I'm a Hippy...

[Radio-Active]

Had a Honda Hybrid Civic. Got 42.5 mpg for the whole life average. Traded it in on a 2005 MSM. I would not have another Hybrid after my experience. I had the transmission replaced at 19k and it started slipping again at 37k when I decided it had to go. I think the butt ugly Prius is the only one worth its salt and would have thought the Camary should have got the same MPG.

On the plus side, I bought the car for $19,600 and traded it in 20 months later for $16,900. I got $7,000 off the MSM.

[Titus]

I would not have another Hybrid after my experience. I had the transmission replaced at 19k and it started slipping again at 37k when I decided it had to go.

That sounds like more of a Honda problem then a Hybrid problem.

[Radio-Active]

That sounds like more of a Honda problem then a Hybrid problem.

[rant]The main problem is that nobody that works at the dealership knows how to work on them. They all came up with lame stories about how the gremlins in the electronics were doing their job and that a slipping clutch is perfectly normal. On top of that, they have to do th $475 service every other time you get your cars oil changed or you will 'void your warranty'(yeah right).


Yeah, it probably is a Honda thing. I won't be buying another Honda anytime soon. [/rant]

I really liked the gadgets included in the car and I miss them to some extent. I think that, for the money, Hybrids are a steal in general. The research done on the vehicles will eventually be used to further future technologies and I might relent on the whole hybrid thing once the car manufacturers put a diesel hybrid into a car.

[XM_Rocks]

On top of that, they have to do th $475 service every other time you get your cars oil changed or you will 'void your warranty'(yeah right).

I dont think they can legally do that.

Yeah... shame on me I have never done the 15K-30K-45K services on any of my cars.

Just check and replace things as needed.

My first job out of college was at a Lexus dealer.

I saw some $1,000+ bills for "prevenative services". The mantra was if you do them the car will last 250K miles.

Then you had a "very good customer" at 86K that had his LS400 with a shot rearend drive unit... that will be $5,600.

I always wonder why people still buy into the hype.

[icepenguin66]

I dont think they can legally do that.

Yeah... shame on me I have never done the 15K-30K-45K services on any of my cars.

Just check and replace things as needed.

My first job out of college was at a Lexus dealer.

I saw some $1,000+ bills for "prevenative services". The mantra was if you do them the car will last 250K miles.

Then you had a "very good customer" at 86K that had his LS400 with a shot rearend drive unit... that will be $5,600.

I always wonder why people still buy into the hype.

Well, some if hyped up but some is good preventative mainenence. $1000 worth of crap is a bit much but getting the auto tranny fluid flushed as recommended keeps the repair bills down in the future.

[Mathews2004]

I went in with a printout from Carmax where they have a buying service for new cars. Price looked fair to me. It was about 3k under sticker. 30k sticker and paid 27k for it. I expect the dealer cleared $1000 or so off the deal. 7 hours later... Still not the worst experience I've ever had in a dealership. They also had to order it to get one equipped like we wanted. You could probably get a cloth, single CD for $23k.

I don't think the camry hybrid is meant the ultimate mpg king. The prius, civic hybrid and VW TDI are all superior. It meant to be a large sedan that also gets good mileage. They compromised on size, weight and added performance.

You wouldn't believe how many people ask about it. Everyone wants to know how it works and drives.

[gabkwong]

getting the auto tranny fluid flushed as recommended keeps the repair bills down in the future.

I know this his off topic, but how often do you have to flush the slush box? Right now I have a 07 CRV and a 06 Saabaru 9-2X (rebage Impreza) and both have the slush box.