Hybrid Camry

[rnln]

Hi guys,
Time to need a car for the little kid now. I am thinking about an old Camry, more or less 10 years old. Searching around for it and I found that the Hybrid can be cheaper and saving gas. Can I ask if it's a "yes" to get an old Hybrid? Is the DIY still the same or any different? I never have a Hybrid before.
Thanks guys.

[WPOZZZ]

Research cost of battery replacement. My friend's brother loved Prius' until it needed a new battery, then he swore them off.

[unclebilly]

I like my tundra hybrid so far. Older Prius battery replacement is cheap, I assume Camry would be similar.

[Norm K]

We have a small hybrid: a 2014 Lexus CT200h, which is essentially a better appointed, non-ugly Prius. It's ten years old with over 130K on the clock and the batteries are still going strong. We get between 45 and 49 mpg around town without fail, depending on who's doing most of the driving on a given tank.

If the batteries suddenly went flat today, I'd replace them and drive the car another 10/130.

_

[berettafan]

I thought Prius batteries weren't very expensive?

[Sooner or later]

They should have a 10 year/150,000 mile battery warranty.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Get it checked out, including the battery pack. I'm assuming there are more options than 10+ years ago. I had a friend with a Prius she bought new and the battery pack went. This was probably around 2011. Luckily for her, prior to the 100k warranty being expired. At that time, replacement was expensive. My daughter drove my Dad's old 98 Camry for a looooong time. For her college graduation I paid to have the suspension and brakes freshened up at 120k miles. About the only work other than standard maintenance that car ever needed.

[aschen]

Hybrid rules as an appliance.

Research rebuilt pack price I think Around 1500. Price it in on any car over 8 years old or 100k miles though I think many times they go MUCH longer than that.

Toyota hybrid drivetrain is one of the most reliable modern drive architectures. Do a bit of research on how the "CVT" works with the motors it is essentially a single planetary gear set with no clutches or belts.

[Steve Carlton]

I looked into this before buying a 2008 Lexus RX 400h with 71,000 miles to help out a family member. The local Lexus dealer said the risk was really low for years and that this model was known for being robust. Did some checking and hybrid2go appears solid. They quoted me $2,500, but I think a Camry might be $2,200. They come to you and do the install, too.

https://hybrid2go.com/

[pwd72s]

Cindy's non hybrid 2016 base Camry has been dead reliable over it's 21,000 miles. Luckily we bought before Toyota had direct injection with it's resulting carbon problems. I could be wrong, but think direct injection began in the 2018 model year. Not sure when they moved to dual injection.

I prefer simple cars..always thought hybrids just added a complication.

[WPOZZZ]

What about something diesel...if they still allow that fuel in CA?

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Cindy's non hybrid 2016 base Camry has been dead reliable over it's 21,000 miles. Luckily we bought before Toyota had direct injection with it's resulting carbon problems. I could be wrong, but think direct injection began in the 2018 model year. Not sure when they moved to dual injection.

I prefer simple cars..always thought hybrids just added a complication.

Yeah, they said that about fuel injection a while back.

Screw hybrid Camry’s.

I wanna plug-in hybrid Prius Prime (2023 or later). Think I can find one around these parts for less than three limbs out of the five I was born with? No way!

[aschen]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I prefer simple cars..always thought hybrids just added a complication.

Me too but there are some interesting elements where Hybrids are simpler than other modern cars. Not saying they are as easy to own as a DIYer, as I am mostly undecided, but our hybrid Highlander is shockingly (a pun!) simple under the hood.

No accessory belts, no traditional alternator, no traditional starter, no PS pump (true on all new cars I think), AC compressor is electric and out of the way. Engine bay basically looks empty. There is basically no transmission just a planetary gear drive. No turbo which is so common on new appliance cars.

Now working on the traction motors, electric compressor, or HV electronics seems scary and probably expensive but Toyota has these things pretty well engineered I think.

Mid 2000s accord or Camry is probably peak ease to own auto, but like for like on a new car Im not sure a toyota hybrid is worse than the conventional equivalent.

Getting 40mpg in a 3row SUV is great, even if not a huge money saver overall. Many fewer trips to the gas pump and it takes "cost of gas" completely out of the road trip discussion not that this is a huge concern for most of us.

[mattdavis11]

I would research the brake accumulator assembly and longevity before thinking about a used hybrid Toyota anything.

That accumulator assembly turns a serviceable vehicle into a parts car pretty quick. Ask me how I know.

[Steve Carlton]

How do you know?

[mattdavis11]

I have a parked prius that has a brake accumulator issue. I'm on the fence about fixing it or junking it. First Toyota I've ever had that didn't make it to 250K.

[aschen]

How many miles are on your prius? Ive seen threads on that. Its expensive part and not super easy to install. Quick google search says 1k DIY, 2k Independent shop, 3.5k dealership

I think my reference for this kinda thing is getting skewed in my old age and 12$ fast food combos, but if a car needs a 2k new battery and 2k new brake accumulator at ~200k miles and makes it to 350k miles with these new parts its not unreasonable.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Research cost of battery replacement. My friend's brother loved Prius' until it needed a new battery, then he swore them off.

Look up Prius battery replace videos.

They are a bunch of cells, packed in there deep, which are not too expensive individually.

A former dealership mechanic(who did hundreds before) does it in about 20min with simple tools in the driveway.
Seriously. Don't get scared off.
Priuses are not going away anytime soon. It's a good car otherwise.

[mattdavis11]

Originally Posted by aschen

How many miles are on your prius? Ive seen threads on that. Its expensive part and not super easy to install. Quick google search says 1k DIY, 2k Independent shop, 3.5k dealership

240K or so. Just changed the rod bearings a few months ago and thought I'd be good for a quite awhile, then this. I've read where several people lost their brakes a lot sooner than I.

[Scott Douglas]

I used to share an office with a guy who had a Prius that he used to commute to work in from Calabasas to El Segundo each day. He'd regularly take trips in it out to Palmdale to work weekends too, as well as trips to Salt Lake City for vacation.
He described it as being a glorified golf cart experience.
I forget why he got rid of it, but he ended up with a Yaris.
Guy was a glutton for punishment when it came to his transportation if you ask me.