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Sedans Midsize Sedans 2.0
13142 messages, Last post on Nov 08, 2009 at 7:34 PM
You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: akirby (Feb 10, 2008 6:27 pm) Then again, myself and all of my friends learned to drive on manual transmission cars, and have only had sticks since then. There was a study done in Israel that said it takes 5 years to learn to drive a stick, but that is based on Israeli driving habits, so based on time in vehicle and mileage, it would be more like 2 years in the US. By learning to drive a stick, they mean there is no additional cognitive load.
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Replying to: lilengineerboy (Feb 10, 2008 6:23 pm) It's really the transmission. It has such tall gearing with the automatic that short of flogging it, it'll never willingly stay in the 2500-3500 rpm range. Thankfully I hear the 5 speed automatic solves a little of that.
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Replying to: plekto (Feb 11, 2008 5:25 pm)
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Replying to: lilengineerboy (Feb 11, 2008 5:15 pm) Way under powered 6 cyl engine, maybe 85 HP, with sloppy 3 speed manual shift on the column. Paid $350 for that junk, but that was 1965. My parents were away on the day we picked it up. Grandmother drove me to the used car dealer to pick it up in the city. I had to drive it home, stopping on hills, and had no alternative transportation. Within a couple days I could drive that underpowered thing, no 1st gear syncro, quite well. That car was so pigged out it whinned like crazy at 55 MPH and probably couldn't go over 65 or 70 MPH. I think I had it up to 65 once and had to back off because it sounded like the engine was ready to blow up. It was a base model complete with steering wheel, manual tranny, and heater. Had to install my own radio as the car did not come with it and the previous owner did not install one. Point is, if someone know how to drive, they can learn to drive a manual shift in no time at all.
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Replying to: thegraduate (Feb 11, 2008 6:48 pm) The Camry will 'get no respect' (your words) in enthusiast mags and/or forum sites like this in large part because of the 'softness' of the car in general, and despite that by producing the best power AND FE, it likely has the best V6 engine in this class. The 4 banger isn't too shabby either but faces some stiff competition from that small company in Ohio for those honors. The wild card in all this is perhaps the Altima, as it too does quite well under the hood, but is also relying to some degree on public acceptance of the CVT. Toyota, however, understands this and will take about half a million sales to the bank every year. They make what people seem to want. PS. am starting to see a bunch of new Malibus on the streets and it seems that many of them are 4 bangers. Overall a good looking car IMO although I don't like the front end styling at all - interior looks pretty good as well. Maybe GM has a 'winner' - heaven knows they need one.
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Replying to: captain2 (Feb 12, 2008 10:55 am) But, with the computers getting in the way and making the thing upshift the instant it can if you're over 1500rpm or so... Short of flogging it on a dragstrip, you'll never see half of that power. Fantastic engine. Transmission just destroys it. The computers and nanny-modes finish the job and put a stake through its heart for good measure. If you want an eye-opener, check out the new Pontiac Vibe in a few weeks when it comes out. The 2.4 engine and transmission in the upper trim model is lifted from a Camry. But with a manual and no computers trying to out-think you, it's very quick in traffic(So far I've seen one review and it was glowing).
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Replying to: plekto (Feb 12, 2008 1:53 pm) don't believe I can argue the point too successfully, heaven knows Toyota (and several other mfgrs.) have been taking their lumps lately with this 'computer garbage'. Who would have thought not too long ago that we would have TSBs on how to 'reprogram' a car so that IT might more successfully do what we want it to? But the fact does remain that few drivers would ever know the difference and it does produce some excellent fuel economy as well as some 'safety' enhancements. I guess FE and Safety sell better than basic driveability. In the Camry, and several other cars in this class, we have cars that will easily outrun many of those 'muscle cars' of times passed - and burn just a fraction of the gas - a whole lot more cleanly. Progress any way you want to look at it? The era of the simple 'mechanical' tranny is gone and further don't be surprised if you don't start seeing electronic 'interference' on MT cars as well - like on the current M3. The 'Powerglide' is dead!
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Replying to: captain2 (Feb 12, 2008 2:34 pm) GM also has this exact same problem. World-class engines mated to bland packaging, tall gearing, and a philosophy that seems to be the exact opposite of performance. But the 2.4 i-4 is a great engine, no argument there. I just get tired of hearing how much HP a car has from everyone here without the rest of the drivetrain being part of the equation.
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Replying to: bhmr59 (Feb 11, 2008 7:18 pm)
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Replying to: plekto (Feb 12, 2008 2:41 pm) start?...  Hasn't Toyota always made soft riding, vague handling cars? Has the Camry ever been anything but that? Being that it is the top seller, I'm not sure what the motivation would be for changing the character of the vehicle. |
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