formula79 09-05-2003, 07:54 AM From 10/03 Issue Toyota Camry One Year Test Car, Pg 168
At around the 20,000 mile mark, we noticed the brakes pulsated during hard stops. A trip to the dealer resulted in new brake pads and machine turning of the rotors. We were also notified that the cylinder head gasket and and transmission pan gasket were leaking and needed replacing.-not the usual Toyota durability we are used to, but all was covered under warrenty, and this minor malady seemed unique to our test car.
We all agreed that the Camry is a great car for those whose automotive passions are centered on reliability, value, ease of use, comfort, safety, and peace of mind.
What kind of review is that?:mad:
New brakes, a leaky head gasket, and transmission gasket are considered minor maladies at 20,000 miles now :think:?
But, oh, wait...it's all covered under warrenty:alert:.
I don't know about you guys, but head gasket seemed especially alarming to me...
If this was a Taurus or Impala they would have tore it apart over that and written andat least two paragraphs about how the bad brakes put your family at risk or some BS.
What's the point of doing a one year test when every problem it has is explained away as it being unique to that particular test car?
SNEAKY NEIL 09-05-2003, 08:07 AM Yeah, that's BS.
This all goes back to the public perception we were talking about. It is just one car. but you can bet that they would have made a stink about it if it were from an American car.
My mom's Camry has definatly had it's share of problems and it still smokes like crazy when you start it up.
Toyota lately has been having quite a few problems, not the least of which being the engine sludge problem. (Various MR2 engine oil and transmission problems as well.) Wonder what the deal is.
Darth Xed 09-05-2003, 08:19 AM That right there is typical import bias. :irk:
PacerX 09-05-2003, 09:25 AM Since when is A LEAKING FRIGGING HEAD GASKET a "minor" malady????
Leaking head gaskets can GRENADE motors.
Couple that with a leaking transmission pan gasket and you have the wonderful opportunity to blow an automatic transmission up at the same time.
Which magazine is that? They need a mailbox full of nasty-grams, LIKE NOW.
Joe K. 96 Zeee!! 09-05-2003, 09:35 AM Originally posted by formula79
From 10/03 Issue Toyota Camry One Year Test Car, Pg 168
Formula79 you neglected to mention the name of the magazine. I have to see this one for myself!
Reminds me of the minor malady my Sundance had when it's engine ate itself due to oil leakage. But it was ok...I had AAA to tow it off the side of the road!!! :D No problems there either.
centric 09-05-2003, 11:13 AM Just like the time that Car & Drivel's long-term Boxster nearly fell apart around them, and they just passed it off like . . . "yeah, it's a sports car, they have problems." If it had been a Corvette, Chevy would be CRUCIFIED.
Yeah, I need to send that magazine a letter. Which one is it?
formula79 09-05-2003, 11:21 AM Motor Trend...sorry...the brand new issue.
SNEAKY NEIL 09-05-2003, 11:23 AM Originally posted by formula79
Motor Trend...sorry...the brand new issue.
That doesn't surprise me..................although if I had to guess, I would have said Automobile.
Yes Formula79, please post the magazine so I can also send them an email. Letting such an important problem being termed as "minor" doesn't bode well for Toyota and the public needs to be aware of this. We all know the bias towards imports but this is rediculous. The bottom should also not mention that the problem was with their tester only. How do they know? did they test all the other Camry's that were built? I don't think so and believe that statement is a blatant lie.
Meccadeth 09-05-2003, 12:08 PM I didn't know Motor Trend was THAT ignorant, I'm gunna check out that writers other articles too, maybe its just a bad apple. Oh thats horrible :shame:
Eric Bryant 09-05-2003, 12:15 PM Originally posted by Meccadeth
I didn't know Motor Trend was THAT ignorant
Um, you mean Motor "Every car we've reviewed since 1985 has deserved huge amounts of praise" Trend? They're nearly worthless - I give them only the slightest amount of redemption for putting cars on a chassis dyno once in a while.
Brandon must need extra attention today. (http://web.camaross.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=24)
PacerX 09-05-2003, 12:16 PM K gents, do me a favor...
...yes, I'm being anal again...
1) This is basically a business letter. Format it properly.
2) Use the spell check - journalists live to make mere mortals look like fools by pointing out spelling and grammar errors.
3) Avoid outright flaming. Pointed sarcasm is far more effective.
4) Using brutally efficient logic, corner them and then drive the knife home.
Z28Marcus 09-05-2003, 12:25 PM Toytotas fabled unparallelled reliability is a figment of media and marketing. They do however issue more recalls and fix stuff more way promptly than say GM who have to be dragged kicking and screaming or threatened with class action lawsuits to fix bugs in their product.
E.g. Malibu 3400 V6 engine has that design fault that leads to the leaking (manifold / head gasket - can't recall off hand which one it is). My g/f's 98 Malibu LS developed this at the 90,000+ mile mark (out of warranty of course). A co-worker of hers who has the same car had the exact same problem. No chance of GM issuing a recall though due to cost. Question is - does this cost them customers in the long run. Well, my g/f says she will _never_ buy another GM product again. I'm guessing she isn't the only one. Me well - I guess I love my American muscle too much to get that drastic :).
Originally posted by Eric Bryant
Um, you mean Motor "Every car we've reviewed since 1985 has deserved huge amounts of praise" Trend? They're nearly worthless - I give them only the slightest amount of redemption for putting cars on a chassis dyno once in a while.
I also like how they do comparison tests. They'll do something like compare a TT to a Corvette and the conclusion is always something like "If you prefer horsepower the Corvette is for you, but if fit and finish is your thing you'd probably be happier with the TT". Well, DUH! Tell me something I don't know... Maybe state an opinion??
Originally posted by Z28Marcus
E.g. Malibu 3400 V6 engine has that design fault that leads to the leaking (manifold / head gasket - can't recall off hand which one it is). My g/f's 98 Malibu LS developed this at the 90,000+ mile mark (out of warranty of course).
FYI- it's the intake gasket. This defect dates back to the original 2.8L engine (or at least the original FI engine). Affected Camaros, too.
Sixer-Bird 09-06-2003, 01:19 AM Motor Trend is the absolute worst at straddling the fence in comparison tests. Why the hell am I buying a magazine whose editors can't even decide a clear cut winner in one of their own tests? Why have writers and editors at all? Why not just publish the test data and let me decide? :rolleyes:
Honestly though, with forums like this one, whats the point of even reading or buying car mags? Most of us on here know just as much if not more than anything they publish. Magazines are basically good for pictures, and not much else.
SNEAKY NEIL 09-06-2003, 08:21 AM Originally posted by Sixer-Bird
Honestly though, with forums like this one, whats the point of even reading or buying car mags? Most of us on here know just as much if not more than anything they publish. Magazines are basically good for pictures, and not much else.
So true! The pictures and the general specs. Forget about auto news.................we know it here months before we see it in print, and it is usually right too.
Eric Bryant 09-06-2003, 08:56 AM Originally posted by Z28Marcus
No chance of GM issuing a recall though due to cost. Question is - does this cost them customers in the long run.
Screw a recall - I'd just like them to offer decent replacement parts for some of these issues; like, say, the intake gaskets on my Vortec 350 or the POS LT1 water pumps (the Impala just got another one since the GM replacement pump that was installed two years ago failed in less than 15,000 miles).
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