..A Camry. Since my accident in my 3.0CL, I've been without a car and its really getting annoying to have to get rides to and from everywhere. I've been searching online for over a week and I came across a red 2005 Toyota Camry SE V6. It's from a dealer for 12k with 55k miles, but I'd try to haggle since I'd be paying cash, and my grandmother just bought a car from them two weeks ago. Only big options that car is missing leather (black wouldn't be very nice in the summer anyway) and nav (I have my own Clarion head unit for that). I was looking at an Accord, but it was only an I4, and to put in my own radio I'd still need to leave the stock one there . I would be looking at a 2002-2003 CL or TL, but I'm not in the financial situation to be risking the transmission going on it. Any opinions?

 

It's too bad the CL/TL transmissions are junk because that would be my recommendation.

I think $12k for a seven-year old Camry is nuts.

 

Do you need such a big car? I would rather buy something more compact like a Mazda3 or civic for 12k.

Ugh a camry? Theres way better cars out there for 12k.

 

My parents had very bad luck with the first and last Mazda they owned a while ago and my dad says his friends keep saying they hate theirs. And to me, a Civic just seems to be so small and it doesn't really seem like too much of an easy job to replace the radio with my own in one (2006+). I want something midsize also in case I have to drive my friends ever (was kinda a pain having a coupe to have people in). And the powertrain in that Camry is the same my mom's Highlander has, which has had absolutely no issues over the past 6 years

 

I don't even know what to say to you man.

Good luck.

 

im kind of in the same boat as you. i have about 12k that i feel comfortable spending on a new car. so far ive found a
corolla S but its a 2006 with 60k on it for $7,900.
a hyundai accent with 20k on it for $11,000
A volkswagen rabbit custom and one with the "nights" option for $8k each with about 80k miles on em.

The corolla is the more logical one (more MPG) but i really want the rabbit. cant find anything that will replace the fun the TL provides while being more reliable and better on gas.

also found a ton of RX's and some miatas but the Rx's are a nightmare to own and the miatas are high milage

 

It sounds like a good car. If you like it, then make an offer. Personally, I think 12K is too high. I'd feel comfortable with it around the ten mark.





Terry

 

now looking at an increased budget for a golf TDI

 

$12K seems high for a 6 year old Camry SE even it has a V6. I agree with others, I'd steer clear of the CL/TL due to the AT problems.

 

What about a TSX? I'm pretty sure you can find an '05 or even better an '06 around that price

 

^^that was my suggestion (a TSX). 06 manual would be the best of all worlds.- good gas mileage, no transmission problems to deal with.

Camry v6 for 12k is too much...you can get something better than that or at least get a better price for that Camry.

 

May I add that I have never had the experience of a stick shift?

All the TSXs on cars.com have really high miles (90k to 100k) until like $14k. Unless one can magically pop up one day . I gotta try to keep it with something sensible too since I don't know how my insurance rates are gonna be after totaling my CL (not that I got any payout for the car)

 

If you're set on a Camry, get a newer one for that price. $12K is ridiculous.

 

It's not that I'm set on the Camry, it's just that it is low miles, reliable, and nearby my house. I did find a 2005 TSX for $11k, but 92k miles in Freehold, about an hour away

 

use $12k as downpayment on a 2010 civic, corolla, Fit, I4 accord, Sonata.. you will be paying $120-170 a month... Dont tell me you can't afford that...

 

get a saab 900 classic i just go tone for my Daily Driver and keepin my tl in the garage

 

i think he is financing 12k

 

I always wanted a IS3oo. if you can find one in good condition.

 

As much as I do not want to mention this, I have about $5k and my aunt is helping me. Since there was no collision on my CL, there is no payout so she probably felt bad that I did not have a huge savings for something else. So that is why I am looking at something around 11-12k to bargain down to around 10k cash payment. And like I said with the Camry, my grandma had 6.5k knocked off the MSRP on a new Corolla from that dealer, probably mostly since she paid cash. And I could maybe use that a family member just bought a car there less than a month ago. Brand new car is probably out of the question with my insurance most likely going way up already =\

 

^ Didn't know that.

Dude, then just find something cheaper and reliable.

Fit, Civic, or Mazda3 in my opinion would be the best for you. Get something for like $10k.

 

The 1st car that I saw and really wanted was a 2006 Accord coupe. It's sitting on a Nissan dealer pre-owned lot. Online it has a financing price of $8500 and then the asking price is a bit higher. Could always try to get a short financing term to pay off the car real quick or push for as low as possible to pay it off ASAP. It's Tafetta White, 60k miles, 2.4 four-banger, tan leather interior. Only real problem I have is that I cannot just take out stock radio and replace with my Clarion NZ500 (climate control needs stock headunit, unless there is a substitute somewhere online)

 

Personally, I owned a Camry and I'd never go back to one, it's like a ... marshmallow, just no personality. In fact it was the only car that I never named.

If you dont mind a drive I'd be more than happy to sell you a car. At least at my dealership, we could care less if someone pays with cash. In a sale either the bank pays us or the customer pays, either way we get the money, so it means nothing.

Just so you know, used cars are hot, like real hot, if you have a trade you can do pretty good.

 

A camry is always a safe and reliable car with no personality. I have owned two older ones and they have a special place in my heart.

 

A Camry is not an automobile....it's an efficient transportation appliance.

 

It's a good car, I admit that, but a boring car as well, unless you got a new V6

 

very boring. I've driven the new V6 and they're nothing impressive either.

 

2006 Accord Coupe is a car that you really wanted (and sounds like a good deal), but you're only problem is the stereo? I guess everybody has their priorities. , good luck!

 

Actually, as I am thinking about it more, accord seems to be the way to go. I do not need a sedan so a coupe is fine, accord has a nicer appointed interior, and the engine uses less of less expensive gas (I4 on regular vs. V6 on premium). I could always just use my iPhone for nav and get an iPod connector for the stock head unit. or even later on I could always put in a stock nav unit if I find one cheap enough eventually.. All the while the accord is $4k cheaper and only has 5k more miles.

 

The TSX uses 91 octane, fyi

 

My mom had an 04 camry with the V6. It's smooth but fuckin boring as hell. Get yourself something fun dude

 

Ran it by my mom and she says the Camry is too expensive. TSX prices are comparable to the Camry, so that's a no dice. Think I'll go get someone to drive me down to that Nissan dealer real soon to go look at the Accord. Checked and it isn't that much slower than the CL was to get up to highway speed

 

That seems like a good choice, I love the Accord Coupes!

 

Sounds like the Accord is the way to go.

And yeah used cars are hot right now...

 

Just get a Garmin and call it a day. They aren't expensive at all.

 

Get a CL or TL with manual tranny. The tranny issues were with the automatics only, i think. Or you can use this as a reason to add a third pedal

 

I only know the concept of a stick-shift, but never truely learned. No one in my family drives a manual anymore, so I really do not have an opportunity to give it a try myself. And I'd be so scared of say, forgetting the clutch And it's just easier for me to have an automatic since highways in Jersey can either be a nice place to just cruise, or an absolute hell to crawl through

 

FYI, both I4 and V6 Accords use 87 octane.

Auxiliary connectors aren't hard to put in them at all. Cheapest is about $45, to over $150 if you want to be able to control your iPod from the steering wheel, etc.

No real problems with my 2003 so far *knock on wood*

 

FYI, both I4 and V6 Accords use 87 octane.

Auxiliary connectors aren't hard to put in them at all. Cheapest is about $45, to over $150 if you want to be able to control your iPod from the steering wheel, etc.

No real problems with my 2003 so far *knock on wood*

 

$8500 seems too low for an 06 accord. Kbb values it from 14000 (private) - 16000 (Dealer)

Even if it had a clean carfax I would be suspicious of it... unless it is just a scam

 

That is true. And now I find out that the dealer is too far for my aunt or my mom to bother going to. So that specific Accord is pretty much outta the picture now. My aunt made the point that the car I get MUST be reliable so I may be going to look at that Camry later on TLs and TSXs seem to be a bit out of price range.