Toyota Camry Hybrid
Updated with electric motor battery array location.
Back in June, we finally bought the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid. Yes, we're still quite happy with our purchase. It's the nicest car that I've ever had the privilege of owning. We're still figuring out what all the buttons and knobs do.
As requested, I've taken some photos of it to give people an idea. If there's something else you'd like to see, let me know.
That's "magnetic gray metallic." Marketing. Sheesh. Anyway, here's how it looks under the hood. The black rectangle behind the orange mass is the synergy drive. I suppose I should've taken the time to label everything. I will if people want me too. Anyway, 2.4 Liter engine with 147 horsepower. Want more engine specs? Click here.
Here's the trunk. Oddly enough, the main battery is in the trunk and is the size of a normal battery. It's to the right in the rear quarter panel. Oh, that red thing is a quesadilla maker. That's to provide perspective, though it was actually there to bring to a friend's house. The batteries for the electric motor are behind it and run the width of the car. You can sort of make out a black rectangle underneath my label. That's them.
Oh, the quesadilla maker doesn't provide enough perspective? How about a 5-year old boy? See? Plenty of cargo space. No children were harmed or abducted during the picture shoot.
Here's a view of the interior. I took the shot from the back seat. There's a fuel economy meter to the left of the speedometer. It can be a bit distracting. Toyota has posted revised fuel economy on its website. The Camry hybrid is listed at 33/34 mpg now. Before it was 40/37. I don't know. We just drove to New Rochelle on Sunday and the computer said that we averaged 40 mpg on the trip down. I guess that explains the saying, "Your Mileage May Vary."
I think that the Camry is successful in dispelling the myths about hybrids. You don't have to pay luxury car prices (Lexus) to get a comfortable ride nor do you have to make econobox sacrifices, like low power or cramped conditions (Honda Civic and the discontinued Insight). Prius owners have been known this for years, but for some reason the MSM didn't get it. The Camry should bury this notion once and for all.
The number one question I get asked: "Do you have to plug it in?" I don't know why people think that, but no, you don't have to plug it in. It recharges itself.
In the end, this meant that I had to say goodbye to my 97 Civic. It was a good car. Solid. Still is. I hope that it brings its new owner as much dependability as it did to me.
Adios amigo!
\_/
DED
Back in June, we finally bought the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid. Yes, we're still quite happy with our purchase. It's the nicest car that I've ever had the privilege of owning. We're still figuring out what all the buttons and knobs do.
As requested, I've taken some photos of it to give people an idea. If there's something else you'd like to see, let me know.
That's "magnetic gray metallic." Marketing. Sheesh. Anyway, here's how it looks under the hood. The black rectangle behind the orange mass is the synergy drive. I suppose I should've taken the time to label everything. I will if people want me too. Anyway, 2.4 Liter engine with 147 horsepower. Want more engine specs? Click here.
Here's the trunk. Oddly enough, the main battery is in the trunk and is the size of a normal battery. It's to the right in the rear quarter panel. Oh, that red thing is a quesadilla maker. That's to provide perspective, though it was actually there to bring to a friend's house. The batteries for the electric motor are behind it and run the width of the car. You can sort of make out a black rectangle underneath my label. That's them.Oh, the quesadilla maker doesn't provide enough perspective? How about a 5-year old boy? See? Plenty of cargo space. No children were harmed or abducted during the picture shoot.
Here's a view of the interior. I took the shot from the back seat. There's a fuel economy meter to the left of the speedometer. It can be a bit distracting. Toyota has posted revised fuel economy on its website. The Camry hybrid is listed at 33/34 mpg now. Before it was 40/37. I don't know. We just drove to New Rochelle on Sunday and the computer said that we averaged 40 mpg on the trip down. I guess that explains the saying, "Your Mileage May Vary."
I think that the Camry is successful in dispelling the myths about hybrids. You don't have to pay luxury car prices (Lexus) to get a comfortable ride nor do you have to make econobox sacrifices, like low power or cramped conditions (Honda Civic and the discontinued Insight). Prius owners have been known this for years, but for some reason the MSM didn't get it. The Camry should bury this notion once and for all.
The number one question I get asked: "Do you have to plug it in?" I don't know why people think that, but no, you don't have to plug it in. It recharges itself.
In the end, this meant that I had to say goodbye to my 97 Civic. It was a good car. Solid. Still is. I hope that it brings its new owner as much dependability as it did to me.
Adios amigo!
\_/
DED
Labels: cars, technology
posted by DED at 10:19 PM
6 Comments:
Nice ded, very pretty. I can't believe how big the trunk is.
Hi ded,
I thought you might like to read this.
Hi Mort,
Yeah, I'd heard the sad news. It was a bummer. Still, he had full life.
Btw, I found the batteries for the electric motor. I don't know why I missed them before. Gotta take a pic to add to this blog entry.
Nice car, DED! We've had Toyotas for years and love them.
Great choice for a hybrid.
Hi ded,
I saw my first electric bike today while pedaling around town. Man that thing was slick. I'm guessing not one person in a hundred around here would even know what it was.
I asked a guy that was riding in a personal mobility doohicky, you know, the ones with three wheels and a seat for handicapped people, how far he could go on that thing. He said, heck, I don't know, it's my wife's, but it goes three days on a charge. I asked what kind of batteries it used, he said I don't know, I've never looked! LMAO!
I'm glad you found your batteries, or as they say here, battrees. Later dude.
Thanks Dcup! I had a very used Celica before the Civic, my wife had a Tercel when I met her, and my parents have had Toyota's too. They've always been a good brand.
Mort: An electric bike would come in handy around here. Too many hills. ;) Btw, finally saw an episode of "Living With Ed" the other day. He's driving an electric pickup truck, though it wasn't the focus of the episode, rather it was about recycled carpet and Jackson Browne living off the grid.
Still very busy with projects these days so blogging and roaming the blogosphere is near nil.
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