1) The pic at the top IS my real Camry, on my driveway! It’s blue, although I forgot the name they used. I call it Pepsi Can Blue.

2) Absolutely pleased with it. I think I would have preferred the dark gray (titanium?), but I’m quite pleased with the car overall.

3) It doesn’t really show scratches unless you really, really look. The color is not a flat color, so it works well to hide scratches.

4) The numbers are never the numbers. Dealers DO NOT post the best prices, usually. There’s a LOT of stuff that goes in the background, including manufacturer-to-dealer kickbacks, different hidden fees, usual padding, etc. The fact is that the sales folks tend not to make much money on new cars themselves. They get the bulk of their money from other things (total volume of cars sold by them and by the dealership, customer satisfaction surveys, etc). This is something I could go on forever about, but basically when it comes to numbers, I recommend http://driveyourdream.com. Go there, plug in ALL your desired options, price out your car, and work on getting THE best price shown there. Also read, study, and love http://www.carbuyingtips.com. It’s simply THE best site for negotiating tips and information about the car buying process.

5) I did not consider any SUV’s. The closest things I considered were the Toyota Venza and the Ford Edge (both of which are classified as crossovers). Even these we didn’t consider for long: too much car for what we needed, and ultimately out of our price range.

6) The ’07 Accord… I tried that one back when I bought my 2002 Accord. My only complaint was in regards to the cabin itself, which felt a bit uncomfortable for me. As a rule, however, I tend to like Hondas. A lot. I’d never hesitate recommending one, in general, although depending how important certain issues are to you (eg, road noise, handling), my recommendation might change.

7) Regarding the Credit Union, it’s always good to walk with something on hand regarding financing. This allows you to work on your numbers, negotiate prices.

Good luck with your car buying experience! And sorry it took me so long to respond. Other activities have kept me at bay.

Having spent a fair amount of time on my search, I’m so happy to see that someone has spent more . . . and is willing to share. Before more detailed questions, what color is your Camry? It looks nautical blue. If so, are you pleased with it? Does it show scratches? I ask because I’m torn between a navy RAV4 2007 and a light blue Honda Acoord 2007.

Question about numbers: This will reveal my lack of car-shopping knowledge (I drove an ’85 Accord for 16 years and loved it): aren’t the numbers the numbers? In MN, I’ve been hearing that the dealers now post their best price. Not so?

Question about make: Because I live in MN (snow), I would pass on the Camry. I drove one once and the nose is quite low. Did you consider an SUV, like the RAV? Any thoughts on the ’07 Accord?

In closing, I’d suggest walking in with financing from a Credit Union. Unlike you, I don’t like talking with car folks; however, I’ve had a couple of good experiences.

Thanks, again, for your post! Pati

Courtney: Thank you!

My husband has a Malibu and even though it’s a couple years old I feel the same way about the pedals and the rear view. Yesterday, I drove it in sandals since we went to the beach and it was miserable. I just can’t get used to it.

I do long for the days of my Honda Accord with manual transmission. I felt like I was really driving then. I was completely in control.

Toyotas are great cars. I don’t think we should let one issue, though it is quite serious, take away from Toyota’s track record completely. Congratulations on your beautiful new car.

In about another 4.5 years I’ll be looking at a new car for myself, and while the Audi A3 TDI looks good (I know – more expensive, but after driving the same car for almost 13 years by the time I get to that point, I want a car that will be niiiiice), but I may take a look at the Ford offerings if they keep up the good work.