Feeling Camry

I had decided the previous-generation car was the perfect size, and this one was simply a size too large for easy maneuvering. In reality, the '07 Camry is the same length as the outgoing model. It has a two-inch longer wheelbase and an inch wider track, and compared to last year's LE V6, it's just 100 lbs heavier. So my sentiment was mostly unfounded.

Plus, last night I learned that I like the way our long-term car handles. Turn-in response feels quicker than on the old Camry, and when I hustled our LE V6 around a few cloverleaf entrance ramps, the capability of the chassis was readily apparent. Just like with the old car, the tires give up well before the suspension throws in the towel. And as some blog participants have noted, we'd undoubtedly see a small improvement in grip if we had an SE model (which has 215/55-17s in place of our car's 215/60-16s). I still wish the steering felt heavier and more alert at highway speeds, but otherwise this is a likable setup for a non-sporting midsize sedan.

So why am I showing you another photo of the center stack at night? Because this is my favorite feature of the car's interior. When the ice-blue backlighting comes on, the Camry cabin subtly begins to take on the atmosphere of a nightclub or wine bar. It's totally incongruous with the rest of the interior, which is function-driven: oversized controls, kinda dowdy gray velour cloth upholstery, low-gloss plastics. And I like the weirdness of the contrast.

Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor, 16,397 miles