So it's been a couple weeks now. I've been diligent about not driving the new Camry at all, and splitting my meager driving time between the other two.
I used the '99 to move 900lb and then 1,250lb, and I think the second time I had the tongue weight wrong, as the car felt like it was being pushed around a lot when I hit 50mph. It also felt lacking in the hills, I would just drop to 2nd and leave it at 4k. Actually almost any incline needed that, but I did have another 250lb of weight in the car (wife wanted dirt on Mother's Day, it was easier to buy it bagged).
Following weekend I used the '11 and TBH as long as I was moving it shrugged off 1,250lb. Mind you, that's 250 over the '11's rating and 500 under the '99's rating. I did not feel pushed around, I would drop to 4th on hills and it would just rocket along. But wow, I was missing that torque convertor on the one start on an incline (no hill starts without smoking a clutch I bet) and backing it up was definitely more of a chore. 1,000lb really is about its limit, all due to that clutch (or tall gearing, which TBH is just fine--for an unloaded sedan).
Today I took the '11 to work and... I about fell asleep. Which is weird, as the car shakes at highway speeds and is really hard to drive smoothly, as tip-in is extreme, the clutch is vague, the rev-hang is excessive, 2nd synchro is crunchy as ever, and the steering... was inspired by a boat. No lumbar support and I just don't feel comfortable, keep moving around in the seat every few minutes. The engine is quite peppy and willing, it does not feel down on power at all. I wonder if I can find a power seat (that isn't wore out) and maybe a decent set of struts, try to make the most of it.
I used the '99 to move 900lb and then 1,250lb, and I think the second time I had the tongue weight wrong, as the car felt like it was being pushed around a lot when I hit 50mph. It also felt lacking in the hills, I would just drop to 2nd and leave it at 4k. Actually almost any incline needed that, but I did have another 250lb of weight in the car (wife wanted dirt on Mother's Day, it was easier to buy it bagged).
Following weekend I used the '11 and TBH as long as I was moving it shrugged off 1,250lb. Mind you, that's 250 over the '11's rating and 500 under the '99's rating. I did not feel pushed around, I would drop to 4th on hills and it would just rocket along. But wow, I was missing that torque convertor on the one start on an incline (no hill starts without smoking a clutch I bet) and backing it up was definitely more of a chore. 1,000lb really is about its limit, all due to that clutch (or tall gearing, which TBH is just fine--for an unloaded sedan).
Today I took the '11 to work and... I about fell asleep. Which is weird, as the car shakes at highway speeds and is really hard to drive smoothly, as tip-in is extreme, the clutch is vague, the rev-hang is excessive, 2nd synchro is crunchy as ever, and the steering... was inspired by a boat. No lumbar support and I just don't feel comfortable, keep moving around in the seat every few minutes. The engine is quite peppy and willing, it does not feel down on power at all. I wonder if I can find a power seat (that isn't wore out) and maybe a decent set of struts, try to make the most of it.