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smokers car - camry hybrid with leather

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by hyhi, Jun 16, 2010.

  1. hyhi

    hyhi Member

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    Any chance in heck a car lot would be able to remove smoker smell from a car? Prior owner appeared to be very very heavy smoker. Looking at a used camry hybrid (09) with leather interior.

    Dealer says they have a system/machine? that they run for a few hours to remove smell but I'm doubtful of how well something like that would work and might instead just mask the odor for awhile.

    Anyone not a smoker but purchased a used car the was owned prior by a smoker?

    Noticed the 2011 camry hybrid has a slightly different energy gauge cluster (green zone coloring line has been added it).
    thanks.
     
  2. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

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    From what I understand an ozone generators can remove smells like this - this is likely what the dealership has. I do not have any experience with this, but I do understand that it works pretty well.
     
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  3. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    I presume you are buying the car only if/when they remove the smell. I'd say it's possible. Maybe it will be subcontracted to a detail shop.
     
  4. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    I'd keep shopping, just another cost (unsellable cars) smokers rightly bear.
     
  5. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    If you already purchased the TCH, wait about a year the smell will go away.
    If not, ask the price be reduced by $300 for suffering.:)
     
  6. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    In my experience, that's not a smell that ever really goes away. I could never own a smoker's car.
     
  7. ProfPlum

    ProfPlum Junior Member

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    I inherited a 2001 Civic from my father, a very heavy smoker. I took it to a carwash chain, Motor City Car Wash, here in South Florida. Paid $115 for the "full detail", and they got the smell out. (Didn't ask how, didn't care.) I drove the car another 70000 miles before trading it in on a Prius.

    The Civic had cloth seats; it may be a different matter to get the smell out of leather.

    John
     
  8. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    It doesn't just go away ... any more than the stench of a chard corpse going simply away.

    .
     
  9. UsedToLoveCars

    UsedToLoveCars Active Member

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    It will fade over time. My GF bought a used car that REEKED of cigarette and pot smoke. We fabreezed and ozoned the hell out of it. The stink remained. But after about 1 year (!) it just faded on its own. BTW, the pot smell hung around much longer than the cig smell. I joked that she better never get pulled over... :D
     
  10. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

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    If they use an ozone generator it will get the smell just about completely out.
     
  11. prius_10

    prius_10 Junior Member

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    Put 1/2 quart of vinegar inside and leave it in the sun for any extened time. The more heat the better. The car will smell like vinegar for a few days but will go away (more bearable than smoke, yuk!).
    I did it on a ford pickup with cloth seats...... in the hot Texas sun and it removed all the smoke smell.