You guys should definitely start a sub series reviewing old school, everyday classics/shitboxes - camry, falcon, Accord, Magna, Pulsar etc. I'd watch the heck out of that!
See when the paint is shiny and perfect and there’s no damage, I really admire these cars (and their owners that took good care of them), and is probably my favourite Camry generation design wise, bar the newest one. Most of them though look like this now, and I never park next to them bc clearly the car got bashed up bc the driver doesn’t give a shit.
I’ve still got my mums ‘97 last of the wide body’s 2.2 sedan in that light metallic blue out there in the shed. Mint likes yours snd runs a treat. Sits right beside the old mans ‘74 HJ ute. If they were good for their keep ‘em going down the road.
I had a leased 2000 CE Toyota, (same as the '99) & was great! Wish I bought it out! I did buy a new 2004 Camry LE, which I still have, but I still miss that 2000 model!
I have the 2.2, it has climate control, electric windows, bonnet struts and the interior is still mint apart from also having a broken centre arm rest. She's a land yacht and her name is Camry Diaz lol
This is the car I drive! Bought one because a year ago the car market was so bad, it still is. My mate sold it to me. Mines done 412k. Door cards are falling off, has the ceiling liner has been done. The engine and transmission are fantastic. It will go past 500k!
Not gonna lie, I love the concept of this style of video, Reviewing old average or worse condition cheap beater cars. I wanna see more of these. Heck. You can take my partners DY Mazda 2 in below average condition for a spin lol
I'm in the UK and had loads of old high mileage Camrys, nothing ever went wrong with any of them but it was always rear shocker turret corrosion that killed them.
Great work! I just inherited a 97 2.2 4cyl beast from my mum (in her 70’s). It had been dead on her driveway for years. Picture cobwebs, leaves, dirt and more hits than Elvis - possibly the 2nd worst camry in Oz. I was asked to remove the car… of which I threw in a battery and fuel and to my surprise it started first go. I drove it 1250km home and have clocked up another 6000km over the last 4mths… and like you am in shock at its smooth ride, acceptable performance and space. Due to it keeness to keep going it has received a lavish coating of matt black paint from a can, has its windows tinted and has an upgraded headunit with wireless apple carplay. Im not sure if its love… but its bloody good fun! Keep up the great work. Looking forward to seeing how your camry progresses.
I’d like to add my opinion as the favourite part of the car: the glove box, it was really squishy and comfortable as my friend sent his v6 Camry wagon of this generation into a tree with me in the passenger seat 👍
I've got a mate with a 2002 manual V6 XV20 with over 300,000km and another mate with a 2005 manual V6 XV30 Sportivo with 230,000km, both absolute tuff weapons that never fail. Both of the blokes take them on dirt road and mega 400-500km trips relatively often and neither of them have had any issues. The V6's are surprisingly good on fuel with the manual as well, all you've gotta worry about is the rego. If you need a really cheap really reliable car its hard to pass these up.
I've recently moved back to Newcastle and need a cheap but reliable car. I start watching, and 10 minutes in, I see my dad's house/my childhood house in the B-roll. This is a sign, right?
I have a 2000 model Conquest. In showroom condition. This car is bulletproof. It has 324,576 kays on the clock. No oil leaks, no coolant leaks no power steering leaks, heck, no leaks. This still has the original steering joints. Yes, it has had struts changed after 170,000 and they are still going strong. The Timing belt changed 3 times. New engine and auto mounts after 296,000 and 2 new radiators. Oil and filter replacement every 5,000. Auto every 25,000. Suspension bushes front only at 296,000. new fuel pump and that's it. This car is unstoppable and if any car is treated correctly serviced on time and no longer than 6 months or 5, 000 km whichever comes first, is carried out, then a car will last as long as you treat it well and tuck it in at night. I've never read stories before bed to it, but hay, who knows, it may help. Oh and white is the only colour to get in any car. You can keep it looking great. Never garaged but every 6 months I would give it a coat of mother's synthetic wax. The secret is to every morning give it a quick wipe down with a chamois and the paint will stay like glass. I haven't used wash on it for sometimes 9-10 months at a time.
I'd take this old girl over any of the MGs or GWMs or Havals on the market today as I know that she's going to keep running strong as shes lasted this long and still running lol. You might have too be careful that the fuzz don't come to check if she was the getaway car for a gang if that is a blood stain on the back seat mate 😂. Definitely got a bloody good laugh out of this review especially explaining what physical things like maps and CDs were 😂. Bloody good work guys and keep putting the TV stations too shame shame with the quality of your videos and I look forward to next week's videos as per usual 👍.
@@perpetualgrin5804 the one's I've been in were definitely gutless and uncomfortable and you could tell were cheap and nasty. Others I've spoke too as well have said the same like one MG someone had as a courtesy car (first person to use it from what I understand) and it aggravated they back injury driving it and one bought a Foton Tunland and got rid of it for a Triton after 12 months as they said it was too thirsty with fuel and underpowered/gutless and these are just a few that I've heard from others who have bought/or used them.
@@perpetualgrin5804 watch autoExpert here on YT..,too many to list... to give you one, GWM’s start to rust when sold from a dealer located too close to the beach
Yet another awesome RD review! You said you'd be covering it's progress in the rally (such a great initiative) but could you also cover any mechanical work you do to the car in preparation? Any basic stuff (oil change, transmission service, etc) as well as any mods that will be necessary... Thanks guys!
I've got an '01 V6 auto to use for roadtrips - they are so smooth (ride and engine/gearbox). It's actually crazy how quiet they are inside for an old car
When is there a video coming out on the ever popular VT/ VX series of Commodores and the Falcon AU/ BA ? Thease cars were the bread and butter family and fleet cars of the late 90’sto the mid-late 2000’s , which the Camry competed against...
We had a 1998 2.2l Camry for 19 years. Probably the most reliable Australian car ever made! It had over 360'000 kms on the clock , transmission and aircon still worked well. Only major repair was head gasket at 320 k.Went to wreckers last year as it was too expensive to repair oil leaks to pass rego. Replaced it with a 2006 Sportivo, hope its as good as the last Camry
You got the 4th gen camry as a wagon? You're lucky. Also, in most markets (US and Canada in particular) this generation Camry was from 1997-2001. This Camry isn't very bad on the inside, it just needs a restoration.
What a coincidence. My elderly aunt is offering me her 1994 manual 2•4 Camry for free! It's clean and unbelievablely is still below 100000ks. Tbh I don't know what I'm waiting for, I'm convinced.
A elderly person I know has one sitting around in her garage. It’s basically brand new 20 year old stock. Roughly driving around 1000 miles per year, it’s at 18k miles currently. It unironically has better paint quality than my daily driver model X at 2000 miles.
As long as the aircon and Stereo are working - that's all the luxury you need !!. Great cars, if a little plain - we had them as work hacks for my last job - tatty , and a few knocking noises in the rear suspension etc - but unstoppable.
PS: Numero uno went over 380000, and died towing a double axle trailer up a long steep hill. I was FLOGGING it. Number 2 still went, when I disposed of it, but at 220000, it kept overheating violently,' Had it repaired several times, but it was a shitbox, even when it ran close to OK. Talk about shift-shock from 1-2!
I had the 1999 4-cylinder about six years ago as my beater and the car was a cockroach - never dying, always living. It was in a bit better nick than this one, but had the same issue with the headliner sagging. I can't say I loved the car, but it drove well, did its job and always got me home.
Had a leased, 2000 CE Camry, (lowest level). It ran & looked great! I now have a bought new, 2004 Camry LE, which still looks terrific & has never broken down, in 19 years! Remember, your 1999 Camry may not look great, but it's still running, after 23 years!
I bought one of these 4 years ago for 3000 bucks and only had 132000 kilometres on it , it's a entry stock as a rock base model with a 2.2 litre 4 cylinder engine, easy to maintain, very basic, if I need any spare parts for it , here in Adelaide we have the privilege to go to U Pull It which is a self serve wrecking yard , it's all good.
Owned a '98 Camry in Brissy, spent about 3k at Midas to get her sorted. Must have put about 100k miles on her over 4 years, nvr broke down. Aircond was still blowing cold air when I sold her to a mate.
A coupla new bushes, a belt or two, and and a strut or four, an she'll be as good as new. It should glide over all those corrugated outback roads in air conditioned comfort, all the while cosseting the the buttocks of those aboard. Might wanna Karcher the crap outa the interior first but.
still have my 1997 Camry for 10 years, 296kms, looks pretty much like this one in the video. Only thing its ever need was spark plugs and the usual changes (tires, brakes etc) never had a engine fault to this day. car just doesn't die.
Mine was the 4 cylinder. Door cards falling off, most interior lighting had failed and the aircon couldn't stop blowing in air from the outside. It finally died on James Ruse drive at 3am after having done 400,000 kilometres
That's interesting... In the USA, it seems this 'title' was given to the Nissan Altima (Teana/Cefiro) instead; it does everything, goes everywhere, and practically any funny road incident(s) usually itll involve an Altima...
My 86 year old dad had one exactly like this and dented every single panel from smashing cars in every car park he visited. He replaced it with a newer Camry and now that is dented on every panel as well
Camrys to 500,000 klms ...with very little love.... no problems 2.2 4 cyl... 3.0 V6.. keep the oil changes up ...as for performance.. 3.0 V6... smooth and linear... went strongly when the Tach needle passed 3400.. a V6 Holden engine or Inline 6 Falcon of same error could only dream of sliky smoothness like . V6 3.0 CAMRY... BLOODY RELIABLE
lol... more oldie reviews definetely ... such good exposure therapy for you too adam .. the struggleis real .... so much dirt ... so much chaos out there !
what is nice about these old cars is it is very easy to add a double din Chinese head unit that has wireless CarPlay and android auto, and all the other touch screen stuff that makes most of the visible tech advances of the last 20 years. and you can do it yourself. Just get a DIN converter car harness for the year/model online, pull out the old one and bolt in the new one...
I love these old neglected and unloved gems. It wears it's age and battle scars well, and doesn't demand anything of you - just gets on with the job. 👍🇦🇺
I'm not sure about the Australian version, but the American Camry of this generation had the most comfortable back seat I have ever experienced. This was a compliment EVERYONE made.
@@jeffreymanier0 My driver seat had some wear, but was still great. The car rode like a dream too. I was the only one that ever drove that car that didn't get a speeding ticket in it because it was so quiet and smooth people were always speeding.
I had a vienta grande one of these. It was super relaible but because of its age i still had to spend a fair bit of money on maintance. I had to do all four shockers. I had to do a new a/c compressor. I did spend a fair bit on the car in the three years that i had it. Found the V6 to be a bit sluggish.
A Toyota Camry is a gift from the Japanese gods of Mt Fuji. Toyota the Japanese god of reliability sent his finest chariot Camry as a gift to mankind to help him in the toils of the daily commute. Worshipers would make offerings of thanks to the god's in the form of a 10,00km services.
Ah memories, anything that was stick together with glue will come apart after years in the Aussie sun, and terrible back comfort on the base CSI seats like this example. Paint will also give way, but the mechanicals are spot on...the body will fall apart before that happens. This was a really advanced car when released (excellent nvh) as many forget the platform was developed for the lexis es300
Old well made cars are the best dailies. I daily drove a kingswood up until a year ago, now a ‘84 Subaru. So much more reliable than plastic computer cars, and fixable on the side of the road. Old Camrys while plastic and computer cars are the same deal. Would have one any day of the week. Good luck with the rally!
Great review! However, I'd like to hear more about the round shiny disc that has music on it. Lol ...and these map things sounded interesting. Good review and some nice laughs along the way. Gonna check out a few more of your videos.
The boys should do well . bought one in 2015 at 210,000 km had it for 6 years . paid 2 grand for and it went everywhere including towing a Commodore on a car trailer. My car was 8/2000 2.2L motor CSI trim . only downfall with these cars is keep it on all four wheels as it is stuffed once you prang it.
Its funny how everyone says how these lasted so well but I rarely see them anymore. Unlike AU falcons of same era. They seem to be more popular now than when new haha
I had the earlier SV20 model with the 2.0 litre twin cam engine and auto gear box. In 350k kms the only major parts that needed replacement were the drive shafts (CVs got a little noisy) and struts and shocks. Just had normal servicing and a wash and clean every 6 months or so. Would have kept it longer but needed a bigger car for growing family. Hard to kill these Camrys.
The previous gen, 220 SEI was the best car I ever drove on a 3000km trip. It eventually led me to buying a GS Lexus that I've owned for 12 years. Toyota is the best car to own bar none
The Wide Body Camry before this model was the better option with the 2.2L. I currently drive a 1994 Corolla/Nova 7A-FE 5 speed. Brilliant car. I’m 6ft 2in and am comfortable. A/C works. Heater works…everything works. It’s nearly 30 years old with 210k on the clock. Does use a bit of oil but it is a hamster motor. Most manufacturers build their cars to a price. Toyota build their cars to a reputation.
Had one, I think it was a Friday car, it ate relays, had an intermittent heat issue, would run for 3k kms no problem, then overheat without warning, never did figure out why. Then I couldn't remove the key from the ignition, because the next time I went to use the key it wouldn't turn. 5 speed 4. Sold it on with only 160000k on it.
The 4 cylinder is not very economical compared to most modern cars. But it's greener than anything because it simply won't die and contribute to environmental waste.
Nothing says I've given up on life like driving a Camry 😂 But seriously it's a great and reliable sedan, but my god it's like watching paint dry to drive.
What does my 1998 Nissan Sentra manual transmission without even a tachometer say about me? Its been in a few wrecks and painted with house paint by the previous owner that is coming off.
I remember seeing one in a documentary filmed in Congo, held together by chicken wire, missing door, missing muffler, with a hole in the floor, missing hood, bullet-holed, dented from civil war, and still running...
