I purchased my "Silver Bullet" in May 2006. In the paperwork from Japan, it stated that the vehicle had leather installed all ready in Japan. Yet, some posts that I have read here, states that the leather was installed at the port of entry. I don't understand why that would be the case. Isn't it more economical for Toyota to install leather at the factory & not at a port?

 

I was curious about that day. Seems like the wasted fabric and extra labor would be pretty inefficient. Although I do know that my '82 Toyota Tercel did not have A/C, but was had 'factory' air installed at the dealership.

 

My car has port leather. I think the deal is that Toyota is mostling shipping base cars, only a small percentage come fully loaded and some come iwth NAV and/or leather. I woudl hope once KY is online in October that the mix of facpotry cars increases. In order to satisfy demand for higher end optiosn (and to maximize port profit) the ports can install options. SE toyota and Gulf states Toyota are 2 reagianl distribution hubs not owned directly by Toyota and thus have some freedoms to do hat they want. historically SE Toyota is a bunch of crooks tagging on things like "toyoguard" whihs is $700 undercating and etching the vin on the glass. If you can naba car before the port has done its thing then a good dealer cna get a car customized to your needs. My dealer grabbed my car just before it got to pport and was able to reconfigure the car at port, so I got what i wanted. TCH Titanium with leather (port installed), lip spoiler, color keyed splash guards and car mats. Finding a NAV/Leather car from factoryright now is very difficult unless you want to wait. I figure I'll buy a portable GPS and if I rewally love the TCH in 14 months I'll trade for a loaded 08 with Nav/leather/moonroof. The port leather is good, probably not as good as the factory leather. Toyota factory leather is some of the best leather I have ever had in my cars, and I have owned Infiniti and Acura as well. Toyota leather is close to Lexus quality leather, has a soft supple buttery smooth feel to it.

 

My Camry Hybrid’s “Inquiry Report Detail” from Japan, listed all the options, including the Leather Package. The car was fully loaded. It even included the Rear Bumper Applique & First Aid Kit. It included all options that were available at that time (May 2006). Evidently, the first shipments were with all the options. Mine was the 369th Camry Hybrid made & was one of the first ones delivered on the east coast. I noticed after those first shipments from Japan, the next shipments were not fully loaded. I was lucky. You are right about the quality of Toyota factory leather being of high quality. It is as good as the leather in my Lincoln Contential, which I consider excellent.

 

How do you know yous was the 369th? Is it part of the VIN?

 

Yes it is part of the vin number. Beginning with the twelve digit, begins the plant production sequence. Therefore, if your vin number ended in 8000, it would have been the 8000th Camry Hybrid made.

 

So I guess I have the 922nd Camry made.

 

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It depends on which distributor imported your vehicle. I know that Gulf States Toyota, which is one of the two Toyota distributers not owned by toyota does all their leather at port of entry.

 

Look on the window sticker.
-If it is on the "main" sticker it came from the factory.
-If it is on the "secondary" sticker it came from the port (along with toyoguard and other fluff packages).
-If it is on a third sticker, it was added by the dealer.

Mine came from the Port and seems just fine!