2018 Camry.. What do you think?

So I've been thinking of picking up a 2nd car for gas purposes and reducing how many miles I'm putting on the truck. Between my Tundra and the wife's Tacoma, we don't get great mpg, especially driving 80+ miles a day.

So we had been considering the Ford Focus or Subaru Impreza. But seeing the new Camry, those cars look really clean. Would be great to keep it within Toyota family. Does anyone already have one, driven one, etc.?

I'm looking at the top XSE model. Thanks..!

 

Subaru's AWD is one of the best, if not the best, in the market. But I guess that wouldn't matter much in Texas. So many around here in Western PA love Subarus.

I would go with Camry if I were in your shoes.

Definitely do not go with Ford Focus. They are cheap, but you gotta read some reviews.

 

Blue w/ black roof Camry XSE is awesomeness!
People come in and are surprised that what they see in front of them is the Camry in our showroom.

 

Yeah, that blue is nice. I'd love the panoramic roof, but not sure I'd get it. That just sounds like it would be an oven being here, ha. Just the Sunroof would probably be good, or not at all, I'm not picky about that. What I do want is the leather, heated seats for the wire, all the higher end touches, LED lights, etc. Oh and I love the front end on that XSE. I sat in one the other day while getting an oil change, it's really nice. Now to drive one, ha.

 

I worked at Subaru for a little while, so I know all about them. I do like the AWD and the mpg, but that's about it. If the interior and dash, etc wasn't so damn plain, I'd go for that. Would really want a WRX, but that kinda defeats the mpg thing, ha.

 

I've driven the 4cyl Camry while my Tundra was at the dealer. For my self, I wouldn't consider it for my wants and I'd go Lexus if I'd keep in the family. I didn't like the dash and I'm not a fan of driving fwd cars. For the price of the new Camry, I'd buy a used LS460 and still get good mpg's.

 

Have you done the math on this idea? Adding a fuel efficient car makes a lot of sense if obtaining it is cheap or cost-neutral, but if you're shelling out any amount of cash for it, it takes a really really long time to break even.

Quick math with a few assumptions: 80 miles per day 5 days a week 52 weeks a year is 20800 miles. Using EPA combined estimates for both vehicles gets you to 1386 gals for the tundra, 650 for the Camry. At current gas prices, and assuming you paid close to MSRP ($29,000) for the car, it would take 15.7 years at a gas price of $2.50/gal, 9.8 years at $4.00/gal.


Edited single word to change tone from critical to helpful, because that is the intent...

 

Not on your list but worth considering (if you value function over form), is the Prius. I put 150k miles on mine and sold it running like new. Just gas, oil, tires, and go.

 

Who am I to comment on what a man does with his money, but here I go, my thoughts exactly - what you just said.

 

I remember when gas was sky high back in like 2009, all these people were trading SUVs in for Prius and the like. I got an FJ cruiser nearly new for 19k during the rat race. Anyway - there were some calculators floating around the internet that basically highlighted how horrible of an idea it is to trade in a newish gas guzzler and replace it with something fuel efficient, if the reason is cost savings. Nearly every calculation I tried put the break even well past the useful life of the replacement vehicle.

Not saying this is the OPs situation - just making an observation.

And the new Camry is sexy.

-Jim

 

Very true about the gas. But if you factor in saving the mileage on your truck, I think it’s worff it. No way I’d ever put 80 miles a day on my truck.

 

i really like the new camry and thinking of getting it for my next lease but the prius is tempting too. This would be purely for commuting and parking in LA. We have a SUV and a Tundra for family outings.

 

I've had this waiting for the truck for a long time...

 

It's not SOO much about the mpg. I have a Tundra, so no biggie really. But the Camry would be more fuel efficient, especially driving as far as we do every day. I average about 16 in my truck, where the Camry says 29-39. But I think the bigger reason is just the miles on my truck. I've had it just about a month over a year now and about to roll 25K miles. I know Toyota is built to drive forever, but at this rate.. haha..

 

That is one of the biggest issues with it. Don't think I'd like FWD. But I guess just need to drive it to find out.

 

lmao

 

Camry is an awesome Car.. had a few in my days, upgraded to the Avalon a few years ago.. that's another car that's great on gas and has the v6 in it... definetly a great route

 

Damn. You're older than I thought. How many grandkids do you have?

 

Grandkids? The fuck that mean

 

I never would have expected so many people on this site advocating for a prius. Don't get me wrong, I'm not passing judgment. I just never would have expected it.

But I understand. Because for me, its more than just the mpg. My SUV generally rides better for my daily commutes and also works better if I need to drive a client around than the Tundra. My wife drives 5 miles a day so she uses the Tundra as a DD. So it's not just about mpg.

 

lease or buy this time ? I'm still debating between both.

 

Fify

 

Sure. Good excuse. Cause your Tundra is not presentable

 

I've seen 2 of the 2018 Camry's on the road this week. A white and black one. For a second I thought the white one was a Lexus; had to look twice. The are sexy AF.

 

Toyota/Lexus sedans are on the opposite end of the pendulum from VW/Audi sedans (exterior design wise). Yet I like both for different reasons. I like the Lexi or Audi, but don't really care for exterior designs that are in between.

Example - I like the RX in a Predator kind of way. I like the Q5 in a Kingsmen kind of way. I don't like the X3 because it is in the middle.

 

I’m a big fan of the new XSE.

 

I have a 2015 Camry assigned to me at work. I would purchase one for my wife. I have absolutely ran the hell out of that thing and only changed oil/tires. Almost 80k on it not including the massive amount of idling time and still runs perfectly.