08 or 09 camry hybrid experience?

[nicokpe]

We are interested in customers who have bought either a 2008 or 2009 Camry Hybrid. Gas mileage. Other. Anything really, since we are thinking of getting possibly one.

[hoser]

I have owned both and wonder if you would be better off with a 4 cyl. Camry. If you do any freeway or highway driving you are carrying a lot of extra weight with the batteries. Mileage will still be very good.

[charlie98]

Originally Posted by nicokpe

We are interested in customers who have bought either a 2008 or 2009 Camry Hybrid. Gas mileage. Other. Anything really, since we are thinking of getting possibly one.

I have had my '08 for 10 days. Love how quiet it is. In the city I'm always watching to see if I'm on the battery. Acceleration - what's that? If gas mileage is a major concern look at a Prius, the TCH is about low emissions.

[coolshock1]

I wouldn't say that. After 3 tanks I am averaging 36mpg and it is only going to getting better.

[lowincash]

is the acceleration from a standstill better than the regular 4cyl camry's?

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by lowincash

is the acceleration from a standstill better than the regular 4cyl camry's?

Yes. It'll beat the 4 cylinder but lose to the V6 so think of it as the in-between model or like a more powerful 4 cylinder (like the Accord with the 170hp and 190hp 4 cylinder versions)

[Mr. Toyota]

It will move out fairly well if you really put your foot in it, but under more "normal" throttle input it is relatively sedate to say the least. Of course, moderate acceleration is conducive to good mileage so that's the way to go anyway...
Part of it is perception IMO, since the CVT makes the acceleration process seem a bit unusual compared to a traditional auto trans. Not saying it's bad, just takes some getting used to.
All things considered,I am very pleased with my purchase and would do it again in a heartbeat! Just be sure to test drive one thoroughly and be honest with yourself about the "performance" vs. mileage trade-off.
Just my .02...

[razol]

TCH is about low emissions

I do not agree. I really don't care about low emissions. To me it was about finding a fuel efficient car that I can fit my family into. The size and the styling of the prius were both unappealing to me.

[Mr. Toyota]

Actually, the TCH is about both low emissions and fuel economy...they kind of go hand in hand. Both are a good thing of course, but for me the mileage was the deciding factor (my Lexus is very clean burning too but only gets about 16-20 mpg).

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by razol

I do not agree. I really don't care about low emissions. To me it was about finding a fuel efficient car that I can fit my family into. The size and the styling of the prius were both unappealing to me.

True but it's still low emissions. It's an AT-PZEV.

Originally Posted by Mr. Toyota

Actually, the TCH is about both low emissions and fuel economy...they kind of go hand in hand. Both are a good thing of course, but for me the mileage was the deciding factor (my Lexus is very clean burning too but only gets about 16-20 mpg).

Kinda and yeah, your example is a good one. Another is the LSh. It's decent FE (in absolute terms) but emissions is outstanding for a large, heavy vehicle.

[Pipemajor]

Why not '07 TCH owners? We've had ours now for just a few days shy of a year. Shoot, we even got the hybrid tax benefit. Virtually no change between the '07 and '09 models save that the newer offerings are a bit stripped down from ours.

Overall we're very satisfied with ours. Economy was important but not the overriding factor. Low emissions was certainly important but not the single reason. I'd have to say the combination of reliability, economy, emissions, safety, comfort and value "drove" us to our decision.

Biggest disappointments are trunk space and dash rattles and squeaks. I understand there is a TSB which takes care of the dash rattles so that will be taken care of during our next scheduled maintenance.

[50thwhite]

Originally Posted by razol

I do not agree. I really don't care about low emissions. To me it was about finding a fuel efficient car that I can fit my family into. The size and the styling of the prius were both unappealing to me.

Wow, I have never heard of anyone that actually liked dirty air. You don't care about low emissions? I'm hope there aren't too many people that feel that way.

[KnappAttack]

We have had our 08 TCH for over 7000 miles now and love the car. We broke it in with bursts of full throttle to seat the rings good, just as I have done with every new vehicle we buy. It really moves out well. Harder break in like this will give you more power and fuel mileage down the road. With easy break in, the rings will not seat as well and the engine will be down a bit on power. Over the winter here in MN, the worst mileage we saw was 32 MPG. Now that spring is here, we're up to 40 MPG, just driving normal. Really like the ride, quietness and the fuel mileage of the vehicle. Also the convenience of the push button starting. I wanted my wife to have all the features my 2005 Audi A6 has.

Now for the bad. We bought the loaded TCH with Bluetooth, navigation and all the other trinkets. The Bluetooth, voice recognition and navigation SUCK! You can't input anything into the nav. when your moving, the bluetooth is very poor even after going in and changing the volume on the mic, people on the other end of the phone can not hear you decent. Have tried 4 phones with the Toyota system and it's poor at best. My wife has quit using it and gone back to putting the phone to her ear again. We bought a disc to override the navigation and use 7.1 on it. The latest version available, and I can not believe how bad the whole navigation system is. It won't finish sending you to a destination, the roads are not even named correctly and you'll be lucky to input your destination into the system. It is so frustrating to use. It pales in comparison to the MMI and navigation in the 05 Audi. I thought the Japanese electronics would excel over the electronics in the Audi. It doesn't, the Toyota system is not even close. These features were important to us, and we feel very letdown by them not functioning to there potential. At leas the push button start works. Just don't leave it, or any interior lights on, as it has no battery protection mode.

[Pipemajor]

Originally Posted by KnappAttack

We have had our 08 TCH for over 7000 miles now and love the car. We broke it in with bursts of full throttle to seat the rings good, just as I have done with every new vehicle we buy. It really moves out well. Harder break in like this will give you more power and fuel mileage down the road. With easy break in, the rings will not seat as well and the engine will be down a bit on power.

I disagree. That may have been a valid break-in process 20-30 years ago but not today. Metallurgy, CNC manufacturing and lubrication have all advanced making traditional break-in techniques obsolete. Just follow the manufacturer's recommended process.

Now for the bad. We bought the loaded TCH with Bluetooth, navigation and all the other trinkets. The Bluetooth, voice recognition and navigation SUCK! You can't input anything into the nav. when your moving, the bluetooth is very poor even after going in and changing the volume on the mic, people on the other end of the phone can not hear you decent. Have tried 4 phones with the Toyota system and it's poor at best. My wife has quit using it and gone back to putting the phone to her ear again. We bought a disc to override the navigation and use 7.1 on it. The latest version available, and I can not believe how bad the whole navigation system is. It won't finish sending you to a destination, the roads are not even named correctly and you'll be lucky to input your destination into the system. It is so frustrating to use. It pales in comparison to the MMI and navigation in the 05 Audi. I thought the Japanese electronics would excel over the electronics in the Audi. It doesn't, the Toyota system is not even close. These features were important to us, and we feel very letdown by them not functioning to there potential. At leas the push button start works. Just don't leave it, or any interior lights on, as it has no battery protection mode.

Our TCH didn't come with navigation but we did get the standard (in '07) JBL 440 watt sound system with Bluetooth. At times the Bluetooth has worked OK, others it hasn't.

For Navigation I got a standalone Garmin Nuvi 660 which I really like. It was also quite a bit cheaper than the factory Nav.

[regal1945]

Originally Posted by Pipemajor

I disagree. That may have been a valid break-in process 20-30 years ago but not today. Metallurgy, CNC manufacturing and lubrication have all advanced making traditional break-in techniques obsolete. Just follow the manufacturer's recommended process.

Our TCH didn't come with navigation but we did get the standard (in '07) JBL 440 watt sound system with Bluetooth. At timest the Bluetooth has worked OK, others it hasn't.

For Navigation I got a standalone Garmin Nuvi 660 which I really like. It was also quite a bit cheaper than the factory Nav.

I agree this person is dating himself with iinfo like that. in this day in age the rings seat the first fifty miles

As far as the Navigation unit he is rite it sucks big time.