannot be ruined unless you do something totally idiotic. The 4 litre v6 is one crazy fantastic engine from Toyota.
I bought a 2008 Avalon to Doordash in. The plan was to drive it and fix it as it broke. Best $5900 ever spent. 2 years later and I have beaten the living hell out of it, replaced the entire front suspension(which was already shot), new brakes, a new tire, a new oil filter housing, and that is pretty much it. I just rolled over 224,000 miles and it runs absolutely perfect and is unbelievably fast. It actually runs better than my 2017 Rav4 did(transmission was goofy and lots of brake issues with the Rav4), so I guess I will keep beating the brakes off of it. Old Toyotas really only die when you wreck them.
Aaaaand this is why I avoid everything TFL related. I did have to check in on the old Camry wagon. Charisma-free, annoying, talentless people who know nothing about cars being professional car presenters. Why?
Honestly, I'd love to see that car fixed up and see how far it will go before needing anything serious. I don't know if you are going to hang onto it or not but, if you do, I look forward to any and all updates.
I am a Canadian and many Americans and even Candians tell me how crappy Toyota trucks are because of frame rust. If you spray the frames and under body once a year, they don't rust much at all. I absolutely love my 20 Tundra with the 5.7 V8. The V8 is a rocket ship. Toyota power trains are near indestructible.
This brought to mind a woman who was wondering how she was going to commute 50 miles to a theater gig she had landed. She was convinced she couldn't trust her car because it was 10 years old. The car was a Toyota Cressida. I'm just going to let that hang there for a while... a Cressida. I told her I wouldn't hesitate to drive that thing across the country. She wasn't convinced.
The answer of the question 'old car on long trip' is nuanced between the two answers of 'don't' and 'do', but starting with a good brand and decent mechanicals like in Toyota's cars, if she were to have the car checked out before the trip, and then regular maintenance / inspections done it would be good to go.
These Camry wagons are so rare! Probably can find all your needed parts at a local pick and pull, most parts can be had from the more common sedan. Great luck with it!
I remember a fellow stopped in to my workplace with a broken strut, and had a Camry like that with 500k on it. I put all new struts in it and he drove back to California from Canada. He liked it, and other than a dent and a window motor it was ok.
I have a 07 Camry XLE V6 which just reached about 164k. I have taken this car everywhere especially through the desert. Drove to Vegas and back home with a/c full blast and triple digit heat didn't skip a beat not once. I have another car at home that's basically a garage queen but the Camry is what I drive 95 percent of the time. It's a great daily and a great road trip car which is why no matter what car I have I make sure a Toyota is always in the mix.
I am a station wagon enthusiast. Love them. Owned many over the years. It was standard for wagons in the 90's to have the rear facing seat. My Grandmother bought a Camry wagon brand new in 1995. Loved that car. We also donated it after her death. Drive the car in good health. If it broke down in a month, you still got a great deal. PS: Get some hubcaps for the old girl. She needs some love.
Super weird question but was her name Lydian? I bought a low mileage camry wagon with an identical story and part of me wants to find the family and thank them. All i have to go off of is her old bill of sale left in the glove box. Even if it's not her, that's so wild. Great little cars.
I bought an $800 dollars 2000 civic with 250k miles in march, fixed some minor stuff, already put 1k miles on it and runs pretty good, specially now with gasoline being so expensive
My 1999 Toyota Camry - v6 - 5speed manual - has 400,000 miles on it. I bought it brand new. It has never let me down. No rust, Arizona car. AC runs perfect. I've taken the car on multiple country trips. My friends have had multiple cars since I bought mine. You can't kill a Toyota Camry.
I started working in 90's as Toyota tech. we saw many older Toyota's come in. When I moved to work in Wichita, KS., one customer had a 1st gen. Camry with over 700k and a FREE oil change once a year! Back then Toyota maintenace requierment's were normal and severe/dusty service, 15k and 12k if I remember right. We would clean the air filter with shop air, change the oil(sorry no oil filter), adjust the valve lash(if needed, which was never), fill the washer fluid/anti-freeze, tire rotation/ inspect brakes, fill tires up to "correct" pressure(some customers more air or less air), change spark plugs, clean carb. yup that was pretty much all we did.
I worked on a v6 Camry wagon taxi in Australia in the nineties that had over a million km on it with no issues, just brakes and cv joints being replaced as needed. Taxi's in general don't have engine problems, as the engine never cools down and have problems that cooling cycles cause.
My daily is a 1995 Camry 4-cyl with 444k miles. It runs like a champ and has only needed minor repairs since I bought it over 7 years ago. Old Toyotas are the best.
My parents just recently said goodbye to their 2005 Toyota sienna that was in a terrible accident. It ended it’s life at 347k miles. The only thing my dad ever put into it was a couple of water pumps and timing belts cause that’s what you do, and then a new exhaust because we live in Michigan. Every other repair was typical brakes and tires. No engine issues, no transmission issue, and no random parts breaking.
I have a 2005 Toyota Matrix, with over 500,000 kms (over 300,000 miles) and will not quit. It's not burning any oil, not leaking any fluid at all. The car is falling apart around it, but that engine and transmission just keep going.
I had a 1999 Camry I bought back in 2018 for $2,200. It had around 110k miles. I loved that car. I only parted with it because my parents needed something and I wanted to ensure they had something super reliable. I still do the maintenance on it, when my mom lets me. It still has less than 160k miles. My 2011 Tundra has over 230k miles. That Camry will likely outlast my truck. The Camry isn't luxurious at all. But, it's super cheap to maintain and gets 22 mph. My truck is notorious for getting horrible gas mileage, even for a truck. It gets 13-14 mpg.
The Front Bumper was cut for being towed behind a RV. The RV tow bar was there. Thats why all the rock chips too. Prob way more mileage then what's on the OD.
I know someone driving a 98 Sienna with 243K miles- no engine troubles but because we live in NJ and it was never garaged rust is starting to become one.
im the first and only owner on my 01 focus with 315k on it. 2.0 zetec with 5 speed manual. doesnt burn a drop of oil. replaced original clutch at 185k when it started slipping. still driving on the second one.
When I was an oil tech I saw Toyota taxis with 4 & 500,000 miles. The 3rd & 4th generation Camry's are the best built, the early 3rd gens were hand built in Japan.
I just realized I’ve been checking my engine oil the wrong way my whole life…the engine should be running! What else have I been doing wrong the last 40 years? 😅 But seriously, I appreciate these type of videos. Beaters rule!
Yeah, never check the engine oil while the car is running. These cars are calibrated to be checked with the engine cold and without the oil being in circulation/sloshing around. A very, very, very few cars that are dry sump engines are calibrated to have the oil checked while the engine is idle. Those cars are Porsche Boxsters, and some racing cars. Ton of motorcycles are made that way. In no way is an old beater Camry meant to have the oil checked while idling.
LOVING THIS! I have the same year Camry (93) with 213,000 miles on it. Not a wagon though. And I have a 4 cylinder. Light blue paint with blue cloth interior, very clean car. I’ve been driving it for 22 years and I’ve no intention of stopping anytime soon. It could use a Maaco paint job but I get compliments on my car all the time. I did sink a couple thousand into it for maintenance, new radiator, brakes and rotors, brake lines were 30 years old and had disintegrated. Also the a/c went out and I had the 31 year old compressor replaced. I love my car! I’m so curious to see if you keep this car for any length of time and the work needed to get it visually acceptable. Great find!
90s Camry wagon, 90s Taurus wagon, Accord wagon, Outback and Volvo V70 were the most practical passenger cars built. The first two or three had the 3rd row jump seats. My daughter and her best friend insisted on sitting back there together to wave at drivers and hold up signs. I did worry a bit about rear end collisions, but it was a small town with sleepy 35mph streets. Camry...can't kill it Accord...hard to kill Taurus 250k Outback...till head gasket blows Volvo...the last of the real Volvos.
I’ve had a 94 Camry and a 95 Tercel, and can say 90s Toyotas are the best cars ever made. I actually still have the 95 that I got back in 2002, 21 years of ownership and 350k and it’s never failed to start or failed to get me where I’m going. It’s now my beater/spare car since a 2 door stick shift econobox with no AC isn’t exactly the family car I need most of the time.
We have a 2000 model, made in Australia, version of this car. It has a 2.2 liter four cylinder engine with a 5 speed manual gearbox. Compared to this one it has very low mileage at only 110,000 miles, (176,000kms). We bought it when it was a year old, and it is still going fine. I recently had the radiator replaced as my mechanic said that the plastic top tank was prone to cracking and breaking.
The ABS light is typical. The system spins the pump motor on startup. If any of the plungers in the rotor are sticky the computer will sense that and turn on the light. Sometimes you can dismantle the pump and free up the sticky plunger(s) but it's a crapshoot whether this bodge will last long.
This generation of Camry was a great car. I owned two of these wagons in Europe and had the last one for 7 years . I hope yours serves you well with that huge mileage.!
I'd love to have that car! Put a timing belt on it, valve cover gaskets and an oil change and lets go! My 2007 Corolla has 304,000 miles and still going strong.
I picked up an 06 Focus with 169,000 miles and over 4 years racked up nearly 250,000 on it. Sold it still running with 376,000 miles on it for $999. 😂 With that track record I've stuck with them. The GF's forst car was an 07, I picked up another 07 for a work car. She sadly was in an accident a few months ago after driving hers for 4 years ending up with a totaled car. I then found an 07 ST I now drive daily.
Definitely inspect it for anything serious and try to perform regular maintenance on it. If it only needs a few basic repairs, this car might be good for another 200K miles. A huge bargain in today's market!
Love these kind of videos..all these youtubers do all new super cars. Man I cant afford that stuff, I much prefer cars the average joe could afford with some miles on it.
I had a Toyota 2008 Corolla. Bought it new . At that time I did a whole lot of travel. 3 years later I had 383,000 miles on it . Totaled it in a accident. Crazy thing it my insurance gave me $6,000 for the wreck. Turned around a got another one
There is something about a high mileage car that gives you a reassuring feeling. I have an audi with 450k kms on it and I just dont want to scrap it, still runs and drives great.
I just bought a 1995 celica at the auction for 1000 after all fees and taxes, it started right up but it needed a fan relay breaks and ignition coil, after that ir runs like a 1990s car! It has 146,000 miles but feels like it will go triple that!
Rust inspection? do the climb you tried in the beetle with all seats filled? If you could get the exhaust/head leak fixed I and many others would probably be happy to take it off your hands.
The abs light is probably the abs module needs replaced. My Toyota RAV4 had 248,000 miles on it, it was a 1998 All wheel drive, the pump in transmission was going bad.. I couldn't locate a used transmission so I sold it
Kutos for you! I own my vehicle as well! Everyone forgets ABOUT reliability! Caught up in the newest technology! Even if i had way more money i would still find something cheaper and reliable and have the title! Good job guy!👏👏
High mileage vehicles don't scare me anymore. When it's over 300k, it's a guarantee that it has been cared for maintenance-wise. Just looking at the interior, those cloth seats didn't even have stains on them from what was seen on camera.
Yes they do! I had two Lexus cars that left me stranded and blew engines. The 6 cylinders are absolutely the worst . The original boem is people over hyped them just like this and try to make people believe like they are tanks that last forever which is sheer non sense
My dad had a 1985 toyota extended cap 5 speed pickup that he put 432,000 miles in and only changed oil, filters, belts, plugs and plug wires, tires and brakes. The bed rusted away before he stopped driving it.
I bet the engine light is due to the pre-heat unit on an O2 sensor being bad. You can continue driving it forever like that but the problem is, if another fault in the car triggers the engine light and the light is already on, you'll have no ability to know something's wrong unless it's catastrophic.
BIG Deal 13 years ago i bought a 2001 Saturn Sl1 with 145k miles smacked in the front for $500 and another for $300 with blown motor transferred the entire front to the first one sold the second for $250 so it really cost me 550 it has now 336k miles never broke down anywhere runs and drives like new a/c works perfect original clutch believe it or not, engine never been apart and now a can sale it to the junkyard for about what it cost me , I laugh when people say Saturn are p.o.s.
Thing is that's NOT crazy for a 1MZ-FE. I have 367k on my '99Avalon and I have about 15 people in front on me on Toyota Nation, some with 500 and 600k miles on theirs. And that's just people who go on the website... Original engine & trans, original AC still blows ice cold in Florida. All original switches inside the car. Still looks great too (garage kept) and best of all still drives like new. Of course I take good care of it and do lots of preventive maintenance but again it drives just as well as a new Camry and is made much better.
That car is my childhood, grandma owned one and I would sit in the way back, she got rid of it because it had a bunch of problems and it would cost too much to repair everything. Also the front of the hood was super rusty, unlike the rest of the car
My bf had a 99 infinity g20. It had 288k miles on it. It leaked alot oil and somehow still ran. At one point he drove it for weeks without any oil(no oil light either). We had to sell it because it also had electrical issues and went thru batteries. We sold it to a local mechanic and I hope it's fixed up
I've been searching for a Camry Wagon high and low... Even if I found one, I doubt any non-collector car that old would pass the ridiculous inspection standards here in PA :(
Even having spent much new on a battery (which may or may not be the problem - think loose alternator belt, etc.), invest n a lithium battery jump pack, to keeping in the car should it fail to start again. Also invest in a pressure tester for the cooling system to find the coolant leak (other than the overflow tank, which is obvious, and also not sure it’s actuality under pressure). Best of Luck to You!
I have a similar one - 95 V6 LE wagon, purchased used with 98k miles in 2001, now at 256k. Had erratic speedometer recently, but that went away when I replaced the battery. I wish Toyota and Honda still made wagons...
My first car was a 95 corolla station wagon with a manual. It was one of my favorite cars. Sold it when the clutch went out at 150k. Some dude bought it and planned on road tripping through Mexico with it lol
I have the same engine (1MZ-FE) in my 96 Camry and the coolant is normal very low down in the overflow tank when the engine is cold. When warmed up, it's nearly at the top line.
The big hubcaps denote it must be a V6 model. I also love the twin wiper blades these came with. So odd. The engine compartment looks so much like my 2011 XLE V6 model. your abs light can be a bad wheel sensor. Easy and cheap to fix. Im Jealous, Im loving your purchase. 350,000 miles are not high for these. $500 you are lucky either way. I also like the colour and the 3rd bench too.
I think the previous generation made a handsomer wagon, though in either case the Camry Wagon was a far more attractive wagonization than the same year Accord.
I get engine light all the time live in NJ they pump your gas and don't know how to put cap on🤣 almost got skunked light on but this time bank one senser drove a week before getting it checked . Just bought my own obd reader to keep better car of my ride🤣👍
Thanks for a very interesting video. Toyota is really the world leader when it comes to automotive reliability, value for money and longevity. I have a 2005 Camry V6 with 356000 km (in Australia). It is a very quite engine which used very little oil. I was interested to see that your V6 was also running well. Regarding the oil leaks, the V6s tend to leak from the valve covers. It's a bit of a job to get to the cover on the back cylinder bank and seal it together with the front one but it does fix a major leak source. I reckon that your $500 car is going to last for a fair number of years. Good luck.
Why? Wife’s 2005 Toyota Matrix 185,000 miles less than $1000 in repairs. My 2014 Chrysler 130,000 miles….$11,000 in warranty work since new. (FCA Lifetime Maximum Warranty)
The $500 car is one of the most underrated workhorses in society. It’s critical that these cars exist to help those who can only afford that much.
Which is why an EV only future, like some want to mandate, would be devastating for the poor.
@@dagabbagool2600 they’ll exist. The feds aren’t going to outlaw your old car anytime soon. These are the cars that put you through school or job training. The car that takes you to that life changing job interview. It’s pretty fascinating.
Or we could just reallocate some of the insane amount of money that towns and cities spend on road maintenance to make more non-driving options. A competent bus system is an easy option to implement without costing as much as some others, and taking a lot of cars off the road.
if you go to middle east. cars are ALL 90s toyota and honda and few german.
@@chrrybmbxxxv agreed
That thing is a gem! Gold emblems, V6, spotless interior, honestly if you just threw a new set of wheel covers on that and gave it a good detail it would look amazing. That car has life left
Take care of the rust? It's always a question of when to stop fixing a car: when the body is too bad or the engine is too bad.
@@653j521the rust on that thing is very minor and easily fixed.
@@perrinayebarra And as many white Camrys as were made of this gen I bet you could find one with a better bumper cover.
This car deserves respect. Just treat it nice, do not trash it, do all the scheduled maintenances, and run it as a daily if you want to see how well it does over time!
*Lift kit, light bar and 18" lexus takeoffs.*
@@1nvisible140" tires...
@@1nvisible1chain steering wheel
Don't forget about timing belt maintenance. I'd say that is top priority all the time.
I would've definitely bought that Camry ❤
One of my absolute favorite specific models of all time. How many of y'all miss wagons?
Best of both worlds between a small truck and a car. Yet the automakers made sure to kill the wagon by pushing SUVs.
i 'd love to have it
Luckily where I live wagons are the largest segment of the market after useless SUVs..
Polish the headlights
@@thystaff742 market demanded SUV because it IS a wagon with the ground clearance of a 70s sedan or wagon. Manufacturer only makes more of what u buy. Now Porsche and Lamborghini and Bentley have to make SUV too
What more does a person need... It is honestly a vehicle that has everything you need, reliable and worth preserving! Please fix it and film its development for us!
A person also needs rhythm and talent.
We've owned several 300k mile plus Toyotas, in fact we sold our '97 Camry with 380k on it, new owner drove it from North Carolina to Arizona, and is still driving it.
@@robertlewis7777 ever change the trans fluid or do you keep orig? i had 06 w 350k
@@willpeony5534 that is deferant story
@@robertlewis7777I can back that up. I own one with 407k on the odometer.
We seriously need to bring back Affordable, Reliable & Fun (Sporty) wagons to N. America. So tired of the SUV overkill already. Very cool to see this find, hope you will keep us updated on it's future.
Cheers!
Problem is manufacturers pushed people into SUVs as they could scalp more more money of them while paying less and not having to try so hard by using "light truck" loopholes. Women also preffer to seat high up, so they found perfect storm of worst things. Chicken tax also punishes imports so they are much more expensive than in europe or japan. Subaru is only one left with Outback, excluding Volvo and couple others in premium segment. Outback is cheaper because its made in US so it avoids that idiotic tax.
To fix this, law would need to be changed to properly punish people for going for SUVs financially(or not even punish but make it fair and appropriate for the size and EPA things for the vehicle) And get rid of chicken tax, close the light truck loophole so pick up trucks and suvs are not so profitable and easy to push through with no effort for automakers. And then it might slowly get back up. Camry and Accord wagons could come back with lots of other cars from europe and japan as valid and properly affordable choice.
In europe we also have slightly smaller wagons as options from Corollas/Civics and in some cases even smaller models got wagons like Puegot cars had wagon/mpv versions for smaller hatchbacks like 207 and 307/308. And it made them incredibly capable. 307/308 even had front facing third row option.
Unethical US capitalism and reliable cars do not mix.
I completely agree. The 3rd row seat in the trunk was such a cool ass feature. I'd prefer a wagon like this compared to most cookie cutter SUVs (although definitely want it to have speed LOL)
The way the economy is going,those people will probably move into their SUVs.
Wagons are awesome as the Europeans have known for decades.
The 1MZ-FE is one of the best engines ever made, as long as you keep up on the oil changes to avoid the sludge issues. We had a 2002 Lexus RX300 (1MZ-FE with VVT-i) with 347k miles on it, we only traded it due to rust, it wouldn't pass inspection.
I thought 2gr fe...I guess those came later.
@@mikefoehr235 the 2GR didn't go into the Camry until 2007. 1993-2006 used the 1MZ-FE and the 3MZ-FE from 04-06 in SE trim.
@@zachtravers Are the GR V6s based on the MZ architecture?
@@mikefoehr235 nope, there's many types of GR engines, none are related to the MZ family, as the GR replaced the MZ.
@@zachtravers I had a 13 Tacoma with the 1gr fe 4 litre. I changed the oil religiously and those cannot be ruined unless you do something totally idiotic. The 4 litre v6 is one crazy fantastic engine from Toyota.
I bought a 2008 Avalon to Doordash in. The plan was to drive it and fix it as it broke. Best $5900 ever spent. 2 years later and I have beaten the living hell out of it, replaced the entire front suspension(which was already shot), new brakes, a new tire, a new oil filter housing, and that is pretty much it. I just rolled over 224,000 miles and it runs absolutely perfect and is unbelievably fast. It actually runs better than my 2017 Rav4 did(transmission was goofy and lots of brake issues with the Rav4), so I guess I will keep beating the brakes off of it. Old Toyotas really only die when you wreck them.
My Doordash car is a 2006 Camry. 341,000 miles. $2500 in 2016 @ 200,000 miles. Best money I ever spent.
never thought to check the oil with the car on lol
That’s probably why it was registering high
These guys know nothing about cars.
The reason the oil is showing high is because the oil pump is pumping oil.
Aaaaand this is why I avoid everything TFL related. I did have to check in on the old Camry wagon. Charisma-free, annoying, talentless people who know nothing about cars being professional car presenters. Why?
Honestly, I'd love to see that car fixed up and see how far it will go before needing anything serious. I don't know if you are going to hang onto it or not but, if you do, I look forward to any and all updates.
The moment you care about it the engine, transmission, rear diff, windshield wipers, door handles, etc will fail all at once.
"Does a Toyota EVER Die!? "
If you've ever been to Africa or any remote part of the world you'll quickly learn that the answer is "no".
I am a Canadian and many Americans and even Candians tell me how crappy Toyota trucks are because of frame rust. If you spray the frames and under body once a year, they don't rust much at all. I absolutely love my 20 Tundra with the 5.7 V8. The V8 is a rocket ship. Toyota power trains are near indestructible.
@@mikefoehr235 Salt will rust all cars, without prejudice.
@@electrikoptik yup
Toyota cars are made for 3rd world country to last 30+ years
In Central America in the rurals, you’ll see some farmers still driving old beat up Toyotas and Nissan trucks from the 70’s.
This brought to mind a woman who was wondering how she was going to commute 50 miles to a theater gig she had landed. She was convinced she couldn't trust her car because it was 10 years old. The car was a Toyota Cressida. I'm just going to let that hang there for a while... a Cressida. I told her I wouldn't hesitate to drive that thing across the country. She wasn't convinced.
The answer of the question 'old car on long trip' is nuanced between the two answers of 'don't' and 'do', but starting with a good brand and decent mechanicals like in Toyota's cars, if she were to have the car checked out before the trip, and then regular maintenance / inspections done it would be good to go.
These Camry wagons are so rare! Probably can find all your needed parts at a local pick and pull, most parts can be had from the more common sedan. Great luck with it!
I remember a fellow stopped in to my workplace with a broken strut, and had a Camry like that with 500k on it. I put all new struts in it and he drove back to California from Canada. He liked it, and other than a dent and a window motor it was ok.
2007 Highlander owner here, 207000 miles, no issues at all, hope it lasts as long as this Camry!!
Two rear “wings”?? And you said it twice. I don’t know how they do things in Colorado, but…wipers.
I have a 07 Camry XLE V6 which just reached about 164k. I have taken this car everywhere especially through the desert. Drove to Vegas and back home with a/c full blast and triple digit heat didn't skip a beat not once. I have another car at home that's basically a garage queen but the Camry is what I drive 95 percent of the time. It's a great daily and a great road trip car which is why no matter what car I have I make sure a Toyota is always in the mix.
I am a station wagon enthusiast. Love them. Owned many over the years. It was standard for wagons in the 90's to have the rear facing seat. My Grandmother bought a Camry wagon brand new in 1995. Loved that car. We also donated it after her death. Drive the car in good health. If it broke down in a month, you still got a great deal. PS: Get some hubcaps for the old girl. She needs some love.
Super weird question but was her name Lydian? I bought a low mileage camry wagon with an identical story and part of me wants to find the family and thank them. All i have to go off of is her old bill of sale left in the glove box. Even if it's not her, that's so wild. Great little cars.
I bought an $800 dollars 2000 civic with 250k miles in march, fixed some minor stuff, already put 1k miles on it and runs pretty good, specially now with gasoline being so expensive
My 1999 Toyota Camry - v6 - 5speed manual - has 400,000 miles on it. I bought it brand new. It has never let me down. No rust, Arizona car. AC runs perfect. I've taken the car on multiple country trips. My friends have had multiple cars since I bought mine. You can't kill a Toyota Camry.
I started working in 90's as Toyota tech. we saw many older Toyota's come in. When I moved to work in Wichita, KS., one customer had a 1st gen. Camry with over 700k and a FREE oil change once a year! Back then Toyota maintenace requierment's were normal and severe/dusty service, 15k and 12k if I remember right. We would clean the air filter with shop air, change the oil(sorry no oil filter), adjust the valve lash(if needed, which was never), fill the washer fluid/anti-freeze, tire rotation/ inspect brakes, fill tires up to "correct" pressure(some customers more air or less air), change spark plugs, clean carb. yup that was pretty much all we did.
I worked on a v6 Camry wagon taxi in Australia in the nineties that had over a million km on it with no issues, just brakes and cv joints being replaced as needed. Taxi's in general don't have engine problems, as the engine never cools down and have problems that cooling cycles cause.
New subscriber here I approve of this video. I always had a soft spot for Toyota’s. Especially the older ones.
It's all about perspective. I l.ove how Brendon always had a positive perspective on these high mile cars. "A C on a $500 car"
My daily is a 1995 Camry 4-cyl with 444k miles. It runs like a champ and has only needed minor repairs since I bought it over 7 years ago. Old Toyotas are the best.
My parents just recently said goodbye to their 2005 Toyota sienna that was in a terrible accident. It ended it’s life at 347k miles. The only thing my dad ever put into it was a couple of water pumps and timing belts cause that’s what you do, and then a new exhaust because we live in Michigan. Every other repair was typical brakes and tires. No engine issues, no transmission issue, and no random parts breaking.
I have a 2005 Toyota Matrix, with over 500,000 kms (over 300,000 miles) and will not quit. It's not burning any oil, not leaking any fluid at all. The car is falling apart around it, but that engine and transmission just keep going.
I had a 1999 Camry I bought back in 2018 for $2,200. It had around 110k miles. I loved that car. I only parted with it because my parents needed something and I wanted to ensure they had something super reliable. I still do the maintenance on it, when my mom lets me. It still has less than 160k miles.
My 2011 Tundra has over 230k miles. That Camry will likely outlast my truck.
The Camry isn't luxurious at all. But, it's super cheap to maintain and gets 22 mph. My truck is notorious for getting horrible gas mileage, even for a truck. It gets 13-14 mpg.
I have a 1994 Toyota Camry and it's at 455k, though the outside paint is faded and headlight is housing is off;it runs great.
Congrats,you are now an official member of the "Daddy Car Club" with this front drive wagon..... Mommies drive mini vans.👏👏
The Front Bumper was cut for being towed behind a RV. The RV tow bar was there. Thats why all the rock chips too. Prob way more mileage then what's on the OD.
I know someone driving a 98 Sienna with 243K miles- no engine troubles but because we live in NJ and it was never garaged rust is starting to become one.
Great episode - let us know what you find for engine codes.
im the first and only owner on my 01 focus with 315k on it. 2.0 zetec with 5 speed manual. doesnt burn a drop of oil. replaced original clutch at 185k when it started slipping. still driving on the second one.
When I was an oil tech I saw Toyota taxis with 4 & 500,000 miles. The 3rd & 4th generation Camry's are the best built, the early 3rd gens were hand built in Japan.
I just realized I’ve been checking my engine oil the wrong way my whole life…the engine should be running! What else have I been doing wrong the last 40 years? 😅
But seriously, I appreciate these type of videos. Beaters rule!
Yeah if yours was overfilled like his Camry you should let a quart or two out and recheck!!
The engine definitely shouldn’t be running
Yeah, never check the engine oil while the car is running. These cars are calibrated to be checked with the engine cold and without the oil being in circulation/sloshing around.
A very, very, very few cars that are dry sump engines are calibrated to have the oil checked while the engine is idle. Those cars are Porsche Boxsters, and some racing cars. Ton of motorcycles are made that way. In no way is an old beater Camry meant to have the oil checked while idling.
I was being sarcastic y’all
LOVING THIS! I have the same year Camry (93) with 213,000 miles on it. Not a wagon though. And I have a 4 cylinder. Light blue paint with blue cloth interior, very clean car. I’ve been driving it for 22 years and I’ve no intention of stopping anytime soon. It could use a Maaco paint job but I get compliments on my car all the time. I did sink a couple thousand into it for maintenance, new radiator, brakes and rotors, brake lines were 30 years old and had disintegrated. Also the a/c went out and I had the 31 year old compressor replaced. I love my car! I’m so curious to see if you keep this car for any length of time and the work needed to get it visually acceptable. Great find!
90s Camry wagon, 90s Taurus wagon, Accord wagon, Outback and Volvo V70 were the most practical passenger cars built. The first two or three had the 3rd row jump seats.
My daughter and her best friend insisted on sitting back there together to wave at drivers and hold up signs. I did worry a bit about rear end collisions, but it was a small town with sleepy 35mph streets.
Camry...can't kill it
Accord...hard to kill
Taurus 250k
Outback...till head gasket blows
Volvo...the last of the real Volvos.
I’ve had a 94 Camry and a 95 Tercel, and can say 90s Toyotas are the best cars ever made. I actually still have the 95 that I got back in 2002, 21 years of ownership and 350k and it’s never failed to start or failed to get me where I’m going. It’s now my beater/spare car since a 2 door stick shift econobox with no AC isn’t exactly the family car I need most of the time.
Love the 1MZ engine - the CEL is likely an emissions code based on being an owner of several old Toyotas
I love these videos. Given the cost of new cars these days, I really enjoy seeing these survivors for reasonable prices. Very jealous in your find.
I have a 1988 Civic sedan with 413,434 miles and its still running strong on original drivetrain.
We have a 2000 model, made in Australia, version of this car. It has a 2.2 liter four cylinder engine with a 5 speed manual gearbox. Compared to this one it has very low mileage at only 110,000 miles, (176,000kms). We bought it when it was a year old, and it is still going fine.
I recently had the radiator replaced as my mechanic said that the plastic top tank was prone to cracking and breaking.
The ABS light is typical. The system spins the pump motor on startup. If any of the plungers in the rotor are sticky the computer will sense that and turn on the light. Sometimes you can dismantle the pump and free up the sticky plunger(s) but it's a crapshoot whether this bodge will last long.
This generation of Camry was a great car. I owned two of these wagons in Europe and had the last one for 7 years . I hope yours serves you well with that huge mileage.!
You got a long way to go. My GMC van has 896,000 plus and is still on the road.
I'd love to have that car! Put a timing belt on it, valve cover gaskets and an oil change and lets go! My 2007 Corolla has 304,000 miles and still going strong.
I have a 2009 with 95k and looking forward to that type of mileage.
I picked up an 06 Focus with 169,000 miles and over 4 years racked up nearly 250,000 on it. Sold it still running with 376,000 miles on it for $999. 😂 With that track record I've stuck with them. The GF's forst car was an 07, I picked up another 07 for a work car. She sadly was in an accident a few months ago after driving hers for 4 years ending up with a totaled car. I then found an 07 ST I now drive daily.
Definitely inspect it for anything serious and try to perform regular maintenance on it. If it only needs a few basic repairs, this car might be good for another 200K miles. A huge bargain in today's market!
I had a 2007 Toyota Avalon with 431,998 miles on it when I was rear ended by a hit and run driver. I was pissed because I was shooting for 500,000.
I just got a 2007 Avalon XLS a few weeks ago. It was a gift from aunt. This thing is so nice, solid and smooth and it's only got 184,363 miles on it.
Dont fix the oil leak. Just put 10W30 in it to slow it down and you're good to go.
Please don’t destroy her. I say do a budget refresh on her and donate it to someone in need.
My parents had a black camry wagon in the 90s. I remember the 3rd row popped out of the floor and you looked backwards.
Love these kind of videos..all these youtubers do all new super cars. Man I cant afford that stuff, I much prefer cars the average joe could afford with some miles on it.
Omg I remember sitting in the back of my grandfather’s Toyota wagon the early 90s were fun
Always check your engine oil level with the engine running for the most accurate reading.
I had a Toyota 2008 Corolla. Bought it new . At that time I did a whole lot of travel. 3 years later I had 383,000 miles on it . Totaled it in a accident. Crazy thing it my insurance gave me $6,000 for the wreck. Turned around a got another one
There is something about a high mileage car that gives you a reassuring feeling. I have an audi with 450k kms on it and I just dont want to scrap it, still runs and drives great.
I just bought a 1995 celica at the auction for 1000 after all fees and taxes, it started right up but it needed a fan relay breaks and ignition coil, after that ir runs like a 1990s car!
It has 146,000 miles but feels like it will go triple that!
I have the same exact car. My’s is green and has 147000, I love it. Wonderful spacious wagon.
Rust inspection? do the climb you tried in the beetle with all seats filled? If you could get the exhaust/head leak fixed I and many others would probably be happy to take it off your hands.
The abs light is probably the abs module needs replaced.
My Toyota RAV4 had 248,000 miles on it, it was a 1998 All wheel drive, the pump in transmission was going bad.. I couldn't locate a used transmission so I sold it
É a primeira vez que vejo alguém a ver o nível do óleo com o motor a funcionar 😂😂
Kutos for you! I own my vehicle as well! Everyone forgets ABOUT reliability! Caught up in the newest technology! Even if i had way more money i would still find something cheaper and reliable and have the title! Good job guy!👏👏
I just got offered a 2000 Toyota Corolla Conquest Seca 1.8 it has 388 000km on it but still running strong.
High mileage vehicles don't scare me anymore. When it's over 300k, it's a guarantee that it has been cared for maintenance-wise. Just looking at the interior, those cloth seats didn't even have stains on them from what was seen on camera.
Yes they do! I had two Lexus cars that left me stranded and blew engines. The 6 cylinders are absolutely the worst . The original boem is people over hyped them just like this and try to make people believe like they are tanks that last forever which is sheer non sense
My dad had a 1985 toyota extended cap 5 speed pickup that he put 432,000 miles in and only changed oil, filters, belts, plugs and plug wires, tires and brakes. The bed rusted away before he stopped driving it.
I bet the engine light is due to the pre-heat unit on an O2 sensor being bad. You can continue driving it forever like that but the problem is, if another fault in the car triggers the engine light and the light is already on, you'll have no ability to know something's wrong unless it's catastrophic.
BIG Deal 13 years ago i bought a 2001 Saturn Sl1 with 145k miles smacked in the front for $500 and another for $300 with blown motor transferred the entire front to the first one sold the second for $250 so it really cost me 550 it has now 336k miles never broke down anywhere runs and drives like new a/c works perfect original clutch believe it or not, engine never been apart and now a can sale it to the junkyard for about what it cost me , I laugh when people say Saturn are p.o.s.
I wish Toyota still made a Camry Wagon, especially with that third row being more usable than the one in many SUVs.
The speedo shaking is because of a failing abs module hence the abs light could probably be reason why the CL is one
Thing is that's NOT crazy for a 1MZ-FE. I have 367k on my '99Avalon and I have about 15 people in front on me on Toyota Nation, some with 500 and 600k miles on theirs. And that's just people who go on the website... Original engine & trans, original AC still blows ice cold in Florida. All original switches inside the car. Still looks great too (garage kept) and best of all still drives like new. Of course I take good care of it and do lots of preventive maintenance but again it drives just as well as a new Camry and is made much better.
That car is my childhood, grandma owned one and I would sit in the way back, she got rid of it because it had a bunch of problems and it would cost too much to repair everything. Also the front of the hood was super rusty, unlike the rest of the car
My bf had a 99 infinity g20. It had 288k miles on it. It leaked alot oil and somehow still ran. At one point he drove it for weeks without any oil(no oil light either). We had to sell it because it also had electrical issues and went thru batteries. We sold it to a local mechanic and I hope it's fixed up
I've been searching for a Camry Wagon high and low... Even if I found one, I doubt any non-collector car that old would pass the ridiculous inspection standards here in PA :(
Even having spent much new on a battery (which may or may not be the problem - think loose alternator belt, etc.), invest n a lithium battery jump pack, to keeping in the car should it fail to start again.
Also invest in a pressure tester for the cooling system to find the coolant leak (other than the overflow tank, which is obvious, and also not sure it’s actuality under pressure).
Best of Luck to You!
I have a similar one - 95 V6 LE wagon, purchased used with 98k miles in 2001, now at 256k. Had erratic speedometer recently, but that went away when I replaced the battery. I wish Toyota and Honda still made wagons...
My first car was a 95 corolla station wagon with a manual. It was one of my favorite cars. Sold it when the clutch went out at 150k. Some dude bought it and planned on road tripping through Mexico with it lol
I've never heard of a Camry wagon lmao.... but now im obsessed. screw buying a 2017 Camry I wanna 90's Camry wagon now.
Check engine light will go out when you disconnect the battery. It makes sense that it came back on.
I love old Toyota wagons!! My current daily is a ‘13 Scion xD by Toyota. Small wagon, hauls what I need for my job and can haul family
at 353,000 miles its just getting started...i drove my 2001 Golf to 313,000, got my money's worth, but it drove its last mile
I have the same engine (1MZ-FE) in my 96 Camry and the coolant is normal very low down in the overflow tank when the engine is cold. When warmed up, it's nearly at the top line.
My 99 Land Cruiser has 330,000 miles. It runs like a goddamn sewing machine. Best cars ever.
The big hubcaps denote it must be a V6 model. I also love the twin wiper blades these came with. So odd. The engine compartment looks so much like my 2011 XLE V6 model. your abs light can be a bad wheel sensor. Easy and cheap to fix. Im Jealous, Im loving your purchase. 350,000 miles are not high for these. $500 you are lucky either way. I also like the colour and the 3rd bench too.
Did you know that auto zone will check the battery, the starter, the alternator and also the check engine light?
Got a Corolla wagon almost like this for 700 hucks and it was one of my favorite cars
I had a 1997 Toyota Camry. One of the best cars ever made.
“Did I get a steal here?”
No sir, you got a Toyota. *mic drop
I think the previous generation made a handsomer wagon, though in either case the Camry Wagon was a far more attractive wagonization than the same year Accord.
I get engine light all the time live in NJ they pump your gas and don't know how to put cap on🤣 almost got skunked light on but this time bank one senser drove a week before getting it checked . Just bought my own obd reader to keep better car of my ride🤣👍
It would be nice to see you put a scan tool on it to see why the check engine light is on
Great car with the V6. I had the same wagon with V6 and it was a wonderful. Not surprised at all that it runs well.
I owned a '95 Camry wagon. Great car
90s Toyotas and Hondas are the GOAT.
Thanks for a very interesting video. Toyota is really the world leader when it comes to automotive reliability, value for money and longevity. I have a 2005 Camry V6 with 356000 km (in Australia). It is a very quite engine which used very little oil. I was interested to see that your V6 was also running well. Regarding the oil leaks, the V6s tend to leak from the valve covers. It's a bit of a job to get to the cover on the back cylinder bank and seal it together with the front one but it does fix a major leak source. I reckon that your $500 car is going to last for a fair number of years. Good luck.
Never knew these cars had a 3rd row. Great addition
Why? Wife’s 2005 Toyota Matrix 185,000 miles less than $1000 in repairs. My 2014 Chrysler 130,000 miles….$11,000 in warranty work since new. (FCA Lifetime Maximum Warranty)
I have a A250 2019. Hope it last as long as this Toyota 🥲