This was my first car as a teenager. I got it with 250K miles for about $2K and I drove it like an absolute jackass and basically neglected any sort of maintenance and it still lasted me 400K miles lol
Loved this car. It was Lexus quiet on the hwy. so simple and refined for the price. And it was safe - my friend had one and we got into a pretty bad accident on a long road trip in the middle of the night.
I love my 97 Camry LE with over 290K miles 👍 I work nights near Los Angeles in a bad industrial area. My Camry is a plane Jane with the original paint, stock radio, hubcaps, and the homeless folks leave me alone thinking I live in my car 😂 My co-workers who own late models vehicle has had their cars broken in, while my Camry is under the radar. I keep telling them they need to buy a beater for commuting. They laugh thinking I’m to cheap to buy a new car 😁 Little do they know, the wife and I have newer cars safe and sound in our garage 😆
@Brian Monroy I didn’t forget that “boy.” The 96 looks hella outdated by today’s standards. 97-99 still look updated to current car technology in terms of design and styling.
@@Tcho2100 I would agree. The rear lights became thicker. The design still does not look too outdated. Honda’s and Toyotas from the early to mid 2000s still look ahead of their time. I still remember when the Honda Pilot 2007 came out and I see so many now and they still don’t look dated. Same with Toyota.
@@Ghosts-jx7dw my camry also only has 114k original miles surprisingly since the previous original owner was an old lady that only driven it highway miles to work and back. Even has everything original like the alternator, radiator, starter etc.
Proud owner of a XV20 2.2 '01 with 241k kilometers on the odometer. Getting more rare in the Netherlands. Brilliant car. Does what it supposed to do,without failure.
The roads are still full with this car... and they’re still more reliable than most 5-7 year old American or German cars!!!! And those still not learning😂
I feel German cars are built to be the most impressive and luxurious not caring about reliability while this generation of Toyota actually thought about the people working on the car and driving the car
Just bought a 97, 2.2 with 64k original miles from an old lady.. top speed is 118mph not bad smoother then most news cars and interior doesn't feel generic.
I've owned two Camry of the 1997-2001 series, both 2.2L I-4s. The four cyl. 2.2L is not anemic. It has to be worked though. The V-6 is close to overpowered. The only 3.0L V-6 I ever drove was an Avalon. The amount of power was unnecessary for daily driving.
Yeah I used to have the 2.2 model in the previous body style but still 1997, and that thing made 0 to 100km(0-60mph) in 9 seconds. I wouldn't exactly call them slow, there just not sports cars
I think the 99 Camry 2.2l 5SFE got a crank sensor instead of the 97 and 98's cam sensor. They did this for a smoother idle. I also believe the 99 uses a a/f ratio (wide range) 02 sensor upstream instead of the 97s standard 02 sensor. They still both use an 02 sensor downstream. I love my 99
The 97 4 cylinder has 147 pound feet of torque and 133 horsepower. It feels very punchy putting around but doesn't rev out great power. I personally like having more torque than HP. They were trying to make it feel like a big old American car. Think v8 land yachts of the 70s, 80s
My mother had a special edition with the 2 tone egg shell white/topue colors. It was pretty peppy from what I remember. I should have kept that car after she died instead of my 99 accord which went through 3 transmissions. Live and learn.
@sv6civic okay tell me more about your legendary 5 speed Camry you once had. I heard that they didn't sell manual 4th gen Camry's in Canada. But yet 4 years ago I saw a black beater one all dented up, it was loud & I could hear it was a manual. I'm in Canada. Just awsome. Did you live in Canada with your manual transmission 99 Camry? Because you say kilometers. Just curious
@@baileyboyens it depends tbh. Toyota's are sensitive with transmission fluid so when I changed mine I used Toyota's fluid from the dealer not expensive. But you definitely should change that transmission fluid after 150k miles.
I am going to auctions all the time and all the time I encounter Camrys like this, including the 4 Cylinder with well over 300-400 kMiles o. The Odometer!!! They run just as good as new, whilst other american, German cars around spit and smoke at 100-150 kMiles🤪😂😂😂
While the 1997-01 Toyota Camry's are nice cars I do feel the 4 cylinder was a bit underpowered, the 4 cylinder powerplant should be around 145hp, I have little to complain about for the V6 powerplant.
This was my first car as a teenager. I got it with 250K miles for about $2K and I drove it like an absolute jackass and basically neglected any sort of maintenance and it still lasted me 400K miles lol
Really
Could you imagine if you took care of it? You’d still have it.
@@jamalwalker2104 you’re probably right! Sadly I was a dumb teenager that didn’t value my possessions as much as I should have lol
Conversely as a teenager this was the car I learned to drive on brand new. Same experience but different times..
Buying this generation Camry was one of the best decisions I ever made the design and engineering on this car was years ahead of its time.
I like this gen of the camry, just an overall good looking vehicle even today. We don‘t see too many camrys here in europe
Good proportions, clean lines.. built like a tank
Still have my 98 Camry LE 4 cylinder 291k miles
I agree!
@Brian Monroy I got a 98 Camry for 800 and it’s in really good condition a lot of miles but doesn’t sound loud
Probably the best Camry made.
Facts
I'm so glad to be an owner of one 😭
If not the 97 then the 2012. The piston rings didn't leak and burn oil when they switched engines in 2012. Both great cars
@@jaredport9914 agreed
Loved this car. It was Lexus quiet on the hwy. so simple and refined for the price.
And it was safe - my friend had one and we got into a pretty bad accident on a long road trip in the middle of the night.
This video is so clear and high quality for the age. So cool to see this!
Well, they either used a good camera back then, or they edited the video footage to make it more clear.
And I can't agree more oh how cool it looks.
I love my 97 Camry LE with over 290K miles 👍 I work nights near Los Angeles in a bad industrial area. My Camry is a plane Jane with the original paint, stock radio, hubcaps, and the homeless folks leave me alone thinking I live in my car 😂 My co-workers who own late models vehicle has had their cars broken in, while my Camry is under the radar. I keep telling them they need to buy a beater for commuting. They laugh thinking I’m to cheap to buy a new car 😁 Little do they know, the wife and I have newer cars safe and sound in our garage 😆
Smart! Same here! Way to go man!
Isn’t it sad what people will put up with to look rich to others? Good for you!
We had two Camrys of this generation, super solid car.
I see these things EVERYWHERE!!!
There is at least 3 ppl at my work that drive this generation Camry
i bet people will keep on driving this beast
And for good reason!!
These cars are indestructible!
I own a 98 and 5 of my coworkers have one to with different colors and each of our car front bumper is damage 😂
They never die.
Long Live the Toyota Camrys from 97-99. Soo Reliable and quick! Not to mention the AC which is HELLA COLD.
@Brian Monroy I didn’t forget that “boy.” The 96 looks hella outdated by today’s standards. 97-99 still look updated to current car technology in terms of design and styling.
@@technox8166 i like the refresh 2000/2001 better
@@Tcho2100 I would agree. The rear lights became thicker. The design still does not look too outdated. Honda’s and Toyotas from the early to mid 2000s still look ahead of their time. I still remember when the Honda Pilot 2007 came out and I see so many now and they still don’t look dated. Same with Toyota.
@@technox8166 the 92 accord hav a special place in my heart
@@Tcho2100 the 97 Accord is the best Gen Accord. Sleek design and underrated for sure.
The 2.2 is hardly anemic... Thing cruises at 80mph 4 hours a day without struggling.
But it’s underpowered
TCL they lack acceleration greatly, a car is made to hold a cruising speed lol.
TCL how am i confused, I own one. These are very slow cars, it’s easier for a car to maintain a speed then too accelerate.
@@Ghosts-jx7dw yeah I have a 97 camry V6 and I could tell the difference in power when compared to the 2.2 inline 4.
@@Ghosts-jx7dw my camry also only has 114k original miles surprisingly since the previous original owner was an old lady that only driven it highway miles to work and back. Even has everything original like the alternator, radiator, starter etc.
Proud owner of a XV20 2.2 '01 with 241k kilometers on the odometer.
Getting more rare in the Netherlands.
Brilliant car. Does what it supposed to do,without failure.
The roads are still full with this car... and they’re still more reliable than most 5-7 year old American or German cars!!!! And those still not learning😂
I feel German cars are built to be the most impressive and luxurious not caring about reliability while this generation of Toyota actually thought about the people working on the car and driving the car
Just bought a 97, 2.2 with 64k original miles from an old lady.. top speed is 118mph not bad smoother then most news cars and interior doesn't feel generic.
The a/c was absolutely frigid in this thing. Even when it was 20 years old. You could make people shiver. Never touched it lol
So true 👏 Mine still freezing me out and I live in AZ and never had it worked on 😊
I've owned two Camry of the 1997-2001 series, both 2.2L I-4s. The four cyl. 2.2L is not anemic. It has to be worked though. The V-6 is close to overpowered. The only 3.0L V-6 I ever drove was an Avalon. The amount of power was unnecessary for daily driving.
Yeah I used to have the 2.2 model in the previous body style but still 1997, and that thing made 0 to 100km(0-60mph) in 9 seconds. I wouldn't exactly call them slow, there just not sports cars
Best car i ever had! 302k trouble free miles.....would give anything to buy it new again,
Me too
@@Tcho2100 I found one with 62,500 miles for $2,000. They are out there.
@@justinschexnayder8485 u bought it?
@@Tcho2100 yep, been driving it for 10 months.Has records to prove the mileage. I love it!
@@justinschexnayder8485 impressive! Tell me its a V6
My 99 Camry V6 XLE looks exactly like this and is smooth and fast. Put a nice cold air intake so it sounds very nice. The intake sound turns heads!
Mr. Lopez Lopez nope. I ordered a basic cheapest intake online. It roars and people look.
@@1compaqedr8 get us a the link please
@@Tcho2100 www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FROHVH8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. currently unavailable but search for similar ones.
@@1compaqedr8 thx bro
Camry fan here used to own a 2000 XLE V6 2012 SE 4 cylinder and now have a 2020 SE
I think the 99 Camry 2.2l 5SFE got a crank sensor instead of the 97 and 98's cam sensor. They did this for a smoother idle. I also believe the 99 uses a a/f ratio (wide range) 02 sensor upstream instead of the 97s standard 02 sensor. They still both use an 02 sensor downstream. I love my 99
This is actually a ridiculously good review, who is the host?
The best gen Camry!
I have one of these 97 Camry, love it . Has a sunroof. Don't really care for the sunroof. But I am going to keep it . Love my car! It runs great!
Man you people whine if you do have something or don't.
I have one now it’s a 1999 fully loaded V6 with only 80,000 Km! I love it ac blows colder then my 2019 ram 1500.
Lol none of those cars on the list could outlast the Camry!
Maybe the Accord could compare in reliability.
@@disan9135 the accord had transmission issues, especially with the 2.7 V6.
I have one too greetings from Germany :)
Anybody else click on this thinking it was a Motorweek Retro Review?
Was my first car I miss it!
The 97 4 cylinder has 147 pound feet of torque and 133 horsepower. It feels very punchy putting around but doesn't rev out great power. I personally like having more torque than HP. They were trying to make it feel like a big old American car. Think v8 land yachts of the 70s, 80s
My mother had a special edition with the 2 tone egg shell white/topue colors. It was pretty peppy from what I remember. I should have kept that car after she died instead of my 99 accord which went through 3 transmissions. Live and learn.
I want one of these. To hell with my Buick
Still many of that model on the road. Including mine with 250k miles.
1997 toyota camry its my car for over 14 years
Great cars
Great cars!! Bought a 01 with the 2.2l for 350 dollars.
Love the new style and hope they keep selling.
Anti lock brakes?
Please remove this video. I am looking to buy this Camry and don't want competing buyers.
Had a 99 Special Edition 4cyl 5spd manual. Cose to 400,000km. Rear suspension arms a pain to change out.
No way
@@Tcho2100 he was lying.
@sv6civic okay tell me more about your legendary 5 speed Camry you once had. I heard that they didn't sell manual 4th gen Camry's in Canada. But yet 4 years ago I saw a black beater one all dented up, it was loud & I could hear it was a manual. I'm in Canada. Just awsome. Did you live in Canada with your manual transmission 99 Camry? Because you say kilometers. Just curious
I NEED ONE toyota camry 1997
i’m using this one but it is a vienta v6 and it has done 35200kms
I buy this car here in philippines on dec 11,2021. I hope i will be satisfy to own this car.
My sister had purchased the same car with color and trim. Lasted 300k NYC miles until the transmission started giving problems.
Did you guys drain and fill the transmission fluid in between those 300k?
@@jessemolina4901 its a common thing with this generation! Mine is acting up a little.
@@jessemolina4901 you think you should drain and refill or just leave it?
@@baileyboyens it depends tbh. Toyota's are sensitive with transmission fluid so when I changed mine I used Toyota's fluid from the dealer not expensive. But you definitely should change that transmission fluid after 150k miles.
Mines just hit 95,000 miles 😭
I am going to auctions all the time and all the time I encounter Camrys like this, including the 4 Cylinder with well over 300-400 kMiles o. The Odometer!!! They run just as good as new, whilst other american, German cars around spit and smoke at 100-150 kMiles🤪😂😂😂
Got one today for $1500 , 50 000 miles on the clock.
@Jenniolms retired people sold the car
su carro está chilero amigo
Most popular used
My buddy is selling his, said he'll sell it to me for 800, I'm really thinking about
While the 1997-01 Toyota Camry's are nice cars I do feel the 4 cylinder was a bit underpowered, the 4 cylinder powerplant should be around 145hp, I have little to complain about for the V6 powerplant.
Good Japanese car. It’s a Japanese model.
Good / ho matsh
This is the car you see on signs at banks for car-loans, and car insurance companies w/o any badges because it's so boring to look at.
Yet you knew it was a Camry... Wanna think about that one again?
Or because it's the best selling car by far?
Cross overs are boring.
My 97 car have 2950000
Damn, cars back then we're beyond hideous. 🤣
Jeff Brisson our sedans are soulless now
@@Delta6500ThisIsAURL Please! Much better interiors, more power....cars back then cars had no guts and were ugly af.
Better interiors? I want to sit in a car not a spaceship.
@@Seb_SK Space ship? 😆 Nicer interior is nicer interior. Interiors of cars 20-30yrs ago were awful.
@@001spring ur opinion, not mine ;)