| Sasquachulator |
11-04-2024 12:25 PM |
Dad car time
1 Attachment(s)
SO I got this over the weekend:
2020 Toyota Camry XSE AWD.
Had to retire the 86 due to family obligations (got a new kid so the size of the 86 was no longer feasable. It worked ok with a family of 3, but not so much a family of 4. We barely used it to go anywhere as a full family anyways but now it just wasn't going to work at all without significant compromises that i dont think wife was willing to go through nor am i really willing to deal with anymore...namely trying to Tetris 2 adults 1 newborn and a 4 year old into the 86....). Maybe if i was younger i could learn to deal with it, but we're older now and the more easier/simpler things are the better.
Wasn't exactly what I had been looking for initially but having to keep running costs down really dropped the price of entry down (was even considering going down to compact econobox level). But I think I got this for a real good price, especially compared to other XSE models out there.
I had test driven a base SE, and an SE (upgrade?) AWD prior to this and my goodness there is a huge difference between the interior finish among all the trims.
-The Base SE is all hard plastic inside, basic keystart, foot operated parking brake, and everything just felt cheap and i didnt like it much.
-The SE AWD felt a ton better even if it wasn't much different. Upper front door panel had a different softish grained material (rest of the door still hard plastic), and the more available tech (brake hold, and electronic ebrake) and push button start helped it feel less cheap. padded parts (armrests) were fine but they just looked like those office chair armrest padding. Back seat door panel still all hard plastic, but now has air vents.
-XSE trim pretty much adds far more soft/padded leatherette material all over the place (front door panel AND back door panels are finished the same.) Armrests are leather/leatherette wrapped and has stitching, upper door panels are the same softish grained material, middle door panel has leather padding now. Center armrest has stitching. All the available tech as in the SE AWD, but also a Eco/Normal/Sport mode buttons. I think theres some more stuff that the V6 car provides that the AWD car doesnt offer (like heads up display and ventilated seats)
Because of that I think I would only accept an XSE trim. Ambience actualy makes a huge difference in how you feel about a car. This one has alot of stuff comparable to a luxury car but it doesn't really feel like one (since it isnt), feels just like a very nice Toyota.
Yes its a "boring" car, but it actually drives and feels pretty good (lighter steering, but its pretty accurate/direct, handling is pretty good too, there is a bit of body roll though), its pretty comfortable (soaks up the bumps far greater than the 86, as expected), more relaxing drive (radar cruise is great!),its far bigger and more usable than the 86. Its a 4 banger since AWD isnt available with the V6 and it has....adequate power. No real "shove in your seat" feeling cuz it only has about 205hp and around 185lb/ft torque. Revs nicely though, and the engine is much smoother than the FA20. Only need to put regular in it (not huge savings, but savings is savings).
Dont see myself switching out to something else anytime soon. This'll be the proper "drive till it dies" car for now.
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