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For your own peace of mind, since you have not driven the vehicle yet expect it to arrive make sure that you do drive it/test it before you sign the papers. Do whatever makes you feel secure about going forward, if it means an hour's drive all over the place - Just Do It. It's going to be your vehicle so there's nothing anyone else can say to stop you. If you're happy at the end of the experience go in and finalize everything.
It's your money and your vehicle.
I saw it in full sunlight. Although I admit that I'm a bit red/green color blind, it looked bright (almost neon) lime to me. I had my wife check it out separately and she didn't hate it, but she thought that we'd tire of the color rather quickly. Since she often ends up with my car when I'm ready to move on, it's probably a deal-breaker for us.
At this point, we're waiting for a silver one. Yes, it's ubiquitous, but when you live in the tundra of northern Wisconsin, it much easier to keep it looking clean given our abundance of snow/mud/grime.
I'm committed to "going green" but not literally!
A couple weeks ago I posted looking for someone who might want to trade their Jasper Pearl for the Titanium I was awaiting arrival on. It had to be fully-loaded, as mine was to be. No takers. Since I live in CA, we might have had a little distance problem, anyway.
One final note: I own a Citrus Yellow (really kind of a loud lime green) Honda Insight, which was discontinued after the first year of production because so many people hated it. Initially, I was not attracted to the color, but by the time I bought mine decided it was preferable to either red or silver (the only other options). I've grown to love it, and it makes finding the car in a large parking lot MUCH easier, as well.
I guess the moral of the story (at least for me) is that once you own the vehicle, your attitude toward its color kind of goes through a transformation. Or maybe you become more pre-occupied with other aspects of the car...
Hard to compare a hybrid car's battery to anything else you're used to using. The TCH battery pack is sort of an "electric flywheel", a place to store recovered energy from braking that would otherwise be lost as heat. It was not the intent to design it to provide long distance driving w/o the ICE. To have done so would have required it to be much larger, heavier, and more expensive, none of which are desirable.
Me, personally, my TCH is titanium as well, but my other car (06 4Runner Sport) is Titanium also. Now had it been yellow......
Hey let me know if they keep holding you off, I may be ready to trade in a few thousand more miles.
Sorry, I just had to rub it in. I was in a hurry to get mine before June5th for the WV Tax Credit. I can't imagine waiting on this since February. They say anticipation will make it better (believe them, it will at least give you some comfort)
Here's the list of options that I got.
50 State Emissions .........................
Comfort & Convenience Package Includes: ....
Heated Front Seats and Heated Power ........
Outside Mirrors ............................
Leather Package Includes: Power Driver .....
and Passenger Leather Trimmed Seats ........
and Door Trim ..............................
Voice Activated DVD Navigation w/JBL .......
Premium Audio 4-Disc In-Dash CD Changer/ ...
MP3/Bluetooth with 8 Speakers, In 6 ........
Locations, 440 Watts and Satellite Radio ...
Capability. Requires: Subscription to XM ...
or Sirius, Antenna and Receiver. ...........
Power Tilt/Slide Moonroof w/ Dual ..........
Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors and Rear ..
Personal Reading Lamps .....................
Carpet/Trunk Mat Set .......................
Rear Bumper Applique .......................
Remote Start ...............................
V.I.P. RS3200 Plus Security System .........
Sport Shift Knob ...........................
It's a strip of durable, transparent plastic that covers the top of the bumper, so that (un)loading the trunk doesn't ding the paint. I was told not to attempt to remove it (not that I'd want to), as the adhesive might take some paint with it.
Thanks for the info.
It's 5-6 proximity sensors that search for the key fob which is programmed to that specific vehicle. If the fob comes within a meter of one of the sensors then the vehicle prepares to unlock.
Touch the inside of the door handle and the door unlocks. Pull to open. Leave the fob in your pocket or purse and turn on your computer ( er car ), shift into gear and drive off. At the end shift into park, power off and leave.
The fob never leaves your pocket, purse or briefcase.
It is transparent with a ghost image of a Toyota logo in the middle.
Why?
I don't see how remote start could help you with heating the car since both the heating and the A/C are powered by the battery, not the engine. This is standard with HSDs.
On another topic, does anyone know about the 3M Clear Guard vehicle protector appliques? I turned it down when the dealer was prepping my current car back in '02, and I wish now that I didn't turn it down what with all the gravel and dirt trucks on my neck of the FL Turnpike.
The only place I can find it is from these folks - they allow you to select the '07 TCH but then it says "The XPEL designers are currently working on designs for this vehicle or will begin the design process upon vehicle aquisition." http://www.invisiblemask.com/cgi-bin/products/browser.cgi
Anyway, back to original topic - I can't wait for this new beast. Red metallic....jeez-o-pete.....Can I wait until June 10th?
I notice the same thing. Wonder if they read this forum
That is another thought....why would you want remote start on a hybrid?
http://www.automotivearticles.com/123/Clear_Bra_3M.shtml
And here is the place on the 3M site where you can find a local installer:
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Scotchgard-PPF/Home/For_the/Consumer- /Find_Installer/
I'm having the front bumper, partial hood, fender tips and mirrors done for $450 installed. My understanding is that you don't even notice it unless you're looking for it, it protects against dings and bug stains, and you wash and wax it just like your clearcoat paint. I think it will be a good investment.
Were you able to find out that one of the existing kits would work with the hybrid? I mean it's not like there's a whole lot different with the TCH vs. its stablemates, except for the little tie-down port, no fog lights, and slightly different grille finish....Thoughts??
My understanding is that VDIM is the next generation version of VSC, and it is supposed to be less intrusive to the driver. VDIM is supposed to be standard on the TCH, but does anyone know if it can be turned off?
Thanks
"FYI, I take NO responsibility for how many tires you shred because of this OR any accidents. Be SAFE!!! I AM told that ABS stays on, a fuse needs to be pulled to disable that."
"as it states in the 2006 Avalon owners manual... start the car with the parking prake on... then foot brake twice... (keep the foot brake down)... then parking brake twice (keep it down) and repeat till skid light is on the dash... it will reset when you restart the car."
I still can't understand how you can argue with the economics, at least of my TCH.
MSRP $31589
Purchase $30,000
Tax Credits $6300 (I'm ignoring the time valve of money as the state credit is over 3 years)
My "real" cost $23,700 for a fully loaded Camry.
In addition I traded my 2003 Infinity and only had to give $500 difference AND I'm saving $170/mo in gasoline.
I'm no financial person, but I am an engineer with a little bit of understanding to determine economic value. I can't see how anyone could argue with the logic of this deal. They (on the GM forum) did think I was stupid (and fat and overfed, a good dupe plus some other names???)and wasting my money. Hey, I know what wasting money is. It's buying a $47,500 Ford Expedition and only being able to get $22,500 in trade in two years.
Any way, update. My wife went to Ohio yesterday (mostly flat) and got 39.91mpg over 400 miles. She drove mostly 70+ on the 4 lane. She's starting to buy into the whole FE strategy, so after her 80 mph trip added in to the total, I'm averaging 37.3 over 1800 miles.
Add to that the ability to haul 4 comfortably I don't think this car be beat in value. However I can see where a wagon model or a foot longer trunk would help others. Then again had the Avalon been offered with a Hybrid, I probably would have had a tough decision. I like the styling of the Camry better, but the Avalon is a little bigger and more comfortable.
I'm hoping in three years (when the tax credit is "vested") that the ES350 is available in hybrid with a more powerful battery
For those of you waiting have patience, your time will arrive. I've had luxury cars and perhaps it's my age and attitude, but I look forward to driving this car more than any of my past 3 BMW's, TT, 350Z or Infinity FX. It's not a sports car or even close in handling to these cars but there is a satisfaction I get that these others did not give me.
Here's some of the things said. I believe the Host may have deleted the worst ones where they called me names.
"I would think something more economically feasible. Currently I wouldn't touch a hybrid."
Exactly - I think wvgasguy is a fool for paying the money they want for a Hybrid-
I don't think the hybrid will be around much longer either. It will be replace soon with a more reasonable product.
I don't know what planet you're on!? I have only owned GM products and have NEVER had a problem. I have owned a Yukon (FAR, FAR superior to my sister in-laws pitiful Saquoia). My wife, after an hour and a half drive in the miserable Toyota had a new appreciation for the good old Yukon.
But if you want to go on being a good sheep, just remember the Japanese are laughing at you behind your back, and in many cases in front of your face, your just a dumn Yankee and don't know the diff.
a hybrid doesn't make sense, because the fuel savings will probably never offset the added cost.
he's thrown a way his money to feel good
I just went over and checked out that forum too. Very ignorant over there, if you ask me.
Where is this dealer and what calibur handgun were you holding?
My daughter wanted a RAV4 a few years back. This dealer (new dealership)said they had the one we wanted. We agreed on a close price so I said I'd be right over (12 miles away) When we went there they couldn't find it and tried to sell us something else. I went instead to the dealer 125 miles away that I had been dealing with on my previous Toyotas (city dealer, better deals). They didn't have what we wanted but said they would find it. I left the dealership and 10 minutes later he called my cell phone and said he found one. I drove back cut the deal and we drove back that weekend and made the trade.
The kicker.... The RAV4 was the one from the first dealer and we got it $500 cheaper.
When I went shopping for my daughters 4Runner we told them about this story. They bent over backwards to make a deal. Since then we (me and the kids) have bought 4 cars from them. They try hard to please us and they have earned our loyalty.
I feel sorry for you that make "cold calls" to a dealership. The previous dealer I mentioned we had purchased 5 cars from them since 2000. I didn't really want to drive that far but they treated us right and I liked and trusted the saleman. Now I have the same situation and I like my saleperson and recommend him and the dealership to friends. They appreciate it and that's how good business works. I wish for all of you that you could have the same experience.
Earlier postings we talked about dealers selling first come first serve and selling a car out from under you. My dealer laughed at that. They, like me want a long term relationship and they won't screw you to make one quick deal.
I got KBB Private Party Price on my 2003 Infiniti FX on the trade for the loaded Titanium TCH. I could not have asked for a better trading experience. Not only that but I got my Hybrid early on 5/5/06. They called me when the truck drove in and I drove it home 3 hours later.
I went in the opposite direction an extra 10 miles and bought from a smaller GA dealer whose dealer fee (salesman's commission) was half those in Jacksonville. I still think you got a far better deal on your TCH than any Toyota dealer around here would give, especially considering the generous WV tax credit.
Nice move. Now you just have to convince everyone you talk to that for some (CO, WV,...) Hybrids can be a good deal!
New Features Manual (BO-11)
5. Anti-chipping Application
Soft-chip primer has been applied to the front end of the hood and the lower end of the door. Furthermore, large rocker moldings are used on all models as standard equipment in order to ensure chip resistance performance in the rocker panel.
Applying the 3M film to a plastic bumper or mirror won't make a difference I think. It's plastic - it doesn't chip easily, and if something hard enough hits it, it will chip even with the 3M coating.
I would save the $450 and use it to repaint the hood in 5 years, IF necessary.
The last couple of pages are the fun ones.
a 4 cyl/auto camry sells for maybe 18k, say 18,500. that means even after tax credits bring price down to 23,700, the hybrid is 5k more? maybe it has some extra features?
The 17" rubber I'm replacing the stock product with are Yokohama AVID V4S "Advanced high-performance, all-season tire; V-speed rated. 215/55R-17 94V BW (exactly the same size as on the Camry SE) These are 60,000 mile performance tires (is that an oxymoron or what!) and are rated by the UTQG as 500AA. I wonder what pressure I should run them at? Likely close to maximum....
Next point.
Oh you meant a base 5 spd manual Camry CE vs a base TCH with SKS, pwr dr seat, 6 disc 440 watt JBL w/BT and V6 power and 30% better fuel economy than the CE.
You are correct some may prefer the base CE but other may prefer more creature comforts. Sorta like the Fusion vs the Avalon comparo.
The two are not in the same class, you can't validly compare them. A TCH buyer may immediately rule out the base CE model as being too basic just as an Avalon buyer will immediately rule out a base 4c Fusion.
For that price, I'd probably just rely on checking tire pressure at every refill if the batteries wore out. BTW, I thought it sounded like a neat feature when I first heard about it, but I assumed it would give you an actual readout on the tire pressures. Just getting a warning on dangerously low pressure is a lot less useful...
Can you set the system to tell it that the new higher pressure is nominal, and thus increase the "dangerously low" threshold?