coolscan

Should make it ride like a farmyard dray!!

I agree with the above. I had it for 34 months and 84,000km trouble free, no rattles or squeaks. My biggest gripe was the firm ride - bordering on harsh in the HL model with 55 profile tyres. Boot smallish, but deep - rarely a problem. Good seats, great overtaking acceleration. I've changed to á Santa Fe Highlander, mainly for the higher seats - we are elderly people with bad knees! The Santa Fe is firm too, but with no harshness. Can recommend the camry hybrid to anyone, but suggest a model with 16 inch wheels. Regards, coolscan.

Hi folks, Have just this week been Mackay to Cairns and return. A/C at 24 degrees, ECO off as usual, all speed limits observed (no areas are over 100 kph and areas through towns and roadworks are slower - these slower areas improve the hybrid's fuel consumption). Averaged about 5.6 l/100km calculated. Very little wind either way. Still averaging 6.0 indicated overall, probably 6.3 in reality. For highway overtaking think V6 power. It is more than adequate - this from someone whose last car was a 2.2 twin turbo diesel with 400nm of torque. My only complaint is the firm ride on 55 profile tyres. Try the H with 60 profile. At 82,000 km it has no rattles or squeaks and has been totally reliable and trouble-free, and with the first 5 services at $130 each, very cheap to run. Wears its tyres evenly, and holds its alignment well. Regards, coolscan.

Welcome to the forum. Hope you enjoy your new car. Regards, coolscan.

Jordan, I would read that as being an alternative means of auto unlocking to the "auto unlock by putting shifter into P" when the speed sensitive auto locking is enabled. Haven't tried it though. Cheers, coolscan.

Hi, Mine is an HL, and the manual indicates that the following possibilities can be user customised: Speed sensitive auto locking ON (default) or OFF Opening the driver's door unlocks all the doors OFF (default) or ON Moving shift lever to P unlocks all doors (auto unlock by shift to P) OFF (default) or ON - I have mine set this way Moving shift lever out of P locks all doors (auto lock by shift from P) OFF (default) or ON So I don't think that feature should be a cause for concern. Cheers, coolscan

G'day, At 45K km I decided to change tyres, though could probably have got another 5K from the Bridgestone Turanza ER33's, but I have a thing about good rubber, especially with the wet season approaching (hopefully). They had worn fairly evenly but down a bit more on the shoulders than elsewhere. Now running Yokohama advan db decibel v551 215/55/R17 94W. Significantly quieter, and a better ride. While being mindful that any new tyres will feel better than a 45K km set, I think it is improved compared with when new. It is still firm of course, but seems to have lost some of that harshness at low speed. Early indications are that there will be no fuel consumption change. Not the cheapest tyres around at $220 a corner, but I had to try something to make it easier to live with. Have also had the 45K km service done. The car is trouble free so far. Best wishes to you all for 2014. Regards, Coolscan.

As Daz says, test drive one - or better still, the H and HL (different brand and profile tyres). What about the non-hybrid camry? It has a different suspension setup, and a softer ride. Regards, Coolscan.

That is normal. You may see 8 bars after a long downhii grade with the selector at B. Lots of this sort of stuff discussed onU.S. Toyota Nation Forum - most of it is a bit much for me. I just drive the thing. http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/105-camry-hybrid/ . Regards, coolscan.

Welcome MrArubaato, No I have not changed rims, as I see Stevoh and Darryl both drive H models with 16in rims and Michelin tyres standard. I've lost faith in the idea that this will help sufficiently to justify the expense. Also bags the idea I had that a change to Michelin Primacy LC's might help. As for the suspension softening in time - I'm at about 39,000km now, and that hasn't happened. Short of importing a set of U.S. spec suspension, I see no joy in the suspension path. The standard camry has a different weight and weight distribution to the hybrid, so I'd say that is unsuitable. Warranty and insurance problems would be a snag. I'll probably put up with it for another 18 months, and then get something else. Shame, because it does so many things so well. Regards, Coolscan.

Home to city is 45km.Trip in usually starts with depleted battery and cold engine. It is also against the prevailing breeze. Typically we record 5.8 to 6.2 (indicated) depending on wind strength. The return trip with the breeze and starting with charged battery and warm engine returns 4.9 to 5.6 typically. This is ECO off and A/Con at 25C. I have done this trip several times with ECO on, and remain unconvinced that it made any real difference. I suspect the best gains from ECO would be in suburban commuting, but I don't do enough of that to form an opinion. If there were no short 1km hops around the village, I think we'd be averaging about 5.7, Which is about what we get on intercity runs. Rain is hard on economy, as one would expect. Slower speeds boost economy considerably. All in all, I'm happy with our economy and like that instant acceleration available - so I'll leave ECO off. incidentally, I think the 0W-20 oil is good for about 0.2 L/100km over the 10W-30 that was in before. At current prices, that's about $90 worth of fuel service to service. Regards, David.

Hi Daz, Sounds like you're using the big accelerator movements that you are accustomed to using with ECO, where the setting compensates for the movement. It is possible to drive it with a very light foot without Eco on, to the point where fuel consumption difference is negligible. This applies to my motoring, which is biased towards highway running. Continual city use is possibly another story. We have ECO off all the time, and A/C on all the time. Currently averaging 6.0 including all the 1 km hops around the village that destroy fuel consumption. Besides if I left ECO on when Mrs.coolscan took it to town she'd probably take it to the dealer and complain of the loss of power - I don't think she knows it has an ECO switch, let alone what it does. Regards, coolscan.

You might also zero your l/100km display if you have not already done so, to eliminate any reading put on before you took delivery. Also, if you are only doing short trips, consumption will suffer, as it never fully warms up. Redards, coolscan

mightygoe, With the remote close by, a touch to the inside of the front door handle unlocks the doors. A touch to the front outside of the handle locks the doors. The boot may also be released by hand if the fob is close by. It's all in the manual. Stored positions for memory seats and mirrors can also be linked to each individual fobkey. coolscan

Kenshin X, 0w-20 synthetic oil is one of a few grades of oil recommended in the owner's handbook for the 2012 Camry Hybrid. I believe this is true of the new Mazdas and some new Hondas. Therefore, I doubt that it will cause problems. Since you obviously doubt that the 0W-20 oil that appeared on the invoice at the appropriate price was actually used, there definitely should be no problem! The vehicle is on a capped $130 service schedule, and that is what I paid. coolscan.

Had the 30,000km service last week. I requested and got 0W-20 oil, and was not charged any extra. I think my fuel consumption has improved fractionally, but it is hard to be sure. We do a lot lf highway, and weather changes fine to rainy, wind factors, and slightly cooler days all play a part. They also changed a dodgy rear shockie under warranty - no more clunking. Local service department seems very good. Regards, coolscan.

Just over 28K km and it's much the same. Running 34/33. Probably getting used to the firm ride (but not appreciating it). After 9 years of hydraulic suspension in Citroens everything seems firm. Appreciating all other aspects of the car, especially the reliability. Dazza, ask them what grade of oil they are planning to use. They put 10W-30 in mine, not too bad in N. Qld summer, but in Tassie in winter? Obviously the bulk oil they use in everything. Increases fuel consumption specially for short trips.

It seems to be a fact that in most brands the bog-standard model rides the best. It seems that as one moves up the model range, the rims become bigger and bigger, and the tyre profile lower and lower, to the detriment of ride. Potholed roads are the norm in many parts of the country, and damage to these rims and tyres is more frequent than with higher profiles: and the ride becomes HARD. I'm elderly but still average 30K km a year. I'm willing to pay extra for comfort and a few luxuries. My wife has arthritic hands, and we want powered seats (plural). Since we share the driving, memory driver seat is nice. Those things alone narrow the choices considerably, and what's left has those abominabe tyres, and probably an equally abominable (in N.Qld anyway) sunroof! Now, I'm sure we are a far from unique couple. There must be many other people out there like us, who would like a soft and comfortable ride while progressing from A to B sedately, rather than go-carting round corners at speed. Manufacturers do sports packages with stiffer suspensions - how about comfort packages with softer suspension? I still think the best riding vehicle I've had was a 1993 Falcon wagon; 14 in wheels, long wheelbase, rear semi-elliptic springs. No comment on other aspects though. As for form over function, just look at general visibility in today's designs. Look at the new Mazda 6 line. Improved engines / drivetrains, but they have produced a bigger vehicle with less boot space, and a temporary spare; and of course the top models have 19 in wheels. Toyota generally still use reasonable profile tyres, but the suspension tuning is not what many buyers expect, given the type of person who buys the product. Here endeth the rant. Regards, coolscan.

Done! coolscan

After a week of 32/31 psi I have concluded that this does improve things a bit, but believe the ride is still unduly firm. Because we are on the highway often, I have just inflated to 34/33 and will let it go down to 33/32 before topping up. A bit leery of lower pressures at highway speeds. Regards, coolscan.

After reading Steveoh's post yesterday. and knowing I had to go to town and back (45km each way), I reduced my pressures to 32 front and 31 rear. It did improve low speed compliance a little. I probably noticed less difference because I've been using 33 all round anyway. Not sure that I want to run that low a pressure on a permanent basis, but will leave it for a week or so before deciding. coolscan.

Hello again, Steveoh, I'm a great deal older than you, and I thought it was maybe just me, and that all modern cars rode like this. I have been spoiled after 9 years with a very soft riding (european) brand. I had michelin primacy LC's on my last vehicle, and they did not cause a hard ride. They did improve fuel consumption over the Dunlops (? SP Sport) they replaced by almost 10%. So a set of tyres with soft sidewalls might improve the ride a bit, but will probably cost an extra $350 over 40K km in fuel. Unfortunately, if the chosen tyres did not soften the ride sufficiently, one would have 40k km or more to regret it. Messing with the suspension is not really an option, so may have to learn to live with it, and go shopping again in 3 years. Regards, coolscan.

This thread is prompted by an Australian owner posting on U.S. Camry Hybrid site. I don't know if he follows this forum. My HL handles big hits very well, but at slow speeds every ripple and irregularity is transmitted. It is the only real gripe I have about it. It is just TOO FIRM !! Tuned for Australian tastes? Whose? Perhaps the motoring journalists, who praise a vehicle if they can go fast and flat through a corner, despite a ride like a go-kart. I cannot believe that the majority of Camry Hybrid owners want this sort of compromise. It gets wearing after 23K km in 8 months. TOYOTA, are you READING THIS? And don't start me on low profile tyres on luxury models with no choice of higher profile. Do their marketing / design people ever drive outside the capital cities? Now I have that rant out of my system, I would request my fellow hybrid owners to comment on their feeling about the ride, stating at the same time whether they drive the H (with 60 profile michelins on 16 in rims), or HL (with 55 profile Turanzas on 17 in rims). I am clinging to the idea that I may be able to improve things a bit by going to Michelin Primacy LC, perhaps even changing to 16 in rims. Thank you in advance - coolscan

Sorry, meant to be in Hybrid section. Will re-post there.

zn7726, I have not changed the oil, and do not intend to do so as it would not be cost effective. However, I shall ask questions prior to next service. Indicated fuel consumption in the first few minutes of any journey is definitely higher than pre-service. I suspect overall consumption has slipped a little, but it is hard to be sure what to blame because it is much hotter lately, so the A/C is working harder. Also, every trip to town is different, with differing traffic conditions and variations in waiting times at the kilometers of highway roadworks. The other day the A/C ran the battery from 4 or 5 bars down to blue just sitting waiting for the stop-go person to let us through. I'd guess 0.2 l/100km would pull it up, hence not cost effective to change. Regards, coolscan.