Toyota Camry Hybrid

15052545556

Comments

  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I was sure you liked the TCH overall from your posts since you bought it. If I needed a commuter it would get my attention. At this time in my life I want a vehicle that handles rough roads, winding mountain roads and highways with equal aplomb. That has it narrowed down for me to one of the luxury full sized SUVs. Plus I would like to get at least 25 MPG on the highway. So I need a diesel SUV. Today the GL3320 CDI is on top.
  • wvgasguywvgasguy Member Posts: 1,405
    I have a company supplied vehicle for work so my TCH is not a commuter. However it still sees 22,000+ miles a year so the FE is important. I think the combination of 38mpg with the mid size roominess is a great compromise for Toyota. However as I age, if the Prius was not so funky looking and a little more comfortable it might be considered for my next car. Eventually I won't be putting as many miles (longer trips) on the car and the Prius may make sence

    I am fortunate to have a second vehicle for winters and pulling the jetskis and my small tractor. I have a 4Runner but am considering a Hylander Hybrid, which has just enough towing capacity to pull my trailer. I'd love to have a diesel Sequoia. I'm still hoping for that to be made some day. I saw where Nissan plans to have automotive diesels in three years and I can't imagine Toyota not matching up with that.
  • jchshade1969jchshade1969 Member Posts: 3
    Has anyone noticed with their Hybrid Camry, a noise in the air condition when you first turn it on? After it cools the car down a little the noise ends.
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    The sound of the compressor starting up? I have a brand new Nissan Versa and the AC compressor startup is fairly noticeable the first time I start the AC on any day. Could be because the coolant is now also the lubricant for the compressors in most AC systems. Mine is noticably quieter on subsequent start ups during the day.
  • bloeschabloescha Member Posts: 5
    While I love my TCH, I have a few gripes about it.

    Gripe #1: That darn climate control system. In the warmer months, if Auto is off, the recirc feature automatically comes on and makes the cabin uncomfortably humid. In the colder months, if auto is off, the darn thing blasts hot air in the cabin when you set the temp to 65. Turn it down 1 degree, and it brings in cold winter air. My wife does not like the auto feature because you don't have control over the fan speed. You cannot win with this system. I prefer 3 control knobs: 1 for fan speed, 1 for temp, and 1 for ducts. I learned my lesson. On a plus note, the Auto Climate system works quite well on trips.

    Gripe #2: The stability control feature. It blinks and beeps to tell you when you're slipping. I know when I am slipping, thank you. The visual and aural indicator distracts me from keeping my eyes on the road. I don't know of a way to turn it off.

    Gripe 3: The Auto dimming rear view mirror. I wish the default setting was OFF and not ON. Most times I would rather see the lights in my rear view at full illumination. Once in a while I prefer to dim it.

    Gripe 4: The visor comes down too far and obstructs my view. I am unable to push it flush with the windshield.

    Gripe 5: I never use the controls on my steering wheel because they are too user unfriendly. You either have to feel for the controls or look down to use them. I have a 2004 Sienna where the steering wheel controls are much more intuitive.

    Gripe #6: By now you are convinced that I am a whiner. That's not usually the case. But my last gripe is on the seatbelts. Why the aural indicator? Isn't the visual one enough? There are occasions where we unbuckle temporarily and this thing beeps to high heaven. How do I turn that off?

    Summing this up, the Human Factors work on this car is not what I am accustomed to on a Toyota. My 99 Camry and 04 Sienna are much kinder to the user.
  • jbolltjbollt Member Posts: 736
    Some good news!

    Gripe#1. The auto temp control can be set to several different options by your dealer. I don't remember all of the possible settings, but I know that turning off the "default to recirc" can be changed to give you manual control of recirc or fresh air. I had this done, and it made a HUGE difference. See ToyotaiGuide.com for a list of dealer setable options. Once you configure it to your model, Click on "other features", then "customizable electronic features"

    Gripe #3 I believe that the auto dimming feature can be turned off. I don't hav teh manual handy, but I remember it saying something about that. Probably camn view the manual at the above mentioned web site also.

    Gripe #6. The seatbelt alarm can be disabled by the dealer also...see the above mentioned website.

    I hope this helps! At least 3 of your gripes can be resolved.
  • bloeschabloescha Member Posts: 5
    Thanks. It appears some improvements can be made to the seatbelt and the climate system.
  • berg32berg32 Member Posts: 56
    By design, our Smart Key opens only the driver door when you grasp the driver door first (it opens all doors if you grasp the passenger door first). Is there a way to have SmartKey unlock all doors when grasping the driver door first? (My Toyota service guy says no, but I'd love to prove him wrong. :D )
  • jbolltjbollt Member Posts: 736
    "...Is there a way to have SmartKey unlock all doors when grasping the driver door first? (My Toyota service guy says no, but I'd love to prove him wrong. ) ..."

    Yes...see page 40 in your manual, or go here...ToyotaiGuide.com

    Once you configure it to your model, Click on "keys and doors", then "smart key" it will give you directions how to change the settings..I did it to mine.
  • lzclzc Member Posts: 483
    Thank you, jbollt, for some very useful information.

    The ways of the auto climate system made little sense to me. The a/c compressor turns on automatically no matter what the temperature. It overrides airflow settings and fan speeds, etc. I find myself fiddling with settings far more than any manual system I've had.

    Also, the seatbelt warning buzzer will be turned off. Hooray!
  • george75george75 Member Posts: 1
    To those looking to buy a 2007, let it be known that I purchased one and I'm not happy. I bought a 4-cylinder, manual transmission because I don't drive like a maniac, but do want some horsepower there when I need it. :lemon:

    I live in the DC area, and once when I tried to merge into traffic about two months after I purchased it (the first time I had to punch it), I couldn't get the car to move fast enough. I was almost rear-ended with my three kids in the back seat.

    If you are trying to come off the line, it hesitates badly. I took it to the dealer and they said there isn't anything wrong with it and that it meets Toyota's specs. We test drove a similar model and it drove better.

    I told them to fix it and said it met specs. If I wasn't happy I could go through an arbitrator.

    Thanks Toyota and Koons Toyota of Tyson's for making me make an expensive mistake! Never again. I suggest anyone thinking about buying this car to Google what people are saying about this car. I wish I did because there are a lot of unsatisfied 2007 Camry owners - I based my purchase on their reputation.

    Now excuse me, I have to place this car on Cars.com to sell it.

    Sincerely,
    Not happy!
  • berg32berg32 Member Posts: 56
    Thank you jbolt; my wife is delighted with this new setting. :)
  • petlpetl Member Posts: 610
    Wow ... Well I can't disagree with your statement in gripe #6, sentence 1.
  • lzclzc Member Posts: 483
    You might want to post your thoughts on the regular Camry board. Your comments aren't applicable to the CVT-equipped hybrid version.

    Yep, some people are displeased with the apparent lag in response of 4cyl auto transmission. Your comments are the first I've read about the manual version also having the problem.

    The software is programed for maximum fuel mileage and minimum pollution, definitely not for "punching it." Given this year's record Camry sales, it looks like most people are happy with the way it works.
  • wvgasguywvgasguy Member Posts: 1,405
    I bought a 4-cylinder....but do want some horsepower there when I need it.

    Then why get the 4cy???

    ...I couldn't get the car to move fast enough ....If you are trying to come off the line, it hesitates badly

    Humm, a standard that hesitates coming off the line? Doesn't make sence. Also your first mention was "trying to punch it" while merging. Did you down shift or just give it the gas?

    Sounds like you actually need an automatic tranny.

    Sorry, but none of this makes any sence
  • devy1devy1 Member Posts: 14
    Does anybody know the db levels for sound in the camry hybrid. I am trying to compare it with my lexus GX470 to have an idea.
    Thanks
  • hoosieriusbhoosieriusb Member Posts: 10
    Road & Track has detailed specifications in their hybrid comparison article in the May 2006 edition.

    For Camry Hybrid:

    Idle in neutral: 33dBA engine off; 42dBA engine on
    Maximum 1st gear: 72dBA
    Constant 50 mph: 62dBA
    Constant 70 mph: 69dbA
  • wvgasguywvgasguy Member Posts: 1,405
    I think that cruising it will vary as whether the engine is at idle or adding necessary power. If you're passing (hard acceleration) the car does get noisy (like most 4cy cars). However with the TCH it's not something you do or need to do often and I never even noticed it until someone mentioned it and I purposefully went out the next time on the Interstate and puched it with hard acceleration. I don't do that very often. I just needed to know that the car will perform if I call on it for safety reasons and it does. I can't imaging it being as quiet overall as a V8 GX but I only drove one of those on a test drive and have not driven one that might have some tread wear and tire noise.
  • wvgasguywvgasguy Member Posts: 1,405
    Sorry, I noticed this was under the heading of A/C noises although I think you may have been asking about overall sound.

    As for the A/C fan it is noisy on the high settings and it irritates my wife.
  • greggtsgreggts Member Posts: 2
    Does anyone have any details about when Toyota will be coming out with the 2008 TCH, and what the differences will be in comparison with the 2007 model?
  • gampagampa Member Posts: 78
    I also noticed a "clicking" noise on the high setting of the auto a/c mode... it does stop when I reduce the fan to a lower speed.
    Anyone visit the dealer for their answer?
    It would be my first problem after six months of ownership.

    Gampa
  • greggtsgreggts Member Posts: 2
    No one has any info on the 2008 TCH?
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    Nothing. I googled "2008 Toyota Camry" and got ZERO hits in News and nothing like a preview, first drive, or any kind of Toyota announcement at all.

    I guess they aren't ready to reveal anything yet. Maybe they are addressing 2007 owner complaints and are re-tooling some stuff.
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    It's only the end of the first year of this model so there is likely to be few if any changes. The primary changes should be at the end of 2009 model year...then the major change at the end of the 2011 MY.
  • vinster29vinster29 Member Posts: 23
    My question is whether or not the TCH comes with a standard alarm system or do you have to purchase an RS 3200 alarm system? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    I wouldn't get one unless you often carry a lot of things in your car and lock them up. There already is an 'immobilizer system' built into the TCH so no one can steal it without the Fob or tow it away.

    The Alarm is unnecessarily redundant.
  • bobgermanybobgermany Member Posts: 5
    I purchased my car on 28 June and drove it from NC to NJ. I drove mostly highway varying my speed from 60-75 and got 37 MPG on the 1st 1/2 of tank then I filled it up and drove highway and in traffic and in a traffic jam near Baltimore and Willmington and saw as high as 44.3 on the tank average. Stop and go driving was great! The electric stayed on a lot. I got white with the bisque leather interior and it is beautiful!!! I love the the hybrid system! The CVT transmission is great. The power train in general is so smooth. My other Camry is a 99 V6. It is a great car but I am loving this car so far. As for the mileage. I am so impressed. I beleive that the drivers that are getting such low MPG's are driving too fast and/or too agressively. It has been a while since I had drove on I 95 and I could not believe how reckless and agressive most poeple drive. I have 500 miles on the my current tank of gas and I just hit the 1/4 tank left line. Tank average is reading 40.2 and has been steady there for around 50 miles. I would reccoment this car to anyone!
  • plknjplknj Member Posts: 121
    Glad you are enjoying your new car.
  • d11orad11ora Member Posts: 1
    Your right this car sucks.I will never buy a toyota again.I'm going to try the lemon law.
    Louigi
  • wvgasguywvgasguy Member Posts: 1,405
    Your right this car sucks.I will never buy a toyota again.I'm going to try the lemon law

    It's "you're" not your. So what's your problem other than your grammar?
  • regal1945regal1945 Member Posts: 25
    :) Louigi, You sound like a real FA!!!
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Let's get back to the TCH and away from starting to comment on each other please.

    Never any happy endings down that path.
  • wvgasguywvgasguy Member Posts: 1,405
    OK, but I wanted to know why "d11ora" won't buy a Toyota again. It's a pretty specific statement with no reasoning given. What kind of Toyota do they own and why do they think they have a legitimate reason to use the lemon law?

    The original comment was made on the TCH forum by a person that doesn't even drive a TCH and this person joins the forum for one day, makes one comment with no information given. I'm just curious if they (1) have a TCH (or any Toyota)and (2) have issues with it (or any Toyota)
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    They were responding to a previous poster that was having problems with a 2007 Camry 4 cylinder that hesitates when you step on the gas. I would assume they have a non-hybrid also. They do look alike. He was a new forum member. We don't want to scare anyone off, just direct them to the proper thread.
  • redmazda3redmazda3 Member Posts: 28
    On Friday an older 2 door Chevy Blazer ran a red light and my wife did a perfect "T Bone" on his passenger door. It was raining heavily and the impact knocked his vehicle on its side. My wife was going 25 mph at the time. The airbags did not deploy, which may have been a good thing. She was not hurt except for being banged around. A police officer was stopped on the other side of the red light going the opposite way of the Blazer and witnessed the accident.

    When the officer approached my wife to find out if she was alright, he made the comment that Toyotas must be built tough. The damage to my wife's car is minimal. The front bumper is scraped along its entire length and is slightly crooked. The hood has a dent that measures about six inches across and three inches deep. It is also off center now and touches the passenger quarter panel. Neither of the front quarter panels are damaged. None of the lights were hurt and no damage inside of the engine compartment. All in all, it's still several thousands of dollars of damage.

    The perplexing part is the air bags not coming out. She hit the Blazer with her car going head first into his passenger door going 25 mph. The body shop said that it may have been due to the Blazer moving sideways to her car and the sensors were fooled. I'm wondering that all the energy of my wife's motion was absorbed into the Blazer when it moved on the wet pavement. I think that if it had been a dry day, the damage would have been worse since the Blazer would not have moved so easy and then the airbags would have deployed.

    The good thing is my wife was not hurt and neither was the driver of the Blazer and that there was a cop that saw the whole accident.
  • pmanzapmanza Member Posts: 34
    Hi everyone, I am busy trying to sell my car so I can buy a TCH. While I (not so patiently) wait, I am trying to figure out how I want my new car configured. Here in NoCal we can get stripped or loaded, nothing in-between. So I want loaded mostly for the sunroof and the hybrid energy monitor screens on the nav unit. My hubby wants me to get it stripped. So my question is, if you didn't get the nav unit do you regret not having hte energy screens, and if you did get the nav, do you find that you don't really use the energy screens after a while?

    I really wish I could just get the car with cloth seats and the sunroof and nav only. That would be a happy compromise.

    Thanks for any replies.
    Peggy
  • sunjanasunjana Member Posts: 6
    I use the energy screens, specifically the consumption screen. You have the same information in the standard display but having the screen there is very helpful. I have never had a nav system until this car and I am now a believer, it is well worth it.
  • lmlpxhlmlpxh Member Posts: 8
    Tell your husband to go with the Nav package. We don't use the sunroof much and the energy screens are a "nice to have", but the NAV, you and espically your husband will love. Also, it will add value at resale. I got NAV 5 years ago on our Lexus and now I will always have it on any car. I don't think you can get the TCH and NAV without all the other add ons, (sunroof, etc.)
  • plknjplknj Member Posts: 121
    My car is fully loaded and it's great. The info screen that comes with the Nav system is a must though the actual Nav system is only so-so. I still use my Garmin as Toyota/Lexus Nav system leaves a lot to be desired.

    Enjoy the car... I do.
  • lzclzc Member Posts: 483
    Cars without Nav come with a simplified energy screen. It tells you all you really need to know, imo, the direction of the energy flow, and whether the battery, ICE, or both are propelling the car. And of course you also get outside temp, gas mileage, miles left on current tank, etc.

    As to the sunroof, make sure headroom is adequate for any tall drivers. It was a no-go for me.

    Good luck.
  • jjyangjjyang Member Posts: 42
    I am just about to my 1000 mile on my base TCH. I was relying on the Eco Drive Level (ECD) as a means to gauge my FE since I dont have the NAV unit. Sad to say, it maxes out at 42 mpg. I am hypermiling my TCH so I wished I had something that surpass that threshold. Does the NAV unit have indicators that exceed 42 mpg?

    Having said that, I have been using the feel of the accelerator and occasionally the analog mpg as a gauge. You can feel when the engine is about to kick on from the accelerator. This is probably safer that keeping my eye anywhere other than the road. If I need to know how I am doing per trip, I use the stats before and after the trip to figure out my mileage. Its a little bit more work but what the heck, it beats paying 3000 more in sticker price. We dont care for leather or the NAV functionaility so the decision was easy for us. BTW, GreenHybrid.com has a post on DIY back-up camera that display image on the NAV unit like in the prius. Very cool!IMO, I dont think the NAV unit will add that much to resale value. The leather, sunroof, maybe.

    If you plan to get the 2008, can't you order one with the specs you want?
  • wvgasguywvgasguy Member Posts: 1,405
    and if you did get the nav, do you find that you don't really use the energy screens after a while?

    I use it all the time. However, only you know your level of committment to maximizing FE and if you're just not "into it" then buy the stippped one. But if you are the type of woman that knows how to program a VCR then the NAV may be for you!
  • plknjplknj Member Posts: 121
    I also use the energy screen all the time... it is a great tool.
  • tsytsy Member Posts: 1,551
    I wanted the Nav but didn't feel like waiting for it, and got a base with sunroof. The only thing I don't like about the base is that I can't dial my phone from a screen. No big deal. I like my Garmin GPS and I drive fine without the energy screens. I was planning on installing aftermarket leather (which can be nicer, IMHO) but have found that I like the cloth. It's very soft, isn't freezing in the winter nor skin burning hot in the summer! Maybe I'll add leather when the cloth seats wear down a little. :)

    Whatever you buy, I'm sure you'll be happy. It's a great car!

    tom
  • vinster29vinster29 Member Posts: 23
    So I went by my local Toyota dealer the other day to check out a new Titanium Metallic TCH. And while I was driving it I noticed that it had 580 miles on it and yet they were still selling it as a new car!! So obviously this car is being driven around by other salesmen to run errands and everything and is not actually a new car but a demo car. How can I negotiate with them in order to get the price down? Should I argue that it has the mileage of a used car and should be priced below invoice? Because 580 miles is a lot of mileage for a new car as far as I know. Any advice would be appreciated. thanks
  • jjyangjjyang Member Posts: 42
    Dialing from the screen would be nice indeed, but that would actually be taking eyes off the road, so I can understand why they did not program that function in. You would also need the nav for it. I typically make calls to only one number while I am on the road, so I end up using the "redial" voice command. That is so sweet!

    Btw, as long as your phone is setup to your TCH, I find that you can dial from your phone and when a connection is established, the voice exchange goes to through the bluetooth automatically. Now that is also sweet and in essence dialing from a screen but from that on my phone rather than the nav.
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    It's still a new car until it's been titled. Realistically though cars that are real demos have 4-5K miles on them but these too are still new under most state laws. 500 miles is not at all unusual especially if the vehicle has been on the lot a while and test driven by lots of people or if it was a DX'd unit that came in from another dealer say 300 or 400 miles away.
  • pmanzapmanza Member Posts: 34
    Thanks everyone for your replies. It makes me feel better to know that the small display built into the base model is adequate for most purposes if I end up not being able to afford the loaded one. Really wish i could get a base with sunroof and nav only. Now if I could just sell my car so I can get the TCH!!!
    Peggy
  • hopeful08buyerhopeful08buyer Member Posts: 1
    My main hold up on getting the hybrid was the way the batteries ate up the trunk space. Is there any hope of toyota shrinking these for 08? Also, has anyone purchased leather? If so, are you happy with the quality of it?
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    As far as the trunk goes, please don't let that turn you off to the car.

    I have taken several long (1500+ miles) trips since I bought my 2007 TCH in June 2006, and with proper planning and logistical arrangement, I have never had a problem getting everything for four people into the trunk.

    I have packed it so well that once my Grandmother, after seeing the half room of stuff I unpacked from that trunk and then viewing the empty trunk, commented "I can't believe you got all that stuff in that trunk."

    It's deceptively larger than it looks.

    Honestly speaking, I think that if the smallish trunk size can be the deciding factor, then I don't think the car is right for you. You are not seeing the entire vehicle but are looking at one minor shortcoming which can be easily overcome with some good planning.

    Can't comment on the leather since I bought the base model.
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