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Toyota Camry Hybrid

3214 messages,  Last post on Feb 25, 2013 at 9:28 PM

You are in the Toyota Camry Hybrid Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry, Hybrid Cars

Messages Page 322 of 322

#3205 of 3214 Advice needed - TCH or TC or Outback...other by thorlin

Apr 07, 2012 (11:29 am)

First time to the forums, great site. I currently have a 2010 Ford F150 4x4 XLT pickup that I bought new two years ago. Great truck....except now, it doesn't really fit my life for two reasons. One is the price of gas, and I would like to "downsize" my vehicle, and the costs that go with it; the 2nd is that my elderly mother is pretty ill, and there are times I need to transport her to the doctor. She is not able to get into my truck.
 
So I started looking at getting a different vehicle, and one of the first vehicles I started researching was the new Camry....both hybrid and regular. All the reviews on the Hybrid indicate it is a great car.
 
I have used my truck to haul things on a few occasions, and do like the ability to put things in the bed. However, I have not done it that often, and right now using the truck as a daily driver is getting quite expensive.
 
Friends at work suggested getting some type of crossover or wagon or small SUV. Suggestions being the Subaru Outback wagon, or one of the small SUV's such as the RAV4, CR-V, or even the new Mazda crossover....
 
I have had two Camrys in the past, and thought they were both great cars (1996 LE, and a 1999 Solara SLE V6), so I am predisposed towards Toyota. The Venza is a bit out of my price range....
 
The trouble is the crossovers and suv's don't get anywhere close to the mileage of the TCH....but I think the extra storage or utility of the crossover might be worth it.
 
I live in the Pacific Northwest, and we get pretty decent snowfall in the winter...which is another reason I liked my truck, with the 4x4.
 
At this time I really want something that I can use to transport my mom, and is cheap to own and operate....which I guess is why I come back to the TCH.
 
Thoughts? Advice? I feel kind of stuck at the moment....

#3206 of 3214 Re: Advice needed - TCH or TC or Outback...other [thorlin] by snaab93se1

Apr 07, 2012 (6:30 pm)

Replying to: thorlin (Apr 07, 2012 11:29 am)
The TCH is a great car ....mine is a 2008 with no problems and 36.5 mpg over 62K miles....I do caution you however that if your mother has a wheel chair or ever requires one...that it WILL NOT fit in the trunk of the TCH. I might suggest looking at the Toyota Highlander hybrid but the price is higher. You will easily fit a wheelchair in the trunk of the regular Toyota Camry. Best of luck in your search and just curious...what mileage do you get with the F150?

#3207 of 3214 Re: Advice needed - TCH or TC or Outback...other [snaab93se1] by thorlin

Apr 07, 2012 (7:38 pm)

Replying to: snaab93se1 (Apr 07, 2012 6:30 pm)
Thanks for mentioning wheelchair...meant to earlier...she has folding wheelchair...the 2012 TCH is supposed to have bigger trunk than previously...you think it would be too small? Was also thinking i could put it in the backseat...use a blanket or something to protect the seats. Otherwise was thinking of possibly the regular gas SE model....
 
As for gas mileage, I have the 2010 F150 XLT, supercab...4x4 (turn on 4x4 with switch), with the 4.6L V8....gets between 16 and 19....unfortunately most of my driving is city...so towards the low end. and in the winter when we use gas with ethanol, it goes down too. Otherwise, I love the ride, and the driving position...

#3208 of 3214 Re: Advice needed - TCH or TC or Outback...other [thorlin] by snaab93se1

Apr 08, 2012 (12:13 am)

Replying to: thorlin (Apr 07, 2012 7:38 pm)
I'd bring her wheelchair and see if it fits in the trunk....I once fit a wheelchair in my back seat for an emergency, but it was very hard to maneuver in and I had to wheel it onto the seat and wrap the seat belts around to fasten it in place.

#3209 of 3214 Re: Advice needed - TCH or TC or Outback...other [snaab93se1] by thorlin

Apr 10, 2012 (3:37 pm)

Replying to: snaab93se1 (Apr 08, 2012 12:13 am)
How would the TCH be in snow? I live in eastern Washington state, and the last couple of winters have brought decent snowfall. I drove my Solara several years around here and there was only one winter where the snow was so deep I could not leave my house.
The tires on the TCH have low rolling resistance, and so I wonder if they are "sticky" enough for driving in snow, or would I need to get a set of snow tires for it?
Thanks again!

#3210 of 3214 Re: Advice needed - TCH or TC or Outback...other [thorlin] by snaab93se1

Apr 10, 2012 (11:28 pm)

Replying to: thorlin (Apr 10, 2012 3:37 pm)
Can't help you with the snow question...I live in Phoenix, AZ. I can tell you the A/C holds up well when its 118 outside...but you will never see temperatures like that where you are.
I have LRR tires and they are fine in the rain (all 3 days a year) and they stick fine to the road just not as well as a high performance tire would.

#3211 of 3214 TCH in Snow by pat85

Jun 17, 2012 (11:37 am)

I still have the OEM touring tires. They have "all Season", printed on them. That is a lie. They are worthless in the snow. I live in the DC area. Cars here have an extra warning light. If there is more than 2 inches of snow, a light comes on and says. "abandon car now" That means on Interstate Highways, too. So even if you can drive in snow, the roads are jammed with abandoned cars. Some diplomats don't even have a word for "snow" in their language.

#3212 of 3214 Re: Advice needed - TCH or TC or Outback...other [snaab93se1] by 4mercoachrick

Jul 31, 2012 (2:37 pm)

Replying to: snaab93se1 (Apr 10, 2012 11:28 pm)
Can't help you with the snow question...I live in Phoenix, AZ
 
I had to respond to this older thread when I read this.
Visiting my brother in Prescott a couple of years ago, we flew in to Phoenix in late February to beautiful 68 degree temps. Thought we were UPtown when our rental was upgraded to a Town Car and off we drove to Prescott...where they enjoyed a RECORD one-day snowfall that melted and turned to shear glaze ice by 9PM(15degrees at that time!!!). What I would have given for ANYthing more snow/ice worthy!!!
 
I had considered driving over (1100 miles) in our Volvo XC60 AWD, but even it would have had trouble on the skating rink disguised as the main roads around Prescott.
 
I wonder what the OP finally chose?

#3213 of 3214 What the OP ended up buying.... by thorlin

Jul 31, 2012 (9:49 pm)

Well, I actually went a totally different direction and bought a Ford Fusion SEL. The Ford dealer where I bought my truck two years ago had a great buy on one one Saturday a few months back. I test drove it, thought it drove great, and they gave me what I was hoping for on my trade. Will have to wait a few months to see what our winter is like. The trunk is very large, is great for the wheelchair, and my mom is able to get in and out no problem. And the Fusion is a very nice car...it had the options I was really hoping for anyway, and was having to get a pretty scaled up Toyota to get. (leather heated seats, sun roof, quite a nice stereo). So happy so far.

#3214 of 3214 Re: Advice needed - TCH or TC or Outback...other [thorlin] by ohassen

Feb 25, 2013 (9:28 pm)

Replying to: thorlin (Apr 07, 2012 11:29 am)
If you're used to the reliability and low maintenance of Hondas and Camrys, I'd stay away from Subarus. I owned a 92 Camry, 98 Accord, and now a '06 Legacy (regrettably). Just go over to the Subaru consumer discussions to read about all the persistent problems. I've had mine for less than a year and have already experienced most of the issues (Alignment, mystery Hesitation/misfire, tire air leaking...etc.) Never again!

Messages Page 322 of 322

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