First car for son: 3800 Buick vs Crown Vic vs Camry 2.2L....need advice

[VersatileGuy]

Remember this is a teenager were talking about, giving a V8 to a teenager could be a dangerous combination especially under peer pressure with his friends. Also they're in mind that this isn't going to be the most fuel efficient vehicle. Getting him started on something more efficient on a teenager's tight budget is probably a better choice.

It's land yacht/taxicab V8. The real problem is all the small things and the AC Ford engineers to break in the car, and the way some are literal disasters waiting to happen, like with spark plug blowouts.

 

[RF Overlord]

9 grand for a 22 year old Camry? It better be the most pristine well-preserved car outside of the Toyota museum.

 

[Chris B.]

Thanks again gentlemen! I passed on aaaaaalllllll of these. The V6 Camry had a bad tranny going out. So much for the "1 owner impeccably maintained, cleanest one in existence". Super disappointed. That's ok we still have a year to figure it our. I appreciate all of your advice and input!

 

[Starving Electrician]

My vote the Buick or the Crown Vic. Simple straight forward road Yatchs. Plenty of room sports equipment or friends and spacious back seats for studying yeah studying like human anatomy hahaha.

 

[Chris B.]

I passes on all of these.....still looking! He just completed his drivers ed so close to getting his permit. No rush yet.

 

[Nukeman7]

This 2003 Camry in Denver looks like a good candidate since it spent its previous ownership in FL & TX, so it should be rust free and the CARFAX shows no accident history. Super reliable model that has enough modern safety features and is affordable enough for the risks associated with a new inexperienced driver. Probably dealer serviced since the last photo shows a Toyota TrueStart battery (5/23) and red coolant in the reservoir.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

My daughter is going to be 14. Picked her up an 06' Camry LE 4 banger. 120 k $ 1600 Original owner. Snow belt. Had some rust underneath, but took care of that. Paint not all that, but who cares. Touched it up... Full of dog hair, steam cleaned it out. In NY, they get permit @ 16. so, it will sit under the deck on a set of plastic " no flat spots" ramps, a good cover, and a Noco 2 battery tender. Completed all needed maintenance. Just gonna throw some ceramic coating on the paint. Start it up 1x every 2 weeks to keep the juices flowing. Stabilizer in gas tank already. OCI 1x a year till she drives. You gotta look around for deals. There out there, You gotta start early like I did. She'll be good to go for senior year of High School. Yeah, it's not a Mercedes, but, too bad. More than I got at her age. I got squat. " Wanna car, save you're money & buy one ....if not..you know where the bus is ".....that's what I got

 

[Chris B.]

This 2003 Camry in Denver looks like a good candidate since it spent its previous ownership in FL & TX, so it should be rust free and the CARFAX shows no accident history. Super reliable model that has enough modern safety features and is affordable enough for the risks associated with a new inexperienced driver. Probably dealer serviced since the last photo shows a Toyota TrueStart battery (5/23) and red coolant in the reservoir.

Wow! Thanks! This looks great with a very extensive maintenance history! Were the automatic transmissions solid for the 2003 Camery? I remember reading some of these had problems.....That V6 above in my original post was one of them that had transmission problems.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Get the 03' Camry with the 4cylinder ONLY. Bulletproof engine 2AZ-FE . Have one in my 03' Toyota Solara. Fantastic tranny too. It's one of those 300-400k cars. 5W30 oil. Most common oil leak is the valve cover. 15 minute job. Tooo easy. Stainless steel exhaust too.

 

[supton]

Get the 03' Camry with the 4cylinder ONLY. Bulletproof engine 2AZ-FE . Have one in my 03' Toyota Solara. Fantastic tranny too. It's one of those 300-400k cars. 5W30 oil. Most common oil leak is the valve cover. 15 minute job. Tooo easy. Stainless steel exhaust too.

2AZ-FE bulletproof? after 2005 or so, before that they could pull head bolts. Few years after 2005 they started drinking oil--which is better than blowing a gasket--but still problematic. It's possible that all the bad ones died by now, but it was a problem.

I'd rather have the prior 5S-FE or the latter 2AR-FE. Well, much rather have the 2AR-FE but the 5S-FE was quite a trooper, and that gen Camry was nicer IMO.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Hmmm...Strange....maybe I got lucky with my 03' & 06'. I do know starting in 07', they switched to low tension piston rings to satisfy CAFE standards, and they all became oil burners. But my 03' & 06' have no problems. I'm sure there were better engines after the last of the 2AZ-FE's. They really did them in starting in 07'....But...I haven't much choice in the matter. These are what I have, and I'm fortunate enough that they are trouble free. I'll just keep my fingers crossed it stays that way. I will say this much, they get fantastic gas mileage and have plenty of power for a 4 banger.....One has 128k, the other has 120k. Purr like kittens. Wish me luck

 

[supton]

It's not that "every" 2002-2005 2AZ-FE pulled a head bolt, no idea on actual rate--but it was often enough that it's a well known problem.

 

[JMJNet]

2AZ-FE, 2002-2005 have head bolt issue although if it last this long, it is probably fixed.
2006-2009 have excessive oil consumption issue.

Any of the 6 cylinder are built like a tank.
If you can find the 2000-2001 4 cylinder, they are also good.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I'll be on the lookout. Thanks for the heads up though. I'll keep an eye on that gasket. Do they blow coolant / oil ???? Or both ?? Or did they start mixin in the radiator ?...If you remember...