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Changes You'd Like To See in the Toyota Camry Hybrid
Have an idea to build a better TCH? This is the place to spell out your idea!
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Gripe: why isn't the bisque interior available with the Titanium exterior? This seems to be a feature distinguishing Toyota from Lexus...or even the Camry from the Avalon.
Yup...if Lexus does an ES350 hybrid with a 2.5l V-6, I'd probably buy it...but if they do something counterproductive like the GS450H (emphasizing performance instead of balanced performance/economy), I won't.
For now, the TCH for me.
I don't like the light gray interior, not on a TCH or any other vehicle. I would have rather seen Charcoal as the standard like my 4Runner has. However I also really like my leather in brown and that's what I wanted, so I was hoping my TCH would be red with brown interior. I love the titanium that I ended up with, just not the ash and that is all that is available (except we have seen where someone got bisque?).
Personally I have never thought that the bisque really went well with the grey and silver colors and while I would rather have bisque, I would not have wanted it with the titanium exterior. Personal taste I guess, to each their own.
I did put black all weather mats (instead of grey) in and that seems to break up the drap light grey look somewhat.
I don't particulary care for fake wood (or fake anything for what that's worth)and I looked at some of the seconday market kits. That much wood on a light grey interior looked way overdone. I think I would only want a few trim pieces at best rather than a whole kit. For mine, if I ever do anything I will probably go with a carbon fiber look as I think the darker accents will look better.
ok, seriously? More trunk room would be nice. Maybe sacrifice the spare and get run flats? Different battery placement? Shelves? I find I have to put stuff in the back seat instead of the trunk.
tom
The rear suspension needs improvement : With 4 adults and child, no luggage, mine bounces three times over each bump. I imagine the same will happen with onboard with their luggage.
Pipedream : When battery cells get better, we'll be able to cruise without the ICE at 50 mph, and the battery will still last for more than 8 years. 10 years away ?
Also, I would like light on the vanity mirrors.
The ECO button should be in a more visible/accesible spot.
The cruise control should be part of the steering wheel, the current look/position is obsolete for this type of car.
*lighted power window switches and vent buttons
*lighted door lock mechanisms (maybe just lighting when the car isn't moving?)
*sliding arm rest
*power outlet in trunk
*better front seat thigh support
*separate dimmer for stereo/climate control
*separate lights for "master" cruise vs cruise "engaged"
Way out there:
*Do we really still need a dip stick to check the oil? Can't that be measured automatically and reported on the dash?
I think there should be some sort of emergency override available to get you to a station. There are times when a person would rather damage the batter than be stranded, for instance if stranded means you're out walking at night on the freeway with small children, or something like that.
"Anyway, today the car ran out of gas at 613 miles. I tried to accelerate, and the engine did not kick in. Fortuitously, I was a few hundred feet from a gas station at that moment, and just glided in with the electric motor to the pump."
Your wish has already been fulfilled.
1. As in the Prius -- a back-up camera for a TCH equipped with Nav
2. Separate dimmer for Nav/stereo/climate control
3. As standard - Michelin tires instead of Bridgestone
Guess I got lucky, my loaded TCH in Desert Sand, which i picked up yesteday, has the Michelins.
Too new to comment on the other changes I would like.
The 3 choices right now are "Quickest 1", Quickest 2" and "Shortest". How about changing "Quickest 2" to a "Most FE".
While it takes a few steps to change, the NAV system allows you to have a day / night setting as well as contrast and brightness controls for the monitor.
Unfortunately I do not have NAV, wish I did.
Also add a low and high setting to the seat heaters.
Some people actually enjoy shifting.
I like the Toyota Camry Hybrid and would have bought one if it had been avaialble with a manual transmission.
Just my opinion,
MidCow
MidCow
Take away the "vitually useless" trunk pass through hole and folding back seats.
Instead, use that space for additional battery capacity, add an EV Mode force switch, and give me 10 miles or so in EV mode under 40 MPH for my city street commute.
MidCow,
The point of hybrids is to get better MPG (except for those "high performance" models, which are tuned for better performance). Having a manual transmission would not give predictable MPG when used with a hybrid system. The HSD is tuned to utilize the electric and gas power in such a manner as to maximize MPG. They do this by varying the transmission power source and ratios - by programming the computer to "shift" the drive ratios continuously. Toyota can't program drivers to do a similar thing.
(Not to techies - please don't bother responding about the details of the HSD and not having "gears" or being a "transmission". )
primo2: On my other car (Highlander with aftermarket sunroof), when you turn the key off, the sunroof closes without any other action by the driver. If you want to leave it open for some reason, you just hit the open button before it completes closing.
But yes, I agree the Toyota HSD system is simlar to a CVT automatic ( evn though uses planetary sun gear and MG1 MG1, drive wheels and ICE input) in its current form is not ammenable to a manual transmission.
But think about it what are the functional components of all ICE/electric hybrid systems?
(1) A traction battery to drive the electric motor.
(2) An electric motor that augments ICE and in some case can run independent.
(3) Energy recovery from braking . Generating electricity to charge traction battery
The transmission CVT, x-speed auto or x-speed manual is not really a direct part of the hybrid system. if you think-out-of-the-box is is possible that Toyota could come up with a manual shift diesel Yaris that would get 100 mpg or even a manual shift Camry that would get 70 mpg. I would wait in line for either or both of those cars.
YOMV,
MidCow
P.S. Like the style of the new Camry
Just because I wanted FE does not mean I didn't want the SE looks and handling.
Factory tinted glass would be great! I have refused to use add on tint over the years. I just can't stand bubbles or streaks and scratches. Laminated darker glass would be appreciated. I realize many states have laws but even mine allows a specific % tint. If nothing else add it as an option to the southern cars and not as a dealer add on. It needs to be laminated.
My car is loaded and other than "dressing up" the interior with softer materials and more upscale trim there is not a lot to do to it other than make it look better with trim.
Exterior wise I find the car attractive but would have liked the SE trim package (even if it cost me some FE).
The TPMS needs to be standardized across the industry to lower the costs. I'd like to have a winter and summer set of wheels and tires but don't want to spend $300 to $400 on an extra set of monitors. Wouldn't mind doing it if they were a lot cheaper.
I would like more sound deadening materials. I believe to emphasize how quiet the car is at a stop, it would be nice to have it quiet while I'm driving as well. The road and wind noise is acceptable but it's far from quiet. many will say crank up the stereo, but all you're doing there is over riding the noise with louder noise. That has toaffect the quality of the music. I'd like to be able to listen to music and talk while driving.
Add FOG LIGHTS or Leave out the funky little black grill altogehter. Paint it to color or put a smooth bumper on the TCH.
HID Headlights. A car that can run on electric should have a decent set of lights. These are not bad, they just are not as good as most I've had lately.
1.Better brakes with a shorter stopping distance. Granted this is a feature you may only need once...but you will certainly wish you had it if the time comes.
2. Foldable sideview mirrors.
3. Fog lights
4. A smarter Hybrid synergy system - I know people say it follows a complicated algorithm for how it draws its power, but from the driver seat the system just seems confused at times.
5. More power AND better gas mileage (why not this is a wishlist)
I don't really like gray and it needs something to set it off. I did put black all weather Toyota floor mats in place of the gray carpet and that helps some. Charcoal instead of gray would have been a better choice in my opinion.
Interior color choices are not what they used to be, are they. Not many RED dashboards out there any more!
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Have an idea to build a better TCH? This is the place to spell out your idea!
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