The Camry vs The Fairmont

Spudz27 · 18-01-2011, 11:08 AM

Well I thought I would post a little on my thoughts about my 03 Sportivo vs my 07 Fairmont. I am also going to quickly put a force feild around me.

So I have had the Camry almost 2yrs now, the Fairmont for 4 weeks. I have done 1000km in the Fairmont so have a good feel for it now. Initially the Fairmont felt sluggish and not as nice on the road as the Camry, but I still had to get used to it.

Suspension: The Camry stock is a lot nicer than the Fairmont stock, the Fairmont feels too soft and is like a cloud sometimes, where as the Camry is really stiff, but not too stiff, meaning a stiff ride but still comfortable.

Steering: The Fairmont definitely beats the Camry here, the Camry is waaay to light. I can drive using my little finger and you can't really feel the road, the Fairmont is heavy but still light and it is nice to be able to feel the road.

Cornering: Well this one is a given being one is FWD and the Other RWD. The Camry is shocking. Try to take a bend just a bit faster than the suggested limit and you will find yourself in a tree. The Fairmont like every other falcon I have owned hugs the road and just seems to work with the corner, not try to throw you out of it.

Power: Well again the Fairmont wins here but not at first. When I first got the Fairmont it was so horrid down low the Camry felt nicer, much more responsive down low. A few little mods and well well, the Camry would be eaten alive lol. I found myself driving the Camry yesterday screaming at it to get up to speed. I had my foot flat and it still felt like a millenium had passed by the time I got to 70.

Brakes: The Camry wins this one. I have an 8 yr old camry with stock discs and it has no shudder at all. The Fairmont is horrible and as we all know the first thing we do to a Falcon is upgrade the discs lol.

Interior and Features: Well interior wise the Fairmont is the better car. The Camry screems old people and it seems to have been developed with this in mind lol. The seats are too high, too wide to urgh. The Fairmont has a beautiful interior in comparison, Comfy seats, nice and low in the car, I love the little analouge clock, but I hate the fake woodgrain type **** they put in. It just looks tacky and not well thought out.

The Stereo in the Camry is miles better than the Fairmont which is a shame given the age difference. Both Cars have 6 speaker 6 stack in dash systems, but the Camry is such a nicer sounding system when turned up loud. Both cars have full climate control so no difference there, The Camry does have an overspeed warning on the trip computer, which would have been nice to see in a car built in 07 considering it has been in cars for years now. The Camry comes with factory Alarm, which again amazed me when I realised my 07 Fairmont does not. I would have thought these days it was a prerequisite (spelling) in a car.

My Final thought because the Mrs is screaming that we need to go to work.

The Fairmont even with the few little issues I have is a much nicer car. With a few small mods it will be miles better than the Camry. A few things did dissapoint me but overall I love it, and I hate driving the Camry now (which I am about to go do) The Fairmont with it's bigger motor and my heavy foot still get's better fuel economy. When the time comes to get rid of the Camry, my mrs will be getting a Falcon.

Sorry I could not be more in depth but I am being yelled at lol.

xisled · 18-01-2011, 11:28 AM

I thought they did come with speed warning. My falcon BA XT and my BA GT have them.
I think in the BA you have to use the radio controls on the steering wheel.

Great write up, good to see your honest thoughts about the 2 cars.

james22 · 18-01-2011, 11:46 AM

Your fairmont does have a speed alert system.

You need to hold the "Mode" button next to the steering wheel for a few seconds. Then the dash will beep and you set the speed with the volume control buttons on the steering wheel. All the info pops up on the lcd display.

Spudz27 · 18-01-2011, 12:48 PM

No mode button on my dash. My trip computer is controlled on the ICC, I will try holding in the trip button and see how I go.

JBomb3000 · 18-01-2011, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spudz27

No mode button on my dash. My trip computer is controlled on the ICC, I will try holding in the trip button and see how I go.

There's a mode button on the seteering wheel, behind the volume controls on the left hand side

xisled · 18-01-2011, 01:06 PM

The mode button on the steering wheel. it should be behind the volume control. Its the flick button used to change from radio and cd. Well thats where it is on the BA.

Spudz27 · 18-01-2011, 01:25 PM

Ahh yes. Stupid me, will try when I get home. As stated in my op I am using the Camry today.

Dauphin · 18-01-2011, 02:31 PM

I like reading comparisons between regular everyday Aussie sedans. The big Aussie car mags don't do enough of them anymore. Probably because they're boring, but interesting to some.

My friend has a 1996 V6 Camry and when the engine revs get up a bit, it starts pulling surprisingly well and the exhaust stays so quiet. The auto trans is also stuffed so it is really harsh, like a severe shift kit, and it squeals like a pig around corners.

It's good to drive though, feels solid and reliable, decent interior space, runs forever with minimal care.

dylancox · 18-01-2011, 03:44 PM

How sort of development budget does Toyota spend on developing the Camry? I'd reckon it would be hell of a lot more than what Ford Aus has to spend on the Falcon.

ltd · 18-01-2011, 03:51 PM

Good and objective.
One big difference though; you can fall in love with your falcon and it's personality, nobody ever says they've fallen in love with a camry because it has no personality.

pauljh74 · 18-01-2011, 04:37 PM

My Dad tried to get me to buy a Camry years ago - now having driven my EL XR6 vs a Camry of similar vintage. From the interior to the suspension/handling, the Camry is well behind. Even a GLi Falcon would be much better than the Camry.

fairBA · 18-01-2011, 05:48 PM

Yes the 'S' that flash and bongs at you over certain speeds is not a service reminder....

TheInterceptor · 18-01-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spudz27

Ahh yes. Stupid me, will try when I get home. As stated in my op I am using the Camry today.

Damn i feel sorry for you spud...

vaarg · 19-01-2011, 07:03 PM

we have a 05 4 cylinder camry sportivo and an 03 BA Marlin V8 ute. They both have their ups and downs and are both great cars in different areas. I wouldn't even bother trying to launch the boat with the camry but its great for running around town and unreal on fuel, i've also found toyota to be morereliable and alot easier to deal with for parts and servicing. but no matter how good the camry can be i drive the falcon every chance i get. Just my rant

Scott · 19-01-2011, 07:35 PM

Having spent quite a bit of time driving Camry's, I tend to agree with you Spud.

I liken it to whether I took the Lexus out or the GT-P..... the Lexus is so good at blending into the background of your drive that I find little to love about it, and nothing to dislike. Every time I drove the GT-P, it was a big part of my trip which I loved... paying so much attention to it there were a couple of things I hated too.

So, on the surface you could deduce that the Lexus was the better partner... but maybe I like a lady that goes hard and punches me in the face every now and then

theoliver · 19-01-2011, 08:25 PM

wonder what the comparison to a Toyota Aurion of similar vintage to the Fairmont would be like?

having driven a few, with the 3.5lt v6 the power issues you pointed out are certainly not there. Unfortunately the feeling you're being pulled into a concrete barrier in the wet is.

388cube_edxr8 · 20-01-2011, 01:24 AM

*Chalks up another one for RWD*