New Camry coming - watch out Holden and Ford?

[Brazen]

Well new 2012 Camry is coming up. Should be released later this year in the US.

Be interesting to see how it goes in Australia as people downsize their vehicles. Camry makes a sensible choice, locally made, good resale, reliable, roomy, cheap to run, big boot, comfortable, capped servicing etc etc.

I think Camry is one of the most under-utilised vehicles in the Toyota range, the sedan sells well to fleets and rental companies, but a wagon or liftback (ala Mondeo, Mazda6) could really open it up to private/family buyers.

As an aside, the new Camry cant come soon enough for Toyota, they only sold just under 380,000 of them in the USA last year, the lowest sales since 1994!



Image widely circulated on the net, originally from a Japanese car mag

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Brazen

As an aside, the new Camry cant come soon enough for Toyota, they only sold just under 380,000 of them in the USA last year, the lowest sales since 1994!

I think its the result of people buying Fords in USA again.

[Polyal]

Jeez they are a conservative bunch if thats anything to go by.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Jeez they are a conservative bunch if thats anything to go by.

Duh, that's toyota's mantra


should holden/ford be afraid. i think so. yes

[JC807]

i'd have a Camry/Aurion wagon next car, but they want you to buy a Kluger instead!

[4.0i OHC]

Originally Posted by JC807

i'd have a Camry/Aurion wagon next car, but they want you to buy a Kluger instead!

This vaguely reminds me of Ford. They don't want us to buy a Falcon wagon, they want us to buy a Territory or a Mondeo wagon instead! They're both great cars, but are by no means a replacement for the Falcon wagon.

What Ford should have done is place the FG inline 6 and 6 speed ZF (as well as an EcoLPI option) in the Falcon Wagon, and continue to manufacture it. Similar to the approach that Ford took with the XF-XG ute upgrade.

[Wretched]

meh..i'd surprised if it can hold anything to the current Mondeo.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Wretched

meh..i'd surprised if it can hold anything to the current Mondeo.

You mean the Mondeo which hardly sells?

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

You mean the Mondeo which hardly sells?

It's not the car's fault Ford failed at marketing it. I've driven a couple of Mondeos and for most things except power, they crapped all over my Falcons. If this new Camry is anywhere near as competent, it will be a formidable competitor.

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

It's not the car's fault Ford failed at marketing it. I've driven a couple of Mondeos and for most things except power, they crapped all over my Falcons.

Everyone is using the lack of marketing as the scapegoat for all sales results. If you need to constantly remind someone that a car model exists then unfortunately the car probably doesn't have the right stuff - for the Mondeo I think it's more about price and equipment lists.
With the exception of the annoying Camry Hybrid ads, I can't remember the last advert I have seen for a medium sized car apart from the Hyundai I45. The Accord, Mazda 6 and Maxima have not been advertised for quite a period of time.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

You mean the Mondeo which hardly sells?

I am not referring to sales. I mean as an overall package.
Strong sales do not always mean the car is good. Corolla and Camry prove that.

[4.0i OHC]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

You mean the Mondeo which hardly sells?

Since when did popularity determine quality? I'm struggling to think of an area in which the Camry can beat the Mondeo (with the exception of the Camry being Australian built).

And besides, the Mondeo is the number 2 seller in its segment, behind the Camry, and ahead of the Mazda 6.

[paule11]

Camry at the front of the long line of traffic on the highway.

[XR Martin]

Camry is mostly fleet and rental sales. I reckon privately it wouldnt be outselling the Mondeo by much.

[TheInterceptor]

New Camry? How exciting!!...

[Ford_The_Win]

Yes the Camry is boring and bland, and lacklustre to drive. But there's a reason why they have a reputation as dependable, reliable and well made - the same thing definitely can't be said about Holden and Ford's large car offerings.

[Bobman]

I drove behind the last model Camry last night and had to ask myself. Is it the driver the makes the car behave erratically or that hideous rear end that makes all Camrys "appear" to be driven by drivers with little-to-no skills in the driving department.

Having driven all the Camrys from the early 1980s to present, I have to say that the only ones which were slightly better than average was the Sportivo model and the early 1980s ones had more charm than the current models.

[The G6ET Spot]

The new Camry has similar lines to the hyundai i45

One another note, with everyone rubbishing Toyota.

I think the point that a lot of people aren't getting is that Toyota produce the Camry and all their cars for the mass market (average Joe). That all they want is a reliable car that transports them from point A to point B, with the minimum of fuss. To which if everyone admitted Toyota does this very well, thus being the reason why it is the top selling car manufacturer in the world.

Not everyone are car enthusiasts, what we may see as a bland and boring car average Joe sees as a car that will do the job he wants with little fuss and do it for a long time.

[The Snout]

Originally Posted by The G6ET Spot

The new Camry has similar lines to the hyundai i45

One another note, with everyone rubbishing Toyota.

I think the point that a lot of people aren't getting is that Toyota produce the Camry and all their cars for the mass market (average Joe). That all they want is a reliable car that transports them from point A to point B, with the minimum of fuss. To which if everyone admitted Toyota does this very well, thus being the reason why it is the top selling car manufacturer in the world.

Not everyone are car enthusiasts, what we may see as a bland and boring car average Joe sees as a car that will do the job he wants with little fuss and do it for a long time.

Spot on. Just see my post above yours.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by The Snout

Spot on. Just see my post above yours.

I agree with both of you. However, there are better cars out there than the Camry for the non-enthusiast. Like the Optima and i45/Sonata.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by The G6ET Spot

The new Camry has similar lines to the hyundai i45

One another note, with everyone rubbishing Toyota.

I think the point that a lot of people aren't getting is that Toyota produce the Camry and all their cars for the mass market (average Joe). That all they want is a reliable car that transports them from point A to point B, with the minimum of fuss. To which if everyone admitted Toyota does this very well, thus being the reason why it is the top selling car manufacturer in the world.

Not everyone are car enthusiasts, what we may see as a bland and boring car average Joe sees as a car that will do the job he wants with little fuss and do it for a long time.

Originally Posted by The Snout

I had to get the pin code for my Radio from the Toyota dealer last year.

The Toyota guy got out from behind his desk, walked to the car with me and put the code in himself, then gave me the code for free. No waiting, very friendly.

210000 kms, no mechanical issues or warranty claims, friendly service.

I'll be trading in the next 6 months. Ford have a hard time trying to match my experience with Toyota for my business.

Nothing more to add here, other than i bought my first Landcruiser in 1980 and have had one ever since....

[GASWAGON]

Can't beat Toyota for reliability.... ie Corrolla, Camry, Hi Lux, Lancrusier.... Top Gear proved it with the Hilux remember..... Just turn the key and go everytime....A standard Ford should be very envious of!

[smoo]

Originally Posted by EF_6

Can't beat Toyota for reliability.... ie Corrolla, Camry, Hi Lux, Lancrusier.... Top Gear proved it with the Hilux remember..... Just turn the key and go everytime....A standard Ford should be very envious of!

Are you taking the **** or are you another one sucked into this myth of all Toyotas being bullet proof.

[ray38l]

Originally Posted by EF_6

Can't beat Toyota for reliability.... ie Corrolla, Camry, Hi Lux, Lancrusier.... Top Gear proved it with the Hilux remember..... Just turn the key and go everytime....A standard Ford should be very envious of!

BS! I brought a corolla with 140000k's on it. Full Toyota service history. Did a service on it, went to do a round trip to qld and on the way home it died in a big way. Haven't opened the engine yet but the number 3 piston isn't moving at all.
That's the first and last Toyota i ever buy. Pieces of crap

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by ray38l

BS! I brought a corolla with 140000k's on it. Full Toyota service history. Did a service on it, went to do a round trip to qld and on the way home it died in a big way. Haven't opened the engine yet but the number 3 piston isn't moving at all.
That's the first and last Toyota i ever buy. Pieces of crap

Yeah, because you can judge a whole brand on the fact that your second hand 140,000km Corolla failed. When you spend $5k on a car that's what can happen.

I do agree with you however that Toyotas are not indestructible. Anyone who takes their automotive knowledge from the highly scripted entertainment show Top Gear needs a reality check.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by csv8

Will the Aurion be killed of ??? Its selling worse than FG!! and have the V6 as an option in the Camry??

*psssst*...it's the same car. I'd wager it costs them bugger all to develop over and above the Camry (and the Borion is made elsewhere in Asia so development costs get spread out)

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Yeah, because you can judge a whole brand on the fact that your second hand 140,000km Corolla failed. When you spend $5k on a car that's what can happen.

Well people say the exact same thing about Fords on this forum so what he's saying is little different!

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by ray38l

BS! I brought a corolla with 140000k's on it. Full Toyota service history. Did a service on it, went to do a round trip to qld and on the way home it died in a big way. Haven't opened the engine yet but the number 3 piston isn't moving at all.
That's the first and last Toyota i ever buy. Pieces of crap

O.k so in your instance you got a bad one which i find very suprising....especially locking a cylinder.... Does'nt mean you can write the whole brand off.... It's well known that Landcrusiers are tough as in the outback and have been the benchmark for years.... How many Territory's are out there lol!
And what car do the taxi service use in Darwin because the other two 'local' brands can"t stand the hot conditions.... Camry.... learned that when i was there a few years ago! Mind you I do think the later Camry's styling went VERY bland but this new one may change that???

[ray38l]

Originally Posted by EF_6

O.k so in your instance you got a bad one which i find very suprising....especially locking a cylinder.... Does'nt mean you can write the whole brand off.... It's well known that Landcrusiers are tough as in the outback and have been the benchmark for years...

Toyota's only selling point is there supposed reliability. Considering the only Toyota i have ever owned turned out to be the least reliable car i have ever owned its easy to see why I've decided they are crap. Maybe if they had some other kind of redeemable feature i might change my mind.
Landcruisers are good for what they are but i would pick a patrol over them any day. Too many of my mates have broken diffs in cruisers offroad.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by ray38l

Landcruisers are good for what they are but i would pick a patrol over them any day. Too many of my mates have broken diffs in cruisers offroad.

hmmm, i bought my first Landcruiser in 1980 and have had one every day since and never broken a diff, not only that but when we were racing limited sprint cars we used Landcruiser diffs as the quick changers where to expensive, 500hp through a dog box, only ever broke one and that was after a big hit with the concrete wall....

NOBODY used Patrol diffs as they would explode after a couple of weekends...

Apologies for the off topic...

[Rico 110s]

Originally Posted by EF_6

O.k so in your instance you got a bad one which i find very suprising....especially locking a cylinder.... Does'nt mean you can write the whole brand off.... It's well known that Landcrusiers are tough as in the outback and have been the benchmark for years.... How many Territory's are out there lol!
And what car do the taxi service use in Darwin because the other two 'local' brands can"t stand the hot conditions.... Camry.... learned that when i was there a few years ago! Mind you I do think the later Camry's styling went VERY bland but this new one may change that???

When I came to Darwin yes lots of Priuses and Camrys here but I have noticed that i am seeing some FGs making a comback, was talking to one Taxi drivers, and he was saying that it is 3 hour turn over for a Ford taxi service compared to Priuses 3 day turn over. And quite a few terries up here as well.