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UNLOCK ALL THE HIDDEN FEATURES OF YOUR NAVIGATION SCREEN!!!
UNBLOCK VIDEO AND AUDIO INPUTS!
REMOVE "I AGREE" SCREEN
UNBLOCK DESTINATION ADDRESS INPUTS
UNBLOCK TOUCH SCREEN SCROLLING ON MAP
UNBLOCK BLUETOOTH PHONE NUMBER ENTRY
UNBLOCK FACTORY DVD PLAYERS
THE LOCKPICK features fully automatic detection of all factory equipment and goes to work unblocking each. Need an input for your DVD or VIDEO IPOD? NO PROBLEM!
Installation is made for the do-it-yourself installer with simple plug-in connectors!
EASY TO PUT IN AND EASY TO TAKE OUT SO YOU CAN PUT IT IN YOUR NEXT TOYOTA/LEXUS
Information and demo videos are here:
http://www.coastaletech.com/LOCKPICK_MAIN.htm
They also have an iPod interface that appears to be what I've been looking for. It's here:
http://www.coastaletech.com/ULTIMATE%20IPOD.htm
I'm not affiliated with the company, I'm just looking for information on them and whether their products do what they say they do. If so, I'll be a customer.
Having had youngsters from a long term practicality perspective, if you have a need for 2 car seats......get yourself a minivan. Space to haul stuff, other kids, travelling, ease of entry/exit, etc, can't beat them.
1). Overall - The impressions are very good, and gas mileage was 34MPG with A/C on for the entire trip to western NY - mostly highway driving, but some city driving. This is with 4 adults aboard along with luggage. Speeds on the interstates typically varied from 65 to 75 MPH.
2). Interior - Seat comfort (see below) is very good for long driving stretches, and we covered around 600 miles to our destination in western NY from central IL in one day's driving. The dash is assembly is quite large, and I noticed some metallic resonance emanating from the gauge cluster area at various engine RPMs. Not a rattle per se, but a resonance dependent on engine speed. Occasionally, the driver's seat would squeak, but it would disappear after a short time. No other abnormal noises were noted from the interior.
3). Trunk - Having rented the previous generation of Camry many times, I missed the extra cu.ft. provided by the old Camry design. And, the exposed goose-neck hinges on the 2007 Camry is a step backward in my opinion. We had to carefully position the luggage to keep it from interfering with the hinges.
4). Brakes - The 4-wheel disc brakes on the SE are excellent with perfect modulation and excellent feel.
5). Handling - The SE handled very well, and the ride comfort was most acceptable. Certainly, it was firmer than the LE, but the extra control was welcome. The suspension was firm, but not harsh even over rough two-lane roads.
6). Engine - The 2.4L 4-cylinder engine has plenty of power and acceleration for most normal use, even with the load we carried. Plus, it's an exceptionally smooth engine. The only time I wished for the power and torque of the V6 was in the hills and mountains of NY and PA. I could easily live with the 4-cylinder. Gas mileage was excellent with an overall average of 34MPG. For example, on the return drive, we filled the tank in Erie, PA and drove to central IL witout stopping for fuel. Excellent cruising range . . .
7). Transmission - Most of the time, the 5-speed automatic shifted smoothly, but forget using the cruise control in hilly or mountainous terrain. While going up a fairly miminal grade in Ohio, the cruise control shifted down at least two gears, as the RPM went from 1,900RPM to 5,000RPM in a blink of an eye. On a level terrain it was perfectly fine, but I ended up not using the cruise most of the time, especially while in NY and PA. I think Toyota has a firmware issue here. Otherwise, I did not experience any of the spiking problems noted in this forum, and the drive-by-wire system felt quite natural.
8). Visability - In comparison to the previous generation Camry, the 2007 does not have as good side-to-side visability. With the headrests properly adjusted, and four adults in the car, I found myself straining with some blind spots unlike in the old Camry.
9). Headrests (or, more specifically, head restraints) - As previously mentioned in this forum, they do lean forward a bit as they are active head restraints, and I did have to get used to this. Over time, however, it was fine, and not troublesome at all.
10). Seats - Very comfortable for long drives, and very adjustable. I never experienced any lower back pain even with 5 to 6 hour continuous streches on the road.
11). Audio System - It may be my imagination, but it doesn't seem like the standard audio system has quite as good a "sound" as the previous generation's system. And, I noticed that the embedded antenna caused some signal fading, especially on marginal FM stations and on AM when you change directions. And, I must say, I'm not totally sold on the color of the gauge and audio lighting either. The analogous "Timex IndiGlo Blue" is not quite to my taste.
Interestingly, the rental SE did not have a moonroof. In our section of the country, it's impossible to purchase an SE without the moonroof option. Too bad, as I would prefer one without the moonroof.
Would I buy one? Most certainly, however, I would wait to see if they sort out the automatic transmission and cruise control quirks. At first, I didn't like the exterior of the new Camry, but now that I lived with it for a bit, it's actually quite attractive. Maybe it just has to grow on you! However, I still don't like the front end/grille design - I guess it's the new Toyota corporate sedan look along with the Yaris. I wonder if the new Corolla will have the same nose??
That's the difference between the V6 and the 4. I just made a similar trip from Indiana all the way across I-80 to NYC and back across I-90 thru New York. Cruise on all the way and my 3.3 liter V6 (2005 SE) never downshifted once, even on the longest grades in PA. At 72-73 mph where I set the cruise, rpms are 2400.
I averaged 27.5 mpg for the entire 2500 miles, 28.5 or better on tanks that were all freeway. I used premium which gave me about 2 mpg more than regular has.
Premium gas doesn't improve your fuel economy, or increase power - it only helps to reduce detonation/pre-ignition in high compression engines.
Seriously, though...
I suspect that your car falls into the category of "vehicles designed for premium fuel", or at least "vehicles capable of taking advantage of premium fuel". What does the manual actually say? Does it recommend premium?
And I always question emprical evidence that isn't gathered in a laboratory. There are simply two many variables in the real world to be able to claim an improvement of 2mpg.
My manual (07 Camry Hybrid) simply states that you must use a minimum of 87 octane.
My sources:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2003-07-30-premiumgas_x.htm
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/041008.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/08/02/earlyshow/saturday/main517335.shtml
http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/19/pf/saving/willis/index.htm
Are you saying that driving 2500+ miles and recording gallons used at every fillup (9 in total) is not going to accurately measure fuel economy?
I did this as an experiment. I'm satisfied with the results and my data says my mileage increased due to the use of premium. I will freely admit that I didn't save any money but it didn't cost me anything either due to the increased mileage. Psychologically, I prefer to think that I can get 28+ mpg rather than the 26 I have always gotten using regular.
Btw, what kind of mileage does your hybrid get in steady freeway cruising at 65 mph or above?
I stand by my earlier statement - if you car doesn't require or recommend premium fuel, you are wasting your money by buying the premium!
And my mileage on my Camry Hybrid thus far (on the highway) with the cruise set around 70 is about 38-39 mpg. I am only on my third tank, but I have found that the sweet spot for cruising is around 60-63 mph. I took a fairly long trip (200 miles) on some 55mph two-lane highways, and my trip average for that segment was about 43mpg! I love the car.
I'm not spiff72, but suffer another armchair observation. Your point about increased mileage and power is true since virtually all current engine production for North American passenger car use includes knock sensors to advance ignition curves to the maximum consistent with the grade of gasoline in use. Most online sources attribute ~3 more horsepower at the driving wheels when premium unleaded is used. If we speculate that the increase is somewhere around 5 hp at the engine output shaft before parasitic losses in the transmission/differential occur, the Camry V6's nominal 268 hp might measure in the neigborhood of 273 hp. That translates to a munificent 1.86% and change increase. Folded over to Toyota's published fuel economy figures of 22/31 mpg, city/highway, that translates to an equally munificent 22.4/31.58 mpg. While you and others may disagree with me where the rubber meets the road, I don't find that paltry improvement worthy of an extra 20 cents/gallon where my wallet meets the cashier.
I would never have disputed that statement.
Is the much smaller hybrid trunk (about 10 cu ft vs 16 for the regular Camry) a problem for you?
Not sure if the Camry is the same or not. For me these days, I happily pay the dealer $25 for the oil change and multiple inspections that my local dealers do at the same time.
In turbocharged engines with APC systems, using a higher octane fuel increases HP and Torque output, as the engine management changes the turbo's boost. Of course, this is not the case here.
you think the CE manual is rare, try the SE!! I have a Barcelona Red SE in a manual that I picked up in April. Had to order it and wait 5 wks. I was told 7 wks so I was very happy to get is sooner. The shifter is OK for me, not different than other manual cars that I have driven. It is definitely more fun to drive!! The CE is slightly different as far interior styling and certain features and of course no ground effects, but you can always add that later although the money you are going to spend for that you are better off going with the SE, which you will most likely have to order. If you live near PA you can try fitz auto mall, they had a few manual SE in stock.
good luck!!
The Accord V6 specifies regular but I've seen posts that Honda engineers have said using premium ups the hp by about 10.
It would be interesting to know how many manual Accord V6 sedans Honda is selling now that they are offering that combo. I'd bet it's in the low single digits percent-wise.
Welcome to the 21st century!
I wonder if this isn't a conscious decision to make it more difficult for the DIYer?
I didn't question it's use back then, because of the diesel technology and the absolutely black filthy used oil. Seemed they needed every bit of filter as possible.
I haven't looked at the size of the Camry 6cyl filter, but being able to have a large filter might be the advantage and the reason to use an internal canister.
Oil Filter Element: 04152-YZZA1
Gasket for oil plug: 90430-12031
Toyota Camry: Prices Paid & Buying Experience
No one should pay more than $300 over dealer invoice (non Hybrid) unless they choose to.
It's easy and it's been documented by many in that forum.
That description fits the V6 automatics.
The I4 is a gated shifter that allows you to select a lower gear (down to 1st) or the highest gear that you want the transmission to shift automatically up into.
2007 Camry LE 4 cyl Manual Trannie
with installed options:
Sunroof
Sunroof wind deflector
Leather seats
Aluminum Wheels with locks
Tinted windows
Vehicle Sheild Package
For $22,600
Also, has anyone seen the Sky Blue Pearl color???? I can't find it on any lot and have only seen the pics on Toyota's website. I am wondering how accurate the color is there. I am wondering if this is a pretty color.
Any help is GREATLY appreciated. I am willing to travel to get one if I have to.h