You're shopping two completely different cars under one badge. The '58-'67 classics are wide, low, chrome-heavy icons that still command respect at every stoplight, owners restore them obsessively, parts flow freely, and the enthusiast worship is real. The modern front-drive versions (2000-2020) are roomy fleet sedans with a recurring transmission weakness, rental-grade interiors, and all the charisma of a municipal parking ticket. Police departments used them for detective work but found them wanting for patrol duty. If you're hunting a classic, you're buying American automotive royalty. If you're considering a used modern one, budget for a transmission rebuild and manage your expectations accordingly.
If boring were an Olympic sport, the Camry would take gold, and then run another 300,000 miles without needing a tune-up. This is transportation engineered by people who think 'excitement' means finding a gas station with clean restrooms, and owners love it precisely for that. The 2025 redesign went hybrid-only with 52 mpg and genuinely improved looks, but the real story is decades of owners pushing these past a quarter-million miles on oil changes and prayers. Steering's vague, the driving feel's about as engaging as oatmeal, and you'll pay more than an Accord for the privilege. But if you want a car that starts every morning for fifteen years without drama, and you're willing to trade fun for that kind of peace, this is still the safest bet in the class.