2005 Toyota Camry vs 2009 Kia Soul

[u/Bellamae444]

What’s a better investment my 2005 Toyota Camry all updated about 146000 miles but needs a new catalytic thing but I know people who can fix it

Or my sisters 2009 Kia Soul with everything updated as well and 100000 miles.

I’ve always heard great things about Toyotas and love my Toyota so much but my family are telling me I’ll be missing out if I don’t take the chance to take her car before she chooses to sell it. What do you car people think?

From a girl who doesn’t know cars!

[u/smc733]

1000% the older Toyota Camry with more mileage. The Kia Soul is junk compared to a Camry, and Kia’s do not hold up as well as Toyotas.

[u/Bellamae444 → u/smc733]

Thank you for your advice!

[u/Professional_Bike336]

I’m an old dude who has owned 9 Toyotas in my lifetime. None of them have ever left me stranded on the road.

We have a 2013 Toyota right now that runs and drives like a brand new car.

I have never owned a Kia/Hyundai and I never will. Spend 5 minutes scrolling through any of the car/mechanic threads and you will read countless horror stories about Kia/Hyundai vehicles. Saw a post 2 minutes ago about a Hyundai with a blown engine.

Both of my kids drive 20 year old Japanese cars bc they are reliable

[u/Bellamae444 → u/Professional_Bike336]

Thanks for your experience!!!

[u/autisticptsd]

Camry > kia

[u/Bellamae444 → u/autisticptsd]

Thanks for your advice!

[u/autisticptsd → u/Bellamae444]

You don't see too many kias over 100,000 miles over 10 years old

[u/electronickoutsider]

The '90s and '00s Toyotas are what have given them their reputation for legendary reliability. The Camry will be a bit plain and boring, but if it has had good maintenance all its life, 50,000 miles and 4 years is not enough of a difference to make the Soul a more trustworthy car. Maybe if there were a 10 or 15 year difference and the soul had 100k less miles, but the Camry doesn't have the same "expiration date" around 200k miles (or less) that a Kia does.

Of course, all of that is assuming they have had equally proper maintenance done. A lot of rubber components (belts, hoses, suspension bushings) are getting quite old on both cars, and both of them should have had a few coolant, brake, power steering, and transmission fluid changes by now. Either one could be due for new shocks/struts and control arms if they haven't been done, or they may still have a few years left in them. Tires are always something to consider as well, both the tread left and how high quality they are to begin with.

Basically, if all maintenance is equal, take the Camry, hands down. However, if the Soul has had outstanding maintenance and several recent large repairs done already, while the Camry has been neglected and is about to need several large repairs, that could be enough to tip the scales as far as the next few years go.

[u/Bellamae444 → u/electronickoutsider]

Thanks for your advice!

[u/Mundane_Humor2063]

Kia souls get stolen.

[u/Fearless-Damage-6852]

Generally the Camry is better, although oil consumption is somewhat common in that generation, which might be why the cat is bad.

[u/greenpowerman99]

Very few cars are an investment. Neither of those two will appreciate in value. I would stick with the car I know, Toyotas are easy to sell and tend to hold their value better than a Kia.