The Impala SS crests the 30k dollar mark when you add leather, sunroof, etc.

And even loaded to the hilt the Impala is still missing navigation system (the camry's is very nice - the new gen 5 system is arguably the best on the market at the moment), smart-key, and stability control

Remove all of those extras from the fully loaded Camry to make them more apples to apples and the sticker price drops to $28,500 + destination.

$28,500 also happens to be only 500 dollars more than what a loaded G6 GTP sedan stickers at (+ dest) when equipped similarly.

Again, why would you compare a Camry with navi, stability control, and keyless go to a car without any of those features? And the GTO? You and I both know those are not intended to compete. The GTO will never be on somebody's cross-shop list with a Camry Sedan.
I'm not trying to say the G6 or Impala are a bad deal, but I'm saying that 31k is not outlandish when compared to the compeition and considering the equipment found on the vehicle.

 

Holy selective reading!

FOR $23-25K, SHOW ME A BETTER 4 DOOR CAR THAT HAS SOME PERFORMANCE & LUXURY THAT IS BETTER THAN A 2007 CAMRY V6.

And who the F cares about GTOs when we're talking about a CAMRY!?

 

2006 Hyundai Azera sedan.

0-60 in the 6.5 to 6.8 range.

1/4 mile around 15 seconds at 94-95mph.

Top speed of 146 mph!

19/28 mpg (city hwy)

$27,400 base price for top of the line Azera Limited.


Loaded with pretty much everything you can imagine, so probally takes the "most for your money" crown from Camry. But then again, at $31K for a Camry, that's probally easy to do.

 

So what's on that Azera for $27,400? Nothing I haven't heard of being in a car in the high 20s range before.
I'll tell ya what's not on it - navigation, sunroof, memory seats, premium stereo system, rain sensing wipers, heated seats.

To add all of the above except navigation, which is not available. Add $2500 more. Final sticker price? $29,995 without navi.

Again, I'm not saying that's a bad deal - the Koreans sure are making some strong statements with the car for the dollar - but it's still if anything actually a tad bit more expensive option for option than the Camry. Then again the Azera was meant to compete with the Avalon, and is more Avalon like in size, so they weren't meant to compete anyhow.

 

Does anyone know if the rumors of transmission problems on the new Camry's hold any water?

 

Haven't heard any at all - even did a quick search on the edmunds' consumer discussion site (where I most commonly find people coming to complain about new car purchase problems) and couldn't find anything...

The previous-gen Camry did have quite a few complaints about the transmission shifting sloppy. So did the same generation of ES300/330. Apparently Toyota intended the transmission to shift that way as they considered it to be 'smooth' and to suit their buyer's preferences. But to me and to others (I only know because my parent's have an 04 Camry and I drove a few Lexus ES loaner cars) it felt like Toyota was using mayonaise for transmission fluid. It just felt downright slippery and sloppy right off the showroom floor. They released a reprogram for dealers to load that made it somewhat tighter shifting, but it still bothered a lot of people. From what I've heard the new 6-speed fixed that in a major way. It shifts much more crisply now.

 

This is where I read about the transmission issue:

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums...opic=7890&st=0

 

I really dont like fake wood. It seems like GM's next four door offer, the Aura, is loaded with the stuff to go along with the hideous brown seats. Hopefully there will be options to get rid of that.

 

I agree about fake wood - some of it looks 'less worse' than other fake wood, but it still all would look better if it just wasn't there at all. I'm not even the biggest fan of real wood to be honest - my GS had real wood (all Lexus wood is manufacturered by Yamaha's piano wood division) and my Audi has no wood, but real aluminum trim where you might otherwise expect wood to be. I like the aluminum about 4.37 times as much. I like driving a car. A car is metal. I'm not driving a tree. Exception being the seats since I like sitting on cotton or cow hide and not metal.

My parent's 04 Camry XLE has fake wood and every time I get in that car I'm tempted to try and pull it off and throw it away. Looks terrible.

 

Well, besides Threxx's points, the Hyundai interiors look absolutely horrible IMO. Not to mention, Toyota quality/reliability history still wins me over (and most others) when the price is so close. So, similarly equipped, I'll take the faster, better MPG, better interior, proven Toyota over the new Hyundai.

BTW, I think the new Sonata looks great.
:-D

 

Read the second opinions at Edmunds and it will prove they are very objective with thier ratings. Simply put, the Camry does give you the most for your money, even if that seems comparitively higher than the rest, you get what you pay for. Camry interior is flat the best designed midsize interior available now. Attractive, high quality, and imparts richness all around, even in base form with the cloth seats this car feels incredible.
I like the comparisons that are being offered here. The Impala with the V8 engine is an intriguing package, however its shortcomings cannot be denied; its interior is poorly constructed, not as sophisticated or as stylized as the Camry, in other words not as impressive to the people riding in it; the interior space and comfort will not be as good as the Camry given the backseat in the Impala with its low low position; and finally the exterior is missing grace and elegance the Camry has, though the SS is a looker, imo, there is a certain expensive aura about the jeweled taillights and the faceted edges of the Camry that escape the new Impala. I'd have to say, at 28k, though, the Impala is a good competitor. Would be perfect, on a different platform, with a better interior, and a lot more style/distinctiveness. But the basic ingredients are there. The Azera is also a good call; but as has been shown, the features/content aren't as extensive, and then of course is the quality inside. Hyundai doesn't match on the inside/outside in terms of expressiveness nor quality--they like GM are caught a generation behind.
At the second opinions page on Edmunds, the editors say they wouldn't justify the 6k over Sonata for a good reason--Camry has begun to move beyond its purpose of being an accomodating family sedan, but that's really only true of the fully loaded model they tested. Oh yes, and the one fault of the Camry I can see right now is that horrible grille. It's sad the rest of the car is actually good looking and sporty. Camry has captured some glory that used to elude it---it's scary to think how far it will go.

 

You are using to many subjectives in your praise of the Camry. I find the Impala much better styled and I prefer the design of the interior over the Camry's, that is my personal opinion. No one can say that anything looks better than another because that depends on the observer. Also I will take the Impala over the Camry as far as room goes as it is nearly fullsize and the Avalon is its closest competitor from Toyota.

 

I think the G6 competes "Size" wise with the Camry. And base is ~ 2k less. Toyota should be smart and not take their major midsize seller t oo far upmarket. It's creeping up there, and the working middle class sometimes look at that only...

 

I'll give credit to the Camry for the V6 power. It's about time.

But its ugly as hell. Some Scion TC elements and Civic tail lights. Bloated and unispring.

 

All four of the cars had significant changes for 2006. They also left out Mazda 6, Galant, Sebring/Stratus, Altima, Subaru, Passat.

The Malibu SS would be the closest competition, I think.