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2018 Camry Hybrid LE at Three Years

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by CamryDriver, Jan 15, 2021.

  1. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    Not much has changed with the car since the 2 year review here:

    2018 Camry Hybrid LE Two Year Review | PriusChat

    There are some noises and rattles that have not been found. One time the most annoying noise was just the seat belt clip but some of these noises seem to actually be coming from the car. It is only an issue on certain back roads so I forget all about it, until I'm on one of those roads.

    The biggest change is that I retired, in part because of CV19 and now I rarely drive. The Camry just sits most days and I'm thinking we don't really need 3 vehicles.

    We need a truck to do truck stuff, my wife's car is paid for so we are thinking of getting rid of the Camry. I hate selling stuff so there is a good chance we will never get around to selling. I've given stuff away rather than sell it in the past but the Camry is a bit too expensive to just give away...

    We never got Andriod Auto for this model, did we (just the apple version)?
     
  2. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Maybe you can sell it to a PriusChat'er? (y)

    Do you hook up a battery minder when the car sits idle? I'm doing that with our vehicles during the pandemic downtime. Really helps keep the 12V batteries topped up.
     
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  3. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    My gosh, Toyota actually pay for access to the routines necessary to provide Android Auto?!?! Give a buyer a post purchase benefit!?!?

    What do you think this is, a Tesla forum?
     
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    we have 3 vehicles we're not using, but they are 05, 12 and 13. will hang on to them since they all run great. i keep an eye on the 12 volts.
    2013 camry is still perfect after 7 years, and i would trade it in for a new one if toy came out with a deal, but the new admin is likely to make that unlikely
     
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  5. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I feel under-carred - with only ONE.

    Maybe it's time for the MidLifCrisis RED Sports Car?
     
  6. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    In my lifetime I had 4x nice overpowered sports cars and in midlife had a "reverse crisis" and bought an underpowered hybrid and then the Camry. Got it out of my system and will never go back to a sports car. I mean if you never had one maybe you should splurge and get one but really they are overpriced junk.

    Tires don't last and are expensive, they are cop magnets, they waste fuel, they have a poor ride, they are not reliable, mine leaked (3 different ways), insurance is expensive, they have low ground clearance, worthless in bad weather/snow, etc.

    If you go over to the Corvette forums you will see page after page of known issues with these overpriced hunks of junk. Don't miss mine at all but some guys do.
     
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  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Cheaper than a mistress
     
  8. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    We don't get Corvettes here - but people I've known who've bought most sports cars have found them expensive to keep going. About the only ones which seemed to hold together well are PORSCHEs - I've known a few people/relatives with them.

    And - it's a matter of getting in and out. I have a mate, slightly younger and fitter than me, bought an MX-5 (MIATA?), and we went out for a drive. I drove home - loved being back with a 6sp Manual, the noise was good (aftermarket I suspect).

    Then pulled up to my house and "how do I get out of it?". I think it was - take the key out to make sure the steering is locked - then you have something to grab onto.

    Had a friend who, at my age bought a Rolls - about 12 yrs old. He drove it everywhere, loved it. Had to sell it a year or so before he died because he moved to a retirement village - and the garages were too small for a Rolls. Well, he could get it in - but he couldn't get out of it once it was in.
     
  9. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    Thanks for the advice on the battery minder. I've got several topping off the boat and Jet Ski batteries but it might be time for one on the Camry as well.
     
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  10. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    ...
    Or a horse.
    ...
    Or a boat.
    ...
    Or an airplane. (I have a friend with a Beech Baron that he flies almost weekly and have a rough idea what he spends. :eek:)
     
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  11. Spindifferent

    Spindifferent Member

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    We've had our 2018 Camry Hybrid LE for 3 years now as well with approx. 31k miles on it. The car has been great. I've done a couple oil changes, tire rotations, windshield chip repairs on the unit. 51.4 mpg (car computer calculated) lifetime driven as a normal vehicle mostly by my wife.

    When we purchased the car, we were forced to get the moonroof with a package that we did want, and the moonroof is rarely used. The moonroof is essentially useless to me.

    We are an Apple family, so the CarPlay in the Camry is super-nice to have. Wireless CarPlay would be even better. I don't think that it is possible to get Andriod Auto on the 2018 units with the stock heads.

    And speaking about accessories, we use the heated seats mostly to keep pizza warm on the drive home from the pizza place. We do occasionally use the heated seats for their intended purpose of heating our rears. :)

    We are a Toyota family. The Camry sits in the garage and the 2013 Tacoma is outside in the driveway. Nowadays, the Taco gets more miles than the Camry.

    All-in-all, I think Toyota did a great job with the 2018+ Camry. I'm looking forward to the day when the Camry only comes with solid-state batteries or a hydrogen cell. :D
     
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  12. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    A friend's wife and kids got into rescuing horses, so I've heard about their costs. Though, I would like to buy his boat.:cool:
     
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  13. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    1.3 Alfa, 1.6 Alfa, Porsche 914 1.6, Porsche 986 2.5, Porsche 986S 3.2

    The last 2 were quite reliable, yes the maintenance was expensive (11 quart oil changes and $1,300 tires) but in 5 years I visited the dealer once for a seat belt light and did the rest myself or with private mechanics.

    My last 2 cars were hybrids. Last 7 cars in the family were Toyotas, 3 hybrids now shopping for another. My hybrids will each have more HP than the first 4 of my 5 sports cars. I've always been about the driver and not the right foot pressure. Though I was once coming out of the Indy 500 and traffic was moving, a cop waved me to go faster and I was at 100 in a 1.3.

    The Porsche Boxsters were daily to work commuter cars. I did buy them used and with automatics as my commute was a killer. Both silver, no tickets in 8 years. The others were all red and I was young and foolish. Amazing how I've changed. And the Boxsters are appreciating.
     
  14. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    My toys were as follows

    Black Dodge Daytona Shelby Z Turbo. Fun car but torque steer was crazy and the turbo was almost impossible to get just right. One had to feather the clutch just so and even after a year of driving it every day it was still a 50/50 shot if car would go or not. Dumping the clutch too fast would bog it down and feathering too lightly would have a similar result. The torque steer was so bad I considered the car dangerous to drive so only one year later I got a..

    White Mitsubishi Starion Turbo. My favorite sports car of the bunch. The turbo was not so fussy and the climate control was excellent.

    Silver Collector's Edition Corvette with 2 tops which both leaked.

    Black Corvette Hardtop with a solid top which also leaked in different ways (window, trunk and AC unit). I kept the black one long enough to have plenty of little problems. Lovely car but I don't miss it.

    My 2018 Camry Hybrid has more power than the 1st couple of sports cars and gets far better mileage and it does not leak!
     
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  15. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Funny story about the power the Camry Hybrid has! Sometimes looks can be deceiving. We have a 2012 Hyundai Sonata Limited that sounds similar...but it isn't a hybrid. (y) Tons of power and for an ICE vehicle, it gets excellent MPGs on the highway...it just purrs along. The engine is one of the best suited for the vehicle I have come across. Hyundai did a great job with it.

    For a larger vehicle, I'm really impressed with the MPG of the 2018+ Camry hybrid. I'm also seeing very reasonable prices for them in the used market...with fewer miles on them than a comparable Prius. I just added it to the list of models I'm considering for my next vehicle.

    What model HyCam do you have?
     
  16. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    Don't ignore the Avalon Hybrid either. Basically a plush Camry. Wife just got one. She hasn't said a thing about it being a hybrid. She came from a V6 Avalon. Only complaint is there is no button on the outside door handle to lock the car when exiting. Was on her 2011 and she hates having to reach into her purse and grab the fob to lock it. Me I miss Lane Keeping Assist. For a highway cruiser which these cars are and top of the line Limited with every option new at $46k+ why would my '19 Rav4 Limited have it and this car not.
     
  17. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    The cheapest one, the LE I think. Has the ugly steel wheels and ugly front grill but the Li battery.
     
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  18. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    Really? My cheap Camry LE has lock/unlock sensors on the driver and passenger side both. That is one of my more favorite features! You NEVER need to take the FOB out of your pocket. There are sensors for locking/unlocking the doors and a rubber push button to open the trunk.

    What year is your Avalon?

    Edit:

    I just checked and the 2020 Avalon seems to have the same wonderful touch sensors as my Camry. There is no button, just sensors on the door handles. Touch the outside of the handle to lock, grab inside the handle to unlock. The feature is owner programmable which is nice.

    20210409_001803.jpg
     
    #18 CamryDriver, Apr 9, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2021
  19. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    Bless you both. I just showed her the magic hidden sensor and her eyes lit up and she broke into a big grin.

    Her car is a '21 Avalon Limited with the the Advanced Safety Package.
     
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  20. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    I might have some more good news for you...

    From the 2020 Avalon Owner's Manual:
     

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