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Toyota Camry Hybrid Accessories & Modifications

250 messages,  Last post on May 08, 2013 at 4:52 AM

You are in the Toyota Camry Hybrid Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry Hybrid, Performance Mods, Sedan

Messages Page 20 of 26

#186 of 250 Re: 2009 Camry Hybrid Price [doggydo] by jbloch

Dec 12, 2008 (9:36 am)

Replying to: doggydo (Dec 10, 2008 5:13 pm)
Not sure yet. I'm going to be buying mine in early January. Edmund's has the TMV price listed at sticker price (Columbus, Ohio area) and dealer websites here also list them around sticker price, but not really sure that means anything. I'd definitely recc. you use the Edmund's dealer quote service--I used it when I bought my daughter's Civic in August; even got it for a bit less than the lowest bid on-line. More dealers using Edmunds now: 4 of the 5 in the Columbus area Toyota dealers are now listed on it, whereas only 2 were registered when my wife bought her RAV4 in January 2007, so suspect that's a sign of the current economic times. I'll repost in early January to let you know what I paid over the TCH invoice when I buy it.

#187 of 250 Re: 2009 Camry Hybrid Price [doggydo] by bbrimmer

Dec 14, 2008 (4:41 am)

Replying to: doggydo (Dec 10, 2008 5:13 pm)
I took delivery on my 09 TCH in early November and had $1K off MSRP. I am very happy with my choice and really think Toyota did one heck of a job with this car.

#188 of 250 DVD Headrest System installed in '09 Camry Hybrid by bgmhntr1

Feb 20, 2009 (9:31 am)

I had my dealer install the Invision (recommended) dual DVD headrest system into my TCH yesterday. THC has almost 5k miles on it and is 8 months old. It works great and my kids are ecstatic about it, but while driving last evening I started to notice a computer like sound coming from under the dash/engine compartment...that I had never heard before...could the new addition of the DVD system be causing this...or since Toyota installed it...should I just chalk it up to the normal wizzardly sounds from this car. Thanks

#189 of 250 After market in dash navigation by dialtone2

Feb 28, 2009 (10:41 am)

Is anybody aware of any after market in dash navigation/xm/cd ++ systems that will fit in the 2008 TCH? I have the JBL factory installed AM/FM 6 Disk CD currently and would like to replace it with a high end combo GPS/XM/CD/DVD unit. Can it be done?

#190 of 250 Re: Struts/springs [pianewman] by gillesmtl

Mar 14, 2009 (4:31 am)

Replying to: pianewman (Nov 15, 2008 8:18 pm)
I've been complaining about this since the fall of 2006. No solution. As you say, it even becomes unsafe when the car is loaded. I remember being ashamed of my car once I was taking friends with me (no luggage), with the car's rear end bobbing up and down incessantly.

#191 of 250 Re: Struts/springs [gillesmtl] by pianewman

Mar 14, 2009 (5:23 am)

Replying to: gillesmtl (Mar 14, 2009 4:31 am)
My solution? 2009 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagon w/ DSG.
Smaller interior, no nav, no "Jasper Pearl" (GREEN!).
 
But...it goes like stink, w/o the stink. (I told the salesman...VW should advertise, "More smoke from your front tires than from your exhaust!") Only 3k miles, averaging 36.5 (winter fuel, temps, diesels also have LONNNG break-in...typically 30-40k miles). Hyper-miling yields 44-46+ on the highway.
 
I don't not miss the 70's Olds vintage suspension of the Hybrid...also saving money on dramamine...
 
Camry Hybrid did exactly what it advertised. I liked the concept, and the projected reliability (over the VW!), but the handling was a real downer...and I felt, unsafe.

#192 of 250 Re: Wheels [wvgasguy] by spenbaba

Mar 14, 2009 (11:11 am)

Replying to: wvgasguy (Jul 22, 2006 9:11 am)
I ordered steel wheels with wheel covers from TireRack.com without the TPMS sensors because I didn't want to pay the extra $362 or so over the $500 for the snow tires and rims. Without the sensors, the dashboard icon comes on and flashes for a while before coming on continuously. I don't know of any way to turn it off. The tires work fantastically on snow and ice.

#193 of 250 Re: Wheels [spenbaba] by tsy

Mar 15, 2009 (9:10 am)

Replying to: spenbaba (Mar 14, 2009 11:11 am)
You need to go to the dealer and have the new TPMS sensors programmed to your car. You might want to call around and see which dealers charge for this, some charge more than others.
 
You have to do this every time you change tires. Or just ignore the light.

#194 of 250 Re: Struts/springs [pianewman] by tsy

Mar 15, 2009 (9:27 am)

Replying to: pianewman (Nov 15, 2008 8:18 pm)
As with any car there are tradeoffs- but you can't expect it to handle like a Porsche.
 
Driven safely and smoothly I find it does better than some Toyota products I've driven, if that makes you feel any better. You might also consider having the dealer check the suspension and make sure none of the shocks are leaking.
 
My guess is the suspension on the hybrid is different than the regular camry since the hybrid weighs more, especially in the rear where the battery is, but I'm not really sure what the spring rates are of either. It's also important that regardless of what springs you add, they really need to be matched up with the dampers (shocks) and likely with this car the problem is both the springs and the dampers.
 
Also, most aftermarket springs are designed to lower the car rather than improve on the suspension (for appearance) and I'm not sure that's what you're looking for/ would want.
 
I did a quick search and found some coilovers, which would allow you to adjust both height and dampening, but really you'd want to test the suspension on a racetrack or somewhere safe to get a setting that is safe to use without introducing any unsafe handling characteristics (although I'm not sure you'd ever be able to get a Camry to unsafely oversteer). Car manufacturers spend many hours tuning the cars suspension so that they're safe for the average person.
 
By the time you've done all these changes, you're probably better off selling the camry and buying an altima hybrid. Or a porsche.
 
Good luck
 
tom

#195 of 250 Cost of 09 TCH by barb36jack31

Mar 15, 2009 (12:57 pm)

Bought my 09 Camry Hybrid in June, 08 with dealer installed leather, dealer lifetime warranty for drive train, Red clear coat paint. Very sharp! $100 over dealer invoice plus tax title etc. Out the door price just over $27000. 6000 mi on the car now and it delivers 36.5 - 38.5 mpg with mixed driving. Great automobile. (MPG is as shown on the gauge, not actual calculation which probably would be somewhat lower)
 
Jack H.

Messages Page 20 of 26

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