IT'S North American for me....

[robic58]

- We've just returned from a 30 day trip on the West Coast,and for the duration of this trip, we drove a Toyota Camry L/E, rented from one of the BIG 3 Car rental companies. Nine months ago, on a shorter trip, we rented a Toyota Coralla, and were generally "unimpressed", it was just passable in every respect; but being accustomed to something of more substance, I didn't react too negatively, I just thought, well a bigger Toyota car is likely much better. Everybody, auto journalists, auto experts, all beat the Toyota drum. Toyota has sold North Americans consumers a load of baloney! This Camry had 34,000
kilometers or 21,000 miles, it had been maintained, serviced & cleaned, and is considered to be a "full size" car by the rental companies. Other than my "cars of another glorious age", we drive an '05 Chev Malibu LE, and a 2000 Taurus SE at home,
and both of these are superior to the Camry, except for fuel consumption, and the Malibu is near as good.
The Camry although well shod with healthy Michelin tyres, handled very poorly, not out of alignment or anything, but the slightest side winds gave it the directional aplomb of a birch bark canoe. While seat backs provided good lateral support, the seat bottoms had all the comfort of a folded towel over a concrete block. The engine performed flawlessly, and moved the car quite capably. Brakes were a bit inconsistent, temperamental in rain or wet roads, shouldn't be worn out at 20K. Remote lock key fob functions were chancy at best, and it had an intermittent annoying plastic on plastic squeek somewhere in the dashpanel.It had a very heavy front end feel in curves, and not at all nimble . Yes, I do appreciate it was a rental driven by many people, but no sign of any abuse. But Bottom line, I would NOT
trade either of our daily drivers for a CAMRY!!
By the way, the best rental, I've ever had was a Buick Century!!! Or at least my posterior thought it was!!!
Ralph-

[Jeff Roblin]

Welcome back, Ralph

We've had quite a few posts since you've been away. I concur with you on the imports. I've had Corollas and Civics for rental cars when I've had cars at body shops

Vile little cars, they are. I'd swear the wheel bearings were ready to fall out of them.

Luckily for work, when I'm in Montreal, we use AVIS, and I generally have an Impala, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Continental, or 300.

Jeff.

[girard]

Dido on the import scene. I dont know how it is up north but around here the most common street racer is a civic. It gets depressing watching kids lose the V-8 heritage. At least my 3 sons know a real car when they see it. So Jeff how do you like the 300? I really like the styling; it and the magnum. Cant seem to convince the wife however. Her grand caravan is about due to be replaced, it has been great but I'd like to see her in something a little sportier.

[Jeff Roblin]

The 300 has been one of my favourite rental cars. I believe this was the 3.5L car. My only complaint is that I found it not to have a smooth idle; almost a miss. This car only had about 13K on it so that shouldn't be.

You do have to get used to the lower roof line a bit. Mind you, I found the positioning of the A pillar better for the driver than the Impala.

The only other annoyance I encountered is that the seatbelt warning chimes NEVER stop. They annoy you into wearing your seatbelt.