Test Drove Accord and Camry Hybrids - Not Impressed

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by ggood, Nov 3, 2014.

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  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    call diane!
     
    #21 bisco, Nov 5, 2014
  2. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    I live in a Chicago suburb. Obviously you would not come here to buy a car but I was just looking on the website of a Toyota dealer in Joliet, IL and they have a new Avalon Hybrid Limited MSRP $43,095, sale price of $36,229. That is $6,866 off without even bargaining with them. No doubt you could get similar discounts in your area if you are interested. They are really deep discounting Avalons. Probably the 2015's will soon be out. Naturally we all have different tastes so what one person likes someone else likes something else.
     
    #22 Okinawa, Nov 5, 2014
  3. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    very good idea I think.
     
    #23 Okinawa, Nov 5, 2014
  4. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    As far as color choices, I picked the Moulon Rouge aka dark red, I like it and I get compliments....
     
    #24 Munpot42, Nov 5, 2014
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you are a very handsome man.:cool:
     
    #25 bisco, Nov 5, 2014
  6. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    I'm waiting a little bit more.

    Gas is cheap, and if the Saudis and the US producers want to get into a little price war over oil?????
    :)

    The new G4 Prius will come out in 2015....er...2016 (maybe) along with the Volt-II.
    Those models will be up priced a little BUT (!!) The G3 Priuses and the G1 Volts will be just as efficient as they are at present....AND.....low gas prices and planned obsolescence will make them an even better bargain.

    The Hycam is a good car, but I like having a hatch.
     
    #26 ETC(SS), Nov 6, 2014
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    pips will go for cheap, for sure. they're pretty cheap now.
     
    #27 bisco, Nov 6, 2014
  8. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    Prius sales are down 11 percent. People are buying gas guzzler SUV's again, falling into the same stupid trap again. The gas prices will go up again as they always do and when they do the people will dump their gas guzzler at any loss. Hybrid vehicles are not selling. Now is a good time to buy the one of your choice if you are so inclined. I bought a new Avalon Hybrid in May. I'm keeping mine. I live in a Chicago suburb. I saw Shell at $3.05 this morning. That is not cheap, just cheaper than it was. Enjoy it. It will go up.
     
    #28 Okinawa, Nov 6, 2014
  9. hkmb

    hkmb Senior Member

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    Same for me. I wish there were a Hycam wagon.
     
    #29 hkmb, Nov 6, 2014
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    hyvenz.;)
     
    #30 bisco, Nov 6, 2014
  11. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    I would take a hybrid Venza. Others have stated it is too heavy, but since it's just a camry wagon, I don't see the problem.

    Test drove the Avalon. I thought it had a better ride, and liked it better than I thought I would. Wife thought it was floaty, and thought the styling was stodgy. The extending seat bottom cushion was a neat trick, though!
     
    #31 ggood, Nov 10, 2014
  12. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    I wound up ordering a 2015 Camry XLE for my wife. Had to be XLE since I insist on having the added safety of the Advanced Tech package (dynamic cruise control, pre collision control, auto brights). Had to be a special order since Gulf States Toyota isn't currently bringing in any cars with the Advanced Tech package (shame on them, but at least they will allow the special order). Still got a good price.

    If my wife hadn't been adamant about not considering Fords and only considering hybrids, things might have turned out differently. I'm still not excited by this car and would have considered radically different cars, but the wife is happy with the ride and features, and doesn't really want anything flashier (even in the color - wound up getting dark blue).

    Have to wait 6 to 8 weeks for the car to get here, and will decide then whether to buy or lease, depending on finance rate and lease offers. Leaning towards leasing, to keep my options open for Tesla and other models coming down the pike.
     
    #32 ggood, Nov 16, 2014
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    smart woman, you got a keeper.;)
     
    #33 bisco, Nov 16, 2014
  14. NR427

    NR427 Member

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    I liked the 2015 Camry enough to get one.
     
    #34 NR427, Nov 16, 2014
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i like most of the changes, not sure about the massive grille though. i just read that toy changed 2,000 out of 6,000 parts, now that's what i call a refresh!
     
    #35 bisco, Nov 16, 2014
  16. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    It's definitely an improvement on the inside. Outside is better than it was, but of course nothing sexy like the Tesla or some of the Infiniti sedans. Not really fair to compare the Camry to more expensive cars. I suspect the Ford Fusion rides and drives better, but can't blame my wife for not trusting them.
     
    #36 ggood, Nov 16, 2014
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    interesting that you say that, we rented a fusion for a week because i wanted to get my wife into a plug in. (99% of her driving is within 10 miles) neither of us thought it was as good as the camry. nice car though, just personal taste i guess.
     
    #37 bisco, Nov 17, 2014
  18. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    Did you get the XLE Hybrid or just the XLE?
     
    #38 usnavystgc, Nov 17, 2014
  19. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    I know Gulf States very well. As usnavystgc asked, clarify which model. 6-8 weeks is to long a wait and usually means waiting for one already scheduled into Regional make-ready, a special factory order or a tactic to get you to settle for something else on their lot. They can Dealer trade within their group or outside to another Region, and it takes 3 days to slightly longer than a week depending on location and negotiating the trade. Gulf States is not a problem, but sometimes the Dealerships are. Can you tell us which Dealership you are dealing with?

    If going the Hybrid here is a list using 77001 as a radius in your color.
    New Toyota Camry Hybrid - Blue in 77001 Area - on Cars.com
     
    #39 frodoz737, Nov 17, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2014
  20. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    That makes me feel better! I never even test drove it, given my wife's fear of her father's ghost!

    Definitely the hybrid.

    You can't trade within the group or region for a car that hasn't been brought in by GST. I'm pretty sure trading with a dealer outside this region for a car with the exact configuration (Advanced Tech etc.) and color I wanted would have been difficult at best. I looked in other regions and did not find many. I'm not in a hurry anyway. If I'm the dealer, and the customer has told me he is willing to wait for something not in stock, and insists on getting a discount, I don't have much incentive to try to get the car sooner. I got the impression the special order had to be confirmed with GST. The dealer I ordered through did exactly what I asked for, and gave me a good price, even though it involved a delayed sale.

    Used to be you could send a fax or email and you'd get a quick reply directly from the 1 or 2 guys that handled internet sales. Now, they seem to be so inundated with email requests that they rely too much on automated replies and passing your emails indiscriminately to low level green employees. Even direct phone calls can be frustrating, if you are dealing with someone who has no clue.

    My only complaint with GST is their decision not to bring in cars with certain options.
     
    #40 ggood, Nov 17, 2014
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