2009, 2010, or 2012 hybrid ??

[motor-hybrid]

Smart thing to do is get a used 2009 or 2010 camry hybrid. Else buy a new 2012 camry xle hybrid. If I buy used I can put maybe $12,000 towards princple of the house. If I buy new I need to finance else get only $5,000 to put on house to lower outstanding balance.

I like the wheels on the 2010, seems this year had a few redesigns compared to 09 and prior though not clear on what changes they made from 09 to 10 on guage cluster. Each year that took stuff away to save money it seems.

Can do a loaded used 2009 or a base 10 (with upgraded toyota radio). Not certain it is a good idea to get first year of the camry hybrid redesign (though maybe that is wrong thinking on my part).

Will be trading in a 2010 Prius IV with 43k on it and a 2007 Highlander Limited Hybird with 25k miles on it. Don't care for the Prius V they came out with and have liked the camry hybird (2010 and prior). Sort of like the shape of the 2010 and older body style a drop more then the 2012 hybrid, personal taste I guess. The used 2010 is a color I like though frabic interior...though not certain how that 'eco-green' fabric wears and I know/think it would stain very easily. I have two doggies but it has gray plastic inside so that is a good thing I figure. Also like the 'all 4 windows auto up/down' feature available on the 2010 and 2011 model but not on the 2009.

I could simpy sell one of my current vehicles but would not want the Prius as my only driver and thinking the camry hybrid would be nice to have instead of my 07 highlander believe it or not. If I recall correctly the 2010 allows both back seats to fold down though the 2012 allows only the right side to fold.

And to toss a curve ball into the mix I read that the 2012 Camry SE offers the most bang for the buck. Not into a harder ride I would say though and would worry about some of the post on this site about how the suspenion handles rough patches of pavement. Plus that 'it is the first year of redeisign' thing. A dealer does have a used 2012 SE base model, no entune even.


Ok, if I have not confused everyone by now then input welcome and thank you in advance. As you can see I'm driving all over the road with this one...maybe like some of those new 2012 SE owners in a manner of speaking though hope most all of them are happy with their purchase. It woudl suck not to like a new car.

Thanks and ride safe.

[ukrkoz]

$12 000 towards mortgage=instant interest rate + year average 7% savings. followed by whatever $$ you save by dropping down overall interest paid. you can do what I do - dump a lot of $$ into your principal, then recast your loan, and keep paying same payment, or more (better) as you paid before. cheapest and very efficient refinancing.

oh, but yes, of course, the cars...

buying a car=instant loss. actually, it's a loss on trade in (why not to sell cash on say craigslist?) x each trade in + instant loss on vehicle purchase due to dealer markup paid and inflated price along with instant depreciation.

CARS ARE NOT INVESTMENT THEY ARE LIABILITY.

[Frodo65]

Originally Posted by motor-hybrid

Smart thing to do is get a used 2009 or 2010 camry hybrid. Else buy a new 2012 camry xle hybrid. If I buy used I can put maybe $12,000 towards princple of the house. If I buy new I need to finance else get only $5,000 to put on house to lower outstanding balance.

I like the wheels on the 2010, seems this year had a few redesigns compared to 09 and prior though not clear on what changes they made from 09 to 10 on guage cluster. Each year that took stuff away to save money it seems.

Can do a loaded used 2009 or a base 10 (with upgraded toyota radio). Not certain it is a good idea to get first year of the camry hybrid redesign (though maybe that is wrong thinking on my part).

Will be trading in a 2010 Prius IV with 43k on it and a 2007 Highlander Limited Hybird with 25k miles on it. Don't care for the Prius V they came out with and have liked the camry hybird (2010 and prior). Sort of like the shape of the 2010 and older body style a drop more then the 2012 hybrid, personal taste I guess. The used 2010 is a color I like though frabic interior...though not certain how that 'eco-green' fabric wears and I know/think it would stain very easily. I have two doggies but it has gray plastic inside so that is a good thing I figure. Also like the 'all 4 windows auto up/down' feature available on the 2010 and 2011 model but not on the 2009.

I could simpy sell one of my current vehicles but would not want the Prius as my only driver and thinking the camry hybrid would be nice to have instead of my 07 highlander believe it or not. If I recall correctly the 2010 allows both back seats to fold down though the 2012 allows only the right side to fold.

And to toss a curve ball into the mix I read that the 2012 Camry SE offers the most bang for the buck. Not into a harder ride I would say though and would worry about some of the post on this site about how the suspenion handles rough patches of pavement. Plus that 'it is the first year of redeisign' thing. A dealer does have a used 2012 SE base model, no entune even.


Ok, if I have not confused everyone by now then input welcome and thank you in advance. As you can see I'm driving all over the road with this one...maybe like some of those new 2012 SE owners in a manner of speaking though hope most all of them are happy with their purchase. It woudl suck not to like a new car.

Thanks and ride safe.

A lot depends on where you feel gas prices and the overall economy are heading.

Last couple of days, gas spiked 15-20 cents/gal over the Iran mess (or at least that was the public excuse). If that turns into a shooting war, especially if they actually drop oil supply by a significant amount, look at $6-8 /gal gas price, with the US economy going into the toilet. In my book, that would rule out the SE - with sky-high gas prices, you're better of with the Prius - and keep the cash in bank (or the Krugerrand stash in the coffee can in the back yard)..

Not knowing your mortgage situation (APR, equity,etc), paying down the mortgage may or may not be the wisest use of spare cash - with a cheap loan, having liquid assets would give more peace of mind than a few percent equity on an illiquid asset. With an expensive loan, and one that's close to payoff - well, you get the idea. The answer is IT DEPENDS.

As to the Camry question - no question that used is by far the cheapest way to go as you avoid the really painful first couple of years of depreciation. That said, Toyota did seem to have made considerable improvements with the '12 - both in terms of fuel economy and in addressing the biggest drawback of the 07-11 version, that of luggage space. The downside is that discounts seem to be hard to come by on the '12 hybrid - and paying full sticker is never a good thing for the buyer.

What's the real motivation for getting rid of current vehicles? Consolidating 2 to 1? If so, selling the HiHy may get you most bang for the buck - if you can get a decent price for it. I'll grant you that the Prius is a penalty box relative to the Camry, but with sky-high gas prices it may be one worth suffering for a couple of years - especially if the Iran mess puts us back into deeper pile of stuff.

[motor-hybrid]

All good points. If I did finance a new ride the interest rate would be half of my morgate rate so was thinking it is a way to flip some of the debt load from higher rate to a lower one plus still put a bit towards the principle.

Failed to jump on a 2012 camry hybrid and toyota seems very slow in getting them to the dealer networks in this area and the few that have them are not discounting them yet save for one place that is now out of them.

If not a new 2012 then want to hold out for a used 2010 camry hybrid with leather but none around the area right now and is it only 2010/11 with the 'auto up/down' on all four doors. I know that sounds small but it is really a nice feature one gets used to after driving a prius. Could add leather to a used 2011 so that is an option though would not get a sunroof/nav on what is around presently.

Will see what happens this weekend though presently it does not look like a new/replacement ride until after the New Year it would seem.