2007 Toyota Camry: Why I'd Pick the Camry Over the '84 Ferrari

I'm with Caroline -- the Ferrari would be nice to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there :) Give me the comfy confines of a modern car any day.

So wait...you're not allowed to drive it? Why not? Like you said, it's not like it has crazy performance.

Why do you write for a car site if you are not a car enthusiast?
  
You’re probably one of those mindless pods I see driving around in silver SUVs while yakking on your cell phone.
  
You have no soul.

Let's not beat her down. If it was a really good condition 308, i'm sure there would be a different opinion

So if a 23-year-old Ferrari isn't quite your style, you're automatically excluded from the ranks of car enthusiasts? Give me a break.

I do see your point but Camry is just such a poor example of what a family sedan should be. It has horrible brakes. It has horrible suspension. It has horrible steering. Other things like poor interior materials and poor panel fit, extremely uncomfortable seats, etc., etc. are something for each person to forget or forgive. But if you want competent chassis and safe handling, there are MANY much better family sedans.

WK- You seem very knowledgeable. You mention MANY. Can you give 4 or 5 examples of family sedans at the same price point that offer more HP, comparable front and rear leg room, a tighter turning radius (36.1) better fuel economy, standard ABS, 7 standard airbags, and fewer hard plastics in the interior? Oh, and on the "horrible brakes" I believe the camry stops in 174'. Just curious what you define as great examples of "family sedans" for the same price? I can think of a few that offer more responsive handling.. but can't think of MANY that do everything well at the same price.

thecar -- Not everyone who buys a car is a car enthusiast. Not everyone who reads this site is a car enthusiast, especially the Edmunds.com side. And although its apparent by just about everything Caroline writes on this blog (and by the various Mini paraphenalia on her desk) that she loves cars, you don't have to be some wacko car geek who adores a 23-year-old Ferrari to WORK at a car publication. We need people around here who recognize why folks would rather buy a Camry instead of an Evo IX. And we also need folks who can manage and edit a car publication.

Caroline - impressive courage in posting these comments! Thanks for an interesting counterpoint, and most of your readers are intelligent enough to know that the edmunds.com folks aren't pod people....

2002blksle, I think we have different definitions for family sedans. I would name:
 
-- Nissan Altima (2007 model based on Renault D platform is much improved)
-- SAAB 9-3, 9-5
-- BMW 3-series
-- Volvo S40, S60
-- Audi A4
-- Mercedes C-class
-- VW Passat, Jetta

You have a different definition of a family sedan than just about everyone. Most of those would be considered entry-level luxury sedans -- even if your intend to transport your family in one.

jriz, what are you talking about? Look at the pricing. Most people will think nothing of spending $28k on a Camry. Yet, at the same price you could buy a SAAB 9-5 or save a couple grand and buy a 9-3. The Germans are pricier but they hold their value better, too. And then there is used. I will take a $23k three year old 325i with CPO warranty and free maintenance over a $23k Camry or Accord.
 
Just because everyone else buys a $25k Camry, or Accord, or Sonata does not mean you should, too.

WK- I appreciate your list. The only one on your list I personally agree with is the Altima. The Passat is the only other option on your list that remotely comes close to a V6 Camry’s $23,540 MSRP and size. But with the Passat you only get a 4 star crash rating and slower and louder 4 cylinder. Having owned a 2001 Jetta 2.0T, I prefer the refinement of the Toyota V6
 
Personally, all the other options are either cost way more or are too small to fit a rear facing infant seat without cramming the front seat forward (trust me, I tried).
 
I see beauty in most cars and understand different strokes for different folks. But not sure I would ever consider the Camry being a poor example of a family sedan, IMO.
 
Audi A4 MSRP: $28,240-$37,640
BMW3 MSRP: $32,400-$40,800
SAAB $26,250-$32,800
Passat $23,180-$32,130
C- Class $29,650-$40,400
Camry V6 LE $23,540 ($18-$28)

vvk: A family sedan (aka midsize sedan) is a class of vehicle in which cars like the Accord, Camry, Altima, Fusion, Sonata, Malibu, Aura, Optima, etc. inhabit. It's a matter of terminology, and one followed by just about every car publication, manufacturer, dealership, etc. You are correct in regards to pricing, and comparing an upper level Camry versus a lower equipped Audi or BMW. It comes down to wanting more features on a lesser car or fewer features on a better car. However, when cars are broken down into segments, a Camry and 3 Series are not going to be classified together, and certainly not as "family sedans" in the official, traditional sense. The above post is absolutely correct.

What about space? I wouldnt torture my kids by making them ride in in the back of a C, 3, A4, or the Saab for long peroids of time. The Accord, Camry, and Passat have much larger interiors and are much more "family oriented" than the cars you mentioned. Thats why they are FAMILY SEDANS not entry luxiry sedans....apples and oranges.

Hold on a sec... 0-60 in 7.1 seconds for a V6 Camry? Whats wrong with your instruments?

Well, I have a 328, and I don't use it as a daily driver. Ferraris are loud and fast and low and all the rest of it, as you say, but exotics have always been that way. For weekend cruising with the top off, it's unbeatable. For hauling lumber from Home Depot, well...
 
I think the new Camry pricing being equal to a rather tired 308 was more of journalist's device than a meaningful benchmark.
 
I have a soul-free daily driver as well, so I understand there's room for all types of cars. But you had access to a classic Ferrari, with someone else paying for your gas and whatever comes up: a lot of guys dream about that. There will always be another Camry, and it will always be just as dull and ugly as the one you're driving now. The days of the affordable, old school Ferrari with a real gated shifter, three pedals and knifelike profile are waning.

2002blksle,
If you are looking for family sedans that are better than the Camry, I would point you in the direction of Car and Driver's February 2007 comparison of 6 family sedans in which the Camry came in fifth behind the Saturn Aura, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, and Honda Accord (in that order). I realize that for $28k we are talking about a V6 Camry, but it gives an idea of the other options. The Passat could also be mentioned in that company, and for the record, the VW 2.0T is one of the best 4-cylinders on the market.

Caroline,
 
 As a 40 something hair challenged, slightly overweight American male, I see your point about the practicality of the Camry. However, those of us stuck in the minivan/SUV/family sedan universe get it. It's about passion, beauty, brio, spirit; whatever you want to call it. The Camry is a nice, forgetible car. The Ferrari is your secret lover. (not that I have one, but you get the picture)
 
Cars, IMHO, should stir the emotion, touch the soul, arouse a feeling of such passion that you can't wait to get in the thing and fly away. If all we are after is practicality, let's dump personal cars and go to mass transit. Believe me, inside the heart of most people (especially men, I would say) beats that secret desire to ditch the ordinary and go for the extraordinary.
 
Now, back to my daily driver family sedan. Yuk..

2002blksle - Just for the record, a "2.0T" did not exist in 2001 in the USA.... ; )
 
The American definition of a "family car" can mean many things. To most, it means your standard Camry, Accord and/or Altima. However, in reality, the lines are blurred (obviously) and it comes down to the individual interests of each buyer/driver.
 
For example, believe it or not, there are people out there that believe a car is simply an appliance. Priority #1 is getting from A to B with minimal problems, little interruption by (god forbid) engine or wind noise and they definitely do NOT want to feel any sort of rough road surface through the steering wheel. They wouldn't mind being pampered by a little luxury and performance is a plus, but it's not necessary to get from naught to 60 in less time than the Mustang next to them. They also don't want to pay much for all the above. These are typical characteristics of your Camry/Accord buyer. especially in 4-cylinder trim.
 
Then, of course, you have enthusiast family car buyers. These are the people that recognize they require practicality for their 2.5 giblets, but would like to have some fun carving curves on their way to Chuck-E-Cheese and wouldn't mind paying a bit more to do so. They also wouldn't mind having a car that gets "badge respect" when they show up at the valet. Here is where the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4's of the world come into play.
 
It's a matter of market demographics and where each individual falls within. There is no one definition of a "family car", and we should all be thankful for that!

tryan- Thanks for the correction. 1.8T. It's all in the detail.
 
Sabastian- I am keenly aware of the Car and Driver write up. I never said that Camry was #1 in my post, but I'm not sure if Camry is a "poor example" of a family car which is what I was replying to.
 
p.s. did you ever look at how car and driver does their rankings? They give more points to "gotta have it" then they do safety or fuel economy or any other variable. It's all subjective. They are all fine cars. Motortrend gives Camry car of the year. Car and driver gives it 5th place in a small sampling. I give it a B. The next guy an A. The next an F.

I am not sure if it's just my Camry. I relocated to a Southeast Asian country a few months back. I bought myself a Camry because it felt safe just because I didn't know about the car market here. The SE asian version looks a little better (chrome grill) and are more upscale in a sense that they are designed for people with chauffers in mind. Automatic rear shade, rear center console with audio/ac controls and reclinining rear seats. At first I thought it was just too funny that Camries are chauffer driven but even 10 year old corollas come with chauffers in this country. And given that my Camry was over $40k, why not?
 
Anyway, so far I am pretty satisfied although I had some quality issues like broken air-circulation button, leaking steering wheel fluid, severe rattling rear shade cover to name a few. They were easily fixed under the warranty at the dealer. But one darn thing I just can't get over is how uncomfortable the backseat is. I am not a tall person here but one thing I notice whenever I sit in the back as my driver drives me around is how low the backseat is. I just can never get my legs in a comfortable position because the backseat is just too low. I try stretching my legs, proping them up, crossing them but I can never comfortably settle in. All the center console switches don't help either. Going to work has been an absolute tortue! It has gotten to a point where I sit in the passenger seat up front and that's a totally faux pas among the locals. And I thought NYC subway was bad.
 
Is it just my SE asian model or is it just me? Any other Camry owners having a similar issue? But then again who in the right mind would pay over 40k for a Camry back in the US?