Spot on!!!
How reliable is the 3.0L V6 vs the 2.2L 4 cylinders in the 1997-2001 Camrys?
- Thread starter mosaud1998
- Start date
$3500 + tax. Include any stupid fees or add-ons in the $3500.
I was gonna offer $3500 with taxes plates and the dumb doc fee (if this dealer charges for that).
To me, the biggest risks with the car is living 24 years through Illinois winters and its unknown or spotty service history. Still it appears to be a good buy at under $4,000.
You are not going to buy the car for $3500 all-in.
Changing spark plugs on the V6 is a chore as the intake has to come off .do it once with iridium plugs and hopefully never have to do them again. The engines and drive trains are very reliable
So the main thing about the 1MZ-FE is they are known sludge monsters, if the oil changes were not kept up in the 3-5k range there is a very good chance it has a sludge problem it doesn't matter if it is a VVTI version or not. This issue also occurs from people not changing the PCV valve, in fact there was a PCV design problem that Toyota fixed on the 2003 model years of the 1MZ-FE,
I personally own a 2002 Sienna 1MZ-FE but mine is pretty clean because it had 3k oil changes its whole life with running Quakerstate.
With that being said these engines if maintained will run a very long time, it is not uncommon to find them with 400,000+ miles, there is a user on this forum I believe with a 600,000 mile Sienna 1MZ-FE if I'm not mistaken.
I personally own a 2002 Sienna 1MZ-FE but mine is pretty clean because it had 3k oil changes its whole life with running Quakerstate.
With that being said these engines if maintained will run a very long time, it is not uncommon to find them with 400,000+ miles, there is a user on this forum I believe with a 600,000 mile Sienna 1MZ-FE if I'm not mistaken.
That Camry is a reliable brand, and good year. But it is 25 years old and has high absolute mileage. The dealer is looking for dang near twice fair value. I would see if there is any warranty available. The fact is that this car is likely to need a battery, muffler, radiator, alternator, tires (ck date code - they will be expired, brakes, oil, coolant, trans fluid within your first two years of ownership. I would spend a little more to see if you can find something ten years newer, given your requirement for reliable transportation.
Not sure I trust a warranty on something this old.
Simply not a car for those who don’t diy. On the flip side, my I4 has been stupid easy to work on. Oh I cursed the timing belt but it really wasn’t that bad.
But I am rapidly headed to trying to make this not my daily anymore.
I highly doubt there will be a warranty available on something this old. I can DIY so not a biggy. I just don't really want to mess with things that have to do with timing. So, if the timing belt hasn't been done, I either want them to do it before I "buy" it or consider my offer (whatever I decide to offer).
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
Good cars and should get about 30 mpg highway. Price is steep IMO.
Oh the days when I got my 2000 for $2,100. 8 years ago.
Oh the days when I got my 2000 for $2,100. 8 years ago.
He's asking double what it's worth. Kbb is at $2600 (with the option and miles taking into consideration) That's what I'm thinking of offering him. Might go up to $3k+TTL if timing belt etc has been done.
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FIL had a XLE V6. The engine is fine other than oil leak through seals (the cat is trashed as is the starter and other minor things like window seal and moon roof, etc). It is a PITA to change the gaskets on a V6 FWD so we left it there (along with old spark plugs). Oil didn't sludge up with regular maintenance, but don't expect it to be spotless under the valve cover either.
MPG would be my biggest concern, we gets about 18-22mpg typically, not worth keeping at today's $4.5 gas price. I'd pick a 4 cyl instead.
MPG would be my biggest concern, we gets about 18-22mpg typically, not worth keeping at today's $4.5 gas price. I'd pick a 4 cyl instead.
You are not getting 30mpg on that era's Camry L4, definitely not the V6.
Not in winter, no. But I get about that-and my idea of driving for mpg… isn’t.
ok, this is with the small 14 inch rims, maybe that helps?
Yeah, my other thing was MGG. I get about 27MPG(city) on the BMW. But, takes $75~ to fill the tank up.
All I can tell you, is, 2 cars are more expense and hassle than 1 car.
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