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2012 Camry: Eyesore under the hood

12 messages,  Last post on Feb 19, 2012 at 11:25 AM

You are in the Toyota Camry Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry, Engine, Exhaust, Sedan

Messages Page 1 of 2

#1 of 12 2012 Camry: Eyesore under the hood by oparr

Feb 10, 2012 (11:42 am)

Recently looked at some 2012 Camrys at a local Toyota dealer and was somewhat shocked to see that none of the power plants had exhaust manifold covers. While the average Joe/Jane probably wouldn't notice anything amiss, this was the first thing I noticed after popping the hood.
 
The salesman claimed that they rattled over time so Toyota had stopped using them. A head mechanic said that they did have covers originally but the upstream O2 sensors had to be replaced with longer ones and so the covers could no longer fit.
 
What's the real skinny on this? Is this a general "trend du jour" or is Toyota just cutting corners once more? Here is a picture of what I'm talking about (2012 Camry power plant);
 
http://www.pbase.com/eldata/image/141424437/original
 
Here is a picture of a 1996 Camry power plant;
 
http://www.pbase.com/eldata/image/141424442/original

#2 of 12 Re: 2012 Camry: Eyesore under the hood [oparr] by oparr

Feb 11, 2012 (6:18 pm)

Replying to: oparr (Feb 10, 2012 11:42 am)
Under the hood of a 2011 Camry;
 
http://www.dealersyndicator.com/upload/146/2012%20camry%20engine.JPG

#3 of 12 Re: 2012 Camry: Eyesore under the hood [oparr] by ewkid

Feb 11, 2012 (7:44 pm)

Replying to: oparr (Feb 11, 2012 6:18 pm)
Looks like they got the idea from the previous hybrid.
http://dhybridcars.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2011-Toyota-Camry-Hybrid-Sedan- -VVTI-16-Valve-Engine-8.jpg

#4 of 12 Re: 2012 Camry: Eyesore under the hood [ewkid] by oparr

Feb 12, 2012 (5:40 am)

Replying to: ewkid (Feb 11, 2012 7:44 pm)
Looks like they got the idea from the previous hybrid.
 
And here is the same hybrid power plant with the manifold cover in place;
 
http://www.autopressnews.com/2006/m01/toyota/camry_se_4cylinder.jpg
 
So the idea is probably that you can leave something in plain sight, that is going to discolor and rust over time, because most customers aren't going to look under the hood. A third world mindset that probably originated with Toyota USA. It would be interesting to see whether this sort of thing is also happening in vehicles assembled in Japan and elsewhere.

#5 of 12 Re: 2012 Camry: Eyesore under the hood [oparr] by oparr

Feb 12, 2012 (6:02 am)

Replying to: oparr (Feb 12, 2012 5:40 am)
By the way, this is what you see under the hood of a 2012 Sonata GLS;
 
http://gtcarlot.com/data/Hyundai/Sonata/2012/51133486/Engine-51095969.html
 
Cheese to chalk in terms of aesthetics. Toyota needs to get their act together in that department.

#7 of 12 Re: 2012 Camry: Eyesore under the hood [oparr] by mcdawgg

Feb 12, 2012 (9:01 am)

Replying to: oparr (Feb 10, 2012 11:42 am)
Well, that's interesting. In another board, you said on Feb 7 that you "JUST GOT A 2012 Camry", but here, on Feb 11 you say you "looked at some 2012 Camrys at a local Toyota dealer ".
 
Hmmmm, just curious......
 
Me, I could care less about how it LOOKS under the hood, as long as it is reliable and easy to do maintenance. And if they upgraded the interior but made the engine compartment LOOK worse to keep costs the same, then that's a big plus for 99.9% of the people.
 
All-New 2012 + Toyota Camry 2/11/12 159
Message #156 2012 Camry: No exhaust manifold cover by oparr Feb 07, 2012 (9:52 pm)
Just got a 2012 Camry and the engine has no exhaust manifold cover. In fact, none of them at the ...

#8 of 12 Re: 2012 Camry: Eyesore under the hood [mcdawgg] by oparr

Feb 12, 2012 (10:00 am)

Replying to: mcdawgg (Feb 12, 2012 9:01 am)
In another board, you said on Feb 7 that you "JUST GOT A 2012 Camry", but here, on Feb 11 you say you "looked at some 2012 Camrys at a local Toyota dealer ".
 
Both statements are true.
 
Me, I could care less about how it LOOKS under the hood, as long as it is reliable and easy to do maintenance.
 
No surprises there.
 
And if they upgraded the interior but made the engine compartment LOOK worse to keep costs the same, then that's a big plus for 99.9% of the people.
 
No surprises there either...with the reasoning that is. There are two certainties here....1) It's cheaper to leave off a cover, 2) In your face welding, discoloration and rust are not things one expects to be in plain view when looking under the hood of any car. Especially a brand new Camry.

#9 of 12 Re: 2012 Camry: Eyesore under the hood [oparr] by bdyment

Feb 13, 2012 (5:36 am)

Replying to: oparr (Feb 12, 2012 10:00 am)
I had a chance to look under the hood of a Camry at the dealers on Saturday. You are right this looks terrible. What was Toyota thinking? I have seen $13,000. Kias that look better. Sure will be a rusty mess in a few months.

#10 of 12 Re: 2012 Camry: Eyesore under the hood [bdyment] by oparr

Feb 14, 2012 (8:17 am)

Replying to: bdyment (Feb 13, 2012 5:36 am)
What was Toyota thinking?
 
Probably overconfidence together with the general owner nonchalance and ambivalence associated with this area of a car. They'll certainly get my thoughts regarding it when they send their usual survey.

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