Camry owners, how do you drive it? ...

Posted by JaKr8@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 28 comments

The Camry has a reputation, especially on reddit, of being more solid than a hunk of granite in terms of reliability. Curious about those of you who have purchased one, do you drive it like you stole it, do you sometimes drive it hard, or do you go full senior citizen and do 55 in the 65 mph Lane in the highway? So I was just wondering if those of you who have one could discuss how you drive it, what year it is, how many miles you have on it, and if you had any major problems. Curious to see unscientifically of course, if there's any correlation between reliability and driving style even with a car like this which has that stellar reputation.

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bongtothebrain@reddit

I had a 99 as my first car. I definitely used the whole speedometer once or twice, but for the most part it felt correct driving the speed limit. They aren't made to be fast cars.

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RetiredBSN@reddit

Had a 2018 Camry hybrid which I wasn’t too hard on, mostly in-town errands, but a few cross-country trips as well. Usually drove in Eco mode, but 5-9 mph over posted much of the time. 75-80 on the interstates still got 46-7 mpg. Got over 50 mpg a couple times. Now living in Florida and I’m seeing lots of Camrys, and a lot of SEs and XSEs. A fair number being driven like their owners are batshit crazy. Gonna be interesting to see how folks like the hybrids that are coming.

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Popular-Inspector65@reddit

I had a 03 Camry XLE v6, loaded, drove it 15 years ago, 180k miles. It served me well but honestly, the last 3 years I found it rough, smelled of oil burning on the engine, made a lot of suspension clunking noises over bumps (no one could figure out), and was generally tired of living. Then it was sold (still running and saw it driving around for another 3+ years).

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Exotic-Collection471@reddit

I had a 99 camry and drove it daily to September of 2022 until the frame finally rusted out. Hands down the most reliable car I ever had. The only major thing I ever had to get fixed was the water pump and timing belt. and I abused the hell out of that thing from off roading it, to hotroding it, I even managed to put 5 12inch subs in the trunk that you could hear from blocks away that damn thing was invincible. Man I miss that car

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dickshitfucktit@reddit

Most people who own them drive normal- maybe on the more cautious side of normal... that being said I dated a girl who had one, it was one of the first ones with the 2GR so probably an 09 or 10 model, and she drove that thing hard. Was honestly a pretty quick car too.

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pfry295@reddit

In my experience, I find that Toyota drivers (not just Camry owners) drive like senior citizens. I frequently get stuck behind them in the left lane, doing 50mph on a 70mph highway. No matter the age of the driver. It is the opposite of big altima energy.

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Captain_Alaska@reddit

I can tell you one thing it's that people absolutely don't expect to be overtaken by a fleet white station wagon on steelies. Only car I've driven where 9 times out of 10 if I have to overtake in the slow lane the car I've gone past will immediately take the hint and get into the correct lane as soon as they see my double wiper ass end.

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badAZbuddha@reddit

I drive a 2014 camry se 120k miles. Car is a tank and gets the job done everyday. Maybe the occasional rattle from plastic but damn it's great.

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Celcius_87@reddit

I drive it however I feel like. Mostly just normally though.

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nomptonite@reddit

Yeah I have a ‘13 Camry with 143k miles for my commuter car and love it. It is reliable and does exactly what I want it to do. I will probably own another one when this one bites the dust too.

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theplaneflyingasian@reddit

I own three Camrys, and they’ve all been great to me. My best example is my 98. I’d say that generation has been the most bulletproof, indestructible, reliable car I ever driven. It’s a 4 cylinder LE model, bought it with about 120XXX? I used to use it as my pizza delivery mobile. I put that car through hell and back, drove it very hard. Once drove it for 3 days with no oil and the thing never complained! Worst I’ve ever had happen was a couple of busted radiators. It was slow and unattractive, sure, but it took me wherever I wanted to go and hardly ever gave me a hard time. Parts are cheap, labor is cheap, insurance, everything is cheap with those cars. I recently bought a 2016 hybrid and am still finding myself impressed. It had 336XXX on it at the time of purchase and it’s still running just fine. I love the additional power and it’s much more presentable than that old paint chipped 98. It still rings true to the Camry name with its reliability and comfort. My last Camry, a modded 90, is a completely different story that isn’t quite relevant to the question, but I’d say, even that thing has been surprisingly reliable, and it gave me some great smiles and memories, all still in the Camry name. You can bet I drove the shit out of that one too. TLDR; Camrys have never steered me wrong personally despite lots of hard driving, 10/10 recommendation from my experience.

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ABathingSnape___@reddit

I had a 2002 Camry in college and commuted in it daily, 1.5+ hours in traffic each way.

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d_imon@reddit

did it crash?

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ABathingSnape___@reddit

No, engine gave out.

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d_imon@reddit

what went wrong?

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ABathingSnape___@reddit

Not sure. Compression loss somehow. Oil changed religiously and no overheating issues. Engine just decided to give up. Automatic so no money shifting either.

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Important-Ad3820@reddit

I bought one when I was 17 - had it for two days and was enthusiastic to return it. Just thankful the dealer was able to unwind the deal. Zero personality or character. It was a utility; which is great for some people. Ended up buying a mid-mileage E36 for the same price, and never looked back.

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Strange_Ad_2424@reddit

Got a 2022 XSE with 4 cylinder. On on-ramps and when people piss me off I put it in sport mode and drive it likes it stolen. Then back to eco mode and cruise at around 80 with lane centering turned on and car drives itself. Just have to put a little steering wheel input to keep the warning bells from going off every 20 seconds about keeping hands on wheel. 60 miles a day to work and back and gets 30 to 35 mpg depending on how I drive. Change oil and filter every 5000 miles. Have almost 30,000 miles on it and no issues.

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puddud4@reddit

Dad was the original owner of a 99. I tried my hardest to destroy it as a teenager. I failed. The dang thing never so much as hiccuped. Well, I guess the ebrake wire snapped haha Anyways, my dad died and we moved. Now my friend has it. Last I heard it was at 230,000 miles. He just had a kid. Now that's two generations of children brought home in that car. Kind of crazy.

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Epotheros@reddit

How many neutral drops did you do in it?

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d_imon@reddit

mostly normal, slightly hard at times. it drives like shit if babied

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Tactical_Panda_@reddit

I have a 2019 camry se. Bought it brand new and already have 110k miles on it. I commute a lot. I may or may not drive 80+ mph a lot. Kept up with regular maintenance. Damn thing is solid as a rock.. except I will be going on my 3rd windshield soon.. freaking rocks. I will be replacing the timing chain soon as it's recommended around 110k-120k miles

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DesertTile@reddit

I beat on my 2014 V6 Camry to 77k miles before I traded it in. The only thing that ever went wrong with it was an animal chewing through the O2 sensor wire

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G1Z2@reddit

Yeah my friend bought a Camry a year or so ago and she puts just about 35k on a year. Still drives fine even though she has a massive lead foot and can drive like a bat outta hell

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just_another_bumm@reddit

I beat the shit out of it. All my daily vehicles I best the shit out of civic, ls, Camry, accord even a Saturn I beat the shit out of all of em. If they're well made vehicles they can take it. My current civic is nearing 200k miles and I've only ever done oil, brakes, wheels and best the shit out of it haha that's what they're for

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Peelboy@reddit

My grandma always bought camrys, she definitely drove it like she stole it, 80+ was regular and I remember going airborne when she ignored a sign that said shifting road 10mph...the road had a massive drop, the car was somehow fine. I'm sure most just drive it normal.

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rudbri93@reddit

Back around '06 my brother was given a rusted out '91 camry for free. And we proceeded to drive it like the 16ish year olds we were. It did not survive.