Sign In Join 



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

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry Hybrid, Car Buying, Sedan


Messages Page 53 of 57
1
...
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#516 of 558
Daytime Running Lights - Off Switch Can Be Disabled? by bez28
Oct 06, 2008 (8:37 pm)
Reply
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.
#517 of 558
Re: Daytime Running Lights - Off Switch Can Be Disabled? [bez28] by jeffois
Oct 07, 2008 (5:16 am)
Reply

Replying to: bez28 (Oct 06, 2008 8:37 pm)

AFAIK, if you keep the switch for the headlights set to "Auto," your running lights will stay on all the time. I'm pretty sure that's how it works on my 2007 TCH.
#518 of 558
2009 Camry Hybrid by sttkailua
Oct 08, 2008 (12:30 pm)
Reply
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!
#519 of 558
Our TCH decsion confirmed - again by karnesjm
Oct 31, 2008 (11:00 am)
Reply
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.
#520 of 558
Should I Buy An Extended Sevice Agreement? by bbrimmer
Oct 31, 2008 (5:21 pm)
Reply
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.
#521 of 558
Re: Should I Buy An Extended Sevice Agreement? [bbrimmer] by texases
Oct 31, 2008 (6:15 pm)
Reply

Replying to: bbrimmer (Oct 31, 2008 5:21 pm)

Up to you regarding worth. It's a major money maker for them, with no value for the hybrid aspect (already has 100k guarantee). Camry's are very reliable. I never buy these service agreements. Put that money in a money market, use it for repairs, bet most of it will be there when you sell.
#522 of 558
Re: Should I Buy An Extended Sevice Agreement? [bbrimmer] by wvgasguy
Nov 01, 2008 (5:21 am)
Reply

Replying to: bbrimmer (Oct 31, 2008 5:21 pm)

Extended service or warranty? A year ago I would have said it's a rip off. However I just checked my records and I'm at 60,000+ miles and following the book on maintenance and so far I'm at close to $1300 on scheduled maintenance. It's a time value of money issue for you. I think it's better to pay as you go, but if you're financing it, that's about the same thing anyway. If you plan to keep the car for 100,000 miles it may be a wash. If you get rid of it early you wasted money.
 
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.
#523 of 558
Re: Should I Buy An Extended Sevice Agreement? [wvgasguy] by bbrimmer
Nov 02, 2008 (5:33 pm)
Reply

Replying to: wvgasguy (Nov 01, 2008 5:21 am)

Thanks for the feedback. It's actually a warranty, but they call it an extended service agreement.
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.
#524 of 558
Re: Should I Buy An Extended Sevice Agreement? [bbrimmer] by wvgasguy
Nov 03, 2008 (2:22 pm)
Reply

Replying to: bbrimmer (Nov 02, 2008 5:33 pm)

I asked because a lot of people here actually purchase an extended "service" agreement, and it's for maintenance, not a warranty.
 
I'm waiting on a call right now to price out a trade for my TCH with 61,000 miles for a new one.
#525 of 558
Re: Should I Buy An Extended Sevice Agreement? [wvgasguy] by kdhspyder
Nov 10, 2008 (4:30 pm)
Reply

Replying to: wvgasguy (Nov 03, 2008 2:22 pm)

Hey, Bud. Got one.
 
Great job in keeping this thread alive. Listen to this man, he knows whereof he speaks.
 
The reason for the terminology of 'Extended Service Contract' as opposed to 'Extended Warranty' is a legal nuance in that only the original manufacturer can offer a warranty. The ESC that's offered by TFS or other company is an insurance policy against repairs/failures within the specified milage/time frame.

Messages Page 53 of 57
1
...
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement