@@royliber3824 that's the beauty of it. Wish we had more cars mass produced like these nowadays, but now everything has to be over-electronified with all these extra features that everyone claims to need, which end up making the cars cost more and last shorter
I think it's because they're made to be you know... Cars. New vehicles have had two more decades of trying to add "features" to convince people to replace their cars with new vehicles.
That's interesting, when I was a kid I appreciated them - though also didn't realise they were actually a boring car. Mind you I was growing up around a 1999 Forester whose most interesting features were AWD and a hi/lo transfer case.
@@jetstream454 I grew up around a 2001 Renault Megane 1.9dTi whose most interesting feature was, well nothing. No AC, not much power but it's a great car to drive. Very comfortable and easy to drive. I learned to drive on it.
@@jetstream454 same here! Growing up, my dream car wasn't the crazy sports cars or the typical dream cars that boys grew up fantasizing about. I literally wanted a Camry - kid you not. For some reason I thought they were the cream of the crop and I would always turn my head when one passed by on the roads. Now that I'm an adult, married, have kids of my own - I get why they are thrown off with the ole "they're boring". But truthfully, I'd take boring and reliable over exotic and short-lived. And yes, in one of my garage bays sits a 2013 Camry SE. To this day, not one part have I had to replace on that car. (Obviously brake pads, oil filter, tires, and battery). But I've had it for nearly a decade and it's been smooth sailing and It will likely be passed on to my daughter, here, in a few years. My first car was a Pontiac and I just bought that cause I was in a time-crunch on transportation. But when the Pontiac bit the dust - my, then, fiance knew that I wanted a Camry and a few months before we got married I picked up "ole boring" and have never regretted it - not once. Sure, my dream car list has changed a bit but nothing will change my mind on what my daily driver will be, and is.
My first ever car was a 1999 Camry LE that I bought for $1500 from an estate sale in 2012, when I was 17 and had just gotten my license. I drove it for years, put a ton of miles on it and it always worked. Occasionally needed exhaust and other basic work done due to the salty roads up here in the northeast but that's about it. Started up, shifted, and ran well past 250k miles, even with metal shards in the transmission fluid, and the engine burning oil. I stupidly sold it in 2018 for $1500 to someone that needed a beater to teach his wife how to drive in. I just messaged him recently. They still have the car and haven't had to do a single major repair. I realized then that I never should have sold it. I'm tempted to buy it back from them, but I don't think I'll ever be able to get a car that good for that price ever again for the rest of my life.
this generation of camrys mean so much to me cos my dads first car when he came to america in 2000 was a 98 camry le (which was damn near a brand new car at the time so props to him for affording one), and it was the car he'd use to take me and my twin home from the hospital in a few years later. i essentially grew up in that thing and now hes moved on to a '15 corolla, so it just goes to show how these simple toyota sedans can quite literally keep a family together lol.
My parents first car when they came to the america in the 90s was a Camry, and one day at the mall the car was stolen, they contacted police and 2 weeks later it was found in the bronx New York City stripped of everything, from wheels to seats to steering wheel to engine, lol really unfortunate
The simplicity of the interior is refreshing to see on the channel compared to a lot of the newer cars we see now honestly, especially with screens plastered in front of you lol. The 2003 Mach 1 and 1999 Civic Si POV videos are other great examples of a nice, simple driver's space
We will never get the basics anymore. Car companies no longer prioritize quality and reliability. It's a tradeoff they've chosen. Everyone is on a technology race to have the most technically advanced car out of fear of getting left behind from their competitors. Millions of dollars spent in R&D. In return, they charged consumers ridiculous amounts to get their ROI back.
No exaggerating. This generation of Camry and the next Gen are the best cars ever built by any car manufacturer. More reliable than VW Beetle, early 90s Accords, or Land Cruiser. They're cheap to maintain, very very comfortable and easy to drive, and unbelievably reliable. I wish they still made cars like these.
I have a 2000 Camry with the 2.2L and a 5 speed manual. It's got over 180,000 miles and it gets great gas mileage, it doesn't use a drop of oil between oil changes, and it has the coldest Air Conditioning of any car I have ever had. It is the best car I've ever had. It's also so reliable, if I had to drop everything and drive from Pennsylvania to California right now, I wouldn't think twice about taking this car. I know it would get me there and back, no problem.
I got a 2000 ce Camry 5 speed as well with 317000 miles the last owner told me it’s on the original engine and trans but so far the throw out bearing gets stuck so yeah I got to do that soon it’s a bit rusty but so fun to drive my first ever manual car well second but it’s a beauty!
My neighbor had 1 with 646k miles. Got rear-ended by a drunk driver. Finally forced him into a new car. It was kinda sad, i know he was chasing that million mile mark
Also, I noticed the unpainted driver door handle 😅 these models were known for having flimsy external door handles that would rip off quite easily, especially in the winter when the doors were iced in. It happened to mine, and luckily, replacement door handles for these are cheap.
Watching this makes me appreciate my own older car more. It still runs well, doesn't have a payment, and insurance costs less than half of a comparable new car.
My uncle had one of these when i was very little and he always had the best cars to sit in. Watching this video brought me back to those wooly cloth back seats. Thanks for this!
Wife had this same one with the exact color. It was a HOOT to drive with more character than I expected in the corners. When you get the "line" right, it feels so satisfying
Nice to see owner has took good care of his old car and maintain his car until now as well. Nice dashboard, new paint, clean interior, no any damage scratches as well. This is a really good car
Chris, I would like to thank Sonny for sharing his Camry with us and congratulate him on his taste in daily driver. The fact he has already taken it to Krown speaks volumes. 🙌🙌Getting back to the car, I cannot image a more RADICAL idea in the warped automotive world of 2024 than a comfortable, affordable sedan with excellent visibility. I wonder how the seat height compares to today's low slung 'sport' sedans, I suspect it is more agreeable.🤔
I have a GS350 F-Sport and the seats can get pretty high, almost suv position like high which i usually keep it on for comfort. I know its not a Camry but it is a modern "sport" sedan with more than compliant seats, albeit it is a luxury sedan. BMWs are certainly much lowerer slung.
@@RJtheREBEL21 I put the word 'sport' in apostrophes to suggest cars like the modern Camry, Accord etc have strayed too far away from their roots as comfortable commuter cars. In pursuit of extra performance, they have left too many buyers behind and the sales numbers show it. I have no objection to actual sport sedans like the GS or BMW being as sporty as possible.
This car reminds me so much of my first car, a 1995 Toyota Camry LE in Emerald Green Pearlcoat. The motor, transmission, build quality, plastics, seats, everything is almost identical (which makes sense since this XV20 model was just a light redesign over the XV10 I had). That car got me through university and literally went through hell and high water (it slid into a ditch twice, got backed into, got caught in a storm flooded parking lot, got sideswiped and hit a deer) but it took all of it and did not miss a beat. I ended up scrapping it at about 330,000km because the rear-end was so rotten it was no longer safe to drive. While I began my Honda Civic journey after this car, my experience with it was so positive that I continue to highly recommend Toyota products and have influenced multiple people to purchase them.
I had an 03 Camry and still one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. Sadly lost it when it spun out during a snowstorm. The curve on that highway is notorious.
I have a 2001 Camry too, but mine is an XLE V6. Absolutely love it, such a great cruiser and commuter. (And yes, mine had the same replacement black drivers door handle lol)
I always loved the look of the 4th generation Toyota Camry. I see a lot of these on the road in really good condition, and it shows the bulletproof reliability of older Toyotas. I mean this is a really clean example: interior looks amazing, those lights are not fogged up and looking bright, the paint is still looking great. I mean your friend has taken real good care of this Camry. And one of the things that this Camry does amazingly is simplicity: nothing offensive, simple controls, simple to read gauges, and you can just spend a minute and know how to drive this.
Just bought an 01 LE 2.2 4 cyl for $3500. Has 112k, all the power seats/ options work, has zero stains or rips in the seats, came with new tires all around, and a new battery. It has hail damage but I fix dents for work so if I want them taken care of I’ll fix it myself. I drive 500-700 miles for work and will be looking forward to letting her run for as long as possible
I just got myself a 98 Camry LE with 91k miles, extremely well preserved and the paint holds up beautifully and man when i tell you i couldn’t more proud of myself to be driving a real car now… even though the car is as old as myself. Taking my first trip from orlando to miami next weekend in this beauty 🙂
I have had Camry's as my Second car/Daily Drivers for 20 years. I have had one of every generation since till the most recent one. But this gen XV20 is still my favorite one. Super comfortable , simple, smooth to drive and the perfect size. If I ever get a another Camry daily again it will be a good example of this gen , like this gentleman has.
There's just a certain charm to "old" cars now. They are simple and raw and (usually) you can feel how they drive. And to change your climate settings, you just turn a knob instead of navigating a touchscreen.
Whoah, serendipity! I saw one of these cars just yesterday, silver, and went into car envy. My grandma had this car and I remember it being so comfy and smooth. Only drove it once but remembered the buttery smooth steering. Easy driver. Like the crisp, understated looks too--I don't like how Camrys are trying to look like sportscars now. Probably the best Camry generations, IMO. Thanks for doing this!
I had a 99 Camry with this same engine but a 5 speed manual. Funny enough, I had an e36 m3 before the Camry. I got the Camry while I was turning around my finances and needed a car that was cheap and reliable. Bought it for 1500. It had 247,000 miles. On original transmission, engine, and even clutch. Ran like a dream. It was beat on the outside but the interior was clean. I only did oil changes, battery, and brakes. Sold it after 2 years for $1500. Amazing car and definitely buy one if you want a no fuss car for cheap
This was my dad's car, gonna be my future car (not this exact car of course, it's all beige), and I'm really super happy to see it here. Love learning about it.
I had the 2000 year model, bought it used with 60k miles on it. 8 years later, it had 300k miles on it and a ton of respect in my heart. Still thinking about that Camry to this day. Thank you so much, this video refreshed a lot of memories.
I have the V6 version of this car with 90k miles. It was my Dad's car and I inherited it when he passed. My Mom has the 2.2 and I always thought it was under powered especially when you have the A/C on from a dead stop. The V6 is rated at 192hp but the torque is much higher than the 4banger and it shows when the A/C is on. I take care of both of them and they are bullet proof. One thing you need to check out since you said that the car is mostly original is the radiator. If the plastic tank on the top has turned from black to kind of a brown color and if you look closely and see lots of super small cracks kinda like hazing, change it now. My Mom's car got a huge ( about 4" crack) in it when she was out doing errands, no leaks or anything it just let go. She shut it off quick so there was no damage to the motor. RockAuto has Denso OEM radiators for these cars for less than $100. Use Toyota red coolant if you do the job yourself. Super easy to replace and fits perfectly. Also change your oil at 5k miles and use synthetic oil, these motors are prone to sludge and it will trash them quickly.
I remembered owning a 1997 Toyota Camry, it has only 75k miles when I bought it used for like 1,200 in 2015, I do regret selling it last year, it had 125k miles with no problems or mechanical issues, might buy another one
My buddy and I just road-tripped his 2000 Camry to Quebec City and back in the freezing cold and snow with Blizzacks. Zero issues and great MPG. These cars are unkillable!
OMG this was one of my friend's first car during my high school age! As an student driver I used to shot gun his car and that car was awesome for age!!! My dad's car was 2005 camry but I personally find some aspects 2001 Camry was just fantastic car!!!!!! Brining up some good memories!!!!!
This is a funny video because these cars are so unremarkable it’s remarkable. Anyone watching this video will see one of these if they drive today, even though it’s 20+ years later.
I have a 1994 4cyl wagon that I've owned since 2017 and I've done a bunch of work to it, but it's been hyper reliable, it's currently at 321k and I'd drive it to the east coast tomorrow without hesitation. It turned me into a hardcore Toyota fan to the point that when my BF wanted a car, I found him a 2001 gallery series Camry that has also been fantastic, and when my mom had her Honda stolen, I bought her a low mile 97 es300 that is insanely nice to drive and deceivingly quick. Absolutely love this era of Toyotas.
I have a silver 2000 LE V6 Camry with 227k on it and it was actually my first car. I bought a new 23 Camry XSE V6 last year and kept the 2000 because it's just such a good car. I still drive it a lot too. I guess I just have a soft spot for "boring" cars cause they're fun in their own way.
I owned a 2000 Camry, same generation as this one, also LE trim. After ~250k miles, unfortunately engine failed so I got rid of it in the end after slightly more than 10 years. I've never thought that I would see this car here on this channel.............It was great when it served as my family's workhorse. Good old memories...
The body of these and interior look is so beautiful in a way. I want one to mod- engine swap it for a stronger i4, upgrade suspension, upgrade exhaust. Just such an awesome car
My parents bought one of these new after they sold their 96 e wagon which they got tired of the costly repairs. I hated the Camry then and didn't love learning to drive in it, but can definitely appreciate it now that I'm older.
By far, one of my favorite generation Camry. My family had 1998 Camry LE bought it since new it’s had about 131k miles on odometer zero issues other than little head gasket oil and suspension worn out other than that engine was a bulletproof. But sadly had trade in for new 2020 Prius Prime XLE during the pandemic. Til this day I still regret to get rid of my Camry.
This is also my favorite Camry generation. It was peak Toyota. It rode so smooth and quiet, and had quality material inside with good ergonomics. It was basically a cheap Lexus. Subsequent generations were cheap and noisy.
I had this car. Hands down the best vehicle I ever owned. It wasn't fast (4-banger) and wouldn't take corners quickly or anything, but it was an exceptionally well built vehicle. Easy to maintain (I did basic stuff myself) and super reliable. I had it for 12 years and had to let go after emission really became an issue for inspection. It went over 300K miles. I still own Toyotas but I am less impressed with modern workmanship. The 1997-2001 series is one of the best Camry's you can have. Which is why you still see them on the road. If I could hypothetically buy a brand new 2001 with a V6 I would jump on it and drive it into my retirement
IMO , 2002-2006 Camrys are the last of the best old school Camrys. Slightly larger and refined, much more rust resistant and still very easy to work on. If you can find a rare 2005-2006 3.0 V6 LE or XLE those are the most fun. 0 to 60 in low 7 seconds which is quicker than many of vehicles out there. Great highway and merging & passing power. I've had 3 of them in my household. My last one was totaled by a school bus. It took 4 months to find another one with a little over 125K miles. Paid $3700 for it and about $600 to sort it out
I absolutely love xv20 with 2.2, and xv30 camrys. Of course, I bought gs300 with 2jz when I was 20, but these camrys are pieces of engineering which you appreciate more and more through the years. Thank you for this test drive, I enjoyed it more than videos with the most of luxorious cars or suv you tested. Maybe because camry always has a special place in my heart, I don't know 😁😁
After years of grinding, Chris finally worked his way up to a real car 👍
So proud of him
this is what "making it" looks like
Lambos and McLarens? ❌
2000s indestructible shitboxes? ✅
Camry gang represent 😤
@@CaptainBlitznot a shitebox 🤡
Even though most people would consider a Camry a “boring car” I love these types of videos. It shows how far cars have gone throughout the years.
I had a friend that his mom used own like a 2003 Corolla and I loved how simple that thing was. Nothing fancy, simply reliable Toyota.
In my opinion it shows how far cars haven’t come throughout the years
I think really they just show how well these older cars have held up
@@ufork I mean... When the car has nothing fancy mechanically to offer, less things that can break.
@@royliber3824 that's the beauty of it. Wish we had more cars mass produced like these nowadays, but now everything has to be over-electronified with all these extra features that everyone claims to need, which end up making the cars cost more and last shorter
There's something so cozy about these 90s cars that newer cars just don't have.
Everyone is trying to be sporty. Also the overload of computers in vehicles.
No payment
I think it's because they're made to be you know... Cars.
New vehicles have had two more decades of trying to add "features" to convince people to replace their cars with new vehicles.
you were younger
@@Joseph843exactly back when everything was direct to the point of it use
It's funny how "full circle" we've come. I hated on these cars SO HARD as a kid. Nowadays, I'd genuinely love one of these for around town.
That's interesting, when I was a kid I appreciated them - though also didn't realise they were actually a boring car. Mind you I was growing up around a 1999 Forester whose most interesting features were AWD and a hi/lo transfer case.
@@jetstream454this is a very interesting feature tho
Hated on?
What the hell does that mean?
@@jetstream454 I grew up around a 2001 Renault Megane 1.9dTi whose most interesting feature was, well nothing. No AC, not much power but it's a great car to drive. Very comfortable and easy to drive. I learned to drive on it.
@@jetstream454 same here! Growing up, my dream car wasn't the crazy sports cars or the typical dream cars that boys grew up fantasizing about.
I literally wanted a Camry - kid you not. For some reason I thought they were the cream of the crop and I would always turn my head when one passed by on the roads.
Now that I'm an adult, married, have kids of my own - I get why they are thrown off with the ole "they're boring". But truthfully, I'd take boring and reliable over exotic and short-lived.
And yes, in one of my garage bays sits a 2013 Camry SE. To this day, not one part have I had to replace on that car. (Obviously brake pads, oil filter, tires, and battery). But I've had it for nearly a decade and it's been smooth sailing and It will likely be passed on to my daughter, here, in a few years.
My first car was a Pontiac and I just bought that cause I was in a time-crunch on transportation. But when the Pontiac bit the dust - my, then, fiance knew that I wanted a Camry and a few months before we got married I picked up "ole boring" and have never regretted it - not once.
Sure, my dream car list has changed a bit but nothing will change my mind on what my daily driver will be, and is.
My first ever car was a 1999 Camry LE that I bought for $1500 from an estate sale in 2012, when I was 17 and had just gotten my license. I drove it for years, put a ton of miles on it and it always worked. Occasionally needed exhaust and other basic work done due to the salty roads up here in the northeast but that's about it. Started up, shifted, and ran well past 250k miles, even with metal shards in the transmission fluid, and the engine burning oil.
I stupidly sold it in 2018 for $1500 to someone that needed a beater to teach his wife how to drive in. I just messaged him recently. They still have the car and haven't had to do a single major repair. I realized then that I never should have sold it. I'm tempted to buy it back from them, but I don't think I'll ever be able to get a car that good for that price ever again for the rest of my life.
well why dont you try him with a price sometime, he might surprise ya
I don't know why, but it's more exciting for me to watch a POV video of an ordinary car than a supercar.
My exotic car fantasy vanished once I appreciated jdm and ordinary vehicles when I was around 13.
so true
23 years old and still runs and looks like new
Laughs in scotty's voice
Toyota.
“Learning how to burn CDs” holy cow I feel old that was my entire childhood 😂
Quite a very clean example! I love seeing these still on the road.
What the hell is CD😂
@@Baggged_LC Okay you have to be either trolling or like 9 years old how do you not know what a cd is.
this generation of camrys mean so much to me cos my dads first car when he came to america in 2000 was a 98 camry le (which was damn near a brand new car at the time so props to him for affording one), and it was the car he'd use to take me and my twin home from the hospital in a few years later. i essentially grew up in that thing and now hes moved on to a '15 corolla, so it just goes to show how these simple toyota sedans can quite literally keep a family together lol.
My parents first car when they came to the america in the 90s was a Camry, and one day at the mall the car was stolen, they contacted police and 2 weeks later it was found in the bronx New York City stripped of everything, from wheels to seats to steering wheel to engine, lol really unfortunate
These are my favorite type of videos. Cars that most people are able to drive and not go into debt for.
I think this is the best camry ever. Perfect size. Not too big nor too small.
My favorite design for a Camry ever since I was in elementary school in the early 2000s. So clean and timeless especially in gold color.
What do you think of the 2007-2011 design? It's like a modern copy of this one. I think it looked nice and elegant but some thought it was ugly.
@@PlymouthNeonI think it’s ugly
@@PlymouthNeon I like the 2010,2011. It's look nicer than 2007-2009 imo cuz different front bumper, headlights, LED taillights. I prefer the SE ones.
@@PlymouthNeon
I agree with you. I think that's my favorite camry generation.
The 2007 was the best looking Camry hands down.
The simplicity of the interior is refreshing to see on the channel compared to a lot of the newer cars we see now honestly, especially with screens plastered in front of you lol. The 2003 Mach 1 and 1999 Civic Si POV videos are other great examples of a nice, simple driver's space
WOW… This Camry makes you stop and ponder the mess this world is creating, right now, with automobiles. How do we get back to basics?
We will never get the basics anymore. Car companies no longer prioritize quality and reliability. It's a tradeoff they've chosen. Everyone is on a technology race to have the most technically advanced car out of fear of getting left behind from their competitors. Millions of dollars spent in R&D. In return, they charged consumers ridiculous amounts to get their ROI back.
No exaggerating. This generation of Camry and the next Gen are the best cars ever built by any car manufacturer. More reliable than VW Beetle, early 90s Accords, or Land Cruiser. They're cheap to maintain, very very comfortable and easy to drive, and unbelievably reliable. I wish they still made cars like these.
Next generation Camry had burning oil issues. This generation did not.
I think that started in 07 because of high tension rings on the pistons. Thank the epa for it really..
Starts up easier than a 2023 bmw 😂
I mean it actually does 🤷🏼♂️
I have a 2000 Camry with the 2.2L and a 5 speed manual. It's got over 180,000 miles and it gets great gas mileage, it doesn't use a drop of oil between oil changes, and it has the coldest Air Conditioning of any car I have ever had. It is the best car I've ever had. It's also so reliable, if I had to drop everything and drive from Pennsylvania to California right now, I wouldn't think twice about taking this car. I know it would get me there and back, no problem.
I got a 2000 ce Camry 5 speed as well with 317000 miles the last owner told me it’s on the original engine and trans but so far the throw out bearing gets stuck so yeah I got to do that soon it’s a bit rusty but so fun to drive my first ever manual car well second but it’s a beauty!
This car is in the golden era of Toyota and Japanese cars in general
My neighbor had 1 with 646k miles. Got rear-ended by a drunk driver. Finally forced him into a new car. It was kinda sad, i know he was chasing that million mile mark
Also, I noticed the unpainted driver door handle 😅 these models were known for having flimsy external door handles that would rip off quite easily, especially in the winter when the doors were iced in. It happened to mine, and luckily, replacement door handles for these are cheap.
I think more of them have replacements than not at this point haha.
Still one of the most common generations on the roads of my city, Muscat. The design has aged well and they're remarkably reliable.
Watching this makes me appreciate my own older car more. It still runs well, doesn't have a payment, and insurance costs less than half of a comparable new car.
My uncle had one of these when i was very little and he always had the best cars to sit in. Watching this video brought me back to those wooly cloth back seats. Thanks for this!
Wife had this same one with the exact color. It was a HOOT to drive with more character than I expected in the corners. When you get the "line" right, it feels so satisfying
I had a 1991 Camry V6 Limited, one of the best cars I've ever had. It was light and quite powerful.
This is peak automobile. It literally doesn’t get any better than an early 2000s camry
Just an absolute tank of a car. The cockroach of sedans that will outlive all of humanity.
Nice to see owner has took good care of his old car and maintain his car until now as well. Nice dashboard, new paint, clean interior, no any damage scratches as well. This is a really good car
Chris, I would like to thank Sonny for sharing his Camry with us and congratulate him on his taste in daily driver. The fact he has already taken it to Krown speaks volumes. 🙌🙌Getting back to the car, I cannot image a more RADICAL idea in the warped automotive world of 2024 than a comfortable, affordable sedan with excellent visibility. I wonder how the seat height compares to today's low slung 'sport' sedans, I suspect it is more agreeable.🤔
I have a GS350 F-Sport and the seats can get pretty high, almost suv position like high which i usually keep it on for comfort. I know its not a Camry but it is a modern "sport" sedan with more than compliant seats, albeit it is a luxury sedan. BMWs are certainly much lowerer slung.
@@RJtheREBEL21 I put the word 'sport' in apostrophes to suggest cars like the modern Camry, Accord etc have strayed too far away from their roots as comfortable commuter cars. In pursuit of extra performance, they have left too many buyers behind and the sales numbers show it. I have no objection to actual sport sedans like the GS or BMW being as sporty as possible.
This car reminds me so much of my first car, a 1995 Toyota Camry LE in Emerald Green Pearlcoat. The motor, transmission, build quality, plastics, seats, everything is almost identical (which makes sense since this XV20 model was just a light redesign over the XV10 I had). That car got me through university and literally went through hell and high water (it slid into a ditch twice, got backed into, got caught in a storm flooded parking lot, got sideswiped and hit a deer) but it took all of it and did not miss a beat. I ended up scrapping it at about 330,000km because the rear-end was so rotten it was no longer safe to drive. While I began my Honda Civic journey after this car, my experience with it was so positive that I continue to highly recommend Toyota products and have influenced multiple people to purchase them.
I had an 03 Camry and still one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. Sadly lost it when it spun out during a snowstorm. The curve on that highway is notorious.
That start up sound and beeb..... it's nostalgic 😢
I have a 2001 Camry too, but mine is an XLE V6. Absolutely love it, such a great cruiser and commuter. (And yes, mine had the same replacement black drivers door handle lol)
I always loved the look of the 4th generation Toyota Camry. I see a lot of these on the road in really good condition, and it shows the bulletproof reliability of older Toyotas. I mean this is a really clean example: interior looks amazing, those lights are not fogged up and looking bright, the paint is still looking great. I mean your friend has taken real good care of this Camry. And one of the things that this Camry does amazingly is simplicity: nothing offensive, simple controls, simple to read gauges, and you can just spend a minute and know how to drive this.
I drove a 2000 model w/ the manual and v6 for 6 years. I miss it! Lent it to my uncle while I moved halfway across the country.
Just bought an 01 LE 2.2 4 cyl for $3500. Has 112k, all the power seats/ options work, has zero stains or rips in the seats, came with new tires all around, and a new battery. It has hail damage but I fix dents for work so if I want them taken care of I’ll fix it myself.
I drive 500-700 miles for work and will be looking forward to letting her run for as long as possible
Those Camrys have one of the best suspensions! So smooth.
I just got myself a 98 Camry LE with 91k miles, extremely well preserved and the paint holds up beautifully and man when i tell you i couldn’t more proud of myself to be driving a real car now… even though the car is as old as myself. Taking my first trip from orlando to miami next weekend in this beauty 🙂
Had a 2000 Camry CE as my first car and I miss it dearly. I ended up just recently getting a 2001 ES300 as my next beater and it brings some memories.
Aren’t those two cars the same or similar?
My mom’s first nice car after coming from vietnam. Good memories from her picking me up in this car from school in the rain
1:15 Classic Camry flex pipe leak right there...
Real car guys. Appreciate all cars for what they are
Very true!
I have had Camry's as my Second car/Daily Drivers for 20 years. I have had one of every generation since till the most recent one. But this gen XV20 is still my favorite one. Super comfortable , simple, smooth to drive and the perfect size. If I ever get a another Camry daily again it will be a good example of this gen , like this gentleman has.
There's just a certain charm to "old" cars now. They are simple and raw and (usually) you can feel how they drive. And to change your climate settings, you just turn a knob instead of navigating a touchscreen.
i think it's cool how he ditched the m3, went to the yota to save $ and loves it all the same. sensible guy
Well, the M3 ditched him 😄
@@TheTopherThat’s one way to put it XD.
What a little gem! That thing is so well kept!
Whoah, serendipity! I saw one of these cars just yesterday, silver, and went into car envy. My grandma had this car and I remember it being so comfy and smooth. Only drove it once but remembered the buttery smooth steering. Easy driver. Like the crisp, understated looks too--I don't like how Camrys are trying to look like sportscars now. Probably the best Camry generations, IMO. Thanks for doing this!
So clean. this will be the most reliable thing in your life and will run forever.
You should honestly do more of these kind of “old car” drives!
I had a 99 Camry with this same engine but a 5 speed manual. Funny enough, I had an e36 m3 before the Camry. I got the Camry while I was turning around my finances and needed a car that was cheap and reliable.
Bought it for 1500. It had 247,000 miles. On original transmission, engine, and even clutch. Ran like a dream. It was beat on the outside but the interior was clean. I only did oil changes, battery, and brakes. Sold it after 2 years for $1500. Amazing car and definitely buy one if you want a no fuss car for cheap
Been hunting one of these for years with a manual and in black with grey interior, its a unicorn.
Wont stop grinding until I have this POV😤😤
This was my dad's car, gonna be my future car (not this exact car of course, it's all beige), and I'm really super happy to see it here. Love learning about it.
this generation Camry is a super reliable great ride unlike newer iterations!
I had the 2000 year model, bought it used with 60k miles on it. 8 years later, it had 300k miles on it and a ton of respect in my heart. Still thinking about that Camry to this day. Thank you so much, this video refreshed a lot of memories.
what kind of 5w30 oil did you use? Full synthetic or high mileage F.S.? and which brand? thank you.
Such a humble and wise little car. No frills. Just a car to get you from point A to point B
Im 31 and could totally see myself driving these and loving everything. My mom owned a 98 camry
now here's a car I can actually afford as a 23 year old lol
Woh! The interior looks brand new!
There's something charming about an early 2000s Toyota camry it the perfect everyone car even 20 years later
It would be pretty nice to drive an old car like this that’s in good shape. They have so much charm.
I have the V6 version of this car with 90k miles. It was my Dad's car and I inherited it when he passed. My Mom has the 2.2 and I always thought it was under powered especially when you have the A/C on from a dead stop. The V6 is rated at 192hp but the torque is much higher than the 4banger and it shows when the A/C is on. I take care of both of them and they are bullet proof. One thing you need to check out since you said that the car is mostly original is the radiator. If the plastic tank on the top has turned from black to kind of a brown color and if you look closely and see lots of super small cracks kinda like hazing, change it now. My Mom's car got a huge ( about 4" crack) in it when she was out doing errands, no leaks or anything it just let go. She shut it off quick so there was no damage to the motor. RockAuto has Denso OEM radiators for these cars for less than $100. Use Toyota red coolant if you do the job yourself. Super easy to replace and fits perfectly. Also change your oil at 5k miles and use synthetic oil, these motors are prone to sludge and it will trash them quickly.
Nothing beats Japanese cars from the 90s and 00s.
I remembered owning a 1997 Toyota Camry, it has only 75k miles when I bought it used for like 1,200 in 2015, I do regret selling it last year, it had 125k miles with no problems or mechanical issues, might buy another one
Well, there are a ton available for a pretty low price.
My buddy and I just road-tripped his 2000 Camry to Quebec City and back in the freezing cold and snow with Blizzacks. Zero issues and great MPG. These cars are unkillable!
I love these old "boring" cars
OMG this was one of my friend's first car during my high school age! As an student driver I used to shot gun his car and that car was awesome for age!!! My dad's car was 2005 camry but I personally find some aspects 2001 Camry was just fantastic car!!!!!! Brining up some good memories!!!!!
I have a 97 Camry LE with a V6 mated to a 5 spd. Always a good laugh when I initiate a pull next to some sportier cars :)
You didn't even mention the hydraulic hood struts! Those blew me away I had no idea
Yes! I saw that too! And that’s on a 2001! Shamefully, today’s $40k cars come with prop rods.
This Camry is just getting started on its mission to outlive us all.
Best sedan from tht generation the other had transmission issues or engine issues these don’t bulletproof
I have a 2002 Toyota Camry LE V6 with 67k miles. Bought it with 55k. Easy to work on and comfortable.
My first car!! 1998 model though. This was the best generation of Camry, absolute tanks
I just watched Doug review and old, unremarkable Camry and now I'm watching Topher do the same. What am I doing with my life?
What a clean car
This is a funny video because these cars are so unremarkable it’s remarkable. Anyone watching this video will see one of these if they drive today, even though it’s 20+ years later.
I have a 1994 4cyl wagon that I've owned since 2017 and I've done a bunch of work to it, but it's been hyper reliable, it's currently at 321k and I'd drive it to the east coast tomorrow without hesitation. It turned me into a hardcore Toyota fan to the point that when my BF wanted a car, I found him a 2001 gallery series Camry that has also been fantastic, and when my mom had her Honda stolen, I bought her a low mile 97 es300 that is insanely nice to drive and deceivingly quick. Absolutely love this era of Toyotas.
Best daily driver 🫡
It really is, and now it’s been blessed by TheTopher himself 🙌
Doug with the Camry and now topher! That’s righhhttt
I have a silver 2000 LE V6 Camry with 227k on it and it was actually my first car. I bought a new 23 Camry XSE V6 last year and kept the 2000 because it's just such a good car. I still drive it a lot too. I guess I just have a soft spot for "boring" cars cause they're fun in their own way.
great video going back in time making a POV video of a camry. Love it!!! looks CLEAN
8:06 My jaw dropped at how good that sounds.
I owned a 2000 Camry, same generation as this one, also LE trim. After ~250k miles, unfortunately engine failed so I got rid of it in the end after slightly more than 10 years. I've never thought that I would see this car here on this channel.............It was great when it served as my family's workhorse. Good old memories...
The body of these and interior look is so beautiful in a way. I want one to mod- engine swap it for a stronger i4, upgrade suspension, upgrade exhaust. Just such an awesome car
The car looks pretty gorgeous especially in that colour
Im getting a 4cylinder version for my first car🤩
That was my first car! Same year, color and everything. Love to see this videos in addition to your usual content 👍
the best camry also the camry between 2007 to 2011 was named AURION in Australia ..
after daily driving E36 he bought a daily driver called Camry. Definitely a quality upgrade! All smiles!
My parents bought one of these new after they sold their 96 e wagon which they got tired of the costly repairs. I hated the Camry then and didn't love learning to drive in it, but can definitely appreciate it now that I'm older.
By far, one of my favorite generation Camry. My family had 1998 Camry LE bought it since new it’s had about 131k miles on odometer zero issues other than little head gasket oil and suspension worn out other than that engine was a bulletproof. But sadly had trade in for new 2020 Prius Prime XLE during the pandemic. Til this day I still regret to get rid of my Camry.
This is also my favorite Camry generation. It was peak Toyota. It rode so smooth and quiet, and had quality material inside with good ergonomics. It was basically a cheap Lexus. Subsequent generations were cheap and noisy.
I can't even explain how nostalgic this makes me - the car I learned to drive in!
I had a 95 camry and it is just indestructible, with 500K miles from multiple cross country trips before i sold it.
Before my Prius, a 2001 Camry was my daily. Great and reliable car. If something went wrong, the part I needed from a junkyard wasn't far away.
Owner is happy as a clam
Simplicity at its finest.
This car will outlast a brand new hyundai by 500 000 miles.
My first car was a 2000 Accord SE and man I loved that thing
I had this car. Hands down the best vehicle I ever owned. It wasn't fast (4-banger) and wouldn't take corners quickly or anything, but it was an exceptionally well built vehicle. Easy to maintain (I did basic stuff myself) and super reliable. I had it for 12 years and had to let go after emission really became an issue for inspection. It went over 300K miles. I still own Toyotas but I am less impressed with modern workmanship. The 1997-2001 series is one of the best Camry's you can have. Which is why you still see them on the road. If I could hypothetically buy a brand new 2001 with a V6 I would jump on it and drive it into my retirement
IMO , 2002-2006 Camrys are the last of the best old school Camrys. Slightly larger and refined, much more rust resistant and still very easy to work on. If you can find a rare 2005-2006 3.0 V6 LE or XLE those are the most fun. 0 to 60 in low 7 seconds which is quicker than many of vehicles out there. Great highway and merging & passing power. I've had 3 of them in my household. My last one was totaled by a school bus. It took 4 months to find another one with a little over 125K miles. Paid $3700 for it and about $600 to sort it out
I absolutely love xv20 with 2.2, and xv30 camrys. Of course, I bought gs300 with 2jz when I was 20, but these camrys are pieces of engineering which you appreciate more and more through the years. Thank you for this test drive, I enjoyed it more than videos with the most of luxorious cars or suv you tested. Maybe because camry always has a special place in my heart, I don't know 😁😁