I've had my fair share of cars over the years, but my current ride, a 2017 Toyota Camry, is definitely the best one yet. I've had four cars in my driving career, including a Škoda Fabia, a Škoda Octavia, and a Nissan Juke, but the Camry has been a game-changer for me.
A little background on the car. It's a 2017 model, with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and an automatic transmission. The body style is a sedan, and it's got a current mileage of 330,000 km. As for the price, I got it for around 2 million rubles, give or take.
I bought this car from Georgia, but it originally came from the US. Thankfully, it was in great shape when I got it. And here she is - my beauty, which I lovingly call Carrie.
I've got the base model, which is the most basic trim level. But it's got everything I need, and that's all I need: climate control, power steering, power windows, cruise control, rearview camera, and the original infotainment system.
The interior is comfy and roomy, just the way I like it. I've got the standard cloth seats, and I'm glad I did - they're way better than the leatherette ones I had before.
There's plenty of room in the back to fit two car seats and another adult can squeeze in between them.
The sound insulation in this car is top-notch. You can barely hear the road noise, engine noise, and traffic outside - just turn up the music and it's almost like magic.
The trunk is surprisingly spacious for a sedan.
The suspension and ride are absolutely fantastic - it's like the car is gliding over the road. The only downside is that I have to replace the stabilizer rods twice a year because of the terrible roads we have.
I've also replaced the sway bar once in the three years I've had the car, and that's it.
The ride quality on the Camry is pretty solid. I take it in for diagnostics every now and then when I notice something's off, and it's always the same issue - the stabilizer rods.
Last time, I even noticed a slight creaking sound on the stabilizer links.
I've got alloy wheels, and they're already scratched up because I took a while to get used to the car's size and kept hitting the curb.
This car is super low to the ground, and it's a real challenge to navigate our rough roads in it. Plus, it's almost impossible to park without scratching the bumper. I learned that the hard way after trying to squeeze through a tight spot where I shouldn't have.
I'm absolutely loving the way my little ride looks. It's got some serious style going on.
From my perspective, this car's design is super sleek and has some nice, smooth lines. But it's also got a bit of an aggressive edge to it.
I've got to admit, my parking skills left a lot to be desired, and I ended up with a nasty scratch on the hood. And to be honest, the black paint job is a real pain to keep clean. It looks great for a day or two after washing, but after that, you can see every speck of dust and every drop of water.
Handling is a different story altogether. This little car is an absolute dream to drive - super agile and responsive, despite its size. It goes from 0 to 60 in just 5 seconds, and the engine's soundtrack is music to my ears.
I was surprised by how stable this thing is on the highway. I hit 170 km without any issues, and it only started to get a bit shaky after that. I did manage to push it to 190 km an hour, but that was pretty scary.
To be honest, high-speed driving doesn't feel too intense on this ride.
The electric power steering is a game-changer for maneuverability. It turns really easily, and I can drive with just one hand most of the time. The only time I need to use both hands is when I'm cruising at high speeds.
It handles turns really smoothly.
The transmission is an automatic, and it shifts smoothly without any jolts. I've got no complaints about the transmission whatsoever.
I recently had the oil changed in it, just to be on the safe side - even though I hadn't noticed any issues. The oil change, including the filter, set me back 16 thousand bucks.
I only have to open the hood to refill the windshield washer fluid. I haven't had any other issues under the hood for the past three years.
The only time the check engine light came on was when I took it to the mechanic and they found a small leak. They replaced the faulty part, and that was it.
Fuel economy is around 12 liters per 100 km in the city, and about 9-10 on the highway. To be honest, I think that's not a bad fuel economy for a 2.5-liter engine.
I fill up with regular 95, and it seems to work just fine. I've tried 98 and 100, and it actually seems to perform even better. Unfortunately, not all gas stations carry it, though.
I'm tired of people making assumptions that this car isn't for women. Apparently, it's too fast, too aggressive, too big... and on and on. But I don't think that's true. Why should a woman be limited to driving a boring, small car?
I love speed, I love handling, and I love comfort. And that's exactly what I get from my car. I'm having a blast. I'm not stuck in the shop all the time.
I only take it in for regular maintenance, that's it.
And let's be real, women are capable of so much more than just looking good. We work, we take care of our families, and we still manage to look great. And yet, apparently, we should be driving small, non-aggressive cars. I make my own decisions about what I drive and who I'm with.
I highly recommend the Camry. It's a car that will give you no trouble at all.