Faults:

Usual wear and tear.

Roof lining has sagged (been replaced).

Door trims (fabric) have sagged (re-glued).

Broken windscreen.

Changed CV joints.

Timing belt and usual wear and tear items.

General Comments:

Great car, would recommend it to anyone.

This model was assembled in Altona in Victoria (Australia), with the engine and transmission shipped from Japan.

I was 8 years old when this car was purchased, it was my father's. I am now 22 and I have driven it for three years.

I previously purchased a used Honda Civic 1995 EG as a first run about soon after getting my licence at the age of 17. It was a great car, but very expensive to operate compared to the Camry.

This car drives incredibly smoothly. The transmission is exceptionally smooth and shifts gears seamlessly. The engine also idles very quietly and only becomes harsh when revved above 3500 rpm. It is underpowered for the weight and size (more so, as a wagon), but very drivable.

The car handles competently, I have driven better handling cars like the Citroen Xsara, Ford Falcon and Volvo S80. But, nonetheless, it feels incredibly stable at low and high speeds. The steering is a little vague, but remains precise when directed, although it offers very little feedback.

The interior is, perhaps, a little low rent. This was a base model when we purchased it. It does, however, have some nice surprises such as an illuminated key hole, cupholders, adjustable lumbar support, electric mirrors, tachometer and cargo blind (which were all rare for standard items back in 1995). The trim is fading and the glued on areas such as the head liner and door trims have peeled (which is fair enough given the age of the car).

The panels of the car are also very thick and hard to dent. Fit and finish is superb for a 15 year old car, no exposed screws in the interior and excellent materials. The air conditioning is also excellent. It has never been regassed or serviced, and runs strong with no odours.

This car was $31,000 AUD when we purchased it brand new back in 1995. Today it is worth probably a tenth of its original value, but this car is now worth well more than its monetary value. In the time we have owned this Camry, we have had a Mitsubishi Lancer, Honda Civic, Citroen Xsara and Daihatsu Charade. The fact that we've chosen to keep the car instead of trading it in is a testament to the reliability and cost efficiency of this car.

I would recommend any Toyota product for quality and reliability, they do tend to make uninspiring cars at times, but it's the advantage of having peace of mind at a reasonable price that sets Toyota's apart from other manufacturers.

Faults:

Rear suspension bushes are squeaky.

Brake pads clunk in the calipers upon first application, but this is not identified as a problem that requires fixing.

General Comments:

This is an extremely comfortable car with a great engine for highway driving and stable handling on Australian roads.

This model was delivered standard with premium suspension and corners very well for a large, nose-heavy front-drive family sedan.

Low end power from V6 is weak, but midrange power is great and the engine is incredibly smooth compared to Commodore or Magna. Fast starts require a bit of clutch slipping to get the considerable weight of the car moving rapidly. However, once this car is moving it accelerates very well, and on the open road it has above-average responsiveness when overtaking.

The seats are very comfortable and the boot is enormous. The only intrusive noise is some wind noise from the windows, but this car is very quiet and relaxing to drive long-distance. Seats 4 adults comfortably.

Fuel economy is poor in city driving at 11-12L/100km, slightly better on the highway at around 8-8.5L/100km.

Manufactured in Australia, but the build quality is streets ahead of any other Australian-built sedan.

Very plain, even awkward, styling, but it's comfort and quality are far more enduring.