This one sounds like it should have 4 legs, a hairy coat, and bark.
Avoid
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Hmm, it feels too expensive for the risk. I would take it at £6,000, but £8k is too high for the lack of history and poor condition of paint and interior.
However, a good service once you've bought it and it will probably go one for another 100k.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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However, a good service once you've bought it and it will probably go one for another 100k.
That's what I thought, but the saving of £2K is for taking the small but not negligible risk that it won't! Hence my heading.
No doubt there will be more of these cars shaken loose from leases in the next few months, and the V6 is better, if thirstier, hence at almost no premium over the four-banger. I don't do too much mileage now, so the mpg is not so important set against first cost.
MH
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In view of what you said, along with the fact that Camrys can be acquired for pretty good prices any way in good nick, I wouldn't bother.
But it does remind me of a case of Toyota's long standing reliability record.
I knew a Press photographer who bought a then new to UK shores Corolla in 1966 because it offered so much more than home grown cars at much less cost.
The first time he gave me a lift I noticed he had clocked up just under 36,000 miles and he told me it had never let him down yet, in stark contrast to his other cars, even though he hadn't even got round to changing the oil and filter because of his work load.
My gasp of horror must have registered, however, because about a fortnight later he took time out to let me know that the Corolla had had an oil and filter change. God knows what condition the oil must have been in - remember we are talking 38 years ago..:-)
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Using the autotrader link to the left, look for camry\'s in the north west. A compnay called silverstone had a high milage V6 that was about four years old for just £5,000. I beleive it was in good order.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
{Wording above in itallics has been amended. DD}
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I wouldn't bother. If you wait a bit you will probably find better for less money.
Also consider one of the 2000-on Nissan Maxima QX (modle series A34) - they were nice cars and parts, service are cheaper than the Camry. They are all V6 engined.
I saw a 2002 at a main dealer with one owner 27000 miles on the clock, leather, sat-nav etc. for £9995. Obviously not everybody's cup of tea, but I've been so impressed by my 'cheap as chips''98 model that I was sorely tempted.....
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I have been looking around for one of these- a 3ltr Maxima QX. Could you e-mail me if you see one you choose not to buy? I have not had much luck finding one. Do you know how many they sold in this country?
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I have been looking around for one of these- a 3ltr Maxima QX. Could you e-mail me if you see one you choose not to buy? I have not had much luck finding one. Do you know how many they sold in this country?
I won't be buying one just yet - I'm happy enought with my '98 model for the time being. Best is look at Autotrader link or maybe 'Fish4cars' - the main dealers have any that are going. Not that many were sold (probably less than 1000 each year) and owners seem to hang on to them.
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Thanks, didn't think of looking on Fish4cars.
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Also consider one of the 2000-on Nissan Maxima QX
Yes, I thought of this and went so far as to find a decent looking 98, silver with black, a mere 36K up in private hands and asking £5000. I like the styling better than the later model's, which is awful. Also the local Nissan agent is likely to charge less for servicing than the rather expensive Toyota agent. But the Nissan QX does look rather last-century compared to the current, fifth-generation Camry.
I did wonder if I could get by with a Corolla but of course the second-hand cost is much the same as a Camry.
MH
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There are reports of 3 litre V6 Toyota engines having problems with 'waxing' under the rocker cover, dunno how true this is though!
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Sludging is the term reported by owners actually, not waxing.
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Sludging is the term reported by owners actually, not waxing.
I'm surprised any significant number of owners even open the bonnet, let alone remove the rocker cover. I never saw the engine again for a couple of years after the salesman showed it to me, only doing so when I thought the windscreen washers had failed. (The reservoir needed topping up.)
Why would the engine sludge up?
MH
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Apparently sludging is down to infrequent oil changes, and poor crankcase breathing, it affected a large number of Toyota 3.o litre V6 engines, a google search of same will reveal more!
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Just did a quick search, heres one link yotarepair.com/How_to_prevent_sludge.html
Yes, I see the rather repetitive recommendation is:
>>use the dealer, use the dealer, use the dealer for your maintenance.
I think HJ always says that changing the oil at the right intervals is the key to long life and satisfactory performance does he not? He's not wrong.
MH
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"at the right intervals" = about twice as often as the manufacturer recommends, hence the value of DIY or National Tyre. This has been debated long and hard here (not everyone agreeing with HJ, believe it or not) but it always seemed a good idea, and cheap insurance, to me.
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>> Also consider one of the 2000-on Nissan Maxima QX Yes, I thought of this and went so far as to find a decent looking 98, silver with black, a mere 36K up in private hands and asking £5000. I like the styling better than the later model's, which is awful. Also the local Nissan agent is likely to charge less for servicing than the rather expensive Toyota agent. But the Nissan QX does look rather last-century compared to the current, fifth-generation Camry. I did wonder if I could get by with a Corolla but of course the second-hand cost is much the same as a Camry. MH
£5000 is a high price from a private seller. I bought my '98 SE model from the main dealer about 20 months ago. It had only 27k on the clock and one owner - in pristine condition. I got a 'proper' one-year comprehensive warranty, year's RAC cover and a full service (inc. coolant and autotrans fluid, brake fluid etc.) plus MoT. Cost me £4500. Tyres were the originals and a bit worn for my taste, so I bought a new set of Goodyears for £300.
At the time of purchase it was just to be a 'stop gap' following the untimely demise of a 7-series BMW (I needed something with lots of room in the back for my three rather tall children, plus a large boot). However, I have grown to like it so much that I intend keeping it for several years yet. These cars really don't seem to wear much and it runs superbly - never gives any cause for concern.
I agree that the styling is rather dated and in many ways the car is really a small late-90's American car which just happens to be very well put together in Japan. The late Camrys really are a much better looking car and I may well be tempted to get one in a couple of years time.
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>> >> Also consider one of the 2000-on Nissan Maxima QX I agree that the styling is rather dated and in many ways the car is really a small late-90's American car which just happens to be very well put together in Japan. The late Camrys really are a much better looking car and I may well be tempted to get one in a couple of years time.
Well the Nissan is hardly an Italian classic is it Aprilia? Sober and discreet, yes; stirring, hardly. It was great, first time around, as a Peugeot 405.
I think the designers tasked with styling the Camry have done very well since the G3 model, which was hugely influential -- look at any Japanese or Korean sedan of the 1990s -- it defined the design vocabulary. Look for example at the narrow chrome line that defines the windows (daylight openings, I think we should say now). It has been very widely copied.
In the UK, where the Camry was so poorly marketed by Toyota GB that they have given up importing it ('they've stopped making it,' as some sales dork told me today), we have no idea how important this flagship sedan is in setting the tone for a full-sized, range-topping saloon.
The launch of the mid-life refresh of the G5 Camry is causing quite a bit of excitement in its most important market, the United States. The exterior has been lightly touched up but the most important change is the introduction of the lightweight five-speed auto. I think it goes into the V6, which will retail for less than $25,000. At this money, and with finance in the 2-3% bracket, it's no wonder this car is popular there.
That's less than we pay here for an Avensis with the same drivetrain, and financing it is a lot more punishing. No doubt as long as Gordon rules the roost at Number 11 that is the way it will stay.
MH
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