speedkar9

Here's a video comparison of the mechanicals of the new 8th generation vs the old 5th generation Camry:




Here's a glance under the engine bay of the new Camry.













Here's what the underbody looks like when the plastic panel is removed:





The power steering motor is mounted on the rack:





Its even got a built in air guide for cooling from underneath:





This is where I think the new Camry isn't far from offering AWD. There's a huge space where the transfer case could sit, right where the passenger CV shaft exists the transmission housing:





The exhaust is routed in the center tunnel such that there's almost enough room for a driveshaft going down to the rear:





The front suspension is typical McPherson Strut:





The rear is the new multi-link:



Which one do you guys prefer, the old or the new?

mmarshall

I just wish they still made the superb 3Gen (1992-1996) model. Although the interior wasn't very plush-looking, mechanically, IMO it was the best Camry ever built. Its road-manners and noise level/refinement was that of a luxury sedan.....for a family-sedan price, and its mechanicals were just about bulletproof. I still see a number of them running around my area, a quarter-of-a century or more later. They also made an interesting, though frumpy-looking, wagon version, with a double-rear-wiper, something I had never seen before....the wagons (and some of the Camry's build-quality) were dropped after 1996, for the 4Gen model.

Fizzboy7

Not an apples to apples comparison. One is a four cylinder, the other a V6.

evident

my parents still drive theirs. 150K miles and going.

Toys4RJill

Great video. Very interesting.

speedkar9

I mentioned that in the video. The apples here being how technology has allowed the I4 to almost catch up the old V6's performance at 203HP vs 210HP respectively. The new Camry feels much faster than my old V6 Camry.

Thank you

AJT123

Gen 3 Camrys were jewels. You could get an SE coupe with the 6 cylinder...with leather, etc....basically a Lexus SC lite.

Interior was of very high quality. 4 cylinder models absolutely dog slow, though. The V6 was lovely.

SW17LS

2 door Camry a Lexus SC lite? Okay lol.

That gen Camry was a nice vehicle compared to its peers at the time, but the current Camry is better in absolutely every way.

mmarshall

Strongly disagree....and I have either reviewed or test-driven every version of the army since the 3 Gen. None of them have equalled the build quality or comfort.....though I'll admit that some of the newer interiors look a little plusher. If the 3Gen had a weak point, it was not enough trim inside.

SW17LS

That Camry is 25 years old at this point. The modern Camry has tons more technology, safety, performance, there’s just no comparison. The modern one is also well made and solid feeling, drives and rides well. I had one for 2 weeks as a rental.

I agree Toyota’s of that era were better made than they are today. That Gen 3 Camry was a great car when it was made but it’s from another era today. If they “still made it” nobody would want it.

mmarshall

^^^ Very well....I respect your opinion.

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

As probably the only person on this thread to actually OWN both a third gen Camry (a rare 1992 Japan made version SE V6 5 speed) and a current 2019 Camry (loaded 2019 XLE Hybrid) both bought new I guess I will weigh in.

The 3G Camry was an awesome car. Had surprisingly good handling and was fun to drive but still comfortable. For the time it’s interior was a great design and felt on par with the ES300 which I cross shopped heavily. I still wanted the electroluminescent gauges on the ES and preferred the ES hood/headlight shape but everything else had me buy the Camry. IMO, It was clearly a closer sibling to the ES than a mini SC though.

The current Camry is really technologically advanced and in some areas has more tech than my 2016 LS460L with all the safety stuff like PCS, BSM, rcta, adaptive cruise, adaptive LED, etc but even more with HUD and a birds eye camera feature. It rides great and is a well designed, logical and nice commuter car. I can regularly get more than 50 mpg, fits in smallish parking spaces and has a usable back seat. So far 5 months in it’s a great car.

I have no doubt the new Camry is safer from every aspect of its design (not just 10 airbags vs 1), is more advanced with WAY more bells and whistles etc. as you’d expect from nearly 20 years of advancements. The new one however doesn’t have the over the top solid quality feel the old Camry did and from memory I prefer the drive dynamics and ride of the old one. Granted it may be nostalgia and if I had them both here new in my driveway back to back I might have a different answer. And I am basing this on hybrid vs 3g SE trim, but I have driven the v6 version, es350 and Avalon extensively too.

Notwithstanding the tech, IMO the 3G was a better car new then vs new now. I agree with SW no one would buy it now due to all the advancements but that’s a different discussion.

JDR76

As I think I've mentioned before, my folks had a 95 Camry, just like the blue one you posted. It was a wonderful car. They had a 1st gen (86), then a 2nd (89), and then the third gen. The 3rd gen was by far my favorite. They kept the 1995 Camry for 10 years before someone t-boned them and destroyed the car (they walked away injury free, thankfully). That car remains the longest time my parents have ever kept one car. They liked it that much.

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

My parents had two early gens as well! A 1st gen 1984 and then a 1991 2nd gen, both LE

JDR76

Was 84 the first year of the Camry? I remember when they got the 86, it was the first year to have the center mounted brake light. I remember thinking the brake light in the window looked funny.

The 89 was great too, other than the wackadoodle front powered seat-belts.