Major problems found in Camry hybrid 2016 / Should I buy a Camry Hybrid?

I have to admit that Toyota Camry Hybrid is an extremely good car for the average family in Malaysia. The car is so comfortable, refined and generally quiet. It's no slouch either for a straight line speeding. It's appropriately fast if you discount a twisty road in the rural area.Travelling at 150 km per hour all day long along  Malaysia's North and South highway is  a breeze for the Camry. Although it's a very good car there are some major weaknesses.

Camry Hybrid 2016

1. The terrible sound system. The sound system in the Camry is really bad. Despite having 10 speakers the sound system is  really beyond description. One of the reasons could be that there's only one back speaker . This is the first time that i've seen a car with only one back speaker Another reason could be that the system that they offer does not consume much power and thus does not produce good power wattage sound.  Electric power in the Camry is at a premium because it's a hybrid and it needs all the power for the drive. The sound system also does not have an application to download songs played on CD . This is really something that I miss so much. You need to carry all the CDs to  play the songs you love.

Camry Hybrid interior

 2. The mirror link system does not work in Malaysia. So owners in the country could not interface their smart phones with the 8 inch infotainment system. The application in the Camry could not read the software in the android. It can only be connected if a major configuration is done to the electrical system in the car. This will render the warranty null and void

3. The car is relatively noisy when it's recharging at idle. The sound is not too loud but when the car is generally quiet any noise is just unwelcome and also very irritating. The sound at C pillar when cruising at 130 km is also something Toyota should look into. Nowadays, very few people drive below 110 km per hour. Even micro cars, like Perodua Axia, can cruise more than 120 km per hour.

US Camry Hybrid

4. Hit an miss quality on the camry. Sometimes owners of the Camry complained of the moisture found in the rear light as if the rear end light is leaking. Some owners claim that there's unwanted creaking sound emanating from the dashboard and under the steering wheel. Some complained that the brake systems in the Camry makes a very irritating clicking sound at the start of the drive. The sound however disappears after a while, Some of the owners felt that the paint job done on the Camry is not very premium. In fact , it looks cheap. They said that the paint on the Corolla Altis is even better . It's so glossy and shiny without any orange peel.

Those are some of the major weakness or flaws that I found in the Malaysian Camry. I have no information about the quality and fit and finish  of the Camry in Thailand , Singapore and Indonesia. I believe the quality of the car in the States is even better than in Malaysia. However, I don't have any data to back up my claim.

Which tyres for My Camry hybrid 2015 / Best tyres for Camry Hybrid 2016/ Michelin LC vs Turanza ER 33

The Toyota Camry Hybrid  assembled in Malaysia and Australia comes with Turanza ER 33 from Bridgestone which is the world's largest tyre manufacturer. In the United States , they use Michelin tyres probably because the tyres are made there. The Turanza ER 33  tyres are quite good in dry traction and used in fully built up Lexus 300H , LS 430, and the Infinity , Nissan's luxury arm. The Turanza is considered a 'grand touring summer tyre' and pretty good in wet conditions too. I used the tyre for my 2009 Honda Civic and suits the car well.One drawback of the tyre is the treadlife is quite poor meaning it does not last very long because of the quite aggressive tyre patterns. The thread life however  also depends on how you drive. A frequent spinning of tyres will definite shorten the life of the tyres. The tyre is also known to be quite noisy.

Turanza ER 33

Another option that you can consider is the Michelin LC. It's among the quietest tyre available on the market. The rolling resistance is 13 % lower than the average tyre and this translates into good fuel consumption. Quiet ride and Hybrid make a good marriage. In Malaysia, some owners of continental cars like BMW and Mercedes Benzes use the LC. 

Michelin Primacy LC

If the LC is slightly more expensive to your liking , you can opt for the XM 2 energy. It has 8 % less rolling resistance but not as quiet as the LC. One good thing about XM 2 is that it lasts longer- up to 20% longer. XM 2 is commonly used for mid size car such as the Preve or Civic.

Michelin ST

The most expensive is the Michelin ST. It's also reasonably quiet but not as quiet as the LC. But quieter than the XM and lasts 25 % longer than the LC. Rolling resistance is 8 % lower which means you save quite a lot on fuel.

If you ask me which tyre I would go for. I would say I would go for Michelin LC. Most likely, I would get those for my tyre replacement. I think the Bridgestone Turanza is a tad noisier albeit having good handling . That's my two cents worth...

Ceramic coating for Toyota Camry Hybrid 2016/ Waxing vs Ceramic Coating vs Opti-coating

When buying a new car we always like to have the best protection for our car from unwanted elements like UV rays , corrosion, acidic contaminants scratches, and heat. The best way is to actually coat the car with nano tech. products such as ceramic coating which forms a semi permanent or permanent adhesion to the paint.

Ceramic coating for Camry Hybrid

But coating can be an expensive affair and it can cost you up to RM 10, 000 especially with platinum coating (please check the advert in CHOCoM for more info ) But it will create a beautiful beading effect commonly known as hydrophobic effect. The shine will also last longer compared to waxing and sometimes lasts up to 10 years depending on the strength and thickness of the coating. Waxing can last only 2~3 months. After that you need to apply the wax again to maintain the lustre.

Ceramic coat vs opti-coat vs waxing

But you also need to note that coating is not flexible and it can crack because ceramic can be hardened when applied a number of layers  It also contains harsh and probably dangerous chemicals to form that permanent bonding and the preparation takes days sometimes several days (3~4 days) for the intensive preparation period. If you're unlucky the no good installer might just cut corners and the work is shoddy.

Ceramic 

Waxing however is cheaper and can be done for less than RM 300 or about US 100.  A car owner  can sweat out every 2~3 months to reapply the Carnauba wax all over the car which I think   looks more watery glossiness compared to ceramic coating.

My advice is that  if you have a deep pocket go for the ceramic coating but if you're a person who gets easily bored doing nothing opt for the natural sealant. The workout is actually good for you and the car.