Hi, all,


Looking at a Camry Hybrid -- 2009 or 2010 -- and would like to hear about anyone's experience with the hybrid system. For example, what is the life of the battery system? Any experience replacing the system and how much it costs? What are the downsides, if any, to the hybrid?

Cheers...and thanks in advance. Tom

 

Check with the Toyotanation forum, Camry Hybrid section.

 

hey, Tom


jerky powertrain. rattles and squeaks. water pumps going bad at less than 60 000 miles. sometimes very harsh cold start ups.
VERY BORING INTERIOR. small trunk.

otherwise, very comfy car to drive. I am 6'5'' and very comfy in it. MG2, the drive motor, doubles as an excellent power booster. mine does over 39 mpg average,
http://mefi.us/images/fuelly/sig-us/90562.png
but it's rather unusual, most do less than that. very stable, good cornering.

to answe your main question, judging from Prii, esp those that served as cabs since 1997 or whatever was their first year, batteries last well into 200-300 000 miles. CARB states have 150 000 miles hybrid drive warranty.

overall, I do not recommend that car. build quality is nowhere what it was before. hybrid synergy drive is over engineered, over complicated, and jerky due to gas engine continuous on-off cycles. some folks get terrible mileage, like 28 or so mpg. car is very sensitive to cold weather, mpg drops like led ball.

there are better cars, but they are new, like Hyundai Blue drive hybrid, or Infinity M5 hybrid, which is a beast with decent mpg.