ChrYstiE wrote:jon and i saw the new camry. it's hella sexy with that new engine..
I Just test drove a Magnetic Grey Metallic 2007 SE V6 w/ Navi tonight.
The engine...is beyond sweet. First when you stomp on it, the auto jumps back a gear since your accelerating. A split second later, it jumps back another gear and you can rip it all the way into the high RPMs, with everyone with you thanking Toyota the car has a headrest for every spot. And it pulls. The only cars I've ever been in that have pulled that hard are the S4 and the G35 Coupe. Been in a few other cars, like the new TL and 330Ci, and I didnt get this same feeling from them. Those two are fast, but this was bordering on rediculous. My friend who was with me, who has been doing the high-boost DSM dance in the past, was also really impressed. "This is a Camry??"
Not only that, this engine SOUNDED good too. I dont think I've ever said that about a stock toyota engine. It gives a nice roar on ignition, and screamed just enough at full throttle. Last car I test drove was a TSX (which was my "practical dream car" for a while...until I drove it) and this was so much more power, more torque, transmission shifted better (Shifted more freely, didnt hold on to high gears as much), and sounded better. Suspension was surprisingly good on the SE (Took speedbumps better than my car on 15s, and felt like it cornered better than my car with the RSB). The suspension seems like it would hold up there with the best if it got some meatier wheels/tires than what comes with it.
Interior of the SE is also very nice, dark interior, 3 spoke wheel. SE body kit complemented the body lines very well, Stock rims also werent as bad as the XLE/LE Camry, but they still wouldnt stay on very long if I got it.
Steering feel and brakes were also great compared my Solara. Steering seemed to be more reactive, and seemed to have another half turn or so lock-to-lock. (smaller turning radius). Brakes were not spongy at all, actually I think the brakes were right on spot. And its got that twilight sensor, which is good because I dont know if I can rememeber to turn my lights on by myself anymore after being spoiled by the Solara. The projector beam also had a nice cutoff and beam pattern, even if it wasnt HID.
I like just about everything about this more than the TSX except the guage cluster and lack of HIDs. Only weird quirk is that the rear seats dont fold down, there is only a small passthrough, the trunk shrunk, and the E-brake is now a foot pedal. The salesguy said only the CE's rear seats fold down, and it was due to them putting an additional brace behind the rear seats for rigidity in the other models. And that damn nose is an eyesore on some colors, but its not bad at all on darker colors. The Magnetic Grey Metallic we drove was a really nice color...kind of like Flint Mica, but a tone darker. My friend thinks its the perfect color and the color he wants for his next car, but its black on black for me.
But that V6 coupled with that 6spd auto...its amazing. The way it pulls reminds me of my friends G35 Coupe...That was the first time I got that "rediculously fast" feeling in a car.
I didnt play with the Navi too much, as I was busy soaking in the driverism of it all. The sales guy described it as "A sweet sounding lady giving you directions, but doesn't curse at you when you miss a turn". Didn't mess with the tiptronic either, never drove a car with it before so I wasn't sure what to look for in a "good tiptronic". I'm liking everything about it so far, the 2GR-FE is nothing short of amazing. Not only does it pull hard, but it takes regular pump 87, and only gets 1MPG less than my current 4cyl with about double the power. I'd prefer a car thats going to be less common, and with two doors (At least until I start populating the world with miniature Jons), but I wouldnt have any second thoughts about what I would get if my Solara's wheels fell off tomorrow.
by hskrsolara » Sat Mar 25, 2006 3:41 pm 
