Weekend Athlete: 2008 Toyota Camry XLE
How the heck does Toyota sell so many of these cars when the rear seat doesn’t fold down on half the trim levels? Still, even though the Camry SE and XLE can’t compete in the Weekend Athlete Olympics, they do warrant a look because they’re such common cars.
Before you say it, yes, you could just put a bike rack on it — if you owned the car. I’m really just borrowing it, so that option is out. I don’t think scratches from racks make friends in the world of automotive journalism.
As you will see, though, the Camry comes with a large trunk, though it isn’t large enough for my smallest bike, given how high I need to have my saddle. Shorter folks who run their seat lower might be OK.
I’ve seen people remove both wheels from a bike then stand the frame up behind the rear seats. I wasn’t going to risk staining the interior of a car I’m borrowing to see if it works. But even taking this approach I think folks who ride larger frames will have issues.
Long story short, my bike stayed at home, and that’s a rarity. I’ve even taken a rented 2007 Ford Focus compact sedan for a weekend of camping and bike racing and been OK. Normally I’d say Weekend Athletes can live with a sedan even if they don’t want to use a rack, but not this time.
There is a ski pass-thru, though, and in a couple months I’d find that most handy. My cross-country skis are 1.9 meters long and I didn’t have too much intrusion into the passenger compartment. Obviously that’s because of the large trunk, and it’s nice that some of my toys fit easily in the Camry, even if others did not.
Now, unlike some other vehicles I’ve tested, I got to drive this one for a week and I took it for a weekend of camping and watching a bit of the Wisconsin Ironman. I can say that, despite the backseat silliness, it’s comfortable, nice on the inside and served me well on a simple camping trip.
The large trunk means you’re able to keep all the gear back there and not have to look at it. After a nice shower and good breakfast, I felt just as clean and spiffy as everybody else on the road. I didn’t have a passenger compartment that smelled of smoke from last night’s fire, nor did I have to look at my tent and sleeping bag. I could basically forget I’d been camping the night before if I wanted to. That is an advantage that sedans with large trunks have.
I think you could easily leave the bikes behind and take four people and their gear for a weekend of camping in the Camry XLE, and sometimes that’s all you need from a car.
When it gets right down to it, though, if you buy this car and a rack, you’d be OK. It’s not great, and it certainly doesn’t rank up with my favorite Weekend Athlete vehicles, but it is a nice car.
The biggest downside I see is if I ended up flying to a race and had a friend who owned this car pick me up. There’s no way my bike case could fit in this car. Is that a trifling matter? Well, yeah, if I’m going to a bike race. That’s why a Weekend Athlete should always remember this simple credo: “Friends don’t let friends buy sedans.”
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Was this post about the Camry or a bike?
how much did huffy pay you to say bike 10 times, jk. its big enough for hockey goalie equipment.
Why is the poster incapable of putting a bike rack on a car without scratching it? Internet journalists are not known for their intelligence but this tops them all.
Too expensive, you can get a Sonata or a Malibu with a better price.
I really didn't get the point of his review... I too camp and attend biking events but have never felt like his comment of "nor did I have to look at my tent and sleeping bag. I could basically forget I’d been camping" To me he tried WAY too hard to say something good about this car. Just my 2 cents.
when i bought my 07 xle v6 i didnt buy it to shove a bike in the trunk, i bought it for its comfort and quality and the 3.5 is pretty fast and people get surprised on the road with this cars capabilities. the interior is pretty nice if not fancy and i m not complaining this is car is more than enough for an average family if u wanted to shove a bike in you trunk you should have a gotten a bigger car like a taurus or a carger or get a roof rack....
Thanks for your reviews on bikes and cars. I, too, am in the market for a new car and want to know if I can fit my bike in the back without a lot of hassle. I'm not sure why some people can't grasp that's the point of your blog. Keep up the good work.
Oh, and I want a quiet, fuel efficient ride which is why bike racks aren't the best solution.
Well now, I was searching for blogs on fitness or health when i came across this post. Although not exactly what I was expecting I will give it ****.