What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

Inane survey for the truly bored people out there.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I'm going to go with the fact by default the recirc will come on automatically at startup when the weather's really hot and you don't even have the fan going, let alone AC. I can think of no sensible explanation for excluding outside air when it's hot unless you're running the AC.

And I'll claim current lack of motivation rather than boredom for responding, at the moment, heh.

I do disapprove of the eco button a bit but as I rarely use AC/heat it doesn't affect me much. Oh one other thing was how incredibly tight the fit was for plugging in my old cell's car charger was. I just changed cells and was afraid it wouldn't come out--I was surprised it did, I'd left it in there since I got the car and first plugged it in, afraid I'd rip the whole thing apart.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

Tough choice, I tossed a coin between the ECO and the fuel door. Fuel door won.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

Humidity? I believe it is off by default with the heater, since RECIRC fogs the windows, maybe it is something along those lines?

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

AC comes on in winter, presumably to help dry out the air and reduce/prevent fogging. In summer the recirc comes on when the fan is off and.. I don't know, sufficiently hot or something. Car starts with recirc on, and as it decides on its own when to do it and when not to, I could be driving 5 minutes with no venting assisting with car cooling before I noticed and turned it off. Again, I have no problem with it doing that when the AC is on. I can't imagine how it would help with the AC off.

It can be set to be made manual. Did this and much happier now.

And some here claim there's no humidity sensor so I don't know about that part.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

All this technology, but no memory seats???

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

They forgot? (ugh!)

Actually, that's got to be cost. It probably would have added $100-200 to the cost of the car. This is not a premium vehicle (nor does it have a premium price tag) so they have to cut corners, etc. They super duper fully loaded version of the Camry is called Lexus ES300.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

Im going with the aux location, too hard to reach in there for that little hole.

I do agree on the others as well. I wondered about the recirc and thought it might have something to do with the vent for the batteries but i'm still new to this and learning.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

OK, I cheated -- voted for "other," but the ECO button and the RECIRC default are parts of it. Actually, I find the entire climate control system kind of dumb: much of the time the AUTO setting works out well, but if you happen to want fresh air and only fresh air, good luck. The typical sequence is:

1) press the fan button once, twice, maybe more.....
2) turn the temperature control to the lowest setting. Oh wait, not that low, you just turned off ECO mode!
3) turn the temperature control back up one notch
4) press the ECO button
5) oops, you just opened the fuel door. Stop the car, close the fuel door, restart the car, and then press the ECO button. (OK, this one doesn't happen often, but you get the idea)
6) oh wait, it's in RECIRC mode (for no reason known to mere humans). Press the RECIRC button for fresh air.
7) oops, the AC light is lit and the AC is going full blast. Hmmm, you didn't have it on AUTO. Too bad, the TCH thinks it knows best. Press the button to turn off the AC.

At this point, assuming that you have not crashed into the car in front of you while fiddling with the climate controls, you have plain old fresh air coming through the vents. It was a struggle, but you have prevailed against all odds......

Bill

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I wish the TCH could use the electric motor more when starting from a dead stop. Starting from a stoplight or stop sign just sucks up the gas and use the electric motor could save a lot of fuel.

I also wish it could use all electric at about 45 or 50 MPH cruising speed instead of 40, then the motor could be used more on city streets.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I voted other. I think the graph on the MFD is the dumbest part. This car's original EPA was 38MPG (old numbers), yet the graph ends at 40? That was just dumb! 45 or even better 50 would be more appropriate.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

The cruise control is just stupid. It maintains exactly the same speed no matter what. It should allow speed to bleed off a little when starting up a hill, and then apply enough throttle to maintain the slower speed, and maintain that throttle until the set speed is regained as the hill flattens out. Similarly, let the speed climb a little when starting down a hill, then let off the throttle to maintain the higher speed, and maintain that reduction until the speed drops to the set speed as the hill flattens out. The idea is called "hysteresis". Most engineers are familiar with the concept. Set the delta in each direction to efficiently climb over a highway bridge on an otherwise flat road.

This mode should be enabled by the ECO button.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

My peeve is the trunk space - the arrangement of battery air intake and how it's plumbed in smacks of late-cycle development hacks. The '70 Rambler Rebel Machine air scoop on the rear package shelf confirms this ;=) Corollary peeve is the 12V battery location and arrangement - likewise, it seems like an afterthought.

Lack of availability of factory fog lamps is a bit of a bummer - yes, I realize aftermarket units can be 'whittled to fit', but a pre-engineered setup would be nice.

Another item is the Toyota prohibition against use of hitch receiver and hitch-mounted bike racks. Not THAT big a deal for us, just means we take the van (with its heavier drinking habits).

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

"The fact that the fuel refill door can be opened while drivin"
Mine doesnt...I tried this a few times. If I am driving and hit the fuel door button it doesnt do anything. I am sure it does not open, I checked...:confused:

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

Journalists who attribute the TCH's higher price to the hybrid system alone and seldom list the many features not found on the base Camry.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I cannot believe that no one has yet mentioned the freaking legal disclaimer and hold harmless agreement that you have to digitally sign by way of the "I AGREE" button on the MFD/NAV at every start up.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I am with Frodo on the trunk space and bike rack issues.

They bug me the most day to day.

I also don't like the way the sides of the car beg to be scratched or whammed by things and the MPG gauge....I have no clue how to even read it worth beans.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

It does, but be prepared for a very slow acceleration. If you gingerly press the gas peddle, the car will start rolling on battery power and (under certain conditions) accelerate up to 40 miles per hour. However, this acceleration is probably too slow to be practicle on most roads (and likely get you disrespectful gestures from the other drivers).
If you want a normal acceleration, you'll need gas.
It's all about the weight (the lighter Prius probably can accelerate on battery better than the TCH).
Thank a class action lawyer for that one.
Fog lights are not legal in many states. From a manufacturing perspective, it would be cost prohibitive for a mid priced sedan to have an ala carte menu of options that are not available in a good percentage of their market. They'd have to make a few versions of the car.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

That's unfortunately getting to be universal on factory NAV systems. Not a Toyota or a TCH 'feature' any more.:angry:

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

Toyota has factory fogs on other parts of the Camry line - SE for example, and they're 'standard' on the XLE. It's just that they're not available on the TCH.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I stand corrected...not my first mistake, wont be my last!

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

Wow...it seems that >8% of members actually like where the ECO button is located.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I'm one of the 8.70%. I voted that way because although I agree with and largely sympathize with many of the complaints people have made, I still feel that this car is dramatically better than any other car I've ever owned. The pluses so far outweight the minuses, that I can't make myself actually complain.

OK, I lied. The one thing I have to complain about is specific to the Canadian TCH (so it's not really a TCH complaint): The NAV system on the Canadian 2007 model year did not come with the Hybrid-specific screens. I think that's a major ripoff - especially since the dealer did not disclose that up front, and all of the literature showed those hybrid energy screens.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

Have to agree with jmonti on the MPG gauge. it is simply unusable to calculate trip mileage.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I think the button location is fine. I think I have had to push it 2 times in 130 days of ownership. It's kind of like a Ron Popeil device....set it and forget it!

Honestly I don't have any complaints about the vehicle except that I am addicted to driving it.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I don't remember the specific instances, but, the ECO function is cancelled if the temperature is manually set too high (or low) or some other function.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

Yep I believe it changes when certain manual changes are made such as changing it to blow out of certain vents like the windshield vents when you defrost\defog the windshield. I have only done this once. I usually just use the auto setting and adjust the temp to adjust the fan speed.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I do wonder about the placement of the ECO button. I can understand tucking the fuel door button down low like that, but there's a perfectly good open space about 6 inches higher (over the mirror controls if I recall correctly) where the ECO button could have fit nicely.

While they're at it, an EV button would work pretty well there too!

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I'm not a car designer, but wouldn't it make sense to have the ECO button be constructed as part of the HVAC controls...or am I an idiot?

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I'm not a car designer either, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.....

Actually, I would guess the issue there is they probably use the same HVAC controls for ALL Camry's. Then they just add the ECO button separately to the hybrid versions.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

Non-hybrids can benefit from ECO mode.
I believe my 96 Avalon had one.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

If they had an ES in Hybrid then yes, but they don't. Don't like the GS, and the LS is way way way out of my price range. ;) What I was disappointed in not having (besides memory seats is a standard backup cam when I bought it with Nav).

I vote for the inability for a passenger to change / add destinations to the NAV while the car is in motion.

Yeah yeah, I know, there are hacks, but here's a kicker. Did you know, without the hack, this even applies to emergency locations. So lets say I need to get to the closest hospital ASAP. I would need to stop the car and then select the closest hospital? I think that is just wrong. Not just hospital, but police also. If there were a road rage nutsoid coming after me, I want to be able to get to the nearest police station without stopping!

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I think the dumbest part is requiring the trip A odometer to be displayed when resetting the "Maintenance Required" message. This also resets the the Trip A odometer to zero. It would have been just as easy to have the regular odometer be displayed during this reset....just DUMB!

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I'll throw in the fact that the car beeps when you did something wrong, requiring you to guess what you did...instead of the using the nice phone lady and having her say, "...hey Bozo, you left the keys in the car, do you want someone to steal your car?..." or "...turn off the lights, jerkazoid, or you'll have a dead battery" (I assume that they'll have a NY-area version of the car and a non-NY-area version that would be a little bit more polite)

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

Isnt police listed in the "emergency" section that is not locked while driving? I thought it was (I know Toyota dealer is...lol)
PS whats a nutsoid?

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

A warm weather perspective. It should have the rear window sunscreen like the XLE. Might help reduce demand on the AC. P.S. I run ECO all the time....except when some strange control sequences nix it....and then the eco button location is definitely an annoyance.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

Funny!

They could have added the eco button to the steering wheel near the voice activation button maybe.

I still don't have a problem with where it is though. I think they could have easily added memory seats.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

The latest version of the NAV disk (version 7.1 I believe) no longer has this annoying feature.

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

My TCH is still in the shop (over 2 months so far.. sigh), but I seem to remember my wife testing it out (she was in the passenger seat), and could not select the closest emergency destination (whether hospital or police)...

Nutsoid.. well, it might be a word I made up?... mainly a Nut andROID? Or maybe a Nut on Steroids? :D

Re: What is the dumbest part of the TCH?
 

I went with the ECO button location as it would address two of the listed survey items for me. If the ECO button wasn't located where it is I wouldn't care about a gas door interlock since I wouldn't be feeling around that area for the ECO button...