I was just checking out the Camry Hybrid online and it looks really nice. I was wondering if the AC is the same in the Camry as the Prius? Can the car be on with the AC running in electric mode? I really like the fact that my MPG do not go down when the AC is on (I love AC) and I was wondering if the same was true for the Camry. I am really torn between the two cars. On one hand, I love the technology of the Prius, but I like the room and luxury in the camry. The cars are about the same I think as far as price goes I think. The Camry might be a little cheaper, huh? Thanks!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yarzy @ Jun 29 2006, 07:14 AM) [snapback]278558[/snapback]</div> Don't be fooled, the mileage does go down when you use AC in your Prius. The effect is just delayed until the loss from the battery is made up by charging. That said, I don't know about the Camry and I still prefer the Prius's AC design to the conventional one.
Yes the TCH has the same basic design as the Prius for AC. I expect the motor and compressor may be a little larger because there is more volume of car to cool. I would also expect the Camry Hybrid to get 10 to 15 MPG less than the Prius when driven in the same manner. I have a friend who has a TCH and drives about like I do on the same kind of roads, actually he is most likely a little more careful of mileage than I am. While I may complain that I can never seem to reach 60 MPG he says he can never reach 50. Most of the time I get around 50 to 52 in the summer while his mileage has been in the high 30s to low 40s. I also noticed the Camry has dual temperature controls for the HVAC system so the passenger can have a temperature different than the driver. I think they are a pain because if you want to change the temperature you have to set it twice.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tumbleweed @ Jun 29 2006, 09:39 AM) [snapback]278571[/snapback]</div> You can go from dual to single mode and back with a press of a button. This is a god send for me, since my wife is always trying to freeze me to death. I'm only sorry there isn't dual mode fan and diriectional settings as well!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yarzy @ Jun 29 2006, 10:14 AM) [snapback]278558[/snapback]</div> The two cars are not that different in size. The Prius has 110.6 Cu Ft. total, the Camry Hybrid has 112 Cu. Ft. The Camry has 101 Cu Ft. in the passenger compartment vs. 96.2 in the Prius, but the Prius has more cargo space AND it has hatchback flexibility.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yarzy @ Jun 29 2006, 10:14 AM) [snapback]278558[/snapback]</div> The base Hybrid Camry is $4,200 HIGHER than the base Prius. I haven't done any feature analysis to know what is included in each base model. I think they did a number of things right, like using a 4 cylinder instead of an already 'more than needed' V6 as Honda did with the HCH. That is why it has a much better EPA mileage rating (40/38), even with the Accord (25/34) having an engine that cuts out 3 cylinders when not needed. What they missed, which is BIG in my mind, is the 'by wire' transmission. The Camry Hybrid has the conventional 'push it right, then down then left then down through Reverse and Neutral to get to Drive' stick in the console. The Prius 'joystick' transmission (*) makes that as obsolete as engine cranks and choke knobs. * that always returns to 'home', always the same motion to get to a specific 'gear' and puts itself in Park when you shut down
