The legendary car of Japanese manufacturers, Toyota Camry 40, is considered among Russian car enthusiasts to be the most reliable and sought-after car. Even with high mileage, the car does not require any special expenses and can be easily repaired; it pleases its owners with excellent suspension and durability of the power unit.
Vehicle configuration
It is a mistake to consider the Toyota Camry B40 a business-class car; rather, it belongs to large family sedans. The roads of our country are plied by such cars with 2.4-liter engines or 3.5-liter V6 engines. Manufacturers presented five trim levels for Russian motorists:
- comfort - the most budget version, 2.4 liter engine with five-speed manual, there is a climate control system and heated two front seats, a car radio and halogen headlights;
- comfort Plus - automatic transmission with 5 ranges and headlight washing system;
- elegance - this version with a leather interior, equipped with parking devices and electrically adjustable seats in the front, looks quite decent;
- prestige - a version that includes a 167-horsepower 2.4-liter engine, maximum stuffing, complemented by a stability control system, cruise control and xenon headlights. Safely combines a relatively low road tax and a luxurious, comfortable interior;
- luxury - a configuration option equipped with a powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The interior trim is complemented by some details that give it gloss and presentability - wood-effect trim on the steering wheel and automatic transmission selector, a curtain on the rear window that protects from sunlight and an adjustable tilt of parts of the rear passenger seat.
Features of the car in the 40th body
Restyling of the Toyota Camry SV40 took place in mid-2009, then the shape of the front bumper changed and the radiator trim was slightly narrowed. The appearance was decorated with turn signal indicators built into the back of the side-view mirrors. Camry V40, the photo of which is located below, is a pre-restyling model.
The interior of the cabin has become somewhat different due to the color of the center console; the bluish plastic on it was changed to silver. The monochrome screen of the car radio head unit was replaced with a color display. The post-restyling car, together with the new body brand, received the designation Toyota Camry ACV40. This is a photo of the car after restyling.
We must pay tribute to the Japanese manufacturers; there are practically no weak points in the Toyota Camry in the 40th body. Of course, the thin paintwork of the body loses its shine due to frequent washing, but rust does not break through anywhere, even in places of chips and minor damage. After two years of operation in Russia, the chrome parts will begin to bloom with rust, but only because of our public utilities, which generously water the roads with caustic chemicals. The activity of utility workers is manifested in the swelling of the coating on the windshield wipers and the appearance of cracks in the decorative trim near the trunk lid.
Even on the pre-restyling SV40, the weakest link was considered to be the lower part of the bumper, which cracked at the slightest contact with the road surface, and the owner had to solve this problem himself.
On the Camry SV40, the headlight washer nozzles often failed for a simple reason: they became clogged with dirt and the fluid did not flow through; in this case, thorough cleaning and blowing of the nozzles helped.
Troubles awaiting you in the salon
In the interior of the CB40, the fabric upholstery after 20 thousand mileage became thinner and began to shine, and by that time the leather covering was covered with small cracks. Over the course of about two years, the covering of the buttons peeled off and the steering wheel and gear selector began to become very shiny. After restyling the Toyota Camry ACV40, the quality of the coating has improved and it lasts longer.
After a relatively short time, creaks are heard inside the cabin and “crickets” appear - they populate the front panel, center console, hatch mechanism and armrest of far from old cars and it is useless to fight them. Try to clean the Toyota Camry ACV40 air conditioning system and drain pipe annually to prevent the smell of swamp rot from appearing in the cabin. At the latest, after five years of active operation of the air conditioner, if white flakes appear on the front panel, you will have to replace the aluminum evaporator of the air conditioning system with a copper one.
Features of transmission and engine operation
The manual transmission in the SV body on the Camry 40 is a reliable and durable unit, but sometimes premature wear of the clutch release bearing occurs after a mileage of 40 thousand kilometers. When the mileage exceeds 80 thousand, it will begin to change gears with difficulty, which means it’s time to change the clutch disc.
The automatic transmission of the Camry 40 on the 2AZ-FE “four” is also reliable, except for minor troubles with the limit switch under the brake pedal - if it fails, the gear selector does not shift. After a long period of seven years, the contact in the electronic control unit of the automatic transmission may disappear; the fault can be eliminated by properly soldering the connections.
The automatic transmission on the Toyota Camry ACV40 with a V6 engine requires compliance with the oil change schedule, but racing in forced modes will lead to rapid failure of the clutches and clogging of the channels of the hydraulic unit with wear particles.
On the Toyota Camry V40, the 2.4-liter engine is afraid of overheating and requires timely cleaning of its radiator and air conditioner - this must be done once every two years, otherwise the cylinder head will be hopelessly damaged. On this engine, if traces of antifreeze are visible near the pump and its operation is accompanied by extraneous sounds, change this unit immediately.
Both engines used in the Camry 40 require only synthetics, otherwise the clutch in the VVT-i system will refuse to work, and if you neglect to clean the throttle valve assembly after a certain time, replacing it will cost $900. Refueling with low-quality fuel will easily damage an expensive oxygen sensor.
On a Toyota Camry V40, the 3.5-liter engine can jam due to a leaky oil cooler hose, and previously this was an irreparable problem; after restyling, this was corrected by replacing the hose with a metal tube.
There are no complaints about the suspension and chassis of the Camry 40: and compliance with the deadlines for replacing consumable components and parts will significantly extend their service life. The Camry V40 photo you see below is a 2011 model.
Conclusion
The Toyota Camry V40 is indeed a very reliable car; thanks to the talents of Japanese engineers and designers, a wonderful and relatively inexpensive car has appeared in Russia, delighting car enthusiasts with its soft ride and comfortable conditions. Do you like the Toyota Camry ACV40? We are waiting for your comments.
“Camry 40” is a car produced by the Japanese company Toyota, which is the most popular business-class car in the CIS countries. The sixth generation of the Camry model was presented in 2006. It replaced the V30 (5th generation). And in 2007, the next year after the start of sales, this model became the car of the year in Russia.
About the car
Indeed, in the vastness of our homeland, the Camry 40 has become very popular. It was because of this that it was decided to build a plant near St. Petersburg to produce this particular model. In 2011, production ceased - the V40 replaced the V50 generation.
The car was produced only in a sedan body. And the model underwent only one modernization - in 2009. The car looks impressive - chrome-plated foglight surrounds, a chrome strip above the license plate (but only above the rear one)... All this created a unique image. Moreover, this car sits on 215/60 R16 tires. The model has excellent drag (the coefficient is 0.28). The wheelbase of the sixth generation was increased by 5.5 centimeters, but the length did not change.
Salon
Now about the interior and interior equipment that the Camry 40 can boast of. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the steering column. It can be adjusted in both directions, allowing the driver to adjust the steering wheel the way he wants. The second point is 2-zone climate control. Provides a decent level of comfort. And six airbags, which are required even in the basic configuration. The car also has a CD changer (6 speakers and 6 discs).
Interestingly, there are also European and Arabic versions of the Camry 40. But they, unlike the standard ones, seem more clumsy and not so obedient on the roads.
Additional equipment includes cruise control, leather upholstery, electric front seats and even a navigation system with a touch screen (this option was added in 2009).
The interior has become much more spacious compared to cars of the previous generation. Interestingly, in the expensive configuration called “Premium” the rear sofa is divided (proportion: 40 x 20 x 40). And each part can be moved longitudinally and the back angle can be adjusted. In even more expensive configurations, the sofa is divided in proportions 60/40, so that the backrests can be completely folded. By the way, the trunk of the car can accommodate 535 liters of cargo.
Popular power units
Now we need to talk about what engines are installed under the hood of the Toyota Camry 40 models. The base engine is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with 167 horsepower. Interestingly, this unit is an evolution of the one that was installed on the previous generation version. However, in this engine the pistons were lightened and increased. Accordingly, the technical performance improved. This engine operates in tandem with a 5-speed manual transmission (there are versions with automatic transmission).
There is also a 6-cylinder engine. Its volume is 3.5 liters and its power is 277 horses. Models that have this engine under their hoods are equipped exclusively with a 6-speed automatic transmission equipped with a manual control mode. In addition, this engine features a timing chain drive. Models with this engine reach 100 km/h in just 7.4 seconds. The maximum is 230 km/h.
Other characteristics
In addition to the above engines, the Toyota Camry 40 was also equipped with 2.5-liter 181-horsepower engines. Such engines, however, were installed under the hoods of models that were exported to England, America and were in use in Japan. There are also models with a 2-liter 148-horsepower engine. They are usually found in Asian markets. It is also interesting that all three gearboxes have different gear ratios.
What about weight distribution? 60.9% goes to the front axle, and the remaining 39.1% goes to the rear axle, respectively. It is also worth noting that the Toyota Camry (40 body) became the first car in which a hybrid engine could be installed. An electric motor with 40 horsepower works in tandem with a gasoline unit. Very economical.
Most popular model
When talking about Toyota, it is worth considering all its technical nuances using the example of a specific model. And as such, it’s worth taking a car that has become very popular. This is a model with a 2.4-liter engine and a 5-speed manual transmission.
So, the engine is gasoline, its actual volume is 2362 cubic meters. Torque indicator - valves. It accelerates to hundreds from zero in 9.3 seconds, and the maximum speed is limited to 205 km/h. Average fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is approximately 9.9 liters. The tank capacity, by the way, is 70 liters.
The body is long - 4815 mm. The wheelbase is 2775 mm, and the curb weight is 1520 kilograms. Ground clearance is 16 centimeters (a good indicator even for our roads). In general, in technical terms, the Camry 40 is a very good car. Its price, by the way, will now be about 600 thousand rubles. And it will be a car in good condition. Other models will cost differently - you need to find out and search separately.
About operation
Finally, a few words regarding what the operational features of this machine are. So, a replacement will need to be made when the mileage since the last measurement is 30-40 thousand. The racks can easily “depart” for one hundred thousand. and can even be replaced after 150,000 kilometers. Although this is the maximum, it is better to do it somewhere around 100-120 thousand.
If a person owns a car with a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine under the hood, then the injectors must be cleaned every 30 thousand kilometers. On every engine, each spark plug has its own ignition coil. When the mileage reaches 150,000 kilometers, the thermal clearances need to be adjusted.
What about oil? It is replaced every 10,000 km. But! Only synthetic is suitable - 5W-50. If you use something else, you will soon hear a knocking sound on a cold engine.
By the way, many people do tuning of the Camry 40. In principle, this can be justified. Although many believe that tuning the Camry 40 is not necessary, this car itself looks decent. However, if a person wants to make it even better, then it is recommended to contact the appropriate service, the masters. They will definitely do everything conscientiously and will not damage the car.
In the mid-90s, only class E cars were considered B business class, but by the beginning of the 2000s, the classification had lost its way. There are simply no “non-premium” cars of this class left, but the D-class has grown in size so much that at first it began to be called D+, and then it turned out that it is most convenient to call this class of cars “mid-size or business class,” by analogy with the American classification . So everyone understands what we are talking about.
In Russia, large, but not particularly “premium” cars were bought for personal use, for corporate fleets, and for the needs of middle and senior officials. Today we will talk about a car that for a long time became the face of the class and the best-selling car among its kind in Russia for many years - the Toyota Camry in its sixth generation, that is, in the XV 40 body.
The model was produced from 2006 to 2011, and for us it is interesting because its success forced Toyota to open production near St. Petersburg. According to the current localization standards, this is a “domestic” car, which is clearly visible from all kinds of government purchases and the abundance of these sedans at various federal buildings.
WhybuyCamry?
What is the reason for such success? It's unlikely that it's a matter of the car's appearance. She is quite “Central Asian”, although quite characteristic. It doesn't have the most luxurious interior. And in terms of technology, the car is not at all surprising - everything is simple and standard: naturally aspirated engines, simple automatic transmissions. Except that the MacPherson strut suspension instead of a multi-link at the rear can generally be considered a curiosity, but for Toyota this is just typical.
In the photo: Toyota Camry "2006–09
The secret is a combination of reliability and brand image, comfort and the manufacturer’s successful pricing policy. And, of course, in localization and government procurement. The car itself is not much, but it is better than all its competitors on average: it does not have too cheap equipment, the design is calmer than that of the Teana, and the quality of the main units is excellent.
These cars have very few serious problems - this is the honest truth. And the quality of service is also higher than that of other brands - Toyota still does not support “pseudo-ecological” standards for increasing maintenance intervals, obliging owners to change the engine oil, filters and other consumables every 10 thousand.
There are still enough people willing to buy a reliable car, which is why prices are kept at a very high level. At the moment, a ten-year-old Camry is at least a third more expensive than its classmates, and even premium European E-class cars of the same age.
In the photo: Toyota Camry LE "2009–11 Of course, at first glance it is strange that someone would prefer a Toyota to a Mercedes in the 211 body, but if you look at the number of problems that await a typical buyer and the planned costs, everything falls into place. Mercedes, taking into account operating costs for a couple of years, will end up being more expensive, and noticeably so. So everything is correct: Toyota is bought by those who are thrifty, and Mercedes is bought by those who can afford it. Or is it not that simple?
Let's take a closer look at the nuances of the design, because the first cars have already passed the ten-year threshold, which by the standards of any brand is a respectable age, and the youngest cars of this generation are already over five years old. Let's say that at this age they manage to cause a lot of expensive problems. But Toyota is different.
Body
There are no questions about the quality of the anti-corrosion treatment for the Camry. Well, or almost not. Rarely do any examples have slight blistering of the paint on the hood or on the edges of the doors. According to most owners, this is a real nightmare and horror. In fact, quite typical little things in life.
The paint job itself is not that perfect, the paintwork is easily rubbed off by the age of five, and the front end suffers from numerous chips and abrasions. Wide bumpers are particularly affected - on their smooth surface all defects are clearly visible. In general, many people cover the entire front with “armored film” or paint it with “ceramics” - a particularly durable varnish.
Pictured: Toyota Camry LE ‘2009–11 An even more rare occurrence is corrosion at the edges of the arches. It occurs on cars from Moscow or St. Petersburg, with very high mileage and banal “sandblasting” and poor maintenance. Practice shows that these are not necessarily cars after an accident and body repairs: if you don’t give a damn, even a Toyota body at that age will be far from in ideal condition.
Front wing
price for original
12,180 rubles
What saves you is the good quality of dealer service, a warranty on the paintwork and, oddly enough, the high residual price of the cars. After all, deciding to paint a car that costs 700 thousand rubles is much easier than a car that costs about 300 thousand. The cost of the operation is approximately the same in both cases, but the increase in cost varies dramatically.
If you look more carefully, you will also find corrosion of the subframes, a slight violation of the seam sealant in the area of the front floor members and the engine compartment. Possibly clogged drains in the windshield niche and all sorts of small things.
But in general, the condition differs for the better from all cars of comparable age. If we talk about bodies, then only Opel Vectra C, Volvo S 60 and S 80, Audi of the year before 2008, and even BMW, are at a similar or slightly lower level among cars comparable in class. Nowadays, this level of anti-corrosion protection is not in fashion.
In the photo: Toyota Camry "2009–11 Front bumper
price for original
19,584 rubles
True, the Japanese approach, unfortunately, does not provide for stainless fasteners and decorative elements resistant to road chemicals. All the “chrome” and various bolts and nuts under the hood and bottom of the car peel off and become covered with rust on a common basis. They solve problems in different ways. Someone paints over the chrome and does not pay attention to the difficulties with maintaining the suspension due to corroding fasteners, someone replaces the elements with new or “contract” ones and anti-corrodes everything down to the smallest detail. To the credit of the owners, the last option of maintenance is quite typical; fans of reliability go to extra expenses to preserve it.
The list of unpleasant little things with the body does not end there. The lower “lip” of the front bumper on pre-restyling cars is a typical place for repairs. An unsuccessful design is broken by any unfortunate contact with curbs or snowdrifts; failure is especially common when reversing. On many cars, this part of the bumper has been repaired and strengthened, sometimes even more than once. Replacing a bumper with a restyled one is much more expensive than repairs, and usually these are the consequences of a more serious impact. The “question price” is more than 60 thousand rubles, and includes the replacement of the bumper, head optics, fog lights and many additional elements.
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The door handles are weak and the paint is peeling off. In winter you need to be careful; when the door freezes, you should not pull with all your might. The windshield is quite soft, and by the mileage of 100 thousand it can be quite worn out. Like the front optics - but it is mainly damaged by the burnout of the headlight reflectors, and not by the cloudy glass.
There are simply no really serious and regular problems. This is reflected in the very careful elaboration of almost all elements. When you examine the car, you understand why it is so valued. All vulnerable spots are covered very carefully. The mating of the bumpers and fenders is made in such a way that friction is almost eliminated even with careless installation. The plastic of the thresholds and lockers is quite soft, can withstand stones and is carefully secured. The tightness of the design is thought out to the smallest detail - the drains do not get dirty, moisture from above does not get into the internal cavities, the drainage is made with a good margin and does not get dirty reluctantly, unless you constantly park the car under trees in the fall.
However, do not be surprised that the owners of the previous Camry in the back of the XV 30 consider this car not particularly reliable, and the body is ill-conceived. After all, the paintwork becomes cloudy, the door limiters click, the mirrors break on impact, and it’s impossible to polish out the scratch. In general, the ideal of “real imperial quality” is still (or rather, already) far away.
Salon
The interior is a little more difficult than the body. The interior, which is quite pleasant at first glance, shows with age the lack of quality of materials and the peeling off of the ubiquitous “silver”, the leather wrinkles, and the fabric gets dirty and loses its appearance. And “wood” in practice turns out to be not a very resistant water print to our temperatures, and the varnish often peels off and wears out.
By the mileage of 200 thousand, the interior retains its pristine silence only if new original fasteners are used for any work, careful reinforcement work is performed during maintenance and replacement of wearable elements such as seals. The abundance of large plastic parts in the door trim and especially the huge rear parcel shelf do not contribute to silence at all.
In the photo: Interior of Toyota Camry XLE "2006–09 Typical troubles after a hundred to one and a half thousand mileage are creaks in the glove box and center console. In specialized services, problems of this kind can be easily cured. There are also such unpleasant little things as rattling of door handles, steering shaft or interior mirror. It is not easy to detect them - the driver thinks that the sound is coming from somewhere in the right corner of the front panel or from under it, but it is difficult to localize the problem on the spot, and it is not possible while driving.
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Wide seats with such a mileage are noticeably deformed, and if the driver is heavy, then the driver’s seat takes on a frankly worn-out look by one and a half hundred thousand miles. The power adjustments usually work reliably, but the driver's seat harness contact sometimes causes an airbag error. By the way, after 60-70 thousand mileage, for drivers who “steer” especially hard, a similar effect is caused by the wear of the steering wheel cable, but more often this manifests itself as failure of the buttons on it.
In the photo: Interior of Toyota Camry LE "2009–11 Failure of the power window unit is not uncommon; there was even a recall campaign for it. If the glass rises up and then stubbornly drops halfway, then do not rush to fix the defect yourself - check with the dealer to see if your car is subject to a recall. You can also get new floor mats and new fastenings from the dealer as part of the same recall campaign - the driver's floor mat can fix the gas pedal when pressed, which, of course, is very dangerous. Don't want to go to the dealer? Better secure the carpets better, and trim the area near the gas pedal. Many aftermarket rugs are still made from the old patterns and suffer from the same problem.
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The list of problems is mostly “cosmetic” - it can be considered exemplary behavior for a car of this class. The quality of sound insulation and materials does not reach the standards set by the German “premium”, but the level of comfort is more than sufficient, and all this is easy to repair, change and maintain.
Electrical and electronics
If it weren't for the generator, there would be no serious shortcomings. However, our and Japanese-made cars have an overrunning clutch in the generator drive, which sometimes cannot withstand hundreds of thousands of mileage. The unpleasant noise during operation and the flying belt of the drive of additional units are on her conscience. However, no one is stopping you from replacing it with a solid pulley from American cars. The resource of the generator itself before replacing the brushes is usually about 150 thousand, but the operation is simple and inexpensive.
In the photo: Toyota Camry XLE "2006–09 Discharge headlight
price for original
22,209 rubles
On cars with a 2.4 engine, where a 4-speed automatic transmission is installed, failures of the selector occur, which refuses to shift. Most often, the problem can be easily resolved by simply disassembling it and cleaning or replacing the brake pedal sensor. Another option is a failure of the locking motor, which is activated in the Parking position. If it stops working, you will not switch out of “parking”. The motor is inexpensive to replace, and especially thrifty owners simply remove the locking pin.
There are no complaints about the wiring: it is made extremely simply, and there are almost no weak points. Only the trunk lid harness can fray; all other parts are holding up perfectly. And also, if they did it in the car, they could remove numerous points of attachment of the internal harnesses to the body panels, which usually over time provokes chafing of the “corrugation”, and then the wires themselves.
An unpleasant feature of the Camry is the open location of the ECU - the engine control unit. When it is stolen, this is the main drawback: literally within thirty seconds it is replaced with a “stitched” one, and the car drives away. In addition to replacing the block, there is also a method of flashing new keys - unfortunately, this is also a quick operation due to software vulnerabilities. So, in addition to protecting the engine compartment and the control unit itself, it is recommended to remove it from its regular place.
In the photo: Toyota Camry "2006–09 Of course, a bunch of alarms and immobilizers are the eternal companions of the Camry, which negatively affect the reliability of its electrical circuits. When purchasing, it is recommended to check whether the owner has a map for installing various secrets, whether there are any “ambushes” such as resoldering the ECU connector to prevent its replacement and other issues that could dramatically complicate the life of the new owner in the future.
What else?
It seems that everything is not bad at all: the electrics are very simple, the body is preserved with dignity, except that the interior can let us down. What about the main units? Let's tell. Oddly enough, the Camry has at least one serious pitfall in the “face” of the 3.5 engine.
In the mid-90s, only class E cars were considered B business class, but by the beginning of the 2000s, the classification had lost its way. There are simply no “non-premium” cars of this class left, but the D-class has grown in size so much that at first it began to be called D+, and then it turned out that it is most convenient to call this class of cars “mid-size or business class,” by analogy with the American classification . So everyone understands what we are talking about.
In Russia, large, but not particularly “premium” cars were bought for personal use, for corporate fleets, and for the needs of middle and senior officials. Today we will talk about a car that for a long time became the face of the class and the best-selling car among its kind in Russia for many years - the Toyota Camry in its sixth generation, that is, in the XV 40 body.
The model was produced from 2006 to 2011, and for us it is interesting because its success forced Toyota to open production near St. Petersburg. According to the current localization standards, this is a “domestic” car, which is clearly visible from all kinds of government purchases and the abundance of these sedans at various federal buildings.
WhybuyCamry?
What is the reason for such success? It's unlikely that it's a matter of the car's appearance. She is quite “Central Asian”, although quite characteristic. It doesn't have the most luxurious interior. And in terms of technology, the car is not at all surprising - everything is simple and standard: naturally aspirated engines, simple automatic transmissions. Except that the MacPherson strut suspension instead of a multi-link at the rear can generally be considered a curiosity, but for Toyota this is just typical.
In the photo: Toyota Camry "2006–09
The secret is a combination of reliability and brand image, comfort and the manufacturer’s successful pricing policy. And, of course, in localization and government procurement. The car itself is not much, but it is better than all its competitors on average: it does not have too cheap equipment, the design is calmer than that of the Teana, and the quality of the main units is excellent.
These cars have very few serious problems - this is the honest truth. And the quality of service is also higher than that of other brands - Toyota still does not support “pseudo-ecological” standards for increasing maintenance intervals, obliging owners to change the engine oil, filters and other consumables every 10 thousand.
There are still enough people willing to buy a reliable car, which is why prices are kept at a very high level. At the moment, a ten-year-old Camry is at least a third more expensive than its classmates, and even premium European E-class cars of the same age.
In the photo: Toyota Camry LE "2009–11 Of course, at first glance it is strange that someone would prefer a Toyota to a Mercedes in the 211 body, but if you look at the number of problems that await a typical buyer and the planned costs, everything falls into place. Mercedes, taking into account operating costs for a couple of years, will end up being more expensive, and noticeably so. So everything is correct: Toyota is bought by those who are thrifty, and Mercedes is bought by those who can afford it. Or is it not that simple?
Let's take a closer look at the nuances of the design, because the first cars have already passed the ten-year threshold, which by the standards of any brand is a respectable age, and the youngest cars of this generation are already over five years old. Let's say that at this age they manage to cause a lot of expensive problems. But Toyota is different.
Body
There are no questions about the quality of the anti-corrosion treatment for the Camry. Well, or almost not. Rarely do any examples have slight blistering of the paint on the hood or on the edges of the doors. According to most owners, this is a real nightmare and horror. In fact, quite typical little things in life.
The paint job itself is not that perfect, the paintwork is easily rubbed off by the age of five, and the front end suffers from numerous chips and abrasions. Wide bumpers are particularly affected - on their smooth surface all defects are clearly visible. In general, many people cover the entire front with “armored film” or paint it with “ceramics” - a particularly durable varnish.
Pictured: Toyota Camry LE ‘2009–11 An even more rare occurrence is corrosion at the edges of the arches. It occurs on cars from Moscow or St. Petersburg, with very high mileage and banal “sandblasting” and poor maintenance. Practice shows that these are not necessarily cars after an accident and body repairs: if you don’t give a damn, even a Toyota body at that age will be far from in ideal condition.
Front wing
price for original
12,180 rubles
What saves you is the good quality of dealer service, a warranty on the paintwork and, oddly enough, the high residual price of the cars. After all, deciding to paint a car that costs 700 thousand rubles is much easier than a car that costs about 300 thousand. The cost of the operation is approximately the same in both cases, but the increase in cost varies dramatically.
If you look more carefully, you will also find corrosion of the subframes, a slight violation of the seam sealant in the area of the front floor members and the engine compartment. Possibly clogged drains in the windshield niche and all sorts of small things.
But in general, the condition differs for the better from all cars of comparable age. If we talk about bodies, then only Opel Vectra C, Volvo S 60 and S 80, Audi of the year before 2008, and even BMW, are at a similar or slightly lower level among cars comparable in class. Nowadays, this level of anti-corrosion protection is not in fashion.
In the photo: Toyota Camry "2009–11 Front bumper
price for original
19,584 rubles
True, the Japanese approach, unfortunately, does not provide for stainless fasteners and decorative elements resistant to road chemicals. All the “chrome” and various bolts and nuts under the hood and bottom of the car peel off and become covered with rust on a common basis. They solve problems in different ways. Someone paints over the chrome and does not pay attention to the difficulties with maintaining the suspension due to corroding fasteners, someone replaces the elements with new or “contract” ones and anti-corrodes everything down to the smallest detail. To the credit of the owners, the last option of maintenance is quite typical; fans of reliability go to extra expenses to preserve it.
The list of unpleasant little things with the body does not end there. The lower “lip” of the front bumper on pre-restyling cars is a typical place for repairs. An unsuccessful design is broken by any unfortunate contact with curbs or snowdrifts; failure is especially common when reversing. On many cars, this part of the bumper has been repaired and strengthened, sometimes even more than once. Replacing a bumper with a restyled one is much more expensive than repairs, and usually these are the consequences of a more serious impact. The “question price” is more than 60 thousand rubles, and includes the replacement of the bumper, head optics, fog lights and many additional elements.
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The door handles are weak and the paint is peeling off. In winter you need to be careful; when the door freezes, you should not pull with all your might. The windshield is quite soft, and by the mileage of 100 thousand it can be quite worn out. Like the front optics - but it is mainly damaged by the burnout of the headlight reflectors, and not by the cloudy glass.
There are simply no really serious and regular problems. This is reflected in the very careful elaboration of almost all elements. When you examine the car, you understand why it is so valued. All vulnerable spots are covered very carefully. The mating of the bumpers and fenders is made in such a way that friction is almost eliminated even with careless installation. The plastic of the thresholds and lockers is quite soft, can withstand stones and is carefully secured. The tightness of the design is thought out to the smallest detail - the drains do not get dirty, moisture from above does not get into the internal cavities, the drainage is made with a good margin and does not get dirty reluctantly, unless you constantly park the car under trees in the fall.
However, do not be surprised that the owners of the previous Camry in the back of the XV 30 consider this car not particularly reliable, and the body is ill-conceived. After all, the paintwork becomes cloudy, the door limiters click, the mirrors break on impact, and it’s impossible to polish out the scratch. In general, the ideal of “real imperial quality” is still (or rather, already) far away.
Salon
The interior is a little more difficult than the body. The interior, which is quite pleasant at first glance, shows with age the lack of quality of materials and the peeling off of the ubiquitous “silver”, the leather wrinkles, and the fabric gets dirty and loses its appearance. And “wood” in practice turns out to be not a very resistant water print to our temperatures, and the varnish often peels off and wears out.
By the mileage of 200 thousand, the interior retains its pristine silence only if new original fasteners are used for any work, careful reinforcement work is performed during maintenance and replacement of wearable elements such as seals. The abundance of large plastic parts in the door trim and especially the huge rear parcel shelf do not contribute to silence at all.
In the photo: Interior of Toyota Camry XLE "2006–09 Typical troubles after a hundred to one and a half thousand mileage are creaks in the glove box and center console. In specialized services, problems of this kind can be easily cured. There are also such unpleasant little things as rattling of door handles, steering shaft or interior mirror. It is not easy to detect them - the driver thinks that the sound is coming from somewhere in the right corner of the front panel or from under it, but it is difficult to localize the problem on the spot, and it is not possible while driving.
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Wide seats with such a mileage are noticeably deformed, and if the driver is heavy, then the driver’s seat takes on a frankly worn-out look by one and a half hundred thousand miles. The power adjustments usually work reliably, but the driver's seat harness contact sometimes causes an airbag error. By the way, after 60-70 thousand mileage, for drivers who “steer” especially hard, a similar effect is caused by the wear of the steering wheel cable, but more often this manifests itself as failure of the buttons on it.
In the photo: Interior of Toyota Camry LE "2009–11 Failure of the power window unit is not uncommon; there was even a recall campaign for it. If the glass rises up and then stubbornly drops halfway, then do not rush to fix the defect yourself - check with the dealer to see if your car is subject to a recall. You can also get new floor mats and new fastenings from the dealer as part of the same recall campaign - the driver's floor mat can fix the gas pedal when pressed, which, of course, is very dangerous. Don't want to go to the dealer? Better secure the carpets better, and trim the area near the gas pedal. Many aftermarket rugs are still made from the old patterns and suffer from the same problem.
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The list of problems is mostly “cosmetic” - it can be considered exemplary behavior for a car of this class. The quality of sound insulation and materials does not reach the standards set by the German “premium”, but the level of comfort is more than sufficient, and all this is easy to repair, change and maintain.
Electrical and electronics
If it weren't for the generator, there would be no serious shortcomings. However, our and Japanese-made cars have an overrunning clutch in the generator drive, which sometimes cannot withstand hundreds of thousands of mileage. The unpleasant noise during operation and the flying belt of the drive of additional units are on her conscience. However, no one is stopping you from replacing it with a solid pulley from American cars. The resource of the generator itself before replacing the brushes is usually about 150 thousand, but the operation is simple and inexpensive.
In the photo: Toyota Camry XLE "2006–09 Discharge headlight
price for original
22,209 rubles
On cars with a 2.4 engine, where a 4-speed automatic transmission is installed, failures of the selector occur, which refuses to shift. Most often, the problem can be easily resolved by simply disassembling it and cleaning or replacing the brake pedal sensor. Another option is a failure of the locking motor, which is activated in the Parking position. If it stops working, you will not switch out of “parking”. The motor is inexpensive to replace, and especially thrifty owners simply remove the locking pin.
There are no complaints about the wiring: it is made extremely simply, and there are almost no weak points. Only the trunk lid harness can fray; all other parts are holding up perfectly. And also, if they did it in the car, they could remove numerous points of attachment of the internal harnesses to the body panels, which usually over time provokes chafing of the “corrugation”, and then the wires themselves.
An unpleasant feature of the Camry is the open location of the ECU - the engine control unit. When it is stolen, this is the main drawback: literally within thirty seconds it is replaced with a “stitched” one, and the car drives away. In addition to replacing the block, there is also a method of flashing new keys - unfortunately, this is also a quick operation due to software vulnerabilities. So, in addition to protecting the engine compartment and the control unit itself, it is recommended to remove it from its regular place.
In the photo: Toyota Camry "2006–09 Of course, a bunch of alarms and immobilizers are the eternal companions of the Camry, which negatively affect the reliability of its electrical circuits. When purchasing, it is recommended to check whether the owner has a map for installing various secrets, whether there are any “ambushes” such as resoldering the ECU connector to prevent its replacement and other issues that could dramatically complicate the life of the new owner in the future.
What else?
It seems that everything is not bad at all: the electrics are very simple, the body is preserved with dignity, except that the interior can let us down. What about the main units? Let's tell. Oddly enough, the Camry has at least one serious pitfall in the “face” of the 3.5 engine.
At the turn of the millennium, the concept of business class cars has changed significantly, or rather, expanded. A separate class D+ appeared, and, not only in the American classification, but also in the world, the E-class expanded. At the same time, cars of this rank were bought for a variety of purposes: from serving the interests of deputies and officials to personal use by fairly wealthy citizens.
But one of the most popular cars in this class has always been the Toyota Camry in the XV40 body, that is, in the 6th generation of this model. It is interesting that this car can safely be called Russian, and not even because it constantly appeared in government procurement and transported representatives of the authorities of the Russian Federation, but also because the Japanese company opened a plant in the St. Petersburg area, that is, from the point of view of localization this car is really Russian.
Reasons for popularity
It's worth noting that Camry's popularity is not that easy to explain. It does not stand out with its magnificent interior or exterior; it can hardly be called a speed queen; in terms of technical characteristics, everything is also quite ordinary. The secret of the success of the Toyota Camry is that the car represents a kind of “golden mean”: the design is quite calm, the car itself is unusually reliable, there are no overtly simple configurations, and the level of comfort is quite acceptable even for government officials. In addition, government procurement and localization of production helped. It is not surprising that even now many people are trying to buy this particular car, despite the fact that it costs much more than cars of the same price and level of comfort.
Even if we compare the Toyota Camry with the Mercedes 211, which initially seems to be a definite disadvantage for the “Japanese”, then everything is not so simple here. Considering how much you will have to spend on servicing a ten-year-old “German”, it is much more reasonable to drive a problem-free Toyota Camry of the same years, although you will initially have to pay more for it. This car is truly successful, reliable and economical to maintain, which have become the main reasons for its wide distribution in Russia and popularity these days.
Body
Toyota Camry boasts one of the best anti-corrosion treatments in its class, so even ten-year-old cars are well protected from rust, the areas of its spread are extremely small. Occasionally they only complain about swelling of the paint, but this is a problem of a much smaller caliber. Corrosion is often noticed on subframes, so when choosing a car, do not forget to look there.
Traditionally problematic for used cars, the arches of the Toyota Camry, due to its relatively small age, rarely cause waste and worry for the owner. However, if the car has been poorly cared for, then there may well be questions about this part of the car, despite its “young” age. A careless attitude and bad roads can ruin any car!
The paint itself is not the best, which can be understood by looking at the bumper of a car after 5-7 years of use. But this problem is not too difficult to eliminate with the help of special treatment with protective elements or the application of ceramics. And excellent dealer service, a large number of offers for car painting allow any caring owner to forget about this problem.
In general, Toyota Camry stands out in excellent condition among its “peers”. In those days, they didn’t save on anti-corrosion coating as much as they do today, so this car is still quite comparable in condition to new cars, if, of course, it was looked after.
In terms of the exterior, you can only find fault with the purely decorative elements. Thus, chrome parts quickly lose their shine, which is why the car looks less elegant, and fasteners often peel off and rust. Also, the disadvantages of the body include the lower part of the bumper, which is clearly not durable, so any physical contact with a solid body can be fatal for it.
Later, restyling will solve this problem, but in this body, unfortunately, it is present, which drivers should not forget about, because repairs will cost at least 50 thousand rubles. With a fairly high mileage, the following problems are also observed: the glass gets rubbed, headlight reflectors usually burn out, door handles often lose their original appearance and may not work correctly.
All the shortcomings we have named cannot be compared with many other models, which is why the body can be called the exceptional strength of the Toyota Camry. A used car looks quite presentable and does not require any investment for cosmetic work.
Salon
Everything inside this car is good, but only at first glance. There are some drawbacks here, namely: the quality of the finishing materials is not the best, the varnish is peeling, the wood styling quickly loses its appearance, the leather wrinkles. After a couple of hundred thousand miles traveled, the interior of a Toyota Camry can still remain silent, but only if the car has been properly maintained and original fasteners have been used. Of course, the center console and small drawers begin to creak, the steering wheel rattles, as well as the door handles. Fortunately, any of these problems only concern big lovers of silence, and you can get rid of them without problems in any service for a small fee and in the shortest possible time.
There are practically no questions about the electronics; they are reliable and relatively modern. Questions arise only with regard to the electric window lifter, because of which the cars were even recalled from sale. Therefore, if you have a problem with the glass, then perhaps dealers will replace this electronics for you. You can also count on replacing the mats and their fasteners, since some of them simply pressed on the gas pedal. In general, electronics are fine. But the seats, largely due to their size, can look unpresentable, especially if the driver is quite massive and has traveled frequently.
Electronics
There are also few problems with the electronics in the car; the weak point can only be called the generator, or more precisely, the overrunning clutch on it, which can cause noise and other problems even with a relatively low mileage. The problem is solved by installing a solid pulley from the “Americans”. The wiring here is extremely simple and reliable, the wires practically do not fray.
Toyota Camry with a 2.4 engine is equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission, which at times may not shift due to selector glitches. This can be corrected by simple disassembly and lubrication, and installation of a new brake sensor. The locking motor may also not work correctly, but replacing it is inexpensive, or you can simply remove the locking pin.
A weak point from an electronics point of view can also be called the ECU anti-theft system, which is responsible for blocking the engine when the car is stolen. It is open, so it is not difficult for hijackers to hack it. So it’s worth considering additional protective measures! At the same time, the car has an immobilizer and alarm system, which adds to its complexity in terms of electronics.
Brakes, suspension and steering
The brake system, with proper care and lubrication of the calipers, does not cause any complaints and works perfectly even with high mileage. But a lot depends on the engine. With a 3.5 liter engine, which is literally created for aggressive driving, the pads will not last long. The weak point can be called the handbrake, but for cars with an automatic transmission it is simply practically useless, therefore, if the braking force is insufficient, it is usually not even replaced or repaired, which is understandable.
In terms of suspension, the Toyota Camry evokes only positive emotions, because it is beautifully made. With a significant mileage, it is worth changing only the supports, and even then, rather, for comfort. The disadvantage is the regular need for wheel alignment. There are also some problems that are standard for a used car, which you can fix quickly and without significant expense.
There are also few problems with the steering column. It starts to knock at high mileage, and the oil is well sealed and rarely leaks. Failures with steering position sensors do occur, which can cause electronic problems, but this is a rare occurrence.
Transmission
Mechanical cars have the classic and proven E351 installed, which does not cause any complaints and is reliable. Problems include only the condition of the CV joints and the possibility of leaks. Also, due to long-term use, the shift lever becomes loose, and the rocker is not stable. It is advisable to change the drive cables after 200 thousand, so as not to completely tear them off the clamps.
“Automatic machines”, of which the majority are represented, are represented by Aisin U250E, U660E, U760E; other variations, although they exist, were extremely rare in Russia. It is the first option listed that is the most common, especially for cars with a 2.4-liter engine. With proper care, this box will practically last forever! But, if you use the Camry as a racing car, then problems will arise very soon. Fortunately, it is not difficult to solve them due to the prevalence of the U250E, which has enabled many service centers to become proficient in their repair.
The U660E is not as reliable and has typical problems for many machines: solenoids, linings, drum and plate wear out, temperature sensors fail, and minor malfunctions occur. Also common is the wear of the back cover, which causes the C1-C2 packages to light up. Be careful of the main housing bearing, which may become loose, causing the entire system to be replaced later. On the U760E, many of these problems were solved, making this box ideal for 3.5 liter engines.
