FUN....vs. Fast
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
FUN....vs. Fast
Sorry that it's not a C4. Well, I'm glad Camry's aren't beating C4's (yet), but there's been some discussion recently about what car is better that what....and typically, objective performance is the gauntlet thrown down as "proof" that one is "better".
So, in this video, that philosophy would PROVE, that a Camry is hands down better than a mid year. Is it? Not to this car-guy (me).
So, in this video, that philosophy would PROVE, that a Camry is hands down better than a mid year. Is it? Not to this car-guy (me).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 48
From: Henderson Nevada
I like Carlos Lago's final line. ""It's not appliances... its that." ::points to mid-year::
That '66 looks like a blast to drive. And holy crap, that sound. If that was the sound I heard the moment I died, I couldn't be mad.
That '66 looks like a blast to drive. And holy crap, that sound. If that was the sound I heard the moment I died, I couldn't be mad.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,344
Likes: 48
From: San Marcos CA
I can still scare the crap out of my passengers in my 91 and that's not even breaking the tires loose. Even still, I think there is fun to be had with small 200 hp cars- but I may wait for gas to get higher first 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I enjoyed the video. There is really a lot more to enjoyment of the cars than only objective numbers. It also shows just how much improvement has been made in 50 years.
I would have liked to see the Corvette with a tire upgrade. I suspect it would have made a big difference.
I would have liked to see the Corvette with a tire upgrade. I suspect it would have made a big difference.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 768
Likes: 24
From: Valrico Florida
I want to see this test against an early C4. I mean, of course anyone would rather have the 66 but OMG it's WAY more expensive than the Camry. Let's see a test against the Corvette that was made for the track and is actually CHEAPER than a new Camry.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Tires would have likely brought the performance of the '66 on par w/the Camry, but who cares? That really isn't the point. The point is, the '66 is an experience....like an amusement park ride, nearly all the time. Because of the sounds, the motions, the rawness, the immediacy of the machine, because of the knowledge of what you're in...and probably mostly, because it IS a machine.
The Camry represents where cars are going. Capable, safe....but no soul. They're appliances. When they complete the transition to becoming fully self driving, they will have fully become...appliances.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Where exactly is the National Camry Museum located? How high on the charts was the song "Little Red Camry" listed?
Came out to my 65 convertible back in the day at a restaurant and two girls were sitting in it and asked me for a ride. That NEVER happened with any rental Camry I have ever driven.
Came out to my 65 convertible back in the day at a restaurant and two girls were sitting in it and asked me for a ride. That NEVER happened with any rental Camry I have ever driven.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Totally, man. That was....the essence of the video.
Tires would have likely brought the performance of the '66 on par w/the Camry, but who cares? That really isn't the point. The point is, the '66 is an experience....like an amusement park ride, nearly all the time. Because of the sounds, the motions, the rawness, the immediacy of the machine, because of the knowledge of what you're in...and probably mostly, because it IS a machine.
The Camry represents where cars are going. Capable, safe....but no soul. They're appliances. When they complete the transition to becoming fully self driving, they will have fully become...appliances.
Tires would have likely brought the performance of the '66 on par w/the Camry, but who cares? That really isn't the point. The point is, the '66 is an experience....like an amusement park ride, nearly all the time. Because of the sounds, the motions, the rawness, the immediacy of the machine, because of the knowledge of what you're in...and probably mostly, because it IS a machine.
The Camry represents where cars are going. Capable, safe....but no soul. They're appliances. When they complete the transition to becoming fully self driving, they will have fully become...appliances.
And they are going that way because that is what the younger generations want. But to be fair, the gap between the appliance cars and the performance cars built today (at least on the street) is a lot less than in 1966. And also, he compared one of the faster appliance cars to one of the slower vettes. That was fun, thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
I also have a V6 Camry (273 hp). It does run good, and handles pretty well for a FWD "appliance" car. My wife won't accept the challenge, but my "old" '84 CFI 'vette will outperform her Camry any day of the week!
Fun factor? No comparison!
Fun factor? No comparison!
Last edited by Hot Rod Roy; Aug 8, 2015 at 08:28 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,471
Likes: 1,224
From: Fredonia WI
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2020 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods)
2018 C4 of Year Finalist
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 44
From: NC
Screw the Camry. And every other dumb boring 4 door sedan.
They're all junk.
Gimme soul anyday.
Sorry you could make a 1,000 hp Camry, and NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE, who loves cars is going to say "that's a great car!"
They'll say "man it's fast"....but that 1k HP Camry, will fail to get even a moment's notice the second even a 76 Stingray with sidepipes added pulls up next to it.
They're all junk.
Gimme soul anyday.
Sorry you could make a 1,000 hp Camry, and NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE, who loves cars is going to say "that's a great car!"
They'll say "man it's fast"....but that 1k HP Camry, will fail to get even a moment's notice the second even a 76 Stingray with sidepipes added pulls up next to it.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 402
Likes: 6
From: Bonney Lake WA
- I keep trying to get my wife to race me in her 2003 Yukon Denali. Those 6L LQx engines are beastly - too bad the rig practically weighs as much as two Vettes 
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
Simple question. If those two cars were sitting side by side, and everyone were to be asked, "which car do you want or like more"? I think we ALL know what the answer would be, don't we? Corvette and Toyota aren't even in the same category no matter how "fast" newer cars are after 50 years. If after 50 years any car wasn't more refined and powerful, then what good is it or why did it not advance itself?
Corvette and Toyota aren't even in the same category no matter how "fast" newer cars are after 50 years. If after 50 years any car wasn't more refined and powerful, then what good is it or why did it not advance itself?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
They are not "all junk." So if a vehicle has no personality, then it's a heap of garbage? Maybe it's a well-engineered, quality built people mover that does exactly what it is supposed to do. My 4-cylinder pickup truck is sorely lacking personality, but it's an extremely reliable and quality-built vehicle.
