2007 camry hybrid 10 min drive - trying for all E-mode

[jetttstream]

This is my first post!

Here is a quick video I made today recording my attempt at hypermiling on a deserted street in Mexico....

I'm getting quite good at keeping the Camry Hybrid in EV / E-Mode. I love this vehicle.

I'm averaging 38mpg right now with mixed city and highway driving with 2 adults and 2 children.

Next up is a Enginer Kit to shoot for 1000-mile tanks on the Camry Hybrid!

I hope you enjoy the video--and yes the roads (in Mexico) are bumpy as heck!

-Mike

Shut down sequence "Excellent"

http://youtu.be/B6TByQOsyKI

~10 min drive in mostly E-mode

http://youtu.be/Uw43zPY_6zc

[Aptos Driver]

Were you holding the camera with your teeth?

[ukrkoz]

what the heck is Enginer Kit?

[ukrkoz]

found it.

http://www.enginer.us/

so, it's roughly $2000 upgrade, plus 4 hrs pro install, or eight hrs DIY with an option of messing up HSD. I'll round it up to $2500 with pro install at $120/hr labor.

right now, mine does about 38 mpg, and climbing, as warmth finally came back( she did 42.5 last summer). gallon of gas is $3.8 here. that's 10 cents a mile. mine does about 560 miles before refills. if i do 1000 miles on tank, that's roughly 450 miles difference, or x 10 cents, $45. $2500 : $45 = 56 tankfuls. at current rate, i fill up twice a month. with doubled mileage, it will take one refill per month. or, 56 : 12 = roughly 5 years of driving to offset the cost of that gizmo.

considering that winter time mileage goes significantly down, i'd safely extend that period of time to 6 years. i will most likely not own that car in 6 years. i drive about 20 000 miles a year, x 6 years, will put her into current 60 000 miles, plus hypothetical 120 000 miles to offset the cost, total 180 000 miles. no, don't think so..

of course, gas may be 5 bucks next year. but then again, hybrid wars already started, after Germans and Koreans stepped into that market. I'd say, it will be more feasible to buy a new, more mileage efficient hybrid vehicle in about 2 years, than to upgrade what i have now. ( I have my ways of buying cars that makes it more efficient)

terribly sorry. all my calculations are wrong. i glanced at their front page, where it said: starting from $1995. in reality, for Prius, starting price is $3495 for 4KWH Kit
and that's for Prius!! which is a much smaller car. no, no, forget it. too expensive and takes toomuch time to offset cost.

[danealle]

I wouldn't put that on a 2007 car. Your car will be 10 years old before you actually save enough gas money to justify the cost of the unit.

[jetttstream]

Originally Posted by danealle

I wouldn't put that on a 2007 car. Your car will be 10 years old before you actually save enough gas money to justify the cost of the unit.

Justify the cost perhaps to you---but to *me* I am the one buying it.

What I mean is I have spent a lot more than $3500 on previous vehicles--it's my hobby and what I do.

Those vehicles all go 'fast', and it was fun, that is what the goal was.

The goal for this vehicle is to spend less time at the pump. Everyone takes this as trying to save money, and you are never saving money when modifying a car.

Everyone with a PHEV thinks it will 'pay for itself' eventually, probably not.

BUT--when did a supercharger or radio or wheels 'pay for itself'? never.

When is modifying a car fun? typically always for those who like to do it.

I'm *not* doing it to 'save' money. I'm doing it to see if I can hit 800, 900, or 1000 miles on one tank, something many people just don't do in any vehicle.

That's all, nothing more nothing less.

Again if you'd want to save money you'd buy a $1000 beater and live close to the office

-Mike

[danealle]

You're funny. Getting 900 miles to a tank doesn't make the car faster. Buy a vette and spend the money on gas instead of a gas saving device that costs more than the gas savings will ever add up to...senseless. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it LOL

[jetttstream]

Danealle,

respectfully, please read before posting

I was saying that previous cars were made to go faster...to realize their potential.

This car was to drive longer on the same tank utilizing it's potential as a hybrid.

That is all. Please if you stick to a story, read the print before signing on the dotted line.

I enjoy the camry hybrid as a hybrid, and if I can go 900 miles vs 500, I think that is a benefit.

How long will it take you to recoup the cost of your smoked LED taillights and smoked headlight covers? Or when is the payoff of your 20% tint? That is the point I'm trying to make--you did those mods b/c you *wanted* to, no?

Maybe the above example will hit it home for ya. I hope so!

-Mike

[danealle]

You need to chill out man. The sticking to a story is a country music lyric from a funny song...LOL at the end of a post means it's a joke.. you must be new to the internet, lighten up, life is short! LOL

FYI LED lights use less battery power and there will never be a need to replace a bulb in my car's lifetime, smoked headlight covers are made of thick protective film that will eliminate the need to ever replace a scratched or chipped cover, Tinted windows use less air conditioning and no need for sunscreen that can get very expensive. I live in Texas it's very sunny and hot here.

By the way..FYI means "for your information" I'm pretty sure you didn't know that since you also didn't know the other facts I just enlightened you about.

On what planet would the statement " 900 miles to a tank doesn't make a car faster" not be a joke? I never want to go there I can tell you! I think Walmart has senses of humor on sale this week, go get one, LOL

[jetttstream]

I'm familiar with that horrible song. Maybe quote Brooks and Dunn next time instead.

[danealle]

I bet your wife wants to smack you on a daily basis