[Dazzler]

As most of you know I currently drive a 2010 Hybrid Camry Luxury as per this thread..

https://i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=6271.0

Anyway, in early 2014 I hope to be in a position to trade it on either an i40 or another Hybrid Camry (My two top picks in that order at the moment)

Toyota currently has this competition going in Australia where you can win 3 Toyota Camrys of your choice  One Now, one in 5 years and another in 10 years just by test driving one of the new Camrys and going in the draw (I'm in  )

http://toyota.com.au/camryexpo

So today I had the day off to do a couple of things in Launceston and while up there went into the Toyota Dealer and drove their Demo Hybrid Camry H (the base model) only Cloth Trim and limited goodies (But the new upgraded drivetrain)

Well, I wasn't disappointed with the Drive ...

Our "old Camry Hybrid" has these engine/power specs.. (Courtesy of Carsguide)

"When it comes to the all-important question of what’s under the bonnet, Camry Hybrid utilises an Atkinson-cycle 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine – an evolution of its 2AZ-FXE engine – featuring double overhead camshaft and variable valve-timing, in conjunction with two electric motors (only one of which is used to propel the car).
 
The 16-valve petrol unit, which coincidentally runs on 91RON unleaded petrol, develops 110kW at 6,000rpm and 187Nm of torque at 4,400rpm while the electric motor adds 105kW (and 270Nm) for a combined system power rating of 140kW, or just one kilowatt less than the V6 engine that powered the previous generation six-cylinder Camry. The electric motor also acts as a generator while coasting to provide charge to both the 244.8-volt hybrid battery and 12-volt regular battery, also mounted in the boot."

Compared with the new one...(Again from Carsguide)

The Toyota Camry, which is the best selling mid-size car in the world, has again gone hybrid with the seventh-generation model now sporting a new 2.5-litre engine which combines with an electric motor to provide 151kW (up from 140kW) of power.
 
Individually the 2.5-litre petrol engine produces 118kW and 213Nm of torque, in addition to the 105kW and 270Nm of torque provided by the electric motor. The international standard for power and torque measurement doesn’t favour hybrid systems so there is no official torque figure, but given the individual figures for each power plant, we can confirm that it’s a healthy dose. The dash from 0-100km/h is now 0.9 of a second quicker at eight seconds flat.

Our current car is a bit of a "sleeper" you could cruise around all day on a light throttle having no idea what she can do when pushed which is an 8.9second 0-60 with a nice push in the back after a very slight hesitation on some occasions...

The new model feels REALLY potent all the time .. Even just cruising around the suburbs on electic or petrol it feels like it wants to go .. and on the Highway YUM  I had to be very careful 

The Steering and Brakes also have a more positive feel (not that they were that bad before) but they are better now..
The steering on our model is a little dead at the straight ahead and the brakes (because they are regenerative to help charge the battery) can also feel a bit numb .. These also feel more positive on the new model..

So all in all a great drive..

BUT now for the bad news .. Compared to our model (which is the Top model) the new dash is a hodge podge of different materials assembled by a committee  and to save money (I assume) they have replaced the excellent optitron instuments with cheap looking ones with an anodized blue ring instead 

Here are some photos .. the new one looks worse in the flesh...

Our interior (2010 model)



Our Optitron Instruments..



The new interior...



The new Dials .. they may look better at night (but look very average in the daytime)



On the plus side there is more info available without scrolling through with a button..and some of the buttons have been relocated to better spots .. but with several layers to the dash and a hard plastic Binnacle stuck on top and cheap looking buttons stuck ON not in the Steering Wheel it is a step backwards to me..

Great drive .. shame about the face (of the dash) 

As far as the external styling goes the New Hybrid is OK but not as nice as some of the other models in the new range which look really sleek at the front... I'm hoping the Luxury (H-L) model is nicer inside but most of the new Camrys in the showroom appeared to have this busy dash.. Not half as nice inside as the i40 

I need to drive an i40 diesel ASAP 

[Doggie 1]

Great writ-up Dazz.
I hope you win. 
I agree that your instruments look much better.
I smiled at this bit. 
Great drive .. shame about the face (of the dash)   

[Dazzler]

Thanks Dave.. They were really busy so the service was a bit so so (they are a big dealership - do Audi too)

I hope I win too  If I do I think my next car will be a... Camry  and my next car after that and the one after that too 

[Doggie 1]

I might go and test drive a Camry before April 30th.
Will you be upset if I win?

[Dazzler]

I might go and test drive a Camry before April 30th.
Will you be upset if I win?

No mate go for it .. But can I write your 25 words or less bit?

Go the Hybrid ... It is a rocketship  (like to hear what you think)

[Doggie 1]

I might go and test drive a Camry before April 30th.
Will you be upset if I win?

No mate go for it .. But can I write your 25 words or less bit?

No, sorry.
Thanks for the offer but I don't want any references to devils or Bob Brown. 

[rustynutz]

Nice little write up, Daz....

Hey, if you win a new one, can I have your oldie? 

Your Hybrid quite impressed me during my little test drive.......

[Dazzler]

Nice little write up, Daz....

Hey, if you win a new one, can I have your oldie? 

Your Hybrid quite impressed me during my little test drive.......

Thanks.. But I reckon there would be quite a queue 

I'm glad you liked it (great car) if only I could put that new drivetrain into ours .. Definitely worth test driving the new one..

Goes like a steam train with better than 6.0LPH economy 

[beerman]

The rear on the new camry looks like they needed to change it, but didn't know what to do.

[Dazzler]

The rear on the new camry looks like they needed to change it, but didn't know what to do.

There was a leadfoot lady on the highway in a new Pearl White Metallic Camry when we were driving to Launceston today.. it looked really nice and sleek at the front when it came up behind us .. so I "let" her pass to see if it was a Hybrid but it was another model.. I thought the back looked ok if a bit plain compared to the sleek front.. This was what made me go for a test drive today.

When I got there I was a bit disappointed with the Hybrid Styling compared with the one I saw on the Highway. Hers was obviously a higher model with driving / fog lights and stuff plus metallic paint..

[Dazzler]

They even like the interior 

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/53757/2012-toyota-camry-hybrid-first-drive-review

[Doggie 1]

Gee, that's a positive spin on things.
I'm going to go in and test-drive one but I hope I don't like it too much - it's got the wrong badge. 

[rustynutz]

Oh, and Daz...I have a confession....

The reason I wanted your Hybrid was so I could trade it in on a new model i30 when they come out....  

[Dazzler]

Oh, and Daz...I have a confession....

The reason I wanted your Hybrid was so I could trade it in on a new model i30 when they come out....  

....and I was just beginning to like you 

Christmas card list

Rusty

[rustynutz]

 

[2i30s]

I might go and test drive a Camry before April 30th.
Will you be upset if I win?

No mate go for it .. But can I write your 25 words or less bit?

Go the Hybrid ... It is a rocketship  (like to hear what you think)

I've been in dazz's hybrid,and yes its definitely a rocket ship.  and whisper quiet.

[Dazzler]

I might go and test drive a Camry before April 30th.
Will you be upset if I win?

No mate go for it .. But can I write your 25 words or less bit?

Go the Hybrid ... It is a rocketship  (like to hear what you think)

I've been in dazz's hybrid,and yes its definitely a rocket ship.  and whisper quiet.

Pity you can't test drive the new one Steve, before 2moro night when the "win 3 Camry comp finishes".. (it's a fair bit more powerful than mine) 

[Doggie 1]

I might go and test drive a Camry before April 30th.
Will you be upset if I win?

No mate go for it .. But can I write your 25 words or less bit?

Go the Hybrid ... It is a rocketship  (like to hear what you think)

I've been in dazz's hybrid,and yes its definitely a rocket ship.  and whisper quiet.

Pity you can't test drive the new one Steve, before 2moro night when the "win 3 Camry comp finishes".. (it's a fair bit more powerful than mine) 

Dazz!! Don't tell everyone! 

[2i30s]

we have 5 cars in my yard at the moment,i don't need any more guys.  3 of them are my eldest sons VL commodores 

[Dazzler]

I might go and test drive a Camry before April 30th.
Will you be upset if I win?

No mate go for it .. But can I write your 25 words or less bit?

Go the Hybrid ... It is a rocketship  (like to hear what you think)

I've been in dazz's hybrid,and yes its definitely a rocket ship.  and whisper quiet.

Pity you can't test drive the new one Steve, before 2moro night when the "win 3 Camry comp finishes".. (it's a fair bit more powerful than mine) 

Dazz!! Don't tell everyone! 

Did you have a test drive yet Dave? 

I figure the odds of winning will still be fairly good.. 

[Doggie 1]

Did you have a test drive yet Dave? 

I figure the odds of winning will still be fairly good.. 

Tomorrow I'm doing it.
I'm going in with Megan and we'll both have a drive and submit an entry each.

[Dazzler]

Did you have a test drive yet Dave? 

I figure the odds of winning will still be fairly good.. 

Tomorrow I'm doing it.
I'm going in with Megan and we'll both have a drive and submit an entry each.

Now you're pushing it a bit 

But i am interested in your opinion of the performance (and the interior)

[Doggie 1]

I'll let you know.
If Megan wins there'll be an ever so slightly used Mazda 3 offered for sale shortly thereafter I would imagine.

[Doggie 1]

I test drove the new Hybrid (the top spec model) today and was quite impressed.
I only got to drive it at suburban street speeds but that's ok seeing as the main reason for doing it was to enter the competition. 
I was impressed with its refinement and its quietness at those speeds but I guess I felt (and I don't want to be critical) it was a little bland. 
One thing that I might find annoying if I drove one all the time was the noise that the transmission made when decelerating but I guess I only heard that because the rest of the car was so quiet.
I found the acceleration to be impressive (at the suburban speeds I was doing) and as far as the interior goes, I found it a nice place to be.
It felt like quality with acres of leather and everything where it should be.
I obviously haven't seen the previous model so don't have that to compare it with so can only take it as I found it but I wasn't complaining about the instrumentation or interior appointments.
It had the lane change monitor fitted as well but I didn't get a chance to test that because it was only a short drive due to time constraints.
All in all, I liked it, but not sure I would spend the $42,000 or so to get one.
One other thing I don't like, and this is not aimed at only Toyota but many (most) manufacturers these days, and that was the pearl white paint.
I don't like it - if I want white I want white and not metallic white. Having said that, it's personal preference. Megan liked it. 
Mazda in its 3 range doesn't even have one solid colour - they're all metallics. 
So, now to the competition that I'm going to win.
Toyota have already moved the goal posts and have extended it til mid-May according to the salesman, obviously trying to decrease the odds and get more people into the driver's seat.
Now, what to write for my twenty five words - maybe I could tell them what I think of the transmission noise? 
Megan got a token too and is entering also.

[rustynutz]

I hate competitions where you're required to write in 25 words or less.....  

Hyundai had the same thing when they were pushing for people to test drive the i40....I took the test drive, but didn't worry about the comp. 

[Dazzler]

Hi Dave...Interesting feedback I still haven't seen the interior of the H-L (top Model) but i did go into the Devonport Toyota dealer today and had a look in a new Aurion with full leather and it did look better 

I am used to the CVT whine and it doesn't worry me (it was a shame you didn't get to drive it at highway speeds)

I actually like the pearl white too 

I also went in to the Hyundai dealer today to remind them to give me a bell when they get an i40 Diesel in  anyway ...
My M8 james is now in the used car part (after some time off) and the nice guy (David) who replaced him has been poached by the local Ford/Kia/Suzuki dealer (+ their Sales Manager and one of their more senior Used car guys as well) Whoops 

The new guy they put in seems ok but has a lot to learn about Hyundais and Nissans 

[Doggie 1]

You could get a job there 

[Dazzler]

If I wanted to work 6 days a week I might have offered.. I had a month selling Nissans and Hondas back in the mid 1990's that was 3 weeks too long (boring as bat $hit)  (I was a sole parent of an 8 Y/0 at the time)

[babis_xo]

.. Compared to our model (which is the Top model) the new dash is a hodge podge of different materials assembled by a committee 

hehe... you couldn't express it better. Although I do like the overlaid central console, the rest could be less blubby (not that I like i40's interior much...)
If designers could draw a single straight line then why should someone buy a Lexus?
Maybe i40's interior with Camry's central console...

[Dazzler]

I think the base model i40 dash is a LOT nicer than the base model 2012 Camry Dash (but don't tell Toyota) 'cause I'd still like to win one