Want a Truly Japanese 2018 Toyota Camry? Examine VINs Closely for the Next Few Months

As all-new 2018 Toyota Camrys begin to trickle into Toyota’s U.S. dealers over the coming weeks, take a close look at the VIN.

It’s viewable through the windshield on the driver’s side. See that first number? It’s likely a 4, which means this Camry was built in Georgetown, Kentucky.

But there’s a chance that the VIN on the new 2018 Camry sitting on your local Toyota dealer’s lot doesn’t begin with a number at all.

You’re looking at the once-coveted J-VIN. Ooh la la.

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  • Lua65789308 Laundering Federal money can make anyone very wealthy.
  • AZFelix Funny referencing cake in your closing paragraph. The last time someone talked to the French people about eating cake, the results were mixed.
  • Steve Biro At a $27K starting point - often with additional dealer discounts - the Equinox was an attractive option for many on a tighter budget. Especially when the FWD model came with a traditional six-speed automatic.Now, with a starting point of just under $30K (and discounts much smaller and/or less likely for a couple of years) and a CVT, the Equinox is suddenly much less competitive.Add to that the need to pay an extra $2K for AWD just to get a real transmission, and the Equinox isn't very competitive at all. An AWD base version will start at about $32K and an RS or Activ will be $36K and change - quite laughable. And one is still stuck with that 1.5-liter turbo powerplant.If this is what Chevy is demanding for the ICE Equinox, it's no wonder a $30K EV version turned out to be vaporware.
  • AZFelix I know someone who spent a night in a Dodge Dynasty. The velour interior was the best part of the experience.
  • MKizzy Looking at the high-nosed Equinox and its assumed huge front blind spots, I see why Mayor Pete wants to mandate improved AEB on all vehicles.In addition, GM's lack of commitment to its ICE powertrains is on full display with its continued use of its class-trailing 1.xT engines. The new Equinox may be all show/no go, but at least after a decade of shoving its 1.5T into the Equinox and Malibu, you'd think GM would've at least made it top flight reliable by now.