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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Camry Hybrid New Toyota Camry Hybrid Owners - Give Us Your Report
558 messages, Last post on Oct 30, 2009 at 1:05 PM
You are in the Toyota Camry Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Replying to: lockleer (Aug 14, 2008 7:27 pm) 
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The more I learn about this car, the more I’m blown away by it! (I totally agree with virtually all the great comments everyone’s making, so I’ll add some different insight). I initially wanted a Prius – rented 3 different ones and could easily get 54-56 MPG in town. (Note: hot, flat Florida, with 5 minute red lights, is a Hybrid’s Heaven)! Hated to hit the freeway where the Prius’s MPG plummeted to 39-41 MPG at 75+ mph. But the Prius is narrow, the dash is black and bakes in the sun, and the side windows are “too high” and let in too much sun for me. (Still - the Prius is a marvel!). Our Sarasota dealer wanted a 6k premium for a new Prius. I tried a used 07 TCH (24k miles, 27k price), and found it wider, quieter, smoother, and much more attractive looking. Since my local dealer wanted 3k extra for a new TCH, I bought a new 09 at a dealer in the next town for no premium (Sticker Price) (After a 4 week wait). I absolutely love it! I initially liked the "B" and used it at every Red Light to save on my brakes (and keep "brake dust" from dirtying my front alloy wheels...but then read a great forum item teaching me that I was wasting that energy and am better off lightly using the brakes to regenerate! I get from 37-41 mpg around town, and (I’ll bet) almost the same as a Prius on the highway (38-39 MPG at 75+ mph). I can get 50mpg on the highway or more if I'm willing to drive slow enough. It’s got a many “sweet spots”, like set cruise control at 40mph, then tap down to 39mph and wait, it lapses into a "warp" mode getting 55-60MPG with the engine running! Last thoughts – I’d like it to display the percentage of the “free” mileage I’m getting. (My guess is out of every 100 miles I drive around town; maybe 20 miles are coasting or electric, with the gas engine off). And considering that my gas engine is not running during all of (our Florida) 5 minute Red lights, it follows that when my odometer says 100,000 miles, my engine may really only have 75,000 actual miles on it! |
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I just put a deposit on an '09 TCH in Montana (c/w Leather, Convenience Pkg, and Upgrade Pkg - no NAV or Sunroof - for $1500.00 below MSRP) but I live in Canada and plan to import it back here. Unfortunately, I will need to make 1 small modification in order to import it and this is where I am hoping you TCH owners might be able to help. The Daytime Running Lights on the TCH sold in the US comes with an "off" switch, whereas in Canada the DRL are required by law to be on all the time (while the car is running) and can not be turned off. Does anyone know how to disable the "off" switch? Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
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Replying to: bez28 (Oct 06, 2008 8:37 pm) |
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Well, I have driven my new Hybrid for a month now! Great car! Getting 40+ MPG doing 80/20 freeway/city. The technology of the electric/gas drivetrain is amazing! Smooth transition of the combo switching off & on. You really have to test drive or own one to understand why Hybrid owners are so excited and pleased with their vehicle! |
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| We were not going to purchase a replacement for our '02 Honda Odyssey Van for another 3 years, but it was totalled in a severe accident. We were on a 4 month wait list for a mid-optioned Prius. Due to safety concerns (RE: Ody accident) with the Prius, we purchased a base '09 TCH (Jim Barkely Toyota in Asheville, NC at $300 under MSRP-NO "adders", doc fees or packages). The base TCH was a $1,400 more than the Prius we were waitng on. The first tank of interstate driving back home at 65 MPH was 41 MPG. We now have over 3K miles and average 38 MPG in mixed cycle driving. This is an increase of 21 MPG over the van (17 MPG in same mixed cycle). Car & Driver just picked the TCH as #1 family sedan (yes, over the Prius too) to have during high gas prices. Reading the article carefully, the TCH has better city MPG than all cars they have tested but the Prius. | |
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Just purchased a new TCH 09. The dealer is offering an extended Service Agreement (Gold Plan) up to 100,000 miles/7years for $1150. MSRP is $1450. Is it worth it? many thanks.
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Replying to: bbrimmer (Oct 31, 2008 5:21 pm) |
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Replying to: bbrimmer (Oct 31, 2008 5:21 pm) Also, are you one that typically uses the dealer for service? And do you usually do the larger 15,000 / 30,000 / 45,000 / 60,000 services? On all my domestic cars I seldom do these services. I guess the only reason I started doing them on the foreign cars was the mental thing with them having longer warranties and I got in the habbit of keeping up with the recommended services. The dealer oil services are a hassle compared to stopping at a Jiffy Lube or similar place at your convenience. My main reason with going to the dealer though is they offered free tires for life if I service with them. I'm on my second set of replacement tires at their cost right now included in my $1300 so I feel like I've gotten a bargain. I have a 4Runner as a company vehicle and am only changing the oil and don't plan on doing the large services. If this is for an extended warranty, it's all about peace of mind. On average it won't be worth it, but to the infrequent people that have warranty claims on the Nav, the power equipment or other things not powertrain related it may be worth while. Paying a little bit each month to know that a year or two down the road you won't have a large repair bill to worry about might offer some comfort to some. I didn't get it and have had no problems with my TCH.
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Replying to: wvgasguy (Nov 01, 2008 5:21 am) I went back to Consumer Reports April )* car issue. They said the only time to buy one is with unreliable cars. Toyota owners of such contract shave used them only 10% of the time (#2 after Lexus). My only thought on this was the fact that it is a hybrid. But CR just reported the TCH as one of the most reliable cars being sold.
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