New vs. Old lexus vehicles
03-31-14, 08:37 PM
#31
Lexus Fanatic
I myself used to think that an iron block was more durable than aluminum. But experience has shown that many aluminum-block engines, with today's technology, routinely go 200K miles or more.
People initially got a negative view of aluminum blocks back in the 1970s. That was because of terrible examples like the ill-fated Chevrolet Vega aluminum four-cylinder, with cast iron cylinder liners, that routinely overheated and warped the block, ruining the engine. That was because iron and aluminum expanded at different rates when heated, putting extreme pressures on the liners. But that was with ancient, 40-year-old technology, metal-alloys, and cooling systems....all of which today are light-years ahead of the 1970s. In addition, all else equal, iron blocks place more weight (or a higher percentage of the weight) on the front end of the car, affecting the car's steering, suspension, braking, and acceleration/gas mileage.
People initially got a negative view of aluminum blocks back in the 1970s. That was because of terrible examples like the ill-fated Chevrolet Vega aluminum four-cylinder, with cast iron cylinder liners, that routinely overheated and warped the block, ruining the engine. That was because iron and aluminum expanded at different rates when heated, putting extreme pressures on the liners. But that was with ancient, 40-year-old technology, metal-alloys, and cooling systems....all of which today are light-years ahead of the 1970s. In addition, all else equal, iron blocks place more weight (or a higher percentage of the weight) on the front end of the car, affecting the car's steering, suspension, braking, and acceleration/gas mileage.
04-01-14, 09:23 PM
#33
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The best Camry was the 1992-1996 3rd generation.
That was the era of Toyota's fat engineering prowess. The 4th gen Camry was a downgrade, the 5th gen wasn't bad. But after that with the 6th gen quality took a massive downfall and cost cutting was deep.
All Toyota products after 2005 had the flimsy & cheap type of material in their interior. And the cars in general were under engineered compared to their over engineered predecessors..
That was the era of Toyota's fat engineering prowess. The 4th gen Camry was a downgrade, the 5th gen wasn't bad. But after that with the 6th gen quality took a massive downfall and cost cutting was deep.
All Toyota products after 2005 had the flimsy & cheap type of material in their interior. And the cars in general were under engineered compared to their over engineered predecessors..
04-02-14, 05:26 PM
#34
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Not sure I would say "under engineered", but they certainly were engineered with a new emphasis on thrift.
04-02-14, 08:33 PM
#37
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04-03-14, 03:15 PM
#38
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If one is worried the tech in the LX 570 might break that is understandable but there is NO tech in the LX 450 to break. That is the difference.
04-03-14, 05:47 PM
#40
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The best Camry was the 1992-1996 3rd generation.
That was the era of Toyota's fat engineering prowess. The 4th gen Camry was a downgrade, the 5th gen wasn't bad. But after that with the 6th gen quality took a massive downfall and cost cutting was deep.
All Toyota products after 2005 had the flimsy & cheap type of material in their interior. And the cars in general were under engineered compared to their over engineered predecessors..
That was the era of Toyota's fat engineering prowess. The 4th gen Camry was a downgrade, the 5th gen wasn't bad. But after that with the 6th gen quality took a massive downfall and cost cutting was deep.
All Toyota products after 2005 had the flimsy & cheap type of material in their interior. And the cars in general were under engineered compared to their over engineered predecessors..
I agree on all of your points...especially the 3Gen Camry. Later models were progressively cost-cut.
04-03-14, 08:02 PM
#41
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04-03-14, 08:54 PM
#42
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The greatest tribute itself, however, to the 3Gen 92-96 Camry is not necessarily our own words, but the simple fact that so many of them are still running around on the roads 20 years after they were built. In the D.C. area where I live, though many of those old Camrys now have faded paint, scratches/dents, faded upholstery, etc...... they still get many thousands of people to and from their destinations every day. I'm about to go car-shopping with a lady very soon (a very nice, retired nurse I swim with regularly at the local recreation center's indoor heated pool) who seems finally about ready to give up her old Camry after nearly 20 years and 220,000 miles.
04-03-14, 10:47 PM
#43
Lexus Fanatic
04-08-14, 12:09 PM
#44
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
04-08-14, 01:22 PM
#45
this year when purchasing a new car I told myself I would try to stay away from Toyota and focus on other brands, even domestics...but ended up with a 2014 Highlander, a model that Toyota seems to have really stepped up their game on. Hope this is a sign of good things to come.