Hello friend. Hope you had a memorable weekend. Today, Monday, Just like every Mondays and Thursdays from today hence-forth, we will be featuring car previews/reviews on this page. This will surely enable new car shoppers to make informed decisions about their best choice of
cars, while also helping existing car owner to appreciate what they have bought.

Today we are reviewing the TOYOTA CAMRY 1997-2001

The Camry has been the best-selling car in Nigeria for many years. With a comfortable interior and soft, quiet ride, Toyota Camry is one of the top choices for a family car. The 1997-2001 Camry comes has a four-door saloon or two-door coupe (Camry Solara). The interior is roomy, with soft seats and easy-to-use controls. There is plenty of head and legroom in the front; the rear space is pretty good too. The trunk is large and the rear seatbacks fold down for more cargo space.
The Camry has front-wheel drive and comes with a 4-cylinder or V6 engine and a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Maintenance and repair costs are moderate. The 4-cylinder Camry is rated among the best in its class for fuel economy. The Camry is very reliable and with good care can easily last for 250,000 miles and more. Its common problems are mostly minor, read more below.

Powertrain: The base 136-hp 2.2-liter 4-cylinder DOHC engine is fairly quiet and easy to maintain. The optional 194-hp 3.0-liter V6 is smooth and offers plenty of power. Both engines have a timing belt (for 2000 and 2001 Camry, Toyota recommends replacing the timing belt every 90,000 miles). Both are very good reliable engines; with good maintenance you shouldn't have too many problems with either one.

Fuel Economy: The EPA rates the 2000 Camry with a 4-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission at 20/28 mpg or 11.8/8.4 L/100 km city/highway, which means you can travel approximately 382 miles (614 km) on one 18.5-gallon (70 liter) tank with a mix of 55 percent city and 45 percent highway use. The estimated annual fuel cost: $2,450.

Handling and ride: The Camry has a soft and quiet ride. The steering is light, without much feedback. The soft suspension absorbs road bumps and expansion joints well, but some body lean is noticeable when cornering. Overall, the handling is secure and comfortable, although not sporty.

Safety: Antilock brakes are standard in all, but the base models. In the NHTSA frontal crash tests, the 1997 Toyota Camry received four stars for both the driver and the front passenger; the improved 1998-2001 Camry received four stars for the driver and five stars for the front passenger.

Pros: Reliability, fuel economy (4-cylinder models), soft and quiet ride, comfortable interior, easy to maintain, easy to sell.

Cons: Plain interior styling, body roll in turns, steering wheel wears fast, both engines have a timing belt that must be replaced at recommended intervals.

Overall: The 1997-2001 Toyota Camry is still one of the best family saloons within its price range, as judged by automobile experts in America.

What to look for when buying a used Toyota Camry: Check the used car history records to find out about previous reported accidents and other problems. If there is no recorded history that you can check, then ask proper questions in that regard. When test driving the car, if you notice blue smoke from the exhaust, even if it's just a small cloud at a startup, avoid the car. Watch out for oil leaks. A knocking noise from the suspension on bumpy road may indicate bad suspension components (bad front strut mounts are common). Check for signs of sludge under the oil filler cap with the engine off. If the "Check Engine" light is on, have it checked before buying a car; some problems are expensive to repair. Read more tips: illustrated used car checklist. When deciding between two cars, it's worth to pay a little extra for a one-owner well-maintained car in good shape. Before buying, have the car inspected.

PS: If you are interested in buying the car let certified experts help you. Don’t allow yourself to be swindled by roadside dealers.