Toyota’s 2.2L is simply marvelous. I have a 1998 Camry with almost 300,000 miles on it. All I have ever done to this car is very basic maintenance. Regular oil changes, new air filters, tires, etc. well about a week ago, I went to turn the key and nothing! What the...??? My precious baby never does this, so I ran through a mental checklist of everything that could be wrong. After 10 or so minutes of checking the basic stuff, I did a Google search and discovered the Camry has an anti-theft system built into the switch where I turn my key. Long story short, I discovered the car was not starting for me because the teeth on my 24-year-old OEM key were so worn out that the car thought I was trying to steal it 😂 Thankfully, I had my spare key (with excellent teeth) tucked away under the chassis. I put the spare key with new teeth into the ignition and turned the key and she started up just like always! I will always buy Toyota because of that experience.
Toyota components are at higher levels than the rest of the industry even among other Japanese brands. Moreover, Toyota parts still work long past recommended life. More importantly, Toyota parts are plenty and inexpensive. Toyota spare parts logistics superior to any other automobile manufacturer foreign or domestic.
I have rebuilt so many 1mz and 5sfe motors I lost count. I started with Toyota in 2002 and let me tell you, I've seen many people say "I'll never buy another Toyota, I never had any problems with my _____ and you're telling me my motor is sludged?!" 🤣🤣🤣
I have a 2001 V6 Gallery Series with only 125,000 miles on it. I have recently been thinking it was too old and have been craving a newer car, but after this video, I value it more. It is in good condition, never needs repairs, so I'm going to keep driving it. Thank you so much!
It is a very old car. But also a very, very good one. Its always better to have an excellent old car than a crappy newer car. New camry's are good, but nowhere near as overbuilt as these older ones.
@ it’s the very same as shown with two tone paint most are white with gray bumper or gray with darker gray bumper some are v6 models some are 4 cylinders
I bought Camry SXV20 2.2 way back in April 2001. Today, April 2024, it has completed 23 years and clocked 450K kms. Still my favourite car. Most parts, except for the usual consumables, are still factory fitted. Never let me down except once when it had to be towed due to rats gnawing on the underneath wires. I also own a ACV40 2.4V and ACV50 2.5G. But SXV20 is still my favorite. The most reliable car ever built.
In southern California you can find 4 - 5 of these for sale every weekend within a short drive for $2-5k. Finding a gem that hasn't been neglected, trashed or wrecked takes a little work, but isn't all that hard still. Imagine getting a car with under 200k miles, putting $1-2k in parts into it....and driving it for another 200k! Parts are cheap. I see the same thing on my recent 1998 -2005 Toyotas.. original starters, alternators, struts. Most of the time rehab is all fluids, motor mounts, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, brakes and coolant. Makes me so happy.
I’m living in Southern California. Tried to buy one like 2002 Camry. Most were $ 5000 - 7000 range. 150000miles. I don’t mind high mileage like 300000miles. But the price they asked were too high I rather buy new 2025. Finally good looking Camry again 2025.
I got mine from a dad's friend for 1.5k with 221k miles on it so far I got it up to 223k so far and the only work I've had done is the rear brakes and a new head gasket and it drives very well and love it 🫅
@@chonghwang8028 Very odd you're looking for basically a $3K - $5K car, then, just like that you say F 'it, I'll just buy a brand new 2025. Those 2 mentalities do not belong together.
@@usaman7358what brand new 2025 car can you buy for $3-5k? You're going to pay more for a car note in the long run especially when the warranty runs out.
At 10:40 ... You are a VERY rare mechanic that takes care and has pride in his work. It is also why most of us here work on our own cars and follow your channel. Thank you for the amazing videos ☆☆☆☆☆
I had a '93 Camry that I sold after 150k miles. I replaced it with a new 2004 Rav4 and regretted selling the Camry the minute I drove the Rav on the highway. Gone was the ultra quiet, ultra comfortable Camry. I still have the Rav4. It is utilitarian and has has served me quite well, but I do regret having sold the Camry then.
I have a 2001 Camry 5 speed manual since new. It has 437,000 I replaced the motor at about 370,000 with a low mileage motor with less than 60,000 miles I was lucky to find. The transmission is original with no signs of problems. The car still runs great. I changed the oil every three to four thousand miles.The driver's side rocker panel has started to rust. I wish they made replacement panels. Thanks for all the great information you share it is all greatly appreciated.
Camry is the greatest car ever made for reliability & longevity! My father-in law's 1996 Camry XLE V6 has 528K miles & it still runs great. Of course, garage kept makes a huge difference, but you just can't beat owning a Camry!
I had an Uber driver with an ‘03 Camry Le with over 355K miles and it ran unbelievably smooth.. cold AC.... no wobble, no shakes... these are built solid...sold my ‘00 Sienna earlier his year with over 260K miles.. no issue! Thanks for the great content brother
I can testify to this. I have a 2005 Camry LE with leather interior. Almost 18 years old and it's rock solid over bumps. The leather seats are beyond comfortable & the switchgear is solidly built, especially the knobs, signal & wiper stalks. Incredible. Over 300,000 kms. Toronto, Canada.
@@marcelpatel9017 05 camry LE here as well, 394000 miles so far. Lost overdrive after 300000 miles plus burns a quart of oil every 500 miles but otherwise still a great car.
@@emort6 eh jusr keep putting oil in it lol it’s a Toyota why put money into it knock on wood it lasts a long time until the motor dies. I’m hoping my od doesn’t die my little 1.8 screams with no od
I have a 2002 Toyota Camry LE 4 cyl, leather seats, under 60k original miles. No rust. I don’t drive that car in the winter. I take great care of my baby. ❤
I have a 1997 Camry LE with a 3.0 V6. Bought it from a little old lady 10 years ago when it was already 17 years old with only 56,000 miles. And it still has under 100,000 miles. I do all the small maintenance, and keep interior and exterior nice and clean. Still has original paint. Recently I took a 700 mile round-trip, and it got over 33 mpg! That's more than the original sticker estimate, and it's 27 years old! Best car I've ever had! 👍
@@bbshir36 that was on a highway at 60 mph, on one 100 mile non-stop stretch between gas stations with the ac off. I have done this little test on many trips as I make this trip every other month, and it is always 33 mpg. The overall avg mpg for the entire 700 mile trip was 29 mpg. Still pretty good. Stop & Go city... about 19 mpg.
My wife and I were looking for an extra car back in 2019 and ended up purchasing a 2001 Camry XLE V6 with 90k miles for $4k. We put about $1k into getting all of the general maintenance up to date and it’s easily the best car we’ve ever owned! I use the car daily as a commuter and it’s just amazing. I joke about how my young kids are going to have it as their first car, but to be honest, I don’t think I could ever give it up.. The V6 engine has plenty of power and there’s lots of space in the trunk & backseats. They really don’t make them like they used to.. mileage is currently 135k, really hoping that we can get 350,000+ 🤞🏽
You’ll see that mileage with no questions asked it’s a Toyota of course you’ll see 350,000 + just continue the maintenance I know my 2016 es350 will go the same route I’m currently at 149,000 this car isn’t going anywhere I stay on top of the maintenance
My dad regrets selling a 1996 Corolla to the junk yard and getting a new car. He bought it for $500. Repaired the issue himself and put another 200k miles over 6-7 years. Got rid of it because oil started getting into engine and was producing smoke. Handles where gone, speedometer was gone, radio was gone, cigarette lighter was gone, but this engine, worked work without missing a beat. Got rid of it at 345k miles and now wished he had paid to replace fix the issue it had.
I inherited a 2000 Camry XLE V6 antique seige pearl (same color as the one in your video?) that my brother gave me. He said it was an old man's car. His loss! My father bought this car in 2009 and then it went to my mother when my father passed away in 2016. It then went to my brother and now to me. It will likely go to our son next. I did all the maintenance on it since it joined our family. Changed the VSV for the pressure sensor (like you showed, there is a service bulletin for this. It had the 3 codes for this problem). The driver's side leather seat has some tearing like the car in your video. When I got it in 2019, it needed a bit of TLC. Timing belt, power steering high pressure and return lines, rear brake lines, an ABS sensor. Changed the aftermarket cat with another aftermarket cat as the old one really stank. A front right brake caliper, new rotors and pads, left rear parking brake cable, parking brake shoes and few other minor things. Currently has 147,000 miles. Very little rust (some on upper roof at the windshield). It was oil sprayed several times when my dad had it (Toronto, ON). Put about a $1000 (USD) into it as I did everything myself. People are surprised at how good it looks for being 22 years old. i do not drive it in the winter. My father said that it was the best car he ever owned. It uses no oil btw, but does have the valve cover gasket leaks. Original alternator and starter. Fuel pump was replaced in 2016. It just died. Lastly, was at the wreckers last Friday and saw the same Camry. Same engine. It really bothered me to see this car as it was in pristine condition. No rust, no scratches, no dings. Even the original floor mats were barely worn. I bought them for my car. I do not know the story behind this car but it did not deserve to be there. I closed the trunk lid to keep water out of it. Felt bad for it. I really enjoy your channel. Keep up the good work! I see why you like this car so much!
I love my current 2000 Camry with the lovely 1MZ-FE engine with only 92,000 miles! Smooth as molasses and as mint as from the factory! My first car was also a 2000 Camry for $4,500 and I had the charcoal canister problem you mentioned, but it lasted me 400,000 miles and 8 years!
Still own an 18 year old 2005 Camry LE. Over 350,000 kms & runs like a champ. Leather interior is so thick and plush. Switchgear, especially HVAC knobs and signal stalks are so solid with tactile feedback. Also has a cavernous trunk. The 2002-06 Camrys were so good.
I am blessed to have two of these wonderful 2001 Camrys. The 2.2 has only 68,000 miles and the 1MZ only 80,000. They were both my parents cars that I inherited when my dad passed and my mom quit driving. My sister in law has the 2.2 and I kept the 1MZ for myself. I do all of the maintenance on both of them myself and you are right AMD they are so easy to work on. Mine will never be for sale!
Yeah I would. I never liked those maybe in a stick shift I had my one time but had bad valve seals those motors are not perfect but they're better than the newer ones but yeah I got to get in the stick shift 4-cylinder everything falls apart in those cars and I'll still run to Lucky earlier model the motor blew rods like crazy because a 98 maybe 99 you can a 2000 blue rods I seen somebody a woman had one at eighty fifty thousand miles blue A-Rod I rather have the 97 Corolla with a 1.8 all day long that somebody at least just sings the oil every 3,000 mi with 150,000 miles then that f****** piece of s*** Camry and that's my review and I own me into Toyotas
My buddy has a 2000 Camry LE V6 with 155k miles in almost perfect condition (missing a trim piece on a window and slight paint fade under passenger side window) and I’m amazed at how much smoother the ride is than my 2019 Camry SE
I have a 2008 Camry which has been in Northern Mexico all of its life. What surprises me most is that it does not have any rust at all. I see a few screws with small dots of rust on the heads. Car has been lucky and never having an accident . As long as I can get parts I hope to keep it. Would like another old Camry too.
This is why I'm still driving my 2001 Toyota Sienna with 446,000 miles with the original drivetrain. Solid, no rattles no cracks on the dash no worn fabric seats.. A few upgrades like reverse camera , head up display and quality audio makes the driving experience more up to date. My best advice is to change the oil more frequently. Dirty oil and oil dilution is can be engine killers
Hello, I'm from Poland. I watch your films a lot. today it is my 3rd toyota. now i have a CHR 1.8 hybrid. I love it not only for its savings. earlier I also bought a toyota Auris 1.4 petrol from the showroom. poor electricity, good engine for the city. but the oldest was my biggest love toyota Camry 2.2 2ZFE the last production for Europe 2010 year. The best car I've ever had and will. such cars will not be produced anymore. Pampered in every inch and aspect. everything there was designed from real materials, not from recycled crap. the plastics were soft rubbers that could not be scratched. I had it for 10 years, no rust, no problems with the engine. BEST, best regards from Poland
Oh the regret of selling my 1997 LE! At the time I was Service & Parts Mgr at a Lincoln-Mercury store and in the 2000 model year, when the Lincoln LS was introduced, I just had to have one. Ford's answer to BMW, I thought. It was great to drive; it was recalled within days, and things went south from there. And they got worse up to about 2006 when things got better. Traded mine for a new 2002 Highlander and have had nothing but Toyotas/Lexus ever since! The Camry had triple door seals and was perfect in every way. We live and learn.......
Thomas, you r absolutely, right! I own a 2003 Lincoln LS Sport! They drive nice, however, they r a POS in every other way! Also, I owned a 1999 Toyota Camry CE. It was a great automobile! Should have kept it! I used to take it to the local Toyota dealership & their master mechanic would tell me he wanted to buy it from me!👍🇨🇦
Thank you for a very informative video. My daily driver is a 1997 2.2L 5SFE engined manual Camry wagon that now has done 480,000 kms. I have owned it for 12 years from 230,000 kms. I do most of the maintenance myself so it is very economical to run. It cruises beautifully on the highway and has taken me on extended trips around Australia, so I have no plans to replace it while it continues to be able to be serviced. A solid piece of auto engineering!
I used to valet cars at a ski resort in Maine for a couple of seasons, and a guest had a same year Camry. I remember this because the ride was so comfortable, even though I just park the car, is just one of those things that stuck with me. The next year, the same guy came but with a bmw I think, but I told him that I remember him because of the plush and comfy ride of the Camry. That was the only time I said that to anyone. I don't know if it was the way I said that to him, but he responded that he already change the car or something, but I just wanted to let him know that of all the cars I parked, which included all makes and models, his Camry was really comfy, just like a Lexus, just like AMD said.
I inherited a 2000 Camry LE 4-cylinder version from my daughter when she moved up to the Mommy-car (Subaru Legacy). We spent a lot of time / money on it when she first got it (new windshield, paint, muffler, rear bumper cover) and then spent some more on it (struts, timing belt, water pump) when she gave it to me (all DIY). Love this car! Rides like a dream. After all those repairs, I spent six months driving it around Texas for work, then back to the snow & rust of Michigan. Now it's back in the my shop for the winter to have a hole in the main frame rail welded up. Can't wait to get started! Thanks for the great video! Love this car!
My 99 Camry 4cyl is so quiet and still smooth too at 336k miles! Two important tips, don't use an aftermarket IAC (idle air control valve). I used two of them over a few years and they both gave me an annoying rough idle and not very good idle speed control, that I lived with for years because I couldn't figure out what was causing it, just said well it's got very high miles! Can't expect it to be perfect... Luckily I kept the original IAC for years in a box of old parts. I serviced the original, (cleaned it, lubed it really well) out of suspicion and frustration. Put it back in with a new rubber O ring seal and idle is perfect again cold or hot! That plus also doing a new fuel pump (3rd pump replacement), 2nd pump was getting a little odd, new fuel filter (black liquid came out of the inlet) serviced and flow tested replacement injectors. That made it go from slow, sluggish feeling and white ash build up on the spark plugs. To even more smooth and power back to as it was new. Now it's quick to get up and go considering it's only like 120hp. Also the car is so quiet on the road (amazing because it doesn't have much insulation at all!). But be wise and use quiet tires so you don't hear tire noise! I use General Altimax tires and love them for almost NO noise, very smooth, comfortable, low cost and not Chinese crap...
That recommendation for the IAC could be extended to many other cars besides Toyota. There are certain applications (MAF sensors are another) where aftermarket parts just do not work well.
wow congrats on 300k+ miles !! still going strong ? and also thanks for sharing . i’d also like to ask how often did you service the timing belt and transmission oil ? if any
I have a 99 XLE 5S-FE 4 cyl with that same beautiful leather interior. Best car I've ever owned. Mine's a highway cruiser that drives 400 miles / wk and gets 27-29MPG at 75MPH all day long. I do all minor to mid-level maintenance myself( using The Car Care Nut videos as reference) and usually use Toyota parts when/if available. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP OVER THE YEARS!
I bought a rather loaded LE, but I've always wanted the XLE. 4 cylinder XLEs are hard to find. Most of them are V6s. You're lucky to have one. That 5S-FE is one of the most reliable engines ever made and while the V6 is reliable, the 4 cylinder is more reliable and cheaper to own.
Amazing video! As always, you never disappoint I love these cars too. I have a 1999 Toyota Camry LE 4 cylinder with sunroof, ABS, alloy wheels, rear spoiler, mudguards... every option except leather . I even have the dealer optioned Eclipse AVN-20D GPS stereo. These were sold through Toyota dealers in response to the (new for 1998) Honda Accord offering a factory navigation option, while the Camry didn't. Anyway, it's the two-tone Pearl White Lexus color paint scheme. I have 298k miles on it and the car still runs strong and drives smoothly and very quiet. It's a daily driver, but a nice one. The cloth seats and interior panels look amazing. I'm hoping to drive it past 500k miles, God-willing. By the way, that upper compartment for the garage door opener is a sunglass holder on lesser models. The garage door opener holder, power passenger seat, and illuminated vanity mirrors are XLE-only features.
I loved the 1987 to 1991 model. I kept my 1990 for 23 years, 330, 000 Km. in Canada. It was reliable right till the end. The rust finally made me scrap it. It went to the grave with the original starter, alternator, rad, rear brakes, front struts, muffler and all front end components.
i could've made this video, what a perfect recommendation lol. i have a 2000 Camry CE I bought with 222k for $3,600. fixed a few things like the dash clock and the driver's side door wiring so my rear window would work. one owner, absolutely flawless inside and out, not even rusty like this example which is surprising because we use salt here as well. this generation is absolutely the best, imo not just because of the lexus-esq feel but it's also my favorite design. ty for the info and also for making me feel a little less crazy about being so proud of this car.
those Older Camry's were tanks. My buddy had a 94 2 door. Like being young and stupid. In the early to mid 2000. I cant remember but our early 20's. We were in a bad storm driving like idiots in big puddles. We went too deep and hydro locked the motor. After we towed it back and he drained everything and replaced the oil. It had a slight bent valve I believe and mad a bit of a racket running but that thing ran for like another 5years or so.
I love it and agree on spotting shoddy work by mechanics....so many don't take pride in their work, anymore. My Dad taught his boys, "If your going to do something, do it right!" I notice SO many older Camry's and T-100's still out there doing what they do best....RUN!! :-)
Proud owner of 2005 Camry. It has the Lexus ES 300 chassis. Over 18 years old, daily driven with over 350,000 kms. Still runs like a clock. Solid car. Toronto, Canada
The 2001 CE 2.2L onyx black Camry bought from showroom in 2001 still looks mint after 23 years. It still is the most sleek, sexy looking, quiet car compared to other newer fancy ones on the road. Never had any major probelm with it. Always use genuine Toyota parts when needed.
I have 2000 4 cy with 380,000. Never flushed the Trans but I keep the everything else maintained. I have only replaced the alternator and regular maintenance. Original AC Compressor and it will still freeze you out. Never has had to be recharged. Someone back up in to me and put a huge dent in the back and I got 3,000 from insurance because they totaled it out. I took that money and bought a 2000 v6 for back up and it has 126,000. One time timing belt jumped a few teeth and it was throwing the cam shaft position sensor code. It took me like 6 months figure it out before I decided to check the timing belt. I drove it around like that for 6 months and the only issue I had was that it was lacking power going up hills. I have decided these are the only cars I will ever drive anymore because I know how to work on them. They have very few sensors and get great gas milage. I am going to put truck bed liner on my v6 but I am thinking of selling it and buying a slightly nicer model. Like the on in the video with leather seats. The only issue I have with it is that the seat is not comfortable for me. It hurts my lower back and I have tried so many things to stop it. In other cars like a 2020 ford f150, I can sit in that seat for 8 solid hours with no issue. The only thing I can find that is different is that I sit way higher up in the other seats. I am 6 ft.
Thank you for your video. I own a 1997 Toyota Camry XLE V6, with leather interior with only 80K miles original miles on it. My Dad purchased it brand new and it still drives like a cloud!
Thank you so much for doing a video on the older Camrys! I still daily drive a 1997 XLE 3.0 V6 with 169K and it drives like a new car. I wash it religiously to keep the rust away here in MN. I LOVE this car, its bulletproof and I do all my own maintenance. I love the channel, hopefully more videos on the older models, keep em coming!
i hope you get your camry rust proofed with a oil based product mist type spray that drips .... that type of product creeps into the metal . Get it done every year in the warm/hot weather. - warm weather is what makes the rustproofing creep into the metal and any existing rust that is there already.
@@bbshir36 usually mid 20's around 24ish combined driving, if I take it on a long road trip it will be higher 20's. My commute during the week is a lot of extended freeway driving so the speeds are up there, I dont do much city driving stop and go. Its a great reliable car and comfortable.
My 93 Toyota Pickup that I bought new still has the original starter and alternator at 311,000 miles. Still has the original clutch and rear brakes too.
I traded my 2000 Camry XLE V6 in for a 2011 Venza XLE V6. I really like driving the Venza, but I have to admit, that 181 horsepower V6 engine that was in that Camry had a particular growl when you would punch it that was just so satisfying. I'm convinced that that car would have kept running forever. It had almost 200,000 miles on it when I traded it in.
Toyota put out some of their best vehicles in the late 90s to early 2000s. Cars, trucks, and SUVs. In that period they had 4, 6, and 8 cylinder engines that would be near the top of the list for reliability and ease of ownership. You see tons and tons of them being daily driven today with 300k miles and the engine & transmission have never been opened up.
Mine is these for sure 100 mile round trip daily driven still ours like. A kitten never will drive anything else lol we have newer cars but eh nothing like a 90s Toyota
I grew up in the 90s and was a Toyota fan. I love this generation Camry the best. I had two friends who had these in college, and they were ultra comfortable and quiet quiet on the highway, comparable to the Lexus. It’s too bad, subsequent Camry generations have gotten cheap and noisy
I drive the 2000 version of this car. I've had it since 2010 and the Odometer is at 198,438. I can testify that with good maintenance, this car is a pleasure to drive. Do your maintenance as and when due (using appropriate oils and materials). Attend to faults in a timely manner using appropriate replacement parts. Greetings from Africa (precisely Lagos, Nigeria)
I have a 99 ce with 73,000 miles. I had to replace the sway bar end links, rear control arms, struts/ alignment , all fluids, tires and do a tuneup. The car drives amazing! It gets 30 mpg highway and is an eye catcher.
We own 2 of these, we live in Australia and travel long distances. One of our Camrys has been ours for 16 years and the other a little less. The cars are serviced very regularly (every 9000 kms) at the same time by us at home. They are definitely keepers. We love them. We also own another 2003 Camry which is just as reliable. Your videos are so informative and entertaining. God Bless you. John and Christine.
I'm so happy for Toyota owners who will be able to service their cars in new Care Care Nut service. By looking this video I wish more and more to be closer to Chicago. Thank you for nice video.
Hey Ahmed, I've been watching your channel for quite some time now and learned quite a few things from you. I consider myself a Toyota fan as well and been comfortable and familiar working on them. About those radiator hoses, usually when you install new hoses and use those worm gear clamps the new hoses will expand and contract over time and sometimes they back out after a few hundred miles or kilometers or so and so you would need to re-adjust them back to it's original position. It is not the fault of the mechanics/technicians. Some shops tell the customers to come back after some time to get the hoses adjusted back and re-tightened like you did in the video. When I was working at several shops and working on pretty much all cars this is what we used most of the time. The spring clamps from the factory are good, but usually lose tension over time and when you remove them and I guess some shops don't want to order new spring clamps so they just use worm gear clamps instead. Some dealers don't even have the original spring clamps in stock so there's no way to get them sometimes. Good video. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to see your new shop up and running. Take care.
I would never use a repair shop that replace my spring clamps with worm types. I bought a '99 that had a multitude of issues, including an aftermarket vacuum switch valve when the original factory one was NOT defective, and worm clamps on the radiator. The spring clamps cost a bundle from the dealer, so no wonder many shops use cheap worm gear clamps. I'd like to avoid replacing my radiator due to a 50 cent part, thank you. And I don't want to bring my car back to the shop to get worm clamps "re-adjusted".
These cars are truly special. I still daily drive my 93 camry, I cant tell you how much money i have saved in car payments by sticking with this old girl. Thank you Toyota.
1998 Toyota Camry had 376000 miles on it before a deer totaled it out. Never changed the power steering fluid or brake fluid but transmission, engine and fuel system were serviced regularly. Car was accidentally put into reverse at 65 mph when the car had around 200,000 miles on it. Transmission never gave me any problems! I am a mechanic and if somebody told me that I would tell them that they are not telling the truth. Still hard for me to believe even though I experienced it. I just purchased a 2001 Toyota Camry with all service records done at the same Toyota dealership. It has 176,000 mi on it. I love the way these cars ride and the ergonomics fit me like a glove. The dash is superb with no hard plastic seems to start rattling and cracking. All smooth soft round edges with no seams versus today's hard plastic with square edges and seams that crackle when rubbing against each other. And last but not least, no tracking ability except for the phone you have with you. That is a plus in my book, I do not want a computer on wheels that can be controlled and monitored externally.
I purchased a 1998 Camry le 3.0 v6 with 26k original miles 1 owner,Southern California granny Annie owned!❤I sold my ls400 that was totaled 🥲.I miss her but I found a unicorn
We had a 99 Camry all we did was oil changes, front brakes, rear stabilizer, timing belt, O2 Sensor, and battery it still had the original muffler. Still solid no squeaks would not hesitate to take it on a cross country trip. Sold it to a relative in 2015 who still had it last year. Thank you for all you do.
The 2002-06 Camrys are just as good. They share the same chassis as the Lexus ES 300 and share the same leather seats and some components. I own a 2005 Camry & it's well north of 350,000 kms and runs smooth & feels solid. Toronto, Canada
My son just inherited this car from his great-grandparents. It has a little over 200K miles. They said that they only thing they had replaced was the fuel pump, back in 2006. The car had a check engine light (code 0446) so we are replacing the charcoal canister, but that's it. Thanks for all the maintenance tips!
My first car that my parents gave me was a 2000 Camry LE 4 cylinders. At first, I did not like the Camry because is slow and all my friends have Integra and Civic Si. Couple years later I sold it to my father's friend and till this day she still driving it without any issues. Now thinking back, I really regret selling that Camry. That car did not give me any problems, it helps me save a lot of money when I was in college.
Those constant tension (Mubea type) clamps are an engineered part, and I have never understood why some owners replace them with those crappy screw clamps that will cause only grief.
I agree! My 2000 Camry is now at 334K miles and going strong. I prefer the 4cyl however, because it's incredibly simple to work on when replacing a starter or alternator. I updated the car for $100 by installing an android radio which gives me a 9 inch screen, TPMS, and back up camera.
I remember my grandparents bought a new off the showroom floor 2000 Camry XLE V6 that was loaded with every option even the gold emblems. It was so smooth, comfortable, and the engine was quiet you could not hear it idling. They drove it for many years and passed it down to my parents who I think drove it to well over 200k miles.
I think everybody has a “the Toyota I regret selling” story. For me, it was the 1989 Cressida with the inline 6 Toyota put in the Supra. Straight 6, RWD loaded out with sunroof, automatic, leather. God, I wish I still had it.
My grandparents in New Orleans gave their Cressida to the family mechanic after they got too old to drive. I hope to have a Lexus that I can pass on in such a way
Lol...mines was my 1990 supra. Bought it in 2003 and sold in 2005 for a new corolla after new job needing to drive at least 110miles a day. Sure was smooth, comfy, and solid almost like a Cressida with 2 door!
Yep, my regret in 1989 was buying a Chevrolet Z-24 instead of the Cressida....she was babied yet threw a rod at just 102,000 miles in 2002! (I had her rebuilt and then sold her.)
I bought a 2000 Camry LE with 160k miles from the tow truck for my son. Change all the fluids and suspensions. After a year and half, it still runs like a champ! Great return of investment, especially with nowadays car market. Downside is the fading hood and top paint. Comestic.
I used to get inside one of these back in the day and would get blown away by how smooth and quiet they were. Was my dream car growing up. Highway cruises were absolutely imperious. I'd jump on the opportunity to own one today.
I purchased a 1999 Camry XLE 3.0L V6 from a retired teacher with low miles, really low miles. As I write this on 9/23/23 it has 42K original miles!! All repair documentation in hand. Exact same color as the one in the video with like new leather seats. No rust or dings. It is now a daily driver for my wife and is truly the best riding vehicle. Floats down the highway like a new modern luxury car. Only issue is it needed to get the brakes lines fixed and typical wear and tear along with a set of tires. Gets an oil change every 4K miles as my wife doesn't drive long distances on a regular basis. Besides a couple lamps that needed to be replaced it is the perfect car. Not looking to sell it any time soon, lol.
LOVED my '97 Camry so much I bought a 2003. Both 4 cylinders. Still have the '03 I've done nothing but usual maintenance including frequent oil changes. I think the '97 was a slightly better car. Absolutely quiet and a dream to drive both local and highway. Neither one rusted. GREAT Cars.!!!!👍👍🚗🚗😊😊
92 Corolla was the best Yota my family owned but all we have had were good. We never had a Camry- except my 08 Solara if that counts since my insurance calls it Camry Solara.
I have the same car 99' Camry ..same color . leather .. awsome cars . so reliable .. just did my timing belt water pump .. very easy to work on .. luv them .. smooth driving . smooth shifting transmissions .. cruise .. ac still works .. 2.2L motors are bullet prooof .. running synthetic oil in engine and trans
This was my first car, a 1999 XLE V6. I took it for granted in high school - and now I’m in a plasticky, slow-as-hell prius. Sure I save gas, but the material quality is night and day!
The title of this video is exactly my sentiments. I owned one if these also a V6, amongst many cars including a Lexus GX470, I still consider it the best. Love it!!! That are so so well made.
Glad you mentioned the signs of a one owner car, the more and more that I clean my ES a little more and work on it a little more I learn more about the previous owner Pretty confident it sat for a while before being sold
I bought a 98 camry with the 2.2l engine about a year ago to fix up. I have almost rebuilt the car because it needed to much work. The paint work isnt in great shape, but its not very rusty underneath. Im actually doing a partial rebuild on the transmission right now, but Regardless of the work this thing needed I kinda really like the thing. Parts are readily available and cheap, these things are remarkably easy to work on, and they just keep going and going if you take care of them.
My 81 year old grandmother still has her 2001 camry. Has around 120000 miles. She does not drive it much, maybe just to the store in town once a week, I always tell her to get it on the freeway once in awhile. The interior still looks great and it still runs great!
Last April I bought my 2002 Lexus ES300 from the original owner. A few months later replaced the original alternator and AC Compressor (it started to squeal). Just last week replaced the original starter at 20 years old. Amazing how long the OEM Parts last ! 168k miles and I’ll have 10+ years of beautiful luxurious trouble free cruising to look forward too !
2000 LE 5SFE owner here. It finally died years after I sold it with 240k on the clock After it hit 300k mice ate out the wiring harness. Then a tree fell on it in a storm. They took the engine out and put it in another car.
We had a 97 XLE that threw a rod at 58,000 miles. Towed to Toyota dealer from mechanic who found the broken rod. Argued with Toyota for 3 weeks, which finally determined the rod failure was likely due to a manufacturing issue it identified for a 100 vehicles or so. To their credit, Toyota replaced the short block on their dollar.
just a couple of things, my dad who was a mechanic, used to say, never go under a car that's only supported with a jack, because many people have died, due to the jack failing and the car crushing them. I don't know if that Benpack jack has a collapse fail safe feature. You may want to let your audience know from time to time that going under cars only supported by a jack is dangerous. Also has anyone invented a simple device connected to the garden tap where you put it on the start of your driveway and as you drive over it a spray of water, shoots up hitting the underneath of the car raising away the salt off the underneath of the car.
I still drive my 1997 Camry I purchased new in 97 and has given me 25 years of reliable service with only 129,000 miles. I'm going to get a new Camry at the end of the year for all of the safety technology.
The new ones are great as well.. My sister and I have the new generation. She just bought a new 2022 loaded XSE less than a month ago.. they have great safety features and will prevent you from having a collision from the front and back.
Why buy in this market when they won’t give you anything for your old car anyway? You’ve got airbags, good brakes, and good crumple zones. I can’t see a new Camry being all that much better actually. Buy beat-down stocks instead-Apple, Facebook, google. In three years you will afford a new electric car and be free of paying for gas!
@@craigiefconcert6493 I want remote start, Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Backup Camera for safety purposes. I'm donating my Camry to charity and money is no object for me buying a new car.
Hello, I’m fond of your vídeos - they’re complete and amusing. Thanks a lot for broadcasting your channel. I’ve got a Prius NGA Top 2017/2017 in Brazil 🇧🇷.
I absolutely love the MZ family of engines. I remember my grandmother buying a brand new '94 Camry V6 XLE and I was absolutely astounded at how quiet the engine was. She gave it to me 10 years later when I started to drive. Had I known how to fix cars back then, I would have fixed it up and kept it.
My dad had a 2001 XLE V6. It was fully loaded and I had so many childhood memories in it. Never seen another with same paint, wheel and spoiler option.
YES!! Once again, I AGREE! My 97 Camry was the same color! I unfortunately got mine used 7yrs old. Brake, fuel lines backing plates rusted out. Foam door seal drivers side ripped. I drove it daily, was a GREAT car!!! 4cyl in mine. Love/miss it!! I parked it anywhere! I have some nice 16" wheels for sale to replace those 14's. 😁 And YES! Rear crossmember/ fuel filler tube!!! This owner should Super Shield or Fluid Film all that rust!!!! 🤔
Have recently come across your channel and have been enjoying your videos. I'm a car nut and have enjoyed 'all things cars' most of my life. I am very lucky to own a 1996 300ES my wife and I received when my father-in-law passed away two years after purchasing it. It has been garaged since new and gets careful attention both on the body and mechanics. The mileage just passed 160K, very low for the year, and runs like a top. It has gotten fresh oil every 6 months (or 3K miles) and everything else mechanically needed along the way. The 3.0L V6 DOHC 1MZFE engine is just a gem to drive. But I don't need to tell you that! Anyway, a testament to Toyota and to the long life they can have with good care.
Toyota’s 2.2L is simply marvelous. I have a 1998 Camry with almost 300,000 miles on it. All I have ever done to this car is very basic maintenance. Regular oil changes, new air filters, tires, etc. well about a week ago, I went to turn the key and nothing! What the...??? My precious baby never does this, so I ran through a mental checklist of everything that could be wrong. After 10 or so minutes of checking the basic stuff, I did a Google search and discovered the Camry has an anti-theft system built into the switch where I turn my key. Long story short, I discovered the car was not starting for me because the teeth on my 24-year-old OEM key were so worn out that the car thought I was trying to steal it 😂 Thankfully, I had my spare key (with excellent teeth) tucked away under the chassis. I put the spare key with new teeth into the ignition and turned the key and she started up just like always! I will always buy Toyota because of that experience.
Great Car one of the best camrys ever made .
Toyota components are at higher levels than the rest of the industry even among other Japanese brands. Moreover, Toyota parts
still work long past recommended life.
More importantly, Toyota parts are plenty and inexpensive. Toyota spare parts logistics superior to any other automobile manufacturer foreign or domestic.
I second your dilemma, happened with my car and yes I am using the valet key for last few years now
Hopefully you put the old key back under the chassis to make it even harder to steal!
I have rebuilt so many 1mz and 5sfe motors I lost count. I started with Toyota in 2002 and let me tell you, I've seen many people say "I'll never buy another Toyota, I never had any problems with my _____ and you're telling me my motor is sludged?!" 🤣🤣🤣
This is a car you just always hold onto and never ever get rid of until it dies. Have a 99 with 700k miles , still purs like a kitten
TF
Hell yeah 🎉
This is truly amazing
Hell yeah dude! Hopefully you can get that to 1,000,000 miles!
700,000 miles WOW..1999, Well than my 2004 can easily give me 500,000. Thank you
Owner of a 2001 Corolla with 300,000 miles. The most glorious thing is being able to do an oil and filter change without even jacking the car up.
Corolla or Camry?
I have a 2001 V6 Gallery Series with only 125,000 miles on it. I have recently been thinking it was too old and have been craving a newer car, but after this video, I value it more. It is in good condition, never needs repairs, so I'm going to keep driving it. Thank you so much!
It is a very old car. But also a very, very good one. Its always better to have an excellent old car than a crappy newer car. New camry's are good, but nowhere near as overbuilt as these older ones.
I always wanted a gallery series still to this day they are very rare to come aross
@@Lee-di9jn What exactly is a Gallery Series model?
@ it’s the very same as shown with two tone paint most are white with gray bumper or gray with darker gray bumper some are v6 models some are 4 cylinders
@ just look at 2001 Toyota Camry gallery series it’s just special edition models
I bought Camry SXV20 2.2 way back in April 2001. Today, April 2024, it has completed 23 years and clocked 450K kms. Still my favourite car. Most parts, except for the usual consumables, are still factory fitted. Never let me down except once when it had to be towed due to rats gnawing on the underneath wires. I also own a ACV40 2.4V and ACV50 2.5G.
But SXV20 is still my favorite. The most reliable car ever built.
I have a medieval Corolla, my dream is to get my hands on an ancient Camry like this!
In southern California you can find 4 - 5 of these for sale every weekend within a short drive for $2-5k. Finding a gem that hasn't been neglected, trashed or wrecked takes a little work, but isn't all that hard still. Imagine getting a car with under 200k miles, putting $1-2k in parts into it....and driving it for another 200k! Parts are cheap. I see the same thing on my recent 1998 -2005 Toyotas.. original starters, alternators, struts. Most of the time rehab is all fluids, motor mounts, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, brakes and coolant. Makes me so happy.
I’m living in Southern California. Tried to buy one like 2002 Camry. Most were $ 5000 - 7000 range. 150000miles. I don’t mind high mileage like 300000miles. But the price they asked were too high I rather buy new 2025. Finally good looking Camry again 2025.
I got mine from a dad's friend for 1.5k with 221k miles on it so far I got it up to 223k so far and the only work I've had done is the rear brakes and a new head gasket and it drives very well and love it 🫅
@@chonghwang8028 Very odd you're looking for basically a $3K - $5K car, then, just like that you say F 'it, I'll just buy a brand new 2025. Those 2 mentalities do not belong together.
@@usaman7358what brand new 2025 car can you buy for $3-5k?
You're going to pay more for a car note in the long run especially when the warranty runs out.
@@FallingStar1080 None. You missed the point.
At 10:40 ... You are a VERY rare mechanic that takes care and has pride in his work. It is also why most of us here work on our own cars and follow your channel. Thank you for the amazing videos ☆☆☆☆☆
I had a '93 Camry that I sold after 150k miles. I replaced it with a new 2004 Rav4 and regretted selling the Camry the minute I drove the Rav on the highway. Gone was the ultra quiet, ultra comfortable Camry. I still have the Rav4. It is utilitarian and has has served me quite well, but I do regret having sold the Camry then.
I have a 2001 Camry 5 speed manual since new. It has 437,000 I replaced the motor at about 370,000 with a low mileage motor with less than 60,000 miles I was lucky to find. The transmission is original with no signs of problems. The car still runs great. I changed the oil every three to four thousand miles.The driver's side rocker panel has started to rust. I wish they made replacement panels. Thanks for all the great information you share it is all greatly appreciated.
Camry is the greatest car ever made for reliability & longevity! My father-in law's 1996 Camry XLE V6 has 528K miles & it still runs great. Of course, garage kept makes a huge difference, but you just can't beat owning a Camry!
I have a 96 white station wagon with only 145,000 miles on it and it’s always garaged in Ca. Looks beautiful 😊
I just bought a 99 Camry, same color and interior. South Carolina car, 250000 miles. Good running car. AC nice and cold. A well made car.
I had an Uber driver with an ‘03 Camry Le with over 355K miles and it ran unbelievably smooth.. cold AC.... no wobble, no shakes... these are built solid...sold my ‘00 Sienna earlier his year with over 260K miles.. no issue!
Thanks for the great content brother
I can testify to this. I have a 2005 Camry LE with leather interior. Almost 18 years old and it's rock solid over bumps. The leather seats are beyond comfortable & the switchgear is solidly built, especially the knobs, signal & wiper stalks. Incredible. Over 300,000 kms. Toronto, Canada.
I thought uber drivers had to drive newer cars than that.
@@marcelpatel9017 05 camry LE here as well, 394000 miles so far. Lost overdrive after 300000 miles plus burns a quart of oil every 500 miles but otherwise still a great car.
@@emort6 eh jusr keep putting oil in it lol it’s a Toyota why put money into it knock on wood it lasts a long time until the motor dies. I’m hoping my od doesn’t die my little 1.8 screams with no od
@@erikgonzalez2278 no Speedy Gonzalez now... Slowpoke Rodriguez LOL
I have a 2002 Toyota Camry LE 4 cyl, leather seats, under 60k original miles. No rust. I don’t drive that car in the winter. I take great care of my baby. ❤
I have a 1997 Camry LE with a 3.0 V6. Bought it from a little old lady 10 years ago when it was already 17 years old with only 56,000 miles. And it still has under 100,000 miles. I do all the small maintenance, and keep interior and exterior nice and clean. Still has original paint. Recently I took a 700 mile round-trip, and it got over 33 mpg! That's more than the original sticker estimate, and it's 27 years old! Best car I've ever had! 👍
33 mpg that sounds great 👍
Woah how you get 33mpg😮 my 1997 camry xle v6 does wayy less ( around 11 - 16 mpg in city ) has 4 speed auto.
@@bbshir36 that was on a highway at 60 mph, on one 100 mile non-stop stretch between gas stations with the ac off. I have done this little test on many trips as I make this trip every other month, and it is always 33 mpg. The overall avg mpg for the entire 700 mile trip was 29 mpg. Still pretty good. Stop & Go city... about 19 mpg.
My wife and I were looking for an extra car back in 2019 and ended up purchasing a 2001 Camry XLE V6 with 90k miles for $4k. We put about $1k into getting all of the general maintenance up to date and it’s easily the best car we’ve ever owned! I use the car daily as a commuter and it’s just amazing. I joke about how my young kids are going to have it as their first car, but to be honest, I don’t think I could ever give it up.. The V6 engine has plenty of power and there’s lots of space in the trunk & backseats. They really don’t make them like they used to.. mileage is currently 135k, really hoping that we can get 350,000+ 🤞🏽
You’ll see that mileage with no questions asked it’s a Toyota of course you’ll see 350,000 + just continue the maintenance I know my 2016 es350 will go the same route I’m currently at 149,000 this car isn’t going anywhere I stay on top of the maintenance
We have an 05 Camry witch runs great and only has 255,000 on it..
My dad regrets selling a 1996 Corolla to the junk yard and getting a new car. He bought it for $500. Repaired the issue himself and put another 200k miles over 6-7 years. Got rid of it because oil started getting into engine and was producing smoke.
Handles where gone, speedometer was gone, radio was gone, cigarette lighter was gone, but this engine, worked work without missing a beat.
Got rid of it at 345k miles and now wished he had paid to replace fix the issue it had.
I inherited a 2000 Camry XLE V6 antique seige pearl (same color as the one in your video?) that my brother gave me. He said it was an old man's car. His loss! My father bought this car in 2009 and then it went to my mother when my father passed away in 2016. It then went to my brother and now to me. It will likely go to our son next. I did all the maintenance on it since it joined our family. Changed the VSV for the pressure sensor (like you showed, there is a service bulletin for this. It had the 3 codes for this problem). The driver's side leather seat has some tearing like the car in your video.
When I got it in 2019, it needed a bit of TLC. Timing belt, power steering high pressure and return lines, rear brake lines, an ABS sensor. Changed the aftermarket cat with another aftermarket cat as the old one really stank. A front right brake caliper, new rotors and pads, left rear parking brake cable, parking brake shoes and few other minor things. Currently has 147,000 miles. Very little rust (some on upper roof at the windshield). It was oil sprayed several times when my dad had it (Toronto, ON). Put about a $1000 (USD) into it as I did everything myself. People are surprised at how good it looks for being 22 years old. i do not drive it in the winter. My father said that it was the best car he ever owned. It uses no oil btw, but does have the valve cover gasket leaks. Original alternator and starter. Fuel pump was replaced in 2016. It just died. Lastly, was at the wreckers last Friday and saw the same Camry. Same engine. It really bothered me to see this car as it was in pristine condition. No rust, no scratches, no dings. Even the original floor mats were barely worn. I bought them for my car. I do not know the story behind this car but it did not deserve to be there. I closed the trunk lid to keep water out of it. Felt bad for it. I really enjoy your channel. Keep up the good work! I see why you like this car so much!
The wrecker yard Camry will go where all Camrys go; to Camry heaven.
Yes old man's car buy it at 16 still runs when you are old man lol😅😅😅😅😅
Our neighbor has one. It stays parked outside but he keeps up on the maintenance and detailing. Still looks great and drives incredibly smooth. 👍
❤❤❤
I love my current 2000 Camry with the lovely 1MZ-FE engine with only 92,000 miles! Smooth as molasses and as mint as from the factory!
My first car was also a 2000 Camry for $4,500 and I had the charcoal canister problem you mentioned, but it lasted me 400,000 miles and 8 years!
Still own an 18 year old 2005 Camry LE. Over 350,000 kms & runs like a champ. Leather interior is so thick and plush. Switchgear, especially HVAC knobs and signal stalks are so solid with tactile feedback. Also has a cavernous trunk. The 2002-06 Camrys were so good.
I’m contemplating on buying one with 220k do they have oil burning problems eventually?
I am blessed to have two of these wonderful 2001 Camrys. The 2.2 has only 68,000 miles and the 1MZ only 80,000. They were both my parents cars that I inherited when my dad passed and my mom quit driving. My sister in law has the 2.2 and I kept the 1MZ for myself. I do all of the maintenance on both of them myself and you are right AMD they are so easy to work on. Mine will never be for sale!
I would’ve kept the v6 to lol
@@DigitalAssassin3 with current gas prices is might have been the right move lol
I feel you on that I’ll never sell my 97 Corolla and wow what a gem low milage!!!!
Yeah I would. I never liked those maybe in a stick shift I had my one time but had bad valve seals those motors are not perfect but they're better than the newer ones but yeah I got to get in the stick shift 4-cylinder everything falls apart in those cars and I'll still run to Lucky earlier model the motor blew rods like crazy because a 98 maybe 99 you can a 2000 blue rods I seen somebody a woman had one at eighty fifty thousand miles blue A-Rod I rather have the 97 Corolla with a 1.8 all day long that somebody at least just sings the oil every 3,000 mi with 150,000 miles then that f****** piece of s*** Camry and that's my review and I own me into Toyotas
How about getting to those rear spark plugs though!
My buddy has a 2000 Camry LE V6 with 155k miles in almost perfect condition (missing a trim piece on a window and slight paint fade under passenger side window) and I’m amazed at how much smoother the ride is than my 2019 Camry SE
I have a 2008 Camry which has been in Northern Mexico all of its life. What surprises me most is that it does not have any rust at all. I see a few screws with small dots of rust on the heads.
Car has been lucky and never having an accident . As long as I can get parts I hope to keep it.
Would like another old Camry too.
This is why I'm still driving my 2001 Toyota Sienna with 446,000 miles with the original drivetrain. Solid, no rattles no cracks on the dash no worn fabric seats.. A few upgrades like reverse camera , head up display and quality audio makes the driving experience more up to date. My best advice is to change the oil more frequently. Dirty oil and oil dilution is can be engine killers
Hello, I'm from Poland. I watch your films a lot. today it is my 3rd toyota. now i have a CHR 1.8 hybrid. I love it not only for its savings. earlier I also bought a toyota Auris 1.4 petrol from the showroom. poor electricity, good engine for the city. but the oldest was my biggest love toyota Camry 2.2 2ZFE the last production for Europe 2010 year. The best car I've ever had and will. such cars will not be produced anymore. Pampered in every inch and aspect. everything there was designed from real materials, not from recycled crap. the plastics were soft rubbers that could not be scratched. I had it for 10 years, no rust, no problems with the engine. BEST, best regards from Poland
Oh the regret of selling my 1997 LE! At the time I was Service & Parts Mgr at a Lincoln-Mercury store and in the 2000 model year, when the Lincoln LS was introduced, I just had to have one. Ford's answer to BMW, I thought. It was great to drive; it was recalled within days, and things went south from there. And they got worse up to about 2006 when things got better. Traded mine for a new 2002 Highlander and have had nothing but Toyotas/Lexus ever since! The Camry had triple door seals and was perfect in every way. We live and learn.......
I had a 97 LE for 16 years. It had 250k on the clock when I sold it. Drove great.
Thomas, you r absolutely, right! I own a 2003 Lincoln LS Sport! They drive nice, however, they r a POS in every other way! Also, I owned a 1999 Toyota Camry CE. It was a great automobile! Should have kept it! I used to take it to the local Toyota dealership & their master mechanic would tell me he wanted to buy it from me!👍🇨🇦
I think Toyota sued Ford for using the name "LS" since the Lexus LS had already existed.
@@lightsfansofthewest481/ Good. The DEW98 chassis (Thunderbird, Lincoln LS, Jaguar S-Type) were nothing like the Lexus.
One of the best Toyotas ever made! I had a 2002 with that same engine and I put 255k miles on it before I sold it. And it was still going strong!!!
The two tone painted Camrys were built in Japan. Currently own a 99 Japanese Camry with 130,000 miles and she still drives like new😊.
Thank you for a very informative video. My daily driver is a 1997 2.2L 5SFE engined manual Camry wagon that now has done 480,000 kms. I have owned it for 12 years from 230,000 kms. I do most of the maintenance myself so it is very economical to run. It cruises beautifully on the highway and has taken me on extended trips around Australia, so I have no plans to replace it while it continues to be able to be serviced. A solid piece of auto engineering!
I used to valet cars at a ski resort in Maine for a couple of seasons, and a guest had a same year Camry. I remember this because the ride was so comfortable, even though I just park the car, is just one of those things that stuck with me. The next year, the same guy came but with a bmw I think, but I told him that I remember him because of the plush and comfy ride of the Camry. That was the only time I said that to anyone. I don't know if it was the way I said that to him, but he responded that he already change the car or something, but I just wanted to let him know that of all the cars I parked, which included all makes and models, his Camry was really comfy, just like a Lexus, just like AMD said.
I inherited a 2000 Camry LE 4-cylinder version from my daughter when she moved up to the Mommy-car (Subaru Legacy). We spent a lot of time / money on it when she first got it (new windshield, paint, muffler, rear bumper cover) and then spent some more on it (struts, timing belt, water pump) when she gave it to me (all DIY). Love this car! Rides like a dream. After all those repairs, I spent six months driving it around Texas for work, then back to the snow & rust of Michigan. Now it's back in the my shop for the winter to have a hole in the main frame rail welded up. Can't wait to get started! Thanks for the great video! Love this car!
My 99 Camry 4cyl is so quiet and still smooth too at 336k miles! Two important tips, don't use an aftermarket IAC (idle air control valve). I used two of them over a few years and they both gave me an annoying rough idle and not very good idle speed control, that I lived with for years because I couldn't figure out what was causing it, just said well it's got very high miles! Can't expect it to be perfect... Luckily I kept the original IAC for years in a box of old parts. I serviced the original, (cleaned it, lubed it really well) out of suspicion and frustration. Put it back in with a new rubber O ring seal and idle is perfect again cold or hot! That plus also doing a new fuel pump (3rd pump replacement), 2nd pump was getting a little odd, new fuel filter (black liquid came out of the inlet) serviced and flow tested replacement injectors. That made it go from slow, sluggish feeling and white ash build up on the spark plugs. To even more smooth and power back to as it was new. Now it's quick to get up and go considering it's only like 120hp.
Also the car is so quiet on the road (amazing because it doesn't have much insulation at all!). But be wise and use quiet tires so you don't hear tire noise! I use General Altimax tires and love them for almost NO noise, very smooth, comfortable, low cost and not Chinese crap...
I am dreading the day when we can’t get OEM parts for our beloved Camrys.
That recommendation for the IAC could be extended to many other cars besides Toyota. There are certain applications (MAF sensors are another) where aftermarket parts just do not work well.
wow congrats on 300k+ miles !! still going strong ? and also thanks for sharing . i’d also like to ask how often did you service the timing belt and transmission oil ? if any
I have a 99 XLE 5S-FE 4 cyl with that same beautiful leather interior. Best car I've ever owned. Mine's a highway cruiser that drives 400 miles / wk and gets 27-29MPG at 75MPH all day long. I do all minor to mid-level maintenance myself( using The Car Care Nut videos as reference) and usually use Toyota parts when/if available. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP OVER THE YEARS!
I bought a rather loaded LE, but I've always wanted the XLE. 4 cylinder XLEs are hard to find. Most of them are V6s. You're lucky to have one. That 5S-FE is one of the most reliable engines ever made and while the V6 is reliable, the 4 cylinder is more reliable and cheaper to own.
The best
Amazing video! As always, you never disappoint I love these cars too. I have a 1999 Toyota Camry LE 4 cylinder with sunroof, ABS, alloy wheels, rear spoiler, mudguards... every option except leather . I even have the dealer optioned Eclipse AVN-20D GPS stereo. These were sold through Toyota dealers in response to the (new for 1998) Honda Accord offering a factory navigation option, while the Camry didn't.
Anyway, it's the two-tone Pearl White Lexus color paint scheme. I have 298k miles on it and the car still runs strong and drives smoothly and very quiet. It's a daily driver, but a nice one. The cloth seats and interior panels look amazing. I'm hoping to drive it past 500k miles, God-willing. By the way, that upper compartment for the garage door opener is a sunglass holder on lesser models. The garage door opener holder, power passenger seat, and illuminated vanity mirrors are XLE-only features.
260,000miles and still going smooth. Love my Camry. Easy to work on.
I loved the 1987 to 1991 model. I kept my 1990 for 23 years, 330, 000 Km. in Canada. It was reliable right till the end. The rust finally made me scrap it. It went to the grave with the original starter, alternator, rad, rear brakes, front struts, muffler and all front end components.
Invest in fluid film and soak your vehicle with it in the rust belt.
i could've made this video, what a perfect recommendation lol. i have a 2000 Camry CE I bought with 222k for $3,600. fixed a few things like the dash clock and the driver's side door wiring so my rear window would work. one owner, absolutely flawless inside and out, not even rusty like this example which is surprising because we use salt here as well. this generation is absolutely the best, imo not just because of the lexus-esq feel but it's also my favorite design. ty for the info and also for making me feel a little less crazy about being so proud of this car.
2000-2001 are my favorite Camry model years. Subtle styling refresh. Hubcaps didn't look terrible.
I prefer the OG 97-99. The refresh was trying too hard. Modern bubbly lights on an old body.
those Older Camry's were tanks. My buddy had a 94 2 door. Like being young and stupid. In the early to mid 2000. I cant remember but our early 20's. We were in a bad storm driving like idiots in big puddles. We went too deep and hydro locked the motor. After we towed it back and he drained everything and replaced the oil. It had a slight bent valve I believe and mad a bit of a racket running but that thing ran for like another 5years or so.
Good to see vids on the golden oldies.
I love it and agree on spotting shoddy work by mechanics....so many don't take pride in their work, anymore. My Dad taught his boys, "If your going to do something, do it right!" I notice SO many older Camry's and T-100's still out there doing what they do best....RUN!! :-)
I do still have a T-100 / 1993 with 253k miles and running like a champ !!
My biggest regret is selling my 2005 bare bones manual transmission CE Corolla model. Best car I ever owned, had it for 17 years
Wow what a gem that’s probably the newest Toyota I’d buy I have a 97 Corolla dx love it
I absolutely love my 2001 2.2L Camry. Only one I’ve ever seen that is a 5spd manual. It’s reliable and a blast to drive.
I should've pulled the trigger on a 2001 Toyota Camry Gallery Series 10 years ago. I regret it ever since
I admire the way that you are a perfectionist with the coolant hoses and the use of the constant tension clamps as was installed at the factory!
Proud owner of 2005 Camry. It has the Lexus ES 300 chassis. Over 18 years old, daily driven with over 350,000 kms. Still runs like a clock. Solid car. Toronto, Canada
The 2001 CE 2.2L onyx black Camry bought from showroom in 2001 still looks mint after 23 years. It still is the most sleek, sexy looking, quiet car compared to other newer fancy ones on the road. Never had any major probelm with it. Always use genuine Toyota parts when needed.
I have 2000 4 cy with 380,000. Never flushed the Trans but I keep the everything else maintained. I have only replaced the alternator and regular maintenance. Original AC Compressor and it will still freeze you out. Never has had to be recharged. Someone back up in to me and put a huge dent in the back and I got 3,000 from insurance because they totaled it out. I took that money and bought a 2000 v6 for back up and it has 126,000. One time timing belt jumped a few teeth and it was throwing the cam shaft position sensor code. It took me like 6 months figure it out before I decided to check the timing belt. I drove it around like that for 6 months and the only issue I had was that it was lacking power going up hills. I have decided these are the only cars I will ever drive anymore because I know how to work on them. They have very few sensors and get great gas milage. I am going to put truck bed liner on my v6 but I am thinking of selling it and buying a slightly nicer model. Like the on in the video with leather seats. The only issue I have with it is that the seat is not comfortable for me. It hurts my lower back and I have tried so many things to stop it. In other cars like a 2020 ford f150, I can sit in that seat for 8 solid hours with no issue. The only thing I can find that is different is that I sit way higher up in the other seats. I am 6 ft.
Thank you for your video. I own a 1997 Toyota Camry XLE V6, with leather interior with only 80K miles original miles on it. My Dad purchased it brand new and it still drives like a cloud!
Thank you so much for doing a video on the older Camrys! I still daily drive a 1997 XLE 3.0 V6 with 169K and it drives like a new car. I wash it religiously to keep the rust away here in MN. I LOVE this car, its bulletproof and I do all my own maintenance. I love the channel, hopefully more videos on the older models, keep em coming!
i hope you get your camry rust proofed with a oil based product mist type spray that drips .... that type of product creeps into the metal . Get it done every year in the warm/hot weather. - warm weather is what makes the rustproofing creep into the metal and any existing rust that is there already.
Hi how much mileage are you getting from your car ?
@@bbshir36 usually mid 20's around 24ish combined driving, if I take it on a long road trip it will be higher 20's. My commute during the week is a lot of extended freeway driving so the speeds are up there, I dont do much city driving stop and go. Its a great reliable car and comfortable.
@ when you turn on your AC compressor does it sound like a sport car too or is it just my car
@@bbshir36 no significant change, can hear compressor kick on a bit and slight response in RPM but nothing significant
My 93 Toyota Pickup that I bought new still has the original starter and alternator at 311,000 miles. Still has the original clutch and rear brakes too.
I traded my 2000 Camry XLE V6 in for a 2011 Venza XLE V6. I really like driving the Venza, but I have to admit, that 181 horsepower V6 engine that was in that Camry had a particular growl when you would punch it that was just so satisfying. I'm convinced that that car would have kept running forever. It had almost 200,000 miles on it when I traded it in.
Toyota put out some of their best vehicles in the late 90s to early 2000s. Cars, trucks, and SUVs. In that period they had 4, 6, and 8 cylinder engines that would be near the top of the list for reliability and ease of ownership.
You see tons and tons of them being daily driven today with 300k miles and the engine & transmission have never been opened up.
Mine is these for sure 100 mile round trip daily driven still ours like. A kitten never will drive anything else lol we have newer cars but eh nothing like a 90s Toyota
I grew up in the 90s and was a Toyota fan. I love this generation Camry the best. I had two friends who had these in college, and they were ultra comfortable and quiet quiet on the highway, comparable to the Lexus. It’s too bad, subsequent Camry generations have gotten cheap and noisy
I drive the 2000 version of this car. I've had it since 2010 and the Odometer is at 198,438. I can testify that with good maintenance, this car is a pleasure to drive. Do your maintenance as and when due (using appropriate oils and materials). Attend to faults in a timely manner using appropriate replacement parts. Greetings from Africa (precisely Lagos, Nigeria)
Happy to say that I can’t think of any car I regret selling. Very happy with the current ones.
Love your work 👍
I have a 99 ce with 73,000 miles. I had to replace the sway bar end links, rear control arms, struts/ alignment , all fluids, tires and do a tuneup. The car drives amazing! It gets 30 mpg highway and is an eye catcher.
We own 2 of these, we live in Australia and travel long distances. One of our Camrys has been ours for 16 years and the other a little less. The cars are serviced very regularly (every 9000 kms) at the same time by us at home. They are definitely keepers. We love them. We also own another 2003 Camry which is just as reliable. Your videos are so informative and entertaining. God Bless you. John and Christine.
I'm so happy for Toyota owners who will be able to service their cars in new Care Care Nut service. By looking this video I wish more and more to be closer to Chicago. Thank you for nice video.
My 2001 camry is above 900000 miles already😅. Still as smooth as a new one
They don't make them like they used to AMD. Toyota quality and reliability at it's best. Thank you for another honest and through inspection.
Hey Ahmed, I've been watching your channel for quite some time now and learned quite a few things from you. I consider myself a Toyota fan as well and been comfortable and familiar working on them. About those radiator hoses, usually when you install new hoses and use those worm gear clamps the new hoses will expand and contract over time and sometimes they back out after a few hundred miles or kilometers or so and so you would need to re-adjust them back to it's original position. It is not the fault of the mechanics/technicians. Some shops tell the customers to come back after some time to get the hoses adjusted back and re-tightened like you did in the video. When I was working at several shops and working on pretty much all cars this is what we used most of the time. The spring clamps from the factory are good, but usually lose tension over time and when you remove them and I guess some shops don't want to order new spring clamps so they just use worm gear clamps instead. Some dealers don't even have the original spring clamps in stock so there's no way to get them sometimes. Good video. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to see your new shop up and running. Take care.
I would never use a repair shop that replace my spring clamps with worm types. I bought a '99 that had a multitude of issues, including an aftermarket vacuum switch valve when the original factory one was NOT defective, and worm clamps on the radiator. The spring clamps cost a bundle from the dealer, so no wonder many shops use cheap worm gear clamps. I'd like to avoid replacing my radiator due to a 50 cent part, thank you. And I don't want to bring my car back to the shop to get worm clamps "re-adjusted".
@@loden888Well said! No worm clamps!!!!
These cars are truly special. I still daily drive my 93 camry, I cant tell you how much money i have saved in car payments by sticking with this old girl. Thank you Toyota.
1998 Toyota Camry had 376000 miles on it before a deer totaled it out. Never changed the power steering fluid or brake fluid but transmission, engine and fuel system were serviced regularly. Car was accidentally put into reverse at 65 mph when the car had around 200,000 miles on it. Transmission never gave me any problems! I am a mechanic and if somebody told me that I would tell them that they are not telling the truth. Still hard for me to believe even though I experienced it. I just purchased a 2001 Toyota Camry with all service records done at the same Toyota dealership. It has 176,000 mi on it. I love the way these cars ride and the ergonomics fit me like a glove. The dash is superb with no hard plastic seems to start rattling and cracking. All smooth soft round edges with no seams versus today's hard plastic with square edges and seams that crackle when rubbing against each other. And last but not least, no tracking ability except for the phone you have with you. That is a plus in my book, I do not want a computer on wheels that can be controlled and monitored externally.
I purchased a 1998 Camry le 3.0 v6 with 26k original miles 1 owner,Southern California granny Annie owned!❤I sold my ls400 that was totaled 🥲.I miss her but I found a unicorn
We had a 99 Camry all we did was oil changes, front brakes, rear stabilizer, timing belt, O2 Sensor, and battery it still had the original muffler. Still solid no squeaks would not hesitate to take it on a cross country trip. Sold it to a relative in 2015 who still had it last year.
Thank you for all you do.
The 2002-06 Camrys are just as good. They share the same chassis as the Lexus ES 300 and share the same leather seats and some components. I own a 2005 Camry & it's well north of 350,000 kms and runs smooth & feels solid. Toronto, Canada
My son just inherited this car from his great-grandparents. It has a little over 200K miles. They said that they only thing they had replaced was the fuel pump, back in 2006. The car had a check engine light (code 0446) so we are replacing the charcoal canister, but that's it. Thanks for all the maintenance tips!
The main thing you have to watch is the timing belt. I hope they replaced the timing belt since then.
My first car that my parents gave me was a 2000 Camry LE 4 cylinders. At first, I did not like the Camry because is slow and all my friends have Integra and Civic Si. Couple years later I sold it to my father's friend and till this day she still driving it without any issues. Now thinking back, I really regret selling that Camry. That car did not give me any problems, it helps me save a lot of money when I was in college.
Those constant tension (Mubea type) clamps are an engineered part, and I have never understood why some owners replace them with those crappy screw clamps that will cause only grief.
I agree! My 2000 Camry is now at 334K miles and going strong. I prefer the 4cyl however, because it's incredibly simple to work on when replacing a starter or alternator. I updated the car for $100 by installing an android radio which gives me a 9 inch screen, TPMS, and back up camera.
Did you ever have to do a timing belt service?
I know at least two people that drive their car every day with that body style- super reliable!
timing chain rather
you have tpms on your screen? link?
No
I remember my grandparents bought a new off the showroom floor 2000 Camry XLE V6 that was loaded with every option even the gold emblems. It was so smooth, comfortable, and the engine was quiet you could not hear it idling. They drove it for many years and passed it down to my parents who I think drove it to well over 200k miles.
I think everybody has a “the Toyota I regret selling” story. For me, it was the 1989 Cressida with the inline 6 Toyota put in the Supra. Straight 6, RWD loaded out with sunroof, automatic, leather. God, I wish I still had it.
My grandparents in New Orleans gave their Cressida to the family mechanic after they got too old to drive. I hope to have a Lexus that I can pass on in such a way
Lol...mines was my 1990 supra. Bought it in 2003 and sold in 2005 for a new corolla after new job needing to drive at least 110miles a day. Sure was smooth, comfy, and solid almost like a Cressida with 2 door!
If it's got no issues yet I would retorque the head gasket bolts to 75ftlbs on that 7MGE. Might have to do extra for it to work.
Yep, my regret in 1989 was buying a Chevrolet Z-24 instead of the Cressida....she was babied yet threw a rod at just 102,000 miles in 2002! (I had her rebuilt and then sold her.)
I don't want to be a jerk but the only thing I miss was the space in my old accord V6 the new 10th gen that I have is tighter than the old car.
I bought a 2000 Camry LE with 160k miles from the tow truck for my son. Change all the fluids and suspensions. After a year and half, it still runs like a champ! Great return of investment, especially with nowadays car market. Downside is the fading hood and top paint. Comestic.
I used to get inside one of these back in the day and would get blown away by how smooth and quiet they were. Was my dream car growing up. Highway cruises were absolutely imperious. I'd jump on the opportunity to own one today.
Had a 2003 XLE v6, until 2017, was totaled ,T boned by some idiot who ran a light, wish I still had it. An amazing car
I purchased a 1999 Camry XLE 3.0L V6 from a retired teacher with low miles, really low miles. As I write this on 9/23/23 it has 42K original miles!! All repair documentation in hand. Exact same color as the one in the video with like new leather seats. No rust or dings. It is now a daily driver for my wife and is truly the best riding vehicle. Floats down the highway like a new modern luxury car. Only issue is it needed to get the brakes lines fixed and typical wear and tear along with a set of tires. Gets an oil change every 4K miles as my wife doesn't drive long distances on a regular basis. Besides a couple lamps that needed to be replaced it is the perfect car. Not looking to sell it any time soon, lol.
Please! Rust proof it (make an oily waxy undercoating)!
It will last your family forever.
LOVED my '97 Camry so much I bought a 2003. Both 4 cylinders. Still have the '03 I've done nothing but usual maintenance including frequent oil changes. I think the '97 was a slightly better car. Absolutely quiet and a dream to drive both local and highway. Neither one rusted. GREAT Cars.!!!!👍👍🚗🚗😊😊
92 Corolla was the best Yota my family owned but all we have had were good. We never had a Camry- except my 08 Solara if that counts since my insurance calls it Camry Solara.
I have the same car 99' Camry ..same color . leather .. awsome cars . so reliable .. just did my timing belt water pump .. very easy to work on .. luv them .. smooth driving . smooth shifting transmissions .. cruise .. ac still works .. 2.2L motors are bullet prooof .. running synthetic oil in engine and trans
This was my first car, a 1999 XLE V6. I took it for granted in high school - and now I’m in a plasticky, slow-as-hell prius. Sure I save gas, but the material quality is night and day!
The title of this video is exactly my sentiments. I owned one if these also a V6, amongst many cars including a Lexus GX470, I still consider it the best. Love it!!! That are so so well made.
This era was absolutely the peak of Toyota
Glad you mentioned the signs of a one owner car, the more and more that I clean my ES a little more and work on it a little more I learn more about the previous owner
Pretty confident it sat for a while before being sold
I bought a 98 camry with the 2.2l engine about a year ago to fix up. I have almost rebuilt the car because it needed to much work. The paint work isnt in great shape, but its not very rusty underneath. Im actually doing a partial rebuild on the transmission right now, but Regardless of the work this thing needed I kinda really like the thing. Parts are readily available and cheap, these things are remarkably easy to work on, and they just keep going and going if you take care of them.
Have 97 camry 2.2 liter engine with 500000 on it. Still going with original engine and transmission
My 81 year old grandmother still has her 2001 camry. Has around 120000 miles. She does not drive it much, maybe just to the store in town once a week, I always tell her to get it on the freeway once in awhile. The interior still looks great and it still runs great!
Unfortunately when your grandma stops driving it buy it from her I like hearing all these stories of mint 90s Toyotas as an owner myself
Last April I bought my 2002 Lexus ES300 from the original owner. A few months later replaced the original alternator and AC Compressor (it started to squeal). Just last week replaced the original starter at 20 years old. Amazing how long the OEM Parts last ! 168k miles and I’ll have 10+ years of beautiful luxurious trouble free cruising to look forward too !
2000 LE 5SFE owner here. It finally died years after I sold it with 240k on the clock
After it hit 300k mice ate out the wiring harness. Then a tree fell on it in a storm.
They took the engine out and put it in another car.
This is THE ONE. We count these on the roads every day when we see them. I still have times where I’ll see many at a time. Great cars. I miss mine.
We had a 97 XLE that threw a rod at 58,000 miles. Towed to Toyota dealer from mechanic who found the broken rod. Argued with Toyota for 3 weeks, which finally determined the rod failure was likely due to a manufacturing issue it identified for a 100 vehicles or so. To their credit, Toyota replaced the short block on their dollar.
Still got my 2000 Camry. 206000 miles. It doesn't owe me a thing! Very reliable and so easy to work on!
Back in the day you could get the V6 with the 5 speed manual. Rare. And then add on a TRD supercharger. Extra rare
just a couple of things, my dad who was a mechanic, used to say, never go under a car that's only supported with a jack, because many people have died, due to the jack failing and the car crushing them. I don't know if that Benpack jack has a collapse fail safe feature. You may want to let your audience know from time to time that going under cars only supported by a jack is dangerous.
Also has anyone invented a simple device connected to the garden tap where you put it on the start of your driveway and as you drive over it a spray of water, shoots up hitting the underneath of the car raising away the salt off the underneath of the car.
I still drive my 1997 Camry I purchased new in 97 and has given me 25 years of reliable service with only 129,000 miles. I'm going to get a new Camry at the end of the year for all of the safety technology.
The new ones are great as well.. My sister and I have the new generation. She just bought a new 2022 loaded XSE less than a month ago.. they have great safety features and will prevent you from having a collision from the front and back.
Why buy in this market when they won’t give you anything for your old car anyway? You’ve got airbags, good brakes, and good crumple zones. I can’t see a new Camry being all that much better actually.
Buy beat-down stocks instead-Apple, Facebook, google. In three years you will afford a new electric car and be free of paying for gas!
@@craigiefconcert6493 I want remote start, Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Backup Camera for safety purposes. I'm donating my Camry to charity and money is no object for me buying a new car.
Hello, I’m fond of your vídeos - they’re complete and amusing. Thanks a lot for broadcasting your channel. I’ve got a Prius NGA Top 2017/2017 in Brazil 🇧🇷.
I absolutely love the MZ family of engines. I remember my grandmother buying a brand new '94 Camry V6 XLE and I was absolutely astounded at how quiet the engine was. She gave it to me 10 years later when I started to drive. Had I known how to fix cars back then, I would have fixed it up and kept it.
The engines were great but had horrible servicing for the plugs at the back bank. The 5S-SE was good too.
Ax
20 yr old 03 330k miles at red lights i have to look at tach as it sometimes feels engine stalled it is so smooth.
My dad had a 2001 XLE V6. It was fully loaded and I had so many childhood memories in it. Never seen another with same paint, wheel and spoiler option.
YES!! Once again, I AGREE! My 97 Camry was the same color! I unfortunately got mine used 7yrs old. Brake, fuel lines backing plates rusted out. Foam door seal drivers side ripped. I drove it daily, was a GREAT car!!! 4cyl in mine. Love/miss it!! I parked it anywhere!
I have some nice 16" wheels for sale to replace those 14's. 😁
And YES! Rear crossmember/ fuel filler tube!!! This owner should Super Shield or Fluid Film all that rust!!!! 🤔
Have recently come across your channel and have been enjoying your videos. I'm a car nut and have enjoyed 'all things cars' most of my life. I am very lucky to own a 1996 300ES my wife and I received when my father-in-law passed away two years after purchasing it. It has been garaged since new and gets careful attention both on the body and mechanics. The mileage just passed 160K, very low for the year, and runs like a top. It has gotten fresh oil every 6 months (or 3K miles) and everything else mechanically needed along the way. The 3.0L V6 DOHC 1MZFE engine is just a gem to drive. But I don't need to tell you that! Anyway, a testament to Toyota and to the long life they can have with good care.