Let's talk Camry Hybrid (ROFL)
 

So after the cube mayhem I went to look at the Camry.

Why? My dad says he wouldn't be seen dead in a Cube, much like many of you (and my macho friend). So back to his HK roots Camry is his one and only guiding star when it comes to looking for automobiles, without resorting to buying a white goods Camry CE or what not I swayed him into looking at a Camry Hybrid, at least, hey it's got CVT and a bullet proof hybrid system to kick right?

And so let's talk about Camry Hybrid. Toyota is currently having a clearance event and there is a 3000 dollar rebate (over the $2000 gov't rebate) on 2009MY Camry Hybrids knocking the price down from 30666 to 27666 + PDI + taxes etc. With the $2000 rebate from the gov't you can compare it to cars that are priced at like 32700 + taxes coz in the end the gov't rebate absorbs the difference.

and a 2010 model is 30999 + PDI + taxes etc and ends up about $34xxx

That is surprisingly closely priced to a similarly spec'ed 4 cyl Camry LE...only a 3Gs separate them I think. But with the LE you are stuck with the archaic 5spd AT whereas the Hybrid has this smooth CVT to offer.

So I went for a test drive from Openroad, and wow I was totally impressed by the operating noise (i.e. all noises included) when the car is in medium load. Unlike the Prius the Camry's engine is always on when above 16km/h (there is no option to operate that car in EV mode).... but even then I couldn't hear jack I kept asking the sales if the engine is stopped. Apparently the dash display says it isn't, but in the cabin it's eerie how you cannot hear the engine like...at all.

and then give it the boot it accelerates ok but it's not a Camry V6.... power delivery is linear you can't tell when the motor is working and when is it charging. The brake is.....interesting as its regenerative brakes brake more than you instruct it to do... But all for the MPGs right?

CVT operates without a hitch you don't even get a rev counter all you can play with when you are driving is the econo graph....the 70s Coronas also had one of those during the oil crisis. :thumbsup:

the interior is your standard issue Camry/Taxi crap but the steering does come with a tilt/telescopic setup and the seat cushions are comfy and wide for those extra long highway trips down to Mexico or what not...

Overall I'm quite impressed with the car in the same way I'm quite impressed with the cube. The overall package is quite solid and priced quite aggressively. Sure the Energy MXV4 aren't going to win you any AutoXes but I think for a non-hobby-use car this thing is just so damn all rounded it really is something to think about when you are looking for your next A-B car.

Of course, the point of this post is I want to hear what you think about it. I am not sure what to choose yet at this price point as there are also cars like Prius, Altima Hybrid and Insight that offer similar fuel econ and technology.

Let me know what you think about it I'm going to try to sell the C36 AMG at Tsawassen next week and see how that goes. :D

You can't go wrong with a Camry Hybrid - as long as you plan on owning it for at least 8-10 years. If you want a new car in 4-5 years, it's a waste to go with the hybrid model, as you won't see your money back on the fuel economy.

And if you want a free $100, come drive a Ford Fusion Hybrid before you buy your Camry Hybrid. Not only do you get a free $100 if you DO buy the Camry instead, but you also get to compare the two models and really see which one is better.

ooh interesting thanks Rich PM'd.

hahaha

THANK YOU FOR THE POST!

I'm on the same boat as hk20000 and I have narrowed my choices down to they Camry Hyrbid or Mitsubishi GTS.

P.S. Remember that you'll need to change batteries every 5 years or so but warranties should cover it for 8-10 years!

Guess who just got a camry hybrid as a courtesy rental car for the week? :haha:

damn its really not bad to drive, IMO more fun than the cube in CVT :) and when it tells you after you shut off the car "eco level excellent" its quite a satisfying experience

Car feels solid and the new styling is pretty unique, I'd seriously consider the next gen but the current one is 3 years old? although the facelift was pretty significant

Our courtesy was a base model and already had sunroof and a JBL audio and keyless go etc. The audio setup was sub-par for a premium branded audio system, and the key looks ugly! but you keep it in your pocket so who cares?

Overall I think this is a great car, and my choice would be the top of the line fully loaded version :thumbsup:

who told you about changing batteries? please back it up as ive worked with toyota and never heard of anyone replacing a battery

camry's look but ugly.

fusion looks 100 times better.

new Camry front is quite aggressive:
http://sexyeditor.com/wp-content/upl...ry-hybrid1.jpg
do want.

Ford covers the hybrid powertrain for 8 years, I think Toyota is the same. There is no need to replace the battery at 5 years. You can replace individual cells as they go bad, in lieu of changing the entire battery (if it's past warranty) which is significantly cheaper. In my experience, very very few hybrids have had a need to replace the battery prematurely. Just go talk to a few yellow cab Prius drivers with 300,000+kms and see what they say about it.

http://alternativefuels.about.com/od...hybridfaq3.htm

http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f...ry-life-15002/

Perhaps I'm thinking of a myth?

I have done research on Hybrids and I am against them.

p.s. paying for batteries/hybrid as a whole isn't worth it... at all. A fuel efficient car is cheaper and gives off less greenhouse gasses as a whole. remember, those batteries came from somewhere and need to get disposed somewhere.

i disagree..it looks even more similar to its baby brother corolla with those new headlights

i've seen the light. hybrids are gay. get a diesel. 2010 jetta diesel starts at 25k. when you get bored or when warranty runs out. chip it and blacken the sky.

from fueleconomy.gov

camry hybrid
city 33 mixed 34 highway 34
jetta diesel
city 30 mixed 34 highway 41

mixed is same.

I don't think "Camry" and "aggressive" belong in the same sentence.. or thread ;)

CVT = evolution of the gearbox from a sewing machine.. it is way way worse than an auto. It is designed for cheap cost rather than performance AND driving pleasure.

But for a non car enthusiast and cost anything goes.

hk20000, you are now very uncool.

x2... camrys and corollas are the new darlings of taxi fleets. do not want :o

LOL it's not like I'm buying it for myself or what not. Are you going to come in like that "macho" friend of mine and say that a man's everyday ride must be some aggressive shit that has like 300+bhp and RWD? It's not that practical when you use it everyday for 50+km daily. ;) Rain, snow or monsoon thunderstorm. I mean the Camry Hybrid has more combined output than the SLK200 so I don't see a problem :P

I did try to get my folks to look at more "interesting" cars but they like their Camrys so *shrug*? They have got to drive AT and complain that the C36 wastes too much gas or what not... Camry is like precisely opposite personality and they love that thing, should I say it received the most positive response to a test drive ever. Can't really change the stubborn 60 y/os man. Most of the time they are driving this anyway.

But I approached the car with an open mind and it was not so bad.... I mean it's kind of like taking a bus coz you are sorta in it for the ride only but it's a darn quiet one.

Personally if it's all up to me for that price I'd get like a Civic Si or something..... still pretty damned big sedan with some punch, for about the same price. FWD means it will do snow runs with proper rubber. But oh it's not meant to be.

Or heck, I'd just keep the Mercedes. But again this earful I get everyday about how the car sucks balls at the pump gets really old really quickly.

@toyota86: My folks won't buy anything non Japanese because the maintenance it's going to bring with.
@snip3r: Toyota tries to price their damned hybrid very comparable to a normal gasoline version, which makes it worth a look. $27666 for a Camry 4 door u get either the Hybrid or the LE? Coz after the tax rebate you are basically buying something that's priced at 25666 give or take.

it goes like this.
VR-4 -> C36 -> Cube -> Camry??? Hybrid???

it's just disappointing. I don't have anything against it, but WHY go from rare cars to this?

Hehe i avg'd about 7L/100km going from richmond to burnaby, and last night 6.3L/100km going from richmond to UBCish area :thumbsup: it's really not that hard at all, hey if the taxi companies use them, those guys are the cheapest fucks of all, so they've probably done extensive research and testing and found out that these hybrids make sense!

So for someone just to say "I have done research on Hybrids and I am against them."
without anything to back yourself up just sounds like someone with small male syndrome... :haha:

But yeah in all seriousness look at all the hybrid taxi's on the road, if you're a high mileage commuter it definitely makes sense, or even if you're just someone who drives dt etc. a lot, you'll usually find yourself using pure electric to keep it going, don't expect to reach the claimed mileage, but I have an 07 corolla as well and the camry hybrid is definitely better on gas

If u buy a hybrid u better drive me around all the time cause u save gas.

The 'research' they've done is probably reading something from CNW, who's responsible for the retarted report on Hummers being cleaner and longer lasting than a Prius.

Talk to my folks about that I really don't know why they try really hard (i.e. go out of their ways and pay cash) to be Joe Everywhere.

It is your car, your money.. why does the family have any say?:confused:

Coz they wanna drive it that's why I have more than 1 car. This car is for their daily use and I use it only if my car doesn't work. My car remains the (now not running at all) AE86 with F20C... Hope to rectify that soon.

Also my dad's idea of "buying a new car" is that you buy it, drive it for 12 years at least and he wants no surprises. Old man doesn't like his kid working on cars...