1998 Toyota Camry Review
1998 Toyota Camry Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Reliable, well-built, and comfortable, the 1998 Toyota Camry is one of the best entrants in the mid-size family sedan market.
Cons
- Boring shape. Suspension is too soft.
What’s new
Side-impact airbags debut on the 1998 Toyota Camry. Depowered front airbags further enhance this car's ability to protect its occupants in a crash. An engine immobilizer feature is now part of the theft-deterrent package.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1998 Toyota Camry CE V6 4dr Sedan and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.36 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$194/mo for Camry CE V6
Camry CE V6
vs
$176/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
Vehicle overview
The Camry is the new standard for midsized sedans. It has room inside for five adults, attractive yet conservative styling, exceptional pep from an available 24-valve 3.0-liter V6 and a price that doesn't break the bank so long as options are kept to a minimum.
Last year, Toyota redesigned their midsize sedan and decided to go after the number one sales spot with vigor. At the end of the model year, sales showed that Toyota had the numbers to become the best-selling car in America.
New and old Toyota customers have fallen in love with the Camry because of its reliability, durability and good value. The new Camry can be equipped for rugged family life, or plush luxury touring. Options on higher-grade LE and XLE models include a premium sound system, leather interior trim and a power moonroof. With the V6 engine, the Camry accelerates strongly. Braking is swift and sure with the antilock system, and Camry hangs on well in corners despite rather meek all-season radials.
Inside, a two-inch increase in wheelbase has allowed designers to maximize space, creating a larger Camry than the 1996 model. Controls and gauges are laid-out nicely in a flowing dashboard, and most secondary controls are within easy reach of the driver. We are big fans of the fingertip cruise control stalk that allows easy operation without the chance of inadvertent activation. Camry CE sticks with a fixed-mast stereo antenna, but LE and XLE get an in-glass antenna, which reduces wind noise. Storage areas are abundant and feature a deep center console, door bins, and dashboard bins. Front cupholders accommodate 20-ounce bottles of your favorite beverage.
Is the Camry the perfect family conveyance? Not out of the box, but it's close. We'd opt for a lightly loaded CE with the V6 engine, add some aftermarket alloy wheels, and do a bit of suspension and tire work to create the ultimate sleeper of staid bread-and-butter sedans.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1998 Toyota Camry.
5 star(61%)
4 star(29%)
3 star(8%)
2 star(1%)
1 star(1%)
142 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
3 out of 5 stars
Great workhorse, but they are beginning to show ag
C Hunter, 05/04/2018
1998 Toyota Camry XLE V6 4dr Sedan
I bought the car in 2015, and have since racked up about 40,000 miles on the car. It’s been a dependable work horse, with a new starter being the only unplanned repair. That being said, things are starting to fail, according to my mechanic due to age (lots of lines leaking, exhaust issues, etc), so just be cautious when purchasing used as these cars are reaching 20 years old
5 out of 5 stars
The War Horse That Would Never Die
Spencer, 02/24/2017
1998 Toyota Camry LE 4dr Sedan
My wife got this car new before we met in 1999. It had 18k on it when I came along. Now it's just under 487k and going strong. It has been the epitome of reliable. It's had some replacement items (front struts, some axle work and transmission at 370k), but that is to be expected for a car that has been driven the distance of earth to the moon and back (477,800) and then some! The … only design flaw are the plastic door handles which over time simply break off. My brother-in-law owns car dealerships and actually sold my wife this unit but even he said there's no way to retrofit a metal handle on the doors. So I just get tie wraps and loop them through to allow easy entry to the car. Weird? Sure, but I don't care. No car payments is a good kind of "weird" so I'm driving this sucker til the wheels fall off. Even then I'll just throw some spares on and go another 480k!
This is to update my original report shown above. Odometer sits at 486,968 and she's still running. As noted above my Camry shows her age (original gray exterior paint has some degree of fading in spots but this is 23 year old paint, so that should come as no surprise. Overall, I couldn't be happier to drive this highly durable vehicle and hope I can still say this a few years from now.
4.63 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
fred158, 01/21/2012
1998 Toyota Camry LE 4dr Sedan
I bough it when it has 224K on it. The price was so low that I could afford, but, this car has never disappointed me. I have replaced starter, battery, some shafts, now engine's get turned on in a second in winter. 4 wheel ABS works perfectly and I had never been troubled by it. Shocks make sound over humps and bumps but its ok, I'm using it in a small town with speed limit<45., so, no … problem! Even replacing the whole shock and strut for one wheel would not be more than 400$. It's a great car that I got for a great price!
5 out of 5 stars
Toyota Camry LE
jazz, 03/27/2002
1998 Toyota Camry LE 4dr Sedan
The Camry is by far the best car I have ever owned. It handles like a dream, and it has plenty of get up and go, especially for a 4 cylinder engine. It is very comfortable to ride in on long trips. All of the controls are easy to get at. It gets good gas mileage and is visually a beautiful automobile. It is also known for it's reliability. What more could a person ask for in a car. I … test drove many cars before deciding on the Toyota and I think I'm hooked.
1998 Camry Highlights
CE V6
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $194/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 14.1 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver3 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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