Friend looking to buy mid to late 1990's Camry; problems?

[1uz-zte]

Seriously everyone says toyotas are reliable, but every Toyota driver never push their car over 2,000rpm and usually 20kms under the limit in the right lane, no shit the car will be reliable.

What about the

[bbits_elements]

You wanna buy a Camry?

The only problem i foresee is that you are more than likely Indian.

[ahabthearab]

For the love of god


Don't let him

[Captiva Fan]

The headgasket thing ... I thought that was a V6 problem only? No?

[tez]

and on the 3vz wasnt it? the 1mz was ok. If you can pickup a $4k late 90's one then it would drive better than a comparable AU / VT Commodore

[smellytofu]

Timing belts are either at 100k or 150k so if you buy one with 140 odd kays you might be up for an expensive surprise.

They are non-interference engine so no expensive surprises there.

[dave_vic_ozz]

They are non-interference engine so no expensive surprises there.

Because no one interferes with the engine? Cam, porting, shaving, stroking etc?

[cheapracer]

Seriously everyone says toyotas are reliable, but every Toyota driver never push their car over 2,000rpm and usually 20kms under the limit in the right lane, no shit the car will be reliable.

Yup, so you buy a car that hasn't been abused and the same type of owner who serviced it properly - terrible ain't it ..

[Captiva Fan]

Yup, so you buy a car that hasn't been abused and the same type of owner who serviced it properly - terrible ain't it ..

Seems to me that the stereotype that drives a $2k Camry doesn't "over spend" on "unnecessary" stuff like oil & filters being replaced "too often".

[Motherfucker Jones]

They are non-interference engine so no expensive surprises there.

I was referring to buying a car then finding you need to get the belt done, but I guess you don't have to then just wait until it breaks. Except if it was me it would most likely happen in the middle of the night, pouring rain on the side of a hill 200km from civilisation

[Shifty]

You mentioned 3-4k, that's a lot of money these days for a bacon car. I just paid half that for a 96 Magna which fits the boring/reliable mould.

Just make sure the cooling system is good and it's been serviced.

Make sure you get one that is t due for a bunch of shit. In this price bracket you need to make sure you get something that isn't due for can belt water pump and rego

[Shifty]

Hah bacon! Stupid iPhone. But... it has a point! Bacon car FTW!

[mrniceguy]

FMy mate had the head gasket issue with his (4 cyl). If i recall correctly its not actually the gasket, but the head bolts at the back of the block which strip, and there isnt enough meat in the block to fit a helicoil. He ended up getting a whole nee old stock motor.

[MRMOPARMAN]

every car has the odd hg problem, camry's are no different. but they arent known for it like flacons/7MBHG motors so dont worry bout it



if boringly reliable transport is what your after, you will win at it in a camry

[Rona]

4 banger is the 5SFE which generally a pretty fucking solid motor just boring. Late 90s will see you in the 1mzfe V6 which unlike the 3vz had no HG issues. My parents had a 2001 model V6 (Manual Touring) was reliable no issues and copped some abuse from me at times. They rip pretty made skids, was still on the original clutch at around 150k kms when it got traded in 6 months ago. Only issue we ever had with the car was the aerial motors kept fucking out meaning you'd have no radio big woop, other then being boring as bat shit they are a solid car.