- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 97 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
-
10 out of 32 people found this review helpful
2.0 stars
"today $$$ cost is higher"
Pros: gets temporary high perceived value
Cons: future true value will be flat
Summary: ---At this time the ignorance and lack of understanding by the majority of buyers is giving anything called Hybrid a higher perceived value.
In reality, people and governments who are buying these trendy silly things are wasting money and not achieving any real savings.
---What is the true cost of owning these things when future battery replacement costs are thrown into the real calculation? Where is the info on future "proprietary battery" costs (Will Sears sell 'DieBrid'/will Costco sell 'KirkBrids' or will they only come from Toyota at top dollar)? What about the higher cost oil changes that require local mechanics to get special syn oils from the dealers or the higher cost low roll resistance tires? What about other repairs that may appear on new tech electronic systems that these things need to function?
Let others experiment with their money.
---Real example: A 2.7 liter V6 Dodge Intrepid achieves real 29-31 mpg on highway trips with AC running in NY metro area with plenty of traffic at times; the car new cost $20,900 w/taxes; has required only regular oil changes, normal brake pads, and new tires in 5 years of ownership. How is that going to be bettered by spending "high $20s to low $30,000 for this Camry Hybrid? Where is the logic for me to look at a hybrid?
---People are keeping cars for longer periods of time (9 years plus and growing) per the latest news. Will hybrid owners keep their cars that long that or just sell it after 3-4 years (BEFORE the batteries go flat and wont recharge) while the hype is still strong and used buyers will be willing to overpay for these things?
---Time will tell; I won't be part of the experiment.
- 20 replies to this review
-
First of all, I don't believe you when you say that you get 29-31 mpg in a 2.7 L Dodge Intrepid. You obviously have not read most of the reviews out there regarding Hybrids and their reliability ( Consumer Reports, Popular Mechanics, etc. ). And you obviously don't know the pleasure of not having to tank up for 600 miles or more until the fuel gauge says so.
I've owned a Camry hybrid for only 2 weeks but I tell you, when gas prices hit 4 bucks per gallon or higher, I'll be the last one laughing.
I bought my 2007 CamHybrid for a bargain, at 24k, just the invoice price. So your mighty Dodge Intrepid just can't suit up to the math. Before long, you'll be spending bucu bucks for your Intrepid's repairs! -
first of all, toyota guarantees their batteries for 10 years or the life of the battery. second of all you drive your dodge that gets 29-31 with the ac on in traffic blah blah blah, and i will drive my camry hybrid going 80 with the ac on getting 40. i can go 550 miles on one tank, can you? third of all volvo, who is owned by ford, just did a study on the american car buyer and found that on average we only keep our cars for 5 years! dude you need to do some research. oh and by the way, yesterday i was driving to my home town, going 60, cruise control set, ac on, radio blasting, rocking the navi, getting 50mpg. read it and weep mofo.
-
This is one man's attempt to look into a crystal ball and predict what's going to happen in the future. I rated my Hybrid a 10, I know about the battery-life, and the cost of replacement; and I intend to keep this car until they bury me in it--unless someone comes out with a car that does say 100 MPG.
I asked myself, with rising fuel costs, what's going to happen in the future. My crystal ball said, gasoline cars are dinosaurs, and the Hybrid will hold its value over the next 7-10 years. Time will tell. -
Hybrid cars were NOT made for the hwy mpg, they were made for city mpg. Go look at the sticker, the hwy mpg of 38 is less that city of 40. Lets see you match 40 mpg city in an intrepid. This alone doesn't prove much, but go compare it to a regular Camry. Just one more point, the Camry comes with a 8 year 100,000 mi warranty on hybrid components. So while cars do last longer, Toyota backs theirs up, at least long enough for you to make up the 5k price difference.
-
Just wanting to put my 2 cents in ... spoken from a true hybrid owner who has had time to evaluate "true cost", etc. long term.
My amazing 2001 Toyota Prius has 120,000 miles on the odometer. Original purchase price: $20,000. Maintenance costs: same as any other car. Tires, brakes, fluid changes, wiper inserts ($900). Repair costs: Wheel bearing ($300). Gasoline: $5586.00 (2660 gallons - which translates to about $2.10/gal over a near 6 year period). Depreciation: KBB (Dec 2006) private party value - $9970 // NADA (Dec 2006) private party value - $9975. Depreciation = $10050. Insurance: $4200 Licensing Fees: $500 Emission Tests: $0 (Hybrids are exempt in the state of WA) Tax credit (2001): <$660.00>. Total ownership cost (120,000 miles) = $20,876. Pretty tough to beat 17.5 cents a mile.
So do you think this hybrid owner fears a NiMh battery change or a complex electronic repair? Highly unlikely. The low cost of ownership keeps more money in the household to invest elsewhere. Toyota engineered this car to be solid. I've taken good care of this car and it has in turn done the same for me and my pocketbook.
I dare and challenge a "cost" comparison from a 2001 Dodge Intrepid. -
eventually you may work up to being a toyota salesperson and get out your dodge dealership.
There are alot of salespeople that bad mouth other products on cnet and other sites in order to try to drive people to their products. When you take into acount all of the extra standard features on the Camry Hybrid the real difference it about 1500 bucks. With a 1300 dollar tax credit and 40 mpg you are ahead from the get go. Dodge's residual value is a huge liability. How much is a dodge worth after 9 years
about 500 bucks. -
You must be smoking something or messed up in calculations! The only way you could pull more than the epa estimated mileage is from accelerating really slowwwww. That means 0-40 in around 18secs. I try touching the sticker mileage on all the cars i've driven. I drove slow and all the other things to keep mileage high. Its not possible to go that high with a intrepid though if you drive in daily terms as in 0-40 around 12 secs. You must be pulling mileage out of $$$.
-
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B7BF40889%2D69A6%2D4103%2D8C95%2DE3F02A8D6E2E%7D&siteid=myyahoo&dist=myyahoo
-
eeemang, your so-called review is extremely disappointing. Your facts, analysis, and conclusions are very misleading, and there is no excuse to having posted such items without a thorough research.
For example, there is a large number of car drivers who lease vehicles, otherwise the leasing market would have collapsed by now. Plus, low rolling resistent tires are considered performance tires and are used in lots of non-hybrid vehicles. The current line of hybrids can use all-season tires. Finally, reliability is key to success in any vehicle, hybrid or not, and I have owned too many American-made cars (purchased brand new) where they fall apart at the end of the warranty period. Whereas Toyota, Honda, and other foreign automakers have a track records of reliable vehicles. My 2002 Toyota Prius has almost 80,000 miles without any failures or reliability issues. I have had Pontiacs and other GM cars consistently fall part way before 80k miles.
So choosing a hybrid really depends on your requirements. It is not a fit for everyone and for every situation, but it is a great solution for city driving and commuting. And of course, your mileage may vary
--GIF -
There is no special high cost oil changes required. My first oil change was $24.99. The tires are not any more expensive than those on any other vehicle and since it's a normal 16" rim you can make your replacement tires anything you want. As for the batteries, they have at least a 100,000 mile warranty and all studies show that they should last the life of the car. I'll never keep a car 180,000 miles but if I do and all I have to do is replace a $2K battery I'd be pretty happy.
Your review is an arrogant response from a subject to which your ignorance is evident. -
Why do you rate a car you don't own or drive? You're trying to mislead people based on your own ignoranceof the specific issues.
-
That engine is possibly one of the worst engine choices in a terrible car of all time. The Intrepid is ugly, poorly made, and terribly unreliable. If you own that Intrepid that you say you do then at 60,000-70,000 miles don't come crying to your dealer when your engine starts having MAJOR problems. You could have bought an Accord or Camry but instead you got a piece of junk.
-
I dont know of any car that gives 29-31 miles per gallon in NYC traffic, you are telling me that your car has just consumed 1 gallon in the 1+ hour that it takes to cover that many miles in in NYC?
Wonder if you will stand by this argument if gas is $8 per gallon, which by the way is what most Europeans pay.
Hybrids are a fantastic way of bringing down emissions and fuel costs. For the 8K extra over the LE, the Hybrid gives a lot many more features and luxuries. Some of the stuff was till now only available in the Acura TL and Lexus IS. -
Have you even seen a brochure? The battery life is expected to 150,000 miles according to every Camry brochure. It is also on the Toyota web site. You must be a Honda salesman in disguise. Only they can think up such weird ideas. The cost is only a couple thousand more than its comparable gas model. You will save gas money and help the environment. If you haven't even read a brochure you need to go and do it. Wow.
-
A hybrid is exactly that--a compromise between the best of options, in this case a totally electric car and one that is petrol-only. Increasing complexity means increasing buy-in to the dealer. Hybrids are being produced as a result of legistlation, not initial consumer demand. The demand today is propped up by government subsidies. As for me, let the free market determine the best value. Take away the government subsidies and let hybrids compete dollar for dollar. I'll keep my petrol vehicle for the moment, thanks.
-
You would have a point well taken about the batteries and hybrid system if you did not ignore the hybrid powertrain warranty, which includes the battery packs: 8 years or 100,000 miles http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/warranty/warranty.html.
As an owner you'd want to complain to Toyota about the packs failing after about 7 years, that way they would replace them and you'll get 14 years of batteries. Did you keep your last car 14 years?
You are correct about some hybrids requiring special roll resistant tires and oil (Toyota Prius as an example). That being said, CNet seems to note that the Camry Hyrbid uses all season tires, not roll resistant ones. Special synthetic oil on the other hand, is an extra maintenence cost of the vehicle. -
These batteries have a life span of 160,000 miles.
The data on the Dodge are wrong (27 mpg highway) and the MSRP was $26K. -
Well since the camry hybrid hasn't even come out yet, NO you are not an owner.
As a matter of fact have you owned any of the cars, or electronics for that matter, that you have reviewed?
It looks like you love finding the one flaw in everything you review, sans the DTS. -
This review has nothing to do with the Camry Hybrid, per se, and is only a diatribe about his dislike of hybrids in general.
-
No one has given a definitive number of years for the battery life yet (Hybrids are too new and none of the 1st gen batteries have died). And no one knows what the cost will be. Currently, if you replace the PRIUS battery you're out about $4,000 for parts and labor (this is not a do-it-yourself project).
The good thing is, as each new generation of HYBRID comes out, they are using better and better batteries. It may be that the future Hybrids will have a battery life ot 10-15 years. Overall, the battery life will not matter to most people (As the average ownership time for a car is about 5 years). The biggest thing to look at is if you plan on buying a hybrid used.
Car dealers will have to completely replace the battery pack to make a used hybrid a valid option...and that will increase the bottom line. So for those waiting to get a cheaper hybrid used?don?t count on it, the battery will be a huge expense one way or another.
