Getting to know Camry hybrid 2016 / Toyota awareness program

Hi readers

The second issue that we brought up with UMW Toyota Malaysia relates to Awareness driving Program

2. Special Awareness driving programme

One of our members Mr Kong Seng Wong in CHOCoM  suggested that Toyota Malaysia has a get -to

 know -Camry session / Awareness driving programme for buyers of Camry hybrid. This was taken 

positively by Toyota Malaysia and they somehow told us that they would try to do this ASAP. Please 

check with Toyota portal for any news on this. Please remember that they do this for all buyers of 

Toyota Camry hybrid in Malaysia not just for CHOCoM members.

The problem is that they are not many places available for everyone. So if you see the programs 

advertised on the Toyota portal, please notify them ASAP (First come first served basis). However, if 

CHOCoM members are really interested in joining the program just give your names to me or Anslem 

and we will forward them to the right people in Toyota. We cannot promise anything but based on what 

they have said they welcome some names through us. We hope they keep their promises.

Toyota Camry hybrid extended warranty

Hi Readers

CHOCoM or Camry hybrid Owners Club Malaysia  met with Toyota Malaysia on 1 of Sept. 2016 at the Shah Alam headquarters . We raised a number of related issues with them regarding Camry Hybrid 

1.Extended warranty

We brought up the issue of the extended warranty and we requested that it should be free to all members including those who bought the car early. If possible we suggested that those who have paid for the warranty to be reimbursed.

The straight answer given was that they could not possibly do that because each year of the extra warranty requires a lot of capital / investment from Toyota. They quoted RM....(for each Camry per year. Quite a big sum was quoted but I could not divulge the info because the promise that I made to them )

They mentioned that the amount that they charged ( RM 2990) is in fact subsidized indirectly by the UMW Toyota. The real cost is much higher than that.

They also said that there is the extra free servicing that is worth around RM 400 given to the owner who have paid for the extended warranty.

So guys the extended warranty is a dead issue for now. Those who are still not fully satisfied can try another platform.

Toyota Camry hybrid and second car... / The best combo for Camry hybrid

Dear friends...

We Malaysians tend to have more than 1 car. We always try to buy the best car for our wives. The Sultan of Selangor bought a BMW I8 for his wife. Even Mr Paultan bought a Merc. 300 h for his beautiful wife. He of course drives a Camry hybrid to the office.

My neighbor in front drives the latest Merc E 200 and his wife drives a Peugeot 206. My neighbor on the right drives a BMW 5 series. For his wife he bought an Estima because he has 5 young children. My back neighbor drives a Lexus 250 and his wife drives a Toyota Vios. My neighbor far left drives a VW GTI and his doctor wife drives Toyota Alphard. These are just some of the combinations of the main car and the car that belong to the wife. My wife however drives an Accord.

This is my take on the best combo for our Camry hybrid.

1. Camry hybrid + Mazda CX 5

I believe the best combo for our hybrid is Mazda CX 5. The SUV just fits nicely as a second car. The seating position of the car is high and its easy for the wife to drive and maneuver. The engine with very high compression ratio is also economical. Another advantage is flood . The high ground clearance will ensure that our wife will return home safely. Mazda CX 5 is just perfect for our beloved wife.

2. Camry hybrid + Honda Civic 10 gen.

The second best combo is with Honda Civic. The car is just about perfect for our still petite wife. Please get the 1.5 turbo engine and she will love you so much. The only drawback is that there will be so many preying eyes among the 'buayas' trying to get to know her. If you already have the Civic my suggestion is for you to get a gps tracker so that you know where your wife is.

3. Camry hybrid + Ford Focus hatchback

This is another good combo. The Ford Focus is just a beautiful car for your wife. Its not too big and not to small. The turbo engine till just blow away the Camry to bite the dust. She will really enjoy the car and You will have a heartache watching her enjoying her ride.

4. Camry Hybrid + Honda Jazz

I think this combo is the most practical. The magic seats will solve most of the baggage problems. You will also save a lot of money. The car is also so easy to drive. The best part is that the car can be had around RM 70 K. The Jazz is truly a girl's car.

5. Camry hybrid + Mazda Miata or Toyota MRs

Another beautiful combo is with the carbriolet or the Targa. She will feel sexy driving this car and I believe your wife would have lots of followers in her facebook and at the office. You will die young if you buy your wife this car...

15. Toyota Camry Hybrid + Camry hybrid

This will be the worst combination and you wife will hate you until the end of the world. Every time you argue with her she will bring up the issue of Camry hybrid. My advice to you is not to get another Camry hybrid.

So these are the best cars for your wife who has been faithful to you. Treat her well you will be very happy inside out. Treat her badly you will die young.

.

Camry hybrid owners club Malaysia (CHOCoM) / Camry hybrid club Malaysia

Dear would be friends of CHOCoM ...

I'm truly sorry that I could not accept everyone to the group. The rejection rate is high lately because we want to get only passionate members. The aim of this group is not to be the largest Camry hybrid Club in Malaysia although its expanding too fast but the one that is most meaningful and helpful to members who are owners and non owners who have great passion for the car. Please also be warned that this is not a cult group. We are just ordinary people with some interest in Camry hybrid.

We will accept anyone to the group ,owner or non owner , who has a genuine interest to be part of the community. Please make sure that your facebook account is real and genuine. If its truly genuine you're most welcome to the group.

I also like to thank some 'spies' from other groups in CHOCoM. Its an honour to have you and you will be treated as an equal member . To Toyota 'liaison officer' in the group I hope you enjoy your stay here and you're most welcome. The rest of the members please keep on posting here so that UMW Toyota will hear you.

To the advertisers you can actually publish your advertisements here provided that

1. The advertisement must be directly related to Camry hybrid
2. You must have discounts for all members in the group. You MUST mention in your advertisement " special discounts for CHOCoM members" and say what the discounts are.

Without the two key criteria your advertisements will be deleted and blocked.

Thank you

Dr Salleh
The administrator

Camry hybrid regenerative brake system

Dear friends...

I didn't have braking problems with my Camry hybrid earlier on but after more than a year of ownership I'm starting to have a weird feeling about the brakes. It does not feel as sensitive as it used to be. Now, I feel that I have to press harder to get a complete stop. I don't know whether it's just my feeling or it's the real thing.I believe this could be one of the issues that I could bring up with UMW Toyota.

In one instance, when I was driving quite fast I had to slammed the brake but it did stop brilliantly but there's some juddering feel. I believe its still safe but there's some weird feeling about the regenerative braking system and the software set up.

Camry hybrid irritating noise

Hi bros and sistas...

When I wanted to buy a car, one of the features that I looked for is how quiet the car is. Quietness has become an important feature as soon as I enter the 'senior zone' meaning around the age of 45 and above. That was one of the reasons why I bought the Camry hybrid because it's eerily quiet especially on EV mode.

Because of the serenity of the car at low speeds, any small sound tends to be amplified. A little creaking sound will sound really big in a quite ambiance and this makes the driver to be distracted and irritated. I believe one of the reasons why there are so may complaints about the noise in Camry hybrid is because the car is very quiet . However, compared to a Lexus , the sound absorbing materials used in the Camry hybrid is not as thick or as effective as found in a Lexus.

The same noise in the quiet Camry might not have been an issue in a Civic or CX 5. That's my two cents worth.

UMW Toyota Malaysia and the people there ....Fcuk you

Hi guys

I'm Dr Salleh and I run Toyota Camry Owners Club  of  Malaysia or CHOCoM  for quite a while and I tell you that to get in touch with Toyota Malaysia to ask simple things is so difficult. I think its easier to make an appointment to see Najib Razak or Dr Mahathir than to see a top management guy of Toyota Malaysia. You know how long it takes  me to seek an appointment with Toyota Malaysia--Weeks. This morning after so many attempts,I got a call a call from Ms. Soo Ching who said that I had to write a letter  to Cik Suri Atikah  to seek an appointment to see a top official from Toyota Malaysia.

Toyota Malaysia is like a Fortress with so many layers and walls. People say its so difficult to deal with government departments. Just try to get an appointment with Toyota Malaysia. You have to go through so many emails , text messages via messenger , via Toyota Malaysia FB, Calls and letters ...And still nothing yet. Now ,I know why Toyota Malaysia has not improved. They have been run by people who are out of touch. The company is being  run by bureaucrats with so many layers of people.

No wonder they cannot solve the mirrorlink problems... No wonder the reputation of Toyota is getting badly bruised by the day. I don't know whether I would buy Toyota again. I think the people  this company should reflect on how they run their company. Fcuk the people in Toyota....

Toyota Camry hybrid 2016 Vs. Proton Perdans 2.4 L 2016

His bros....

Proton Perdana 2016

Proton has recently introduced the all new Proton Perdana. The car is based on the previous generation Honda Accord. The car competes with the likes of Toyota Camry, the newly revised Honda Accord, Peugeot 508, VW Passat and Nissan Teana among others. But how does the new proton Perdana measure against Toyota Camry Hybrid? So today I would like to do just that:

RM 175,000 Toyota Camry Hybrid VS. 135,000 Proton Perdana

1. Design

I think both are more of uncles' design but I see some fresh ideas from Proton to have more of a fastback like rear end. The shape of the new Proton is not unhandsome but better looking than the Toyota Camry. I see that the Perdana is more executive like than the Camry hybrid. However, both will not be able to attract young pretty girls.
2* for TCH and 2.5 * for Perdana

Proton Perdana interior

2. Interior

I like the dashboard design of the Toyota Camry. It's more traditional and exudes some luxury feelings not unsimilar to a Lexus. The Proton however looks the same as the previous generation of Honda Accord but this is not to say that it's not pretty. In fact, it's quite good looking with the newly revised centre console that is very much lower. You feel that the dashboard is slightly lower than the previous Accord and this creates some feeling of sportiness.
4 * star for TCH and 3.5 * for Perdana

3.Ride and Handling

I believe the ride in the TCH is really soft and floating and mature people or people with slipped disc would enjoy that . But the Perdana is very much like the new Accord, it shows its young side of the ride and handling department. In twisty roads I would rather be in the Perdana than the TCH. But when driving 150 km/h I would rather be in the Perdana. The Camry is too soft and more buncy for speed exceeding 160 km /h. For fast driving the TCH is a non starter.
3.5* for TCH and 4.0 * for the Perdana

Proton Perdana dashboard

4. Space interior.

The Perdana is the largest car in the D segment at 5020 mm compared to only 4850 mm for the Camry hybrid. If you need space the Perdana should be your choice. I also believe that if you're a CEO you want to be in Perdana although the space in the TCH is also quite commodious. The boot in the Perdana is so large that you can literally put an Axia hatchback inside the boot. I'm not kidding it's so huge.
4* for TCH and 5* for Perdana

5. Performance

This is the part in which the Perdana could not compete. The car just could not out-accelerate the TCH hybrid. The drivetrain in the Perdana is a bit lazy and much slower to propel the slightly heavy Perdana at 1535kg. The Perdana is more suited for unhurried highway drive- a young guy like Johann Lo or Prof Iskandar would not be happy driving the perdana. But if you want a luxury cruiser the Perdana is the natural choice. A retired KSU or or a retired 5 star general would be happy customers of Proton Perdana.
4.5* for TCH and 3* for Perdana

6. Value for Money

The Perdana I believe is a car you should buy if you put value for money as your first priority, For about RM 135, 000 you practically get a 2.4 L Japanese luxury cruiser even though its Malaysian made. Proton could not make any changes to the engine, suspension , drivetrain and the 5 speed transmission. Overall, the Perdana is the winner
3.5* for TCH and 4.5* for Perdana

7. Infotainment system

The TCH is packed with outstanding features like the SatNav and lane watch. Perdana on the other hand is also fully equipped but the display area is too small for a luxury cruiser. The best part about the Perdana its 6 speaker system sounds very much better than the system in TCH. The sound is so loud and crisp and even better than in the previous honda Accord.
3.5* for TCH and 3.5* for Perdana

8. Refinement

Both cars are not very solid but generally the TCH is more refined and efficient. However I feel that the Perdana has more of the solid feel compared to the Camry hybrid. I Believe the engineers at Proton have put in more sound deadening materials in the Perdana. I even feel that its much quieter than the earlier Honda Accord. But the latest 2016 Accord is more refined and quieter.
4*for TCH and 3.5 * for Perdana

Conclusion.

The Perdana is a beautiful luxury cruiser and a good choice for value for money car. It's also a huge family sedan with acres of space to swallow the driver and his many children and wives.The Camry hybrid however is fast, efficient and a quiet family sedan. If I don't have much money in the bank I would definitely get the Perdana. but because my children are leaving the nest the Camry hybrid is still a very good choice.

Thank You to Be A Katie Proton for the courtesy car.
You can get to test drive the all new Perdana at
LHM One Stop Car Service (M) Sdn Bhd
Kampung Baharu Nilai, Negeri Sembilan
Malaysia

What to look for when buying a car : Camry hybrid 2016

Dear bros and sistas...

Buying a new car is not an easy decision. This is due to the fact that you are spending sometimes up to RM 200,000 ( For some people this could be more) of your hard earned money. Well ...not your money per se... but money from the bank that you borrow sometimes at very high interest rates. So before you commit into buying a car, you have to make sure that it fits nicely with your budget and the car meets certain criteria.

1. Before I buy a car , I will make sure that I want a car that will not make me lose a lot of money. In other words, the car would have to have a good resale value. My operational definition of good resale value is that I would be able to retain at least 60 % of the value of the car after 5 years of use. Because of this, I refrain from buying Koreans like Hyundai , Daewoo or Kia ( I don't know how much this is true now). I also make sure that my car is not a Citroen or a Peugeot as some salesmen label these vehicles as "sejuk'. Most probably i would not get a VW because of its well known problem with the DSG transmission.

2. Next thing that I would give a serious consideration is that the car is very reliable. I don't want to be stuck in the traffic jam with ignition or transmission problems. I don't want to be spending a lot more money on the ECU or other problems. I don't want a car to be laden with complex coding problems that need to be solved.

3. I will also make sure that my car will not be a gas guzzler. I need a car that will have the speed but will not drink lots of petrol. In this world where the price of petrol is uncertain you have to make sure that your car sips the expensive petrol and gives you the extra mileage.

4. I need a car that is comfortable and quiet. My hearing is getting more sensitive at his age and I need car that is quiet for me to drive at a long haul or around towns. My back is also giving some problems and I need the soft suspension of my car to pamper my butt and give a magic carpet ride and not a jagged ride like some sporty cars.

5. Before I buy a car , I would also make sure that the car that I want to buy is a good value car. Good value does not mean very cheap. It means that I get lots of money for the car. Sometimes good value can mean tax incentives, extended warranty, extra features and good discounts.

After taking into considerations of all these things, I come to a conclusion that the best car for me is a Camry hybrid. I don't feel any regret at all buying the car till now . I'm one satisfied customer overall. When new cars like Honda Civic comes in I would always rationalize that there's no perfect car for us....There's is no perfect wife or girl. There will always be a prettier girl in town to come . You will never be fully satisfied... Just take care of your imperfect car and you will love with her beauty...

Toyota Service Center : Be smart

Dear owners of TCH ...

Please be aware that some Toyota franchisee service centers in Malaysia charge unnecessary items

1. They charge extra 1 litre on top of the four litre of oil. You don't really need the extra 1 litre
The extra 1 litre costs around 60 ringgit.

2. They get you to use the heavier oil which costs more than 100 ringgit extra. What you need is 

SN 0W -20 which is developed for hybrid cars. The specific hybrid oil is much cheaper.

3. They might ask you to do extra things like changing the transmission oil before the stipulated period.

Pl be a smart Camry Hybrid owner.