1990 Toyota Camry Consumer Reviews

Takes a Lickin & keeps on Tickin

Written by: Mike S. on 08/02/2008

Vehicle

1990 Toyota Camry 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

I bought my Camry right after 9/11 at a public auction for about a grand after taxes and stuff. It was used and abused at 200,000 miles and still runs good at 271,000 miles. I always said that I would get tired of this car before it got tired of me, and I was right. I'll probably be selling "Hillary" soon, and the new owner won't be getting a lemon either. Repairs have been few and far between, a couple alternators (non-Toyota replacements), a broken timing belt (probably the original), power window motor, etc. It's hard to drive a car with so little power in a city these days, but I do most of my driving in rural Illinois anyway.

Favorite Features

Comfortable seat. Good interior layout. Reliability. Smooth ride, even at 75+ MPH . Decent handling, but nothing to get excited about. Good interior size, and a surprisingly large trunk.

Suggested Improvements

Too much rust, we don't all live in sunny arid climates where nothing ever rusts! No freaking power. MPG could be better, but then again this is a car from another era.

Report inappropriate post

The real energizer bunny!

Written by: glennno on 07/12/2008

Vehicle

1990 Toyota Camry 4 Dr Deluxe Sedan

Review

This was purchased ($900.00) for my at the time 25 year old learning to drive wife. She didn't want a new car, for fear of destroying it (NYC). The car had 96,000 miles and we put a tranny in it for $1500.00 six months later. So $2400.00. It was stolen and recovered after missing for a week, funny thing is the thief was pulled over because HE kept driving it 6 days later. Any way moved to Florida in 2006, it now has 209,453 miles and I only put another $200 dollars in it for a new radiator. This is the BEST built car ever!!!

Favorite Features

Reliability... bottom line

Suggested Improvements

Rust on the wheel wells.

11 out 11 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

I love ths car!

Written by: jake on 06/13/2008

Vehicle

1990 Toyota Camry 4 Dr LE Sedan

Review

Just bought it today! $2000 Cdn 1990 Camry auto 4cyl 2.0 l recently painted - very classic look! 131000 km, new tires, recent brakes, new paint and smooth smooth smooth Not the best pick up, but I'm gonna just cruise.

Favorite Features

Smooth ride

Suggested Improvements

Standard transmission? and a little more pep

4 out 5 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

Good car

Written by: my first car on 05/12/2008

Vehicle

1990 Toyota Camry 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

I got this car when I was 15. It's a fun car to drive and the engine has enough power, it's just I would like a little more. I have put this car through hell literally. I have got it up to 124 MPH on the highway and there was almost nothing shaking. I've had it rocking on the side of the road it was stuck on a curb and me and my friends had to push it off. The cornering is amazing, the reliability is ridiculous I would recommend this to anybody who would want a car.

Favorite Features

Gas mileage ain't half bad and it is a smaller car.

Suggested Improvements

It would be nice to have a tach.

4 out 6 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

Great little car

Written by: Cutshaw on 12/30/2007

Vehicle

1990 Toyota Camry 4 Dr Deluxe Sedan

Review

If you find one of these in decent shape used buy it. Smart design, reliability all around, not hard to work on, easy regular maintenance, not too cramped despite being a small car. If you're savvy with the manual transmission you'll get well over 30mpg. Handles well at high speeds. I got this one a year ago and have put 15,000 miles on it, now at 148k and no problems. Doesn't have the best theft protection though. Mine was stolen and recovered 6 weeks later, a coat hanger through the foam door insulation pops the lock instantly and somehow they started it without a key or hot wiring it. Seems the ignition lock isn't very 'precise'. Invest in a crook lock.

Favorite Features

Oil filter right on top, if you DRAIN the oil first none pours out onto the engine (duh!). Don't need to jack it up to remove the drain plug either (if you're not too rotund that is). Good acceleration with the stick shift. Everything still works after 18 years!

Suggested Improvements

Not the best traction in snow/rain, rust around the wheels wells. Way too easy to steal.

9 out 10 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

Powerfully Reliable, NO RUST either

Written by: citizenkane on 07/02/2006

Vehicle

1990 Toyota Camry 4 Dr Deluxe Sedan

Review

This car was handed down to me from my parents, remember getting it from the dealer at age three. 140k miles, park it outside in the cold and salt of Evanston, Illinois, which has taken its toll somewhat. Still no rust, however, even around the wheel wells- a common gripe. The V6 is an amazing engine, when coupled with such a light car it can outrun 2006 model sedans with 220 horsepower. "Power" mode is ridiculously fun. Fuel economy is okay, around 19 for mostly city driving. However, it's a small price to pay for a car so ridiculously fun to drive.

Favorite Features

Power moonroof, V6 pickup and "turbo-lag," lack of rust after 16 years

Suggested Improvements

brakes a bit iffy, design becoming dated

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

You cant beat this car

Written by: ROD/ASHLEY on 06/20/2006

Vehicle

1990 Toyota Camry 4 Dr Deluxe Wagon

Review

This car is the best, 4th owner close to 400,000 miles and still truckin. Pick up is great, rides great. Of course their are a couple problems like the axles will not stop breaking, the alternator keeps frying, but I mean come on its 16 years old what would anyone expect

Favorite Features

Good design, nice interior, they don't make cloth seats the way they make on this car anymore, it's a one in a million

Suggested Improvements

Smoother ride

4 out 6 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

The Perfect Car

Written by: A.J. Sub on 03/25/2006

Vehicle

1990 Toyota Camry 4 Dr LE Sedan

Review

This is as good as it gets. If you can find one that doesn't have rust on it, count on it running at least another 10 years. This was the old family car that was passed on to me, it has a solid 420,000km on it. Its now the car me and my friends use while on campus. While my dad had it, the torque converter went, that was the only major issue with it. It had its wheel bearings replaced thereafter. Aside from that, this is the perfect car for a dirty cheap price. If you treat this car to good maintenance, it'll stand by you forever! I've pushed this up to 160km/h last month without much effort. GREAT CAR. One of the finest vehicles ever made.

Favorite Features

The fact that it still runs! I don't think any other car can claim this level of reliability. This car is also fully servicable yourself. I do all my own maintenance work and no fancy dealership visits are required like newer cars. I JUST LOVE THIS CAR SO MUCH!

Suggested Improvements

As everyone knows, this car tends to rust up unless rustproofing was done from day one. Considering Toyota was just breaking through with this car in North America, you can't blame them. If your body is good, this car will last FOREVER. YOU CAN'T STOP IT!

15 out 16 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

Fine car, no reservations at all!

Written by: bobkni on 12/07/2005

Vehicle

1990 Toyota Camry 4 Dr Deluxe Sedan

Review

Always a solid, reliable car to own. I bought it new and still have it in 2005... 15 years and not a single problem.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post

1990 Toyota Camry LE 6 cylinder 4 door s

Written by: Hankus on 07/30/2005

Vehicle

1990 Toyota Camry 4 Dr LE Sedan

Review

purchased 5/1990 , new 3000 mi Demo. Regular service 3000 mi. and maintained. Drives nicely. Cruise control, drivers window, 2 lowest levels of heater, AC fan not operating. Some rust, especially right rear fender, some on left rear fender. Touches of rust on front fenders. White with golden tan upholstery. Used daily for local driving and has been dependable.

Favorite Features

Excellent all around vision, reason for keeping so long . Tires still good.

Suggested Improvements

Repair accessories listed above.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

Report inappropriate post