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2018 HyCam amateur review and ongoing blog

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by CamryDriver, Jan 22, 2018.

  1. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    This Navigation issue almost stopped me from buying the car. I had really only looked at the Camry until this Nav business came up and then I very nearly purchased an Ioniq instead. Thing is I need GPS about twice a year so Nav really isn't that big of a deal in practical terms for me. I don't need it to get to work everyday.

    The issue that bugs me nearly every day is the reflection from the hood. Got the sun in my eyes every day the sun is out.

    All the other problems are very minor in comparison to the Nav and hood reflections. For example the single push-button air flow is only a bother when I need to change the airflow and the issue is partially mitigated by having a front defrost button. The rear center car seat latch only bothers me when moving car seats around, which is a rare thing.

    In another way the Nav issue and EV button functionality are the most bothersome because they are artificially limited. The car can easily do more in EV Mode than it is allowed to. The car also has full GPS hardware and Automotive Grade Linux which could easily have Android Auto but they are locking the feature down on purpose to funnel you into ScoutLink. Toyota went out of their way to limit the car and that is frustrating.
     
  2. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    It is frustrating, especially since it's inherently inferior. My integrated Nav works well, I use it only on sporadic trips to new places. Handy to have, no fee, fairly simple. I never use the single-button auto for anything.
     
  3. amped

    amped Senior Member

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    The more I used Entune 2.0 in my current DD Camry, the more convinced I became that the Managing Director of the Entune division must be Akio Toyoda's brother-in-law.

    I dumped Entune in favor of my Garmin Nüvi 2789LMT with a Mountek slot mount that I swap between my Toyota cars and truck.

    The Garmin has lifetime maps for North America, HD digital traffic (30-second refresh) and was on sale refurbished from Buydig for $175 shipped including the traffic receiver cable. It's been flawless and the 7" dual orientation capacitive touch glass screen is a generation ahead of even the newest Toyota on board navs with annual updates that can cost over $200 and must be dealer installed I've read. The Garmin 7" screen blocks the OEM main center screen where it's mounted but not buttons. Besides, I have most of the screen functions duplicated on the steering wheel buttons anyway.

    Time for Toyota to take a lesson from arch-rival Honda, drop their need to control everything and license the Garmin system.
     
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  4. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    I don't really want to suction cup a GPS screen to my dash but that may be exactly what we do come vacation time. If I get enough time and if they come out with a wiring harness for the 2018 that allows video input to the factory head unit, I'll wire in something a bit more elegant. I've already purchased a Lanzar SNV90 universal stand alone GPS unit that might work for the job. A Miracast might also work. A third option might be to have a second head unit hidden somewhere with video output to the built in screen.

    They already sell a wiring harness for the older models but the wiring might have changed for 2018. The local stereo shop expects aftermarket hardware to be available this coming Summer.

    Does this Garmin require your phone for traffic or does it work independently?

    The 7" is over twice the cost of the 6". Is the 2689LMT the same thing except for screen size or are there other differences?

    Picture please!
     
    #124 CamryDriver, Feb 15, 2018
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 14, 2018
  5. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    For my Garmin I use a beanbag mount on the dashboard.

    Garmin Mount
     
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  6. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    That's also what I use for my 7" Nuvi 2797 LMT. It moves nicely between vehicles and stays put.
     
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  7. amped

    amped Senior Member

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    It's in my FJ Cruiser today but you get the idea. Yes, it's dirty, I have a dog.

    I like that it's below the top of the dash so no sight lines are impaired like they'd be with a suction cup or bean bag mount. Also, over half the states have banned anything mounted to windshields although I've never heard of anyone getting a ticket for that.

    GPS Windshield Mounts Illegal in over Half the U.S. - GPS Tracklog

    20180215_134717.jpg
     
  8. amped

    amped Senior Member

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    The 7" refurb unit goes on sale at Buydig every few months and winds up cheaper than a new 6".

    From memory, the 7" upgrade features a hot mount, glass capacitive touch high-resolution screen and HD traffic that works independently of a phone and refreshes every 30 sec. vs 5 minutes for the base system. Neither system is anywhere near the capability of Waze, though.

    I sometimes drive into remote areas of Oregon where there's no cell phone coverage so a dedicated GPS is a necessity.
     
  9. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    Got some new trip MPG numbers. It was 70 deg yesterday and I got 53 MPG driving aggressively on the way to work. Got 70 MPG with a huge tail wind on the way to WalMart (on the way home) and 99.9 MPG from Wal-Mart to home.

    Today the wind must have been going East to West because in 45 degree temps I got 61 MPG going to work (driving slow, left in plenty of time for a change). Then got 61 MPGs on the way home in 40 degree temps, so 61 MPGs both ways today (that is not normal, the return trip home is usually higher).

    The Range showed half a tank (like 320 miles driven and 320 miles left to go) while the gas gauge showed 2/3 full. I think the Range is more accurate than the gas gauge.
     
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  10. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    On the Prius at least the fuel gauge is more accurate than the distance to empty miles number.
     
  11. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Those laws might just be for the real idiots. Once saw someone with the GPS directly in front of them on the windshield.
     
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  12. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    I'm pretty sure the range is much closer to the truth on the HyCam. Showing half a tank on the fuel now, 220 mile range, 420 miles driven. I bet I'm a lot closer to 1/3 of a tank than half. Will check next fill-up.
     
  13. Spindifferent

    Spindifferent Member

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    Always good to see high MPG numbers!

    Approx how many miles were driven to get those?

    Or, maybe a better question: What is the average MPG and miles on the current tank of gas?
     
  14. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    16.5 miles from home to work, 11.5 miles from work to Wal-Mart, 5 miles from Wal-Mart to home.

    Lifetime average is 49 MPG and climbing with warmer temps.

    Got about 420 miles on the current tank with 54 MPG displayed. The weather and how much of a hurry I'm in have a huge effect. Today I was in a hurry and it was raining pretty hard so I only got 40 MPG on the way to work.
     
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  15. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    After today's rains I have 2 new annoyances to report.

    It does not seem as if there is any way to blow recirculated air on the windshield. When it is raining the air inside the car is dryer than the air outside. A previous car also locked out this ability on the reasoning that inside air was more humid due to the human occupant's breath or something. It is fine with me to default to any given setting but don't lock a feature out just because most of the time something is true.

    The windshield does something I've never seen before. When it is raining water accumulates on the left side of the windshield in a sheet. I'm not taking about drops here, I'm talking about a 3 or 4 inch wide sheet of water that interferes with your vision. This by itself is not so bad but the sheet interacts with the wipers. When the wiper is going back down it pull this sheet of water back across your field of vision. The whole thing is very dynamic and variable. Sometimes the whole thing is only as wide as the distance between the wiper and the edge of the windshield. Other times the wiper can pull this sheet up to 10 inches. It isn't much of a bother at minimum width but it interferes with forward visibility significantly at the maximum width.
     
  16. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    A full distressed wrap looks even better.
    [​IMG]

    To play devil's advocate, the integrated systems do a bit of sensor fusion so that they aren't suddenly confused when you enter a freeway tunnel (as happens with my phone GPS consistently)
     
  17. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    Once again adding some positive balance. The Camry has saved my bacon twice in so many days. Rain has caused me to have the lights on during the day lately and I forgot to turn them off, twice. This would have meant death to the battery and a jump start in any other car I've owned but the Camry evidently shuts the lights off automatically after some time limit. I bet that they are LED also causes less current drain as well.

    I expect this is a fairly common feature in modern vehicles but I've never had the luxury before. Sure is nice to have the car start after making a mistake like this.
     
  18. Spindifferent

    Spindifferent Member

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    Page 229 of the Owner's Manual:

    Automatic light off system
    ●When the headlights are on: The headlights and tail lights turn off 30 seconds after the power switch is turned to ACCESSORY mode or turned off and a door is opened and closed. (The lights turn off immediately if <Lock Button> on the key is pressed twice after all the doors are closed.)

    Also looks like you can customize the turn-off timer to either 60 or 90 seconds. See page 556. :)
     
  19. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    On my Gen 4 I set them to turn off immediately. I did not wait 30 seconds to see if the default setting worked.
     
  20. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    I have seen that water sheeting with the wipers in the past. I suggest washing the glass with window cleaner, and wipe the wiper blades down with rubbing alcohol. That should remove anything causing the sheeting.
     
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