Except ... except ... there's nothing really
interesting about the Camry. No Camrys really capture my imagination, but the 1990-1994 Camry is, in my mind, clearly
the most boring car ever made. The whole car, the look, the driving experience, is so generic that I half-expect to see a Camry in white with a big barcode on the side.
When referring to a Camry as an appliance, Rob the SVX Guy has it right. The Camry is suited to be used and immediately forgotten, with all the emotional involvement of a Whirlpool dishwasher or a can opener. This Camry is so anonymous that it could have gone through the Witness Protection Program. I'm convinced that the faceless apparatchiks in George Orwell's 1984 would have driven Camrys had they had the option. Judging by the Camry's wild popularity, they're not alone.
For me, though, and anybody else who wants to savor the personality of a well-engineered machine, to be emotionally stimulated by the art and inspiration that can be wrapped up in a risk-taking design, a stirring engine, or a purposeful interior, the Camry is a frightening affront--a least-common-denominator insult to anybody who wants more than rote transportation from their vehicle.
What really kills the Camry in my mind is that one needn't settle for a lack of soul if the goal is to have a reliable Japanese family sedan. The
Honda Accord,
Nissan Maxima,
Nissan Altima,
Mazda 6/626, Subaru Legacy, Mitsubishi Galant ... all of these cars can match the Camry for reliability and utility while still giving the driver
something to enjoy.
It is a mark of my irrationality that I would prefer something like a
Fiat Spider to a Camry. In every quantifiable way, the Camry is superior. Actually, it's
crushingly superior. But there's nothing rational about Car Lust. Every fiber of my being longs for a Fiat Spider. Every fiber of my being rebels at the Camry.
The only non-boring Camry of this generation? The wagon--and that only because it's so hideous that it sticks in the mind. These photos are actually from the
Toyota Scepter Wikipedia page; that Japanese-market name, at least, is sorta cool.
Before I really get into today's post, I want to revisit the definition of Car Disgust and explain anew why these cars are worthy of my disgust. It's not because they're all awful cars, although many are. It's because, generally speaking, they're awful and boring. If given the choice between a solid car that's unbelievably boring, and a car whose very incompetence makes it interesting, I'll take the latter every time. It doesn't make any sense, but that's my particular cross to bear.
Brian on June 19, 2008 at 08:34 PM
Finn:
You get 25 MPG per tank with a 2007 Camry? Sheesh! My MOM claims to get 35 with her 2005. And yes, it does indeed go 0-60 in < 7 seconds. This is why it's just not actually boring enough to be classified as boring.
Jane on June 19, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Mochi LOL! You've uncovered the reason people forget where they park their cars!
Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame on June 20, 2008 at 04:51 AM
...and here's why "boring" is ultimately even more subjective than "interesting":
The 90-94 Camry burst unto my consciousness around 1998 or 1999. I'd noticed that the Corollas were looking better, almost sporty for a few years already. But I even remember the precise location I was (if not the precise day) when it hit me: Toyotas aren't just little econoboxes anymore.
True, the 90-94 Camry had, thus far, escaped my notice. But I started noticing the nice-looking 95 and 96 Camrys (Camries?) all over the place, and then projected back to the 90-94s. They were as big as other sedans! Some of them had gold lettering! They were pleasingly shaped, not boxy!
The stupid part? I was driving a 95 Honda Civic and very happy with its power, handling and fuel efficiency, after initially hating that my (ex-)wife had chosen a stupid Japanese econo-import...I should have realized that Japanese products had already fully shaken the econocrap label by that point.
In fact, that was about the same time I really started being interested in understanding vehicle quality, power, handling, etc.
So how can I consider the 90-94 Camry boring? It played the most significant role in my Lust for Cars (even if it never actually became an object for lust itself)!
Scooter on June 20, 2008 at 08:12 PM
These are the most commonly stolen cars in So Cal because they are the perfect blend-in, easy to drive, piece of shit get away cars ever designed. Nuf said. And you can jimmmy them open with an old can opener or any shaved key available.
Chuck on June 22, 2008 at 04:41 PM
Chris,
I have only one bone to pick with you. The bland car you're speaking of is actually the '92 to '96 series of Camrys. My family and I owned four of the preceeding series, '87 to '91. They were a little more nimble than the '92s, same engine (4 or 6)but a little smaller. Not quite as dull but reliable as hell. All of ours died of old age with 325,000 miles + on the odometer, all from the same malady - rotted out brake-lines in the rocker channel. They were very durable cars, perfect as a commuter car or station car with good gas mileage, 30 to 34, depending on usage.
We all loved them and would've stayed with Toyota but they dropped the station wagon, so we dropped them. Ended up in a Dodge Grand Caravan which still looks good , delivers 20+ and is a tough reliable car.
Enjoy your column. My boss is still waiting on a write-up on the Olds 442.
Tim Peterson on July 25, 2008 at 01:25 PM
You know, everyone complains about Toyotas being boring, but I think the problem is that you're looking at ones in good shape. My 85 Corolla begs to differ. It's anything but boring. Here are some reasons I still find my little car so entertaining:
4th gear on the 5 speed stick is practically unusable now, as it grinds and pops out of gear if you don't use the entire strength of your right arm (and right lower back) to hold it in gear.
The paint is not staying on anywhere, especially on the trunk.
It's been in multiple accidents, one of which occurred during my ownership of the car, and it seems that none of the previous owners bothered to fix it up either.
It weighs practically nothing for a sedan with decent interior room and an amazing trunk, so it is fun to drive, especially since I don't mind doing clutch-abusing burnouts.
And the kicker: it has nearly 338,000 miles on it, and absolutely refuses to die. This is one of the fundamental dilemmas of Toyotas: most of them are quite boring when new, but they are so reliable and bulletproof that they will outlast many other cars whose usefulness ends all at once. With a Toyota, everything essential will outlast cosmetic and secondary features for at least 200,000 miles if you just change the oil every once in a while, so they have plenty of time to develop a wonderful amount of character if you don't ruin it by maintaining the unimportant stuff.
Jason Carpp on December 03, 2008 at 12:00 AM
I'm sorry to say this, but the Toyota Camry really went downhill from 1993 in terms of styling. My favourites were the 1984 until 1992. After that, forget it.
Basil on April 23, 2009 at 08:21 AM
Well, as the Walter Mitty who drives a 96 Camry, I agree with the sentiment here. Solid car, although my Honda minivan requires less mechanical attention. The Camry, though, inspires exactly nothing.
Btw, in North America, this model was sold from 92 - 96. (The U.S. and Japanese versions were out of sync in the early 90s; the 3rd generation here didn't arrive until the 92 model year.)
Zach on May 10, 2009 at 09:25 PM
Just to clear things up, that body style didn't start (in the USA at least) until model year 1992. 91 and 90 were both still the pretty old boxes (and a bit smaller.) I drive a 90 and its just old enough (and in better than average shape) that it doesn't make me feel completely awful. Its a great 80 mph cruiser, manuverable, and you know what? I dislike the ones you pasted just as much as you do. Anything newer than mine I consider more barge like.
tomm on June 29, 2010 at 02:26 PM
Umm, 1990-94 covers two generations of Camry and not even the time frames. 1987-91 were one version, and 1992-96 is another. So, does that mean the 1987 or '96 are OK?
To me, the 1997-2002 was when it just became a bland 'anycar'. The 87-91 Camrys were still compacts and handled well. The 92-96 were luxurious.
Toe Knee on August 25, 2010 at 11:16 AM
I don't get this article, bashing a car for its total lameness (which is a matter of opinion) and practically disregard it for its legendary reliablity, not decent (subaru, nissa..and did he dare say galant???!!) but LEGENDARY.
You should be picking on a car thats promises to be exciting but fails to do so. Would someone thrash a Ferrari because it's terrible to use for grocery shopping?
You must never have owned a car that broke down in the middle of winter on the side of the road, or a problem that never seems to end no matter how many times you bring it to the shop to get fixed repeatedly, needing to borrow a friend or family's car.
The Camry is a reliable car to get around in, and for the people that have gone threw hell and back from their clunkers, the Camry is a haven, and I know most people have been there done that...and perhaps some people forgot how that feels.
Believe me there are plenty of people "Lusting" for a reliable car, rather than feeling of nirvana attached to an empty wallet..
Econo Family Cars Suck! on November 06, 2010 at 10:46 PM
Worse than an ugly car is a boring, bland car. And the Camry is one of them!
As for the name? Well, you can mess the letters around to say "My Car". Now, who actually wants to be a proud owner? :-)
Patrick on November 28, 2010 at 10:19 AM
Camry is boring. Nuff said. Thier just a average family car.
Thier are alot of boring cars out thier. Saturn SL is pretty bland its self. Ford contour, chevy malibu, cobalt sedan, ford focus sedan, sentras, accords, ect.
Are they ugly? No
Are they extremely appealing to the eyes? No.
Are they bland? Yep.
stanczyk on December 17, 2010 at 08:47 AM
T. Solara is a diferent story .. it's quite cool :)
Eric Bowman on January 08, 2011 at 06:53 AM
My mom had one of these for several years - a 1992 V6 XLE, with every option except the CD changer and the gold trunk emblems. Comfortable, economical, reliable. And when you mashed the throttle, noticeable yet manageable torque steer. I don't know the 0-60 time, but I do recall that 60-120 was remarkably quick for a car of its ilk...
kirkg on January 08, 2011 at 09:52 AM
You can drive the sexiest car in the world, but if it leaves you stranded, broken on the side of the road, you will grow to hate it. If you drive a boring car, that always starts, always runs, always delivers you to your destination, you should not ever hate it. If you think you do hate it, then you have never owned a car of the first category.
The above only applies if you own but one vehicle. Once you got two, heck, go nuts.
Big Dave on February 28, 2011 at 01:47 PM
The most Car Lust-y part of the Toyota Camry is that the 90-94 wagon version had two rear windshield wipers that worked in concert just like the front ones. Because it is a Toyota I am thinking it is a smart way of clearing the window; if it were on a French car I would be rolling my eyes at it. It is certianly quirky though.
Ray P on March 18, 2011 at 08:09 AM
Whatever it is that draws people to the Camry... must be a similar trait with poor drivers. Sadly there are no statistics on this but there most definitely should be; the amount of Toyota Camrys on the road with damage to their bumpers, fenders and doors is astonishing.
Maybe it's because there's so many of them on the road that some are bound to be damaged?
Maybe I keep seeing the same Toyota Camry everyday on my commute?
No. This is not the case. I'm not saying all Toyota Camry drivers are bad. But like many people, I've been driving since I was 16, and I've been commuting either to Jersey, Long Island, NYC and Westchester since for work. Not a day goes by where I do not see a Toyota Camry with some damage on it. It does not even matter what generation it is. A large percentage of the time when there is traffic, it's because a Toyota Camry driver is in the left lane driving slow, on the side of the road or the driver is obstructing traffic. Any near accidents I've had have been with those drivers.
The most noticeable damage on them is the pocket dent in the front or rear bumper. Anyway...
/rant.