Originally Posted by misermiester

2008 Camry Hybrid, 104,000
One driveline was replaced and the water pump at about 60k. Otherwise routine maintenance. This has been a one owner that was serviced at the same Toyota dealer all it's life going through all those million point inspections with them looking hard for anything to make some money one! I've got all the paperwork and ran the carfax as well. Fully loaded, power leather heated seats, moonroof, tilt/telescoping wheel, etc.
Runs, drives, looks like new. Only issue is the Factory over engineered JBL stereo/nav unit, which will hopefully be resolved soon?!

Learning how to TRY and truly average 40+ MPG is a full time job! I can get 50 MPG on my 2006 Prius, no block heater, no mods. Driving this TCH requires constant peddle feathering and will likely require a block heater to break 40 MPG. Honestly there is TOO much ICE! Toyota could have put a 2.0 or likely even a 1.8 out of a Corolla with the electric motors. They probably would have had room to use 1 electric motor instead of 2 as well?

I understand that lead foots want power when they're test driving cars, but Hybrid owners will trade some for Fuel Economy, I know I would! I had a 96 Camry 4 cyl, w/OD auto that I could get over 30 MPG and a 2002 Camry 4 cyl/5spd that I could average 33 MPG with. I'm on the verge of ticking off other drivers behind me and this is maybe 36-37 MPG avg. so far, what's the point? I really like the way it looks and drives, but if I can't get 40 MPG it's not what I signed up for. I could get a Corolla S and do BETTER! I'm 6'4" and Corolla's are roomy enough for me, the leg room leaves a bit to be desired in this as well, the middle console from arm rest to the stereo is 2" too wide and squeezes into space I could use!

Didn't mean for this to turn into a rant, it's just feedback from the trenches. This is a great car, but I've definitely found room for improvement that should have been taken care of before these were put into production. Doesn't make any sense to me to spend hundreds of millions of dollars into engineering Hybrid technologies and then just add electric motors wherever they can stuff them in to the stock motor on these. They should have just took what is proven in the Prius and added maybe 15% more displacement to the motor to accommodate the added weight and diminished aerodynamics. These would have plenty of power and Avg 44-45 MPG!

Neyhhow that's a Hybrid!

Originally Posted by misermiester

Learning how to TRY and truly average 40+ MPG is a full time job! I can get 50 MPG on my 2006 Prius, no block heater, no mods. Driving this TCH requires constant peddle feathering and will likely require a block heater to break 40 MPG. Honestly there is TOO much ICE! Toyota could have put a 2.0 or likely even a 1.8 out of a Corolla with the electric motors. They probably would have had room to use 1 electric motor instead of 2 as well?!