2002 - 2006 Toyota Camry Pre-Owned

You Cant Go Wrong with North Americas Best-Selling Car

The Toyota Camry has never been an exciting vehicle. It doesnt accelerate hard, it doesnt turn hard, and it doesnt brake hard. So why are you interested in it? Because it is, simply put, one of the most reliable cars on the road, period. And when youve got two kids that need to get to soccer practice, you dont need 500 temperamental horsepower or a bone-jarring, corner carving suspension. You need a car that is simply going to start, run, and stop. And thats precisely what a Camry does.

Introduced in 1980 as the Celica Camry, the Camry evolved into its own line in 1982. Since then its been everything from a five-door hatchback or conventional wagon, to a two-door coupe and convertible, branded as the Camry Solara. However, for all its iterations the four-door Camry sedan is, by far, the most recognizable version out there. So, not surprisingly, when the fifth-generation Camry debuted in 2002, the sedan was the only version you could buy that rolled on the all-new architecture.

That new architecture involved making the car longer and taller than the old model, adding a full 2 inches between the wheels to increase interior room. The result is an additional 1.5 inches of legroom for the rear seat occupants, as well as a larger trunk, expanded to hold a maximum of 16.7 cubic feet worth of cargo, a must when youre hauling the kids hockey or soccer gear around.

And true to form, even the base LE model comes well equipped with all the must-have options a family looks for in a car. Coming standard with air conditioning, air filtration, a tilt steering wheel, cruise control, power windows, mirrors, and locks, as well as a CD player make the base 2002 LE a well equipped car for the money; addition of the optional touch-screen navigation unit makes it a fantastically equipped car for the money.

If the LE has a weak point, itd have to be safety. The LE doesnt have the up-market SE and top-shelf XLEs standard side airbags, meaning the LE received a "poor" side-impact rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That said, it did receive good marks in offset and head-on collisions; and thats a good thing too, given the LEs rather shoddy standard braking setup. First off, the LE does without the SE and XLEs rear disc brakes, and it wouldnt come standard with ABS until 2005; both of which seem almost inexcusable in a 21st century family sedan. Adding to the airbag woes, all 2002 models with the three-spoke steering wheel were recalled due to a faulty airbag cover: apparently during airbag deployment the lower-portion of the cover was known to break off and strike the driver, causing obvious injury. The fix is a simple dealer-installed airbag module, so make sure any potential Camrys have had this done. Like all models, the LE came standard with a 2.4L four-cylinder producing 157 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder came with the buyers choice of four-speed automatic or five-speed manual. A 3.0L V6 was optional (making 192 horsepower in pre-04 cars, and 210 horsepower in 2004 models and up), and was available exclusively with a four-speed slushbox. Be careful of automatic-equipped 2002 Camrys as they have a propensity to shift poorly; a problem caused by the engine control module. Make note that 2003 models received a revised ECM that addressed the problem, and the 2003 modules can be retrofitted to 2002 models.

The next model in the Camry lineup, the SE, is considered the most sporting. With a firmer suspension that does a vastly better job of controlling body roll, the Camry SE makes a much nimbler platform than the LE and XLE models, although no one would ever confuse it for a sport sedan. Sixteen-inch wheels and tires add to the mix, and conspire with fog lamps, a rear spoiler and special body cladding to make the Camry look almost sporting; but again, you wouldnt confuse it with an AMG or M-car. While the 2002 SE made do with the same optional 3.0L V6 as with other Camrys, it got its own 3.3L V6 in 2004, making it the horsepower leader of the Camry clan with a whopping 225 family-hauling horsepower. Backing the most powerful of Camry motivators was a 5-speed automatic, with no available standard transmission. Oddly enough, this larger V6 actually netted better fuel mileage than the LE and XLEs optional 3.0L V6, going 2 more miles per gallon on the highway -- both 3.3L and 3.0L received a 20 mpg rating in city driving. For the most spirited, but sensible family, the 2005 SE added a unique front grille as well as an even firmer suspension for better control. As mentioned, the SE is safer than the LE, with standard side airbags protecting its occupants. Be wary though, as 2002 to 2004 Camrys with side-curtain airbags were recalled for twisted airbags that may not deploy quickly enough. Of course, this should now be fixed.

The most luxurious Camry, the XLE, added heated power mirrors, power front seats, automatic climate control, a premium JBL audio system, steering wheel-mounted controls (made standard on all Camrys in 2005) and a rear sunshade to the mix. Being the Camrys version of a luxury sedan, the XLE had the same plush suspension as the LE, as well as the LEs engine and transmission options. Again, be wary of the airbags; in addition to the twisted side-curtain airbags, 2004 to 2005 Camrys with power passenger seats were recalled due to a faulty buckle status switch that didnt suppress airbag deployment with certain rear-facing infant seats. Of course, if you never plan on having a rear-facing infant seat in the passenger seat, you neednt worry about it.

Of course, every Camry, regardless of model, is an excellent buy. Anyone shopping for a midsize family sedan would be remiss to skip the Camry as it is one of the most reliable cars on the face of the earth, and will give any owner years of trouble-free service. And with the fifth generations more interesting body styling and greater interior room, it really is the ideal commuter. Unfortunately, all that reliability and space comes at a cost, quite literally. Camrys have held their resale value incredibly well, especially the fully-loaded XLE and desirable SE models. And while LE is the cheapest of the three, it lacks rear disc brakes, standard ABS, and standard side airbags, making it the leasat safety conscious of the three. That said, when compared to its main competitor; the Honda Accord, no Camry will look especially expensive, but when compared to their more sporting (and slightly less reliable) competitors, namely the Nissan Altima, the fifth generation Camry begins to appear a little pricey, especially given its airbag foibles. But, if 0-60 times and road holding Gs mean nothing to you, the premium you pay for legendary Toyota reliability is a minor hindrance for the peace of mind that comes with owning a car that will start every single morning, day after day, year after year.