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Which 2018 Camry Hybrid Trim Level To Buy? Or....

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by moparjer, Aug 18, 2017.

  1. wenglish

    wenglish Junior Member

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    I plan to be watching this thread closely as we are trying to decide between a Camry Hybrid and a Prius (we haven't got to the nitty gritty of deciding trim levels yet, first we need to decide the type of car we want).

    Our local dealer says they won't have any 2018 hybrid Camries in until late September, so we had to settle for being driven to the storage lot in a regular 2018 Camry so we could eyeball/compare the 2018 Camry (seating and trunk space) against the Prius (and Prius v, which according to this salesman is not going to be produced after this model year).

    One highlight was that the Camry that we were driven in has turn signals in the mirrors. Take *that* Prius :-D
     
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it's really a huge difference. i couldn't possibly choose between the two.
     
  3. amped

    amped Senior Member

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    Me too. My first stop on Day 1 is at my local wheel/tire shop to install upgraded, lighter wheels and higher performance all-season rubber using the OEM's as trade credits. The extra grip in the wet is worth it. There's nothing worse than trying to accelerate into traffic from a standstill in the rain only to have traction control clamp down on the effort at the wrong time. The higher performance setup delivered all the available power to the ground without fear of getting rear-ended.
     
  4. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Well, the overall diameter is the same, so the sidewalls of the tires on the larger wheels is shorter. That usually means less rubber to help absorb bumps. It does mean less sidewall flex when cornering. Larger wheels are usually for performance if not just for aesthetics.

    The 2018 goes from 16" on the LE to 18" on the other trims. In addition to the increased weight, tires on larger wheels tend to be wider. that's more road and wind resistance.
     
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thanks, i don't like the short sidewalls, very harsh ride. handling and traction are not an issue with the current 17" michelin premiers, nor the oems, the way we drive.
     
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Taken from this website

    Tire Size Calculator – Tire dimensions/diameter/circumference/revolutions per mile, the base US-spec LE Hybrid on the left, the Canadian spec LE Hybrid in the middle and the SE/XLE Hybrid in the last column. First image is metric, second image is imperial units.

    upload_2017-8-22_13-41-28.png

    upload_2017-8-22_13-42-29.png
     
  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    With the 16inch set being slightly wider in diameter, the effective final gear ratio will be slightly taller. That could give some improvement to efficiency.
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    incredible. they put on bigger wheels, with smaller tyres, and i bet replacement tyres cost more.
     
  9. amped

    amped Senior Member

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    SE/XLE tire size replacements are roughly double the cost of LE's and are typically rated to last about 25% fewer miles. Not a good tradeoff considering that there are as many performance tire choices in the 16" size as 18" size without the unsprung and rotational mass penalty.
     
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  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    And in Canada, they're quite expensive. You're looking at $1,100 before taxes (5-15% depending on location). 15" Prius tires are $700++ for comparison.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would think a dealer would be happy to swap wheels/tires on an se/xle, should be a money maker for them, other than the hassle.
     
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  12. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Why I stuck with 16 inch when I bought my current ride.
     
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  13. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    Trade in the Avalon on a new Camry for your 70th birthday!
     
  14. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    Wait for the '19 Avalon......
     
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  15. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    I think that the 19' Avalon hybrid might be all new, could be worth the wait to see, I'm pretty sure your current Avalon will last another year....
     
  16. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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  17. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    I did some math and in my judgment the differences in mpg between the different trim levels and your current vehicle are fairly insignificant. Assuming 10,000 miles a year (for simplicity and easy math) the difference between 42 and 52 mpg is 46 gallons or about $116 at current prices.
     
  18. azjerry

    azjerry Junior Member

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    Don't get excited about the various Connect options on the LE. I can't get any of them to connect on my LE.
     
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  19. LasVegasaurusRex

    LasVegasaurusRex Active Member

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    if I were buying a Camry Hybrid now I'd go XLE / fully loaded


    Bought a fully loaded one back in 07 -- upgraded from a ES330 -- and it's been, by a very wide margin, the best car I've ever owned.
     
  20. CamryDriver

    CamryDriver Active Member

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    I'm generally about getting a vehicle or appliance with the best mechanical features and avoiding paying for frills, although frills can be nice to be certain. In that respect I naturally vote for the LE as mechanically it is the same as the rest, yet costs less, is nice enough, and gets better mileage with the better battery pack. Win, win, win!

    I had a great sales lady at Sears who directed me to get a dishwasher with the best mechanical features while avoiding paying extra for electronic wiz bang. She explained how spending a little more to get better mechanical features (2 spray arms, better rack coating, stainless interior) was worth it. I've expanded this philosophy to most all products.