MW 1984 Toyota Camry Road Test | Retro Review

[@christopherconard2831]

Ford Tempo, forgotten. Chevy Citation, former owners have nightmares to this day. Toyota Camry, still going along.

[@ljmorris6496]

Well.. Citation + Citation Il + Corsica = Malibu Tempo + Contour = Fusion

[@nate678]

​@@ljmorris6496 yes, all renamed in hopes you'd forget the previous models 😂. Civic, Accord, Corolla nameplate still going strong

[@piggy310]

You do realize what you just wrote, don't you​@@ljmorris6496

[@carlnichols5007]

Amazing to think that the LS400 was introduced just five-ish years later.

[@new2000car]

Although not so much today, this car was so sharp back in the day…and everybody knew it was high quality when they saw it on the road.

[@tomkato6400]

My dad bought a 1984 Camry LE new back in the day. I was impressed with all the advanced features at the time and how quietly it drove. I bought a 1988 LE then a 2000 LE which were both good cars.

[@mann1104]

Convinced my parents to get an 84 LE sedan. The build quality was just incredible. The switchgear had impressive design and tactile sensation. Miles ahead of Detroit at the time.

[@greg9404]

I love these old videos. People in general, and John too, talked more calmly and thoroughly about what mattered. Less flash, more substance.

[@devinbiz]

I love how in the early years, they totally butchered some names, like the Toyota Camray, as opposed to Camry

[@matth7828]

My first car was an 84 Camry. I was impressed by its off road capability as an 18 yr old lol

[@DevonShirley-on1yt]

Don’t worry my 85 Camry still makes it to the dirt roads on the weekends :)

[@cellpat2686]

The Camry came in 1984 to stay and stay it did. Bought me one 30 years later after this report and I still own it nearly 10 years later. It has only needed an alternator replaced. A medal to Toyota for this build.

[@MistahJigglah]

John has the greatest American English pronunciations ever. Like an American Matt Berry in the best way possible.

[@Aikynbreusov]

Who would've thought this Camry would become the Japanese samurai sword that chopped the heads of Detroit..... a little car that literally put Detroit on the bankrupt list

[@Stressless2023]

Hard to believe GM was such a large conglomerate at this time considering it was run (mismanaged) by misfits who didn't see this writing on the wall - Instead of swallowing up Toyota they got into an ill-fated joint venture with them instead, General Motors took their production/design practices that they had a front row seat to learn from completely for granted, then ultimately became the laughing stock of the industry in many ways smh.

[@samd7476]

Oh Jenn-ay, I got a new Cam-ray.

[@DrCharlesMontague]

Interesting to see where the early models struggled a bit in some areas, but nonetheless provided people what they were truly after, which was QUALITY. The buying public was obviously tired of paying for junk, even if said junk initially performed a little better.

[@scottlevine7646]

Stepmother had an ‘86, first year for flush-mounted headlights. After a decade of begging, she finally acquiesced and got power windows. I instantly remembered the quirkily shaped gas gauge when watching this.

[@auntbarbara5576]

Such a nice Cam Ray.

[@ajthenerd4918]

That stereo looks sweet!!

[@upeedinalamb5297]

@ajthenerd this lamb concurs.

[@vj5225]

40 years later and still in production. A testament to reliable quality. Not many cars have this longevity. My mom bought her 1999 Camry brand new and still runs good with around 330,000 mi.

[@enhancementtank5876]

That's cars not in production

[@vj5225]

@@enhancementtank5876 The Toyota Camry brand and engine heritage has not changed. Standard 4 cyl and V6 still naturally aspirated. Only has added .5 liters from it's original engine placement so I'm wondering what your comment is leaning towards...

[@enhancementtank5876]

@@vj5225 just want to let you know that if they did produce that car it would sell more than the current 'cam ray. Most likely they wouldn't go to the dealership they would stand next to both of them they would see that CGI design car then they would look at the other one that was real seems like it was built in real life. I feel like people wouldn't rather spend their money on the o.g. Camry then a plastic one I feel like they think their money would go far and they be buying a real car. Kind of like how people don't like hybrids now compared to real cars.

[@williamlangston2143]

Camry has come a long way.

[@skylancer-zer0205]

My dad still has an 86 model that he drives often, despite having a Prius for commuting to work. Its got some surface rust from the Indiana winters but its still going strong with over 300k miles. Slow as molasses with the 4 speed auto though lol

[@emeyer6963]

Probably still on the road somewhere with 400000 plus miles on it!

[@googleusergp]

No doubt. Those 2.0L 2SEL-C engines ran forever. My friend had one.

[@emeyer6963]

@@googleusergp Fantastic real world fuel mileage too for the time

[@googleusergp]

Indeed.

[@JDMHaze]

actually i think alot of these rusted out unfortunately,, maybe some southern areas probably have them

[@Stressless2023]

​@@JDMHaze Yeah rust killed most of these tin can cars in short order - I remember seeing them here in southern Indiana at only a few years old with fist-sized rust holes in the body. I imagine many survived in California and other winter-less states though.

[@DrEvilTag]

Funny how by the late 80’s these where selling like hotcakes to the point that Toyota built its 1st North American factory specifically for the Camry

[@brettcannon74]

I gasp when he says Oriental

[@mervinprone]

I was wondering how long it would take him to say Oriental. Got my answer. A minute.

[@piggy310]

Of course, you're a white middle-aged woman probably from Milwaukee. You need controversy.

[@friedrichExplorer]

I have a modell DX, year 1984. The motor is 1,8S with carburetor. Manual 5-speed transmission. It is In very good shape, only 164 000km. In Finland.

[@jonweaver2410]

It would better if Motorweek review on '84 Toyota Camry TurboDiesel Sedan Manual. Glad still have mine and driving. Thanks.

[@pl5624]

Milder tendency for rear end swing...lol

[@upeedinalamb5297]

This lamb would leave rectal nuggets on the seats if that happened to this lamb.

[@poomped53]

"Oriental challenge" 😐 lol

[@davidjohnson36st]

😆

[@gfalcon]

I think that the pedestrian shown at 7:03 will indeed not be test-driving the 1984 Toyota Camray

[@GeeEm1313]

My aunt had a dark blue LE with a pop up sunroof. Also, those knee socks tho.

[@RealAmericanHero420]

The Cam Ray…

[@stevennevins6643]

I had a 1985 hatchback. With 4 people aboard it could barely get out of its own way. Traded it after 2 years.

[@TheOzthewiz]

Same here. Had an '85 LE. It was a SLUG with just 2 people aboard. Traded it for an '87 Sable V6 Wagon. What a difference in acceleration, felt like a rocket ship in comparison!

[@RealInternetStalker]

John Davis with his way of naming the car his way lol “Camray”

[@mattmroz4905]

Ye old oriental cam-ray.

[@RhinoXpress]

Toyota made a good first effort with the 1st gen Camry, but the honda accord of this era was without a doubt the better car of the two.

[@zythr9999]

2nd Gen Camry was when the dominance got started.

[@Golbez1991]

Cam-ray. Eeyundaye.

[@irieite100]

“Cam-Ray” 😂

[@Doobie1975]

Nice car, shame the one they tested has an automatic instead of the 5 speed.

[@1985toyotacamry]

Have the automatic with the 2L gasoline engine. Can confirm its smooth but not fast at all

[@upeedinalamb5297]

This lamb believes it’s because human Americans prefer automatics, and likely American Camry sales back then reflected this fact.

[@danmccarthy4700]

"cAm-RaY"

[@geraldsmith8152]

This was my 1st car in high school

[@Guvnagutbanga]

That’s a nice Cam-Ray 😂

[@Alexs23743]

*C A M R A Y*

[@yvyvyv1422]

so they put a tach on the auto model but not the manual lol I got a one of these cars manual 150k miles runs great but i just find that funny

[@dakotakline461]

I love John but I cannot stand how he says Camry lol

[@tdxownyou]

MPT FTW!

[@freddyhollingsworth5945]

The diesel engine option gave far better fuel economy....

[@TheOzthewiz]

I take it you would not like to talk about acceleration in this "contraption" . lol

[@doug6191]

Cam-a-ray!

[@auntbarbara5576]

"Camry" only has one A.

[@naranthiranshanmugas]

I had a car like this

[@johnnymason2460]

A diesel was available on the 1984 Camry? I need conformation on that. If that's true, that would be interesting.

[@rontreen3278]

I saw them lined up in the back lot of a dealership about six or seven diesel Camrys and they just could not sell them, no matter how far they mark them down.

[@johnnymason2460]

@@rontreen3278 Interesting. I may have to see if any diesel Camry cars are still available anywhere.

[@TheOzthewiz]

With acceleration SLOWER than "molasses in January"! lol

[@42luke93]

The Taurus was way nicer! If Imma get a 1980’s car I want the bench seats up front!

[@zythr9999]

Lol yet it's sales didn't affect the second Gen Camry at all

[@piggy310]

Will the Taurus wasn't even out at this time, in the Camry absolutely dominated the Taurus in retail sales, there's a Camry today there's no taurus.

[@jayda1k_]

@@piggy310doubt it. The 1986-1995 (1st and 2nd gen) Taurus/Sable car were a revelation. These cars saved the family sedan. I’d argue the 1992- Camry nipped at the heels of the still best-selling car in America at the time, the Taurus.

[@sedona3495]

Cam-reigh

[@landyachtfan79]

FFS, John..................it's Cam-REE, not Cam-RAY!!!!!! If you have it, could you also upload that Compare-a-Car road test featuring the Cam-REE Liftback that John mentioned at 1:16?!!

[@1985toyotacamry]

I'm interested in that to be honest

[@poivre22]

Cam Ray.

[@danielferstendig]

That's a compact camry.

[@danielferstendig]

My mom owned a 1986 camry lost the main keys with clicker and it got stolen

[@piggy310]

Did you write that while you were smoking weed

[@danielferstendig]

@piggy310 no it actually happened. I owned that car

[@RT22-pb2pp]

84 was rearvwheel drive, bring it back to camry as a option. I hate fwd and live my camry but would prefer it in rwd. Enough of this fwd madness. Put engine in so on v6 plugs and exhaust are reachable without top end being removed. Put trans in the correct direction front to back not side to side. Fwd makes no sense unless you.live in snow area. And still not a solution awd is better. Bring back rwd makes basic repairs easier and cheaper.

[@MistahJigglah]

While I prefer FWD, it is extremely crappy that unless they think they can sell a million of something, they won't even offer it as an option. It's why most cars look basically the same, and every major brand only offers shades of greys and beiges with *maybe* a dull red or blue. Though, from their lackluster naming alone(RS, LS, 626, M3, A6, etc, etc, etc), it's easy to see that car designers/executives aren't the most creative people.

[@rustyshackleford2185]

Wth is a CAM RAY

[@romanmcghee600]

92 horse power 😮

[@419rlanthony]

WTF is a Cam-RAY?????

[@alexweiss388]

Mid-Sized? It looks sub compact.

[@piggy310]

You're too dumb to realize this is 1984.

[@davidwilliams7723]

We really should have imposed tariffs and quotas.....

[@1985toyotacamry]

It wouldn't help anyway

[@kcindc5539]

We did. That’s why they started building them here in newly constructed plants.

[@TheOzthewiz]

Ronny Regan took care of that! We should also have given him credit for "Reganomics", where "wealthy" would trickle down to the masses. Sort of like when you piss in your pants and get a "warm feeling" !

[@johnmaki3046]

Toyota, the ULTIMATE SHAM Corporation! CRAP passed off as "quality" with BUCK$ to back the claim!

[@prestoncheapbtheadphoneste3010]

Whom ever his vocal coach was, they needed to find them a vocal coach or go back to school. 🫤😐 or either this guy rode the slow bus.

[@TheOzthewiz]

For sure, he WASN'T the sharpest tool in the shed!