Toyota Camry Hybrid or No Hybrid?

Cal Poly Woly · 05-02-06, 04:52 PM

Checking out the new Toyota Camry models and I am in love. Going to give a test drive this sunny weekend. This will be the first brand new car (owned 2 pre-owned/used cars before). The hybrid model is four grand more expensive than the regular v4 engine model. And because of the skyrocketing gasoline price, I am considering the hybrid.
1. Is it a better and economical decision in my part?
2. Hybrid technology is fairly new. Is hybrid engine known to last a very long time? Planning to hold on to this car for ten years.

sideline · 05-02-06, 07:23 PM

The gas savings for the hybrid depends a lot on the type of driving you will do. If its mostly stop and go the hybrid is good. If its mostly on freeways during non-rush hour the gas only might get better mileage. Check the sticker for city versus highway mpg for both models.

Economically you have to wonder about the savings with the hybrid. You can burn lots of gas for $4,000. But if you care for the environment you should consider the one that will get the best mileage for the type of driving you anticipate doing in the next ten years.

**PandaMoOo** · 05-02-06, 09:07 PM

1. Economics depends on your driving style. You generally get better gas mileage, but you gotta drive a lot for THAT to be worth it. The more you drive, the more the hybrid will pay off. I have not seen any statisitics saying that driving on the freeway is WORSE milage, if anything its not a radical difference. The city driving MPG is a radical difference though.

2. Hybrid vehicles costs over the years have not really been determined yet. Hybrid vehicles are new in concept, but the technology is nothing new. The big question in my mind is "how much are replacement batteries?" After 5?7?10? years you'll need to replace the batteries. I don't know how much those cost, and no one really knows... because the mass market is not replacing it yet.

With gas prices expected to rise... i'd do some calculations. Look into any federal tax deductions for buying a hybrid. Not sure if those are still up or not.

Cal Poly Woly · 05-03-06, 01:54 AM

Thanks for the replies. The pros and incentives of purchasing the hybrid is the efficient gas consumption, carpool lane priviledge, and the tax deduction. But according to IRS only 60000 hybrids will qualify for each manufacture and Toyota must've sold above that figure because of the Prius craze. I might be wrong. I have not thought about the vehicle cost over the years, like the engine replacement and maintenance fees and sure dont want to get overcharged with expensive service charges. Thanks for the thought.

lwong81 · 05-03-06, 07:35 AM

A new civic have better mpg than the camry I think. And with a hybrid civic, you can drive in the car pool lane (not sure about the camry, but the hybrid accord cant, because it dont have a high enough mpg).

***Admin*** · 05-03-06, 01:11 PM

If MPG is the #1 factor in your purchase decision, I recommend the Toyota Prius because of its excellent MPG consumption.
But you also can't beat the resale value, the dependability, interior size, the redesign, and great amenities that the 2007 Toyota Camry has to offer. Good luck in your purchase.

05-02-06, 04:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cal Poly Woly Newcomer Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 17	Toyota Camry Hybrid or No Hybrid? Checking out the new Toyota Camry models and I am in love. Going to give a test drive this sunny weekend. This will be the first brand new car (owned 2 pre-owned/used cars before). The hybrid model is four grand more expensive than the regular v4 engine model. And because of the skyrocketing gasoline price, I am considering the hybrid. 1. Is it a better and economical decision in my part? 2. Hybrid technology is fairly new. Is hybrid engine known to last a very long time? Planning to hold on to this car for ten years.

05-02-06, 09:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
PandaMoOo GCP.com Admin Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 401	1. Economics depends on your driving style. You generally get better gas mileage, but you gotta drive a lot for THAT to be worth it. The more you drive, the more the hybrid will pay off. I have not seen any statisitics saying that driving on the freeway is WORSE milage, if anything its not a radical difference. The city driving MPG is a radical difference though. 2. Hybrid vehicles costs over the years have not really been determined yet. Hybrid vehicles are new in concept, but the technology is nothing new. The big question in my mind is "how much are replacement batteries?" After 5?7?10? years you'll need to replace the batteries. I don't know how much those cost, and no one really knows... because the mass market is not replacing it yet. With gas prices expected to rise... i'd do some calculations. Look into any federal tax deductions for buying a hybrid. Not sure if those are still up or not. __________________ -PandaMoOo- www.GradeCalPoly.com

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05-02-06, 07:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
sideline Newcomer Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 13	The gas savings for the hybrid depends a lot on the type of driving you will do. If its mostly stop and go the hybrid is good. If its mostly on freeways during non-rush hour the gas only might get better mileage. Check the sticker for city versus highway mpg for both models. Economically you have to wonder about the savings with the hybrid. You can burn lots of gas for $4,000. But if you care for the environment you should consider the one that will get the best mileage for the type of driving you anticipate doing in the next ten years.

05-03-06, 01:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cal Poly Woly Newcomer Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 17	Thanks for the replies. The pros and incentives of purchasing the hybrid is the efficient gas consumption, carpool lane priviledge, and the tax deduction. But according to IRS only 60000 hybrids will qualify for each manufacture and Toyota must've sold above that figure because of the Prius craze. I might be wrong. I have not thought about the vehicle cost over the years, like the engine replacement and maintenance fees and sure dont want to get overcharged with expensive service charges. Thanks for the thought.

05-03-06, 07:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
lwong81 Active Member Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 142	A new civic have better mpg than the camry I think. And with a hybrid civic, you can drive in the car pool lane (not sure about the camry, but the hybrid accord cant, because it dont have a high enough mpg).

05-03-06, 01:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
*Admin* Think About It Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,945	If MPG is the #1 factor in your purchase decision, I recommend the Toyota Prius because of its excellent MPG consumption. But you also can't beat the resale value, the dependability, interior size, the redesign, and great amenities that the 2007 Toyota Camry has to offer. Good luck in your purchase.