Toyota Camry hybrid not designed for traffic logged countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia./ Camry Hybrid not meant for Malaysia

I have owned Toyota Camry Hybrid for almost one year  and I have managed to drive and recently serviced my car at the 30 , 000 km  interval which costs approximately Rm 459 or around US 110. What I want to share today in this blog is how unrefined the Camry Hybrid is in the Malaysian context .

The issue that I want to highlight is whether the Camry Hybrid is really suitable or appropriately designed for road conditions in Malaysia and in Southeast Asia in general? I really believe that the Camry Hybrid that is sold in this country is designed more for the US  and  Australian markets . I think it's also not misplaced in countries such as  UK where there is no bumper to bumper crawl at speed around 3 km an hour. The presence of  roundabouts in UK is a blessing. I have traveled extensively in Uk and  I've spent 7 years studying in the United States. So I know the road conditions in those countries and  I am certain that the Camry when it was designed it's  meant for European and American countries and not for Malaysia, Thailand or Indonesia.

This is because the car  does not really measure up to the Malaysian road conditions . In countries in South east Asia we have to face heavy  traffic jams and we will get stuck sometimes for hours just to travel just for a few kilometers I think the Camry Hybrid will perform extremely  well in countries like the UK or US where the traffic jam is not heavy and that  traffic keeps on moving. The traffic in those countries will keep on moving albeit slowly and  very seldom it's stuck for more more than 10 minutes. The main  battery in the Camry would  be able a to sustain a s slow but moving traffic .

 The Camry is not specifically designed for SEA markets.The engine in the Camry would be recharging constantly and this affects the quiet ambience of the car and makes driving the car a constant irritation in heavy traffic. The battery in the Camry does not have enough power to sustain more than one hour of traffic jam. I would say that the plug in hybrids would be of great help, Jam logged countries like Malaysia would be better with  PHEV like the Chevrolet Volt and Probably Hyundai Ioniq. But Toyota Malaysia is always slow in introducing innovations in countries like Malaysia, The people  in Toyota Malaysia are run by bureaucrats who are more interested in maintaining status quo and optimising profits.

My advice to people who want to buy EV car is just to wait for PHEV like volt or other Chinese brands like BYD. If you live in  the suburb in areas where there's no heavy traffic the Camry is almost flawless, It;'s really comfortable and reliable car.

Toyota Camry Hybrid sales 2016 Malaysia

The sale of new cars is Malaysia is early 2016 has gone down a little. Similar scenario also happens in Thailand but it is worst over the other side of the fence.The new year has also seen a decrease in the sale of Toyota  Camry Hybrid in  Malaysia . Last year they managed to sell quite a lot of Camrys ( I think more than 7,000 units have been sold) but this year the sale is a bit slow. I know this by the number of aggressive advertisements put up by Toyota Malaysia in the newspapers like the Star. I think Toyota Malaysia also gives RM 2000 discount for any new buyer. The price of the car has been maintained as in the previous year because of the generous tax incentives given to hybrid cars assembled in the country. I also believe this is the last year of the tax free status given to Camry. Next year it will be a different story. I believe Toyota Malaysia will definitely jack up the price of car to at least RM 220,000. Potential buyers please don't wait till the end of the year as you may loose out in the end.

The car itself is a good car and there 's nothing much that can be reported here. So far I've not heard of battery problem that affect the cars sold in Malaysia. Nobody of the car forum that I managed complained of the battery problem I believe the NIMH battery is an excellent product and suits the Malaysian weather condition. The hot weather in Malaysia does not affect much the big battery or the auxiliary battery. I think the biggest gripe has got to do we mirror link feature that was hyped up during the car introduction  but later it was found that it actually does not work in Malaysia. Somebody in Toyota Malaysia has not done his homework and we the buyers of Camry Hybrid suffer. What Toyota Malaysia could do is to provide the buyers with remedy to the problem. I really cannot imagine a big company like Toyota would condone such act by its super dealer.

RON 100 for Camry Hybrid / RON 97 or RON 100 / Which fuel for Camry hybrid?

Hi guys

Petron Malaysia has introduced Petron Blaze 100 which goes for RM 2.60 (US 70 cent) per liter . It's available in lots of petrol stations in Klang valley, Malaysia. It's a premium of a Ringgit ( a quarter) over RON 95, the price which decided by the Malaysian government.

The issue is should we use the fuel , RON 100, for our Camry Hybrid? Does it give more power or make the engine more refined? The answer is NO. Fueling your car with RON 100 will not save you fuel nor will it give you more power. What the higher number tells you is that the fuel will be able to resist engine knocking better . New cars like Camry hybrid are equipped with knocking sensors that will to retard the engine when it needs to. So there' is no necessity to use fuel with higher RON.

What you need to is to find out is the minimum number of RON the engine requires to have a optimum system. I think it RON 89 for Camry Hybrid . In my case, I've been using Petronas RON 95 since day one and I'm very happy with its performance. The money that you haved saved using RON 95 could be spent on other more beneficial things like having a nice dinner with your loved ones in a nice diner in Putrajaya or KL

Toyota Camry Hybrid vs Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 2016

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Vs Toyota Camry Hybrid

Camry hybrid 2016

HSH has yet to be sold in Malaysia. I doubt it will be sold here considering that tax incentive on CBU has been shelved. Looking at the pretty numbers ,the Sonata hybrid has quite a lot to offer. For one, the main battery which is placed underneath the trunk is given a lifetime warranty compared to '8 year- assurance' by Toyota Malaysia.

Camry hybrid 2016

Hyundai claims that the combined mileage for HSH is 42 mpg which is slightly better than TCH at 40 mpg. The combo engine- internal combustion and electric- is paired to a 6-speed auto transmission but only e-CVT in the Camry hybrid.The combined power output is 193hp for the Sonata hybrid and around 200 hp in the Camry.

Hyundai Sonata Interior

Hyundai however gives 8 year bumper to bumper warranty but only 3 years and 100,000 Km for Toyota. Performance is a tie between TCH and HSH but the Toyota is better at transmitting power to the wheel. According to Autotrader ,TCH is quieter and has better handling compared to HSH.

Camry hybrid interior

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.

Toyota Camry owner review 2016 Malaysia

Dear friends

I know it's quite difficult to commit oneself into buying a car in a country like Malaysia. This is because buying a car is actually a big commitment on the part of the buyer. It's a major decision because  the price of vehicles in the country is among the highest in the world after Singapore. I read somewhere that an American uses a car up to 10 years before buying a new one. But in Malaysia the average ownership is approximately 6-7 years. I dont have the exact figures but I think this is about right based on my own experience as an owner of a car and also as an administrator of a car forum. Below is my review of the car after more than 25,000 kms and almost a year after using the hybrid.

Camry hybrid review 2016

# The car

The car itself is very reliable except for some niggling problems like noise emanating from the below the steering wheel as experienced by some owners. I myself have not  experienced it but what I can see is that when cruising at 120-130 km per hour I noticed some increase in noise levels on the driver's side. Another complaint that I have is the relay wiper that has ceased to work after the change of the windscreen because  of a hairline crack caused by errant gravels.

# The service

The service provided by Toyota centers is above average.  At Bangi Toyota , a suburb near KL  a complaint about the noisy rush of noise when cruising was not seriously entertained except for some token inspection by the service center and probably some spraying of  silicone  mists on the rubber shield that does nothing to dampen the noise levels. 

The change of windscreen could only be completed by bigger service centers like the one in Jalan Cheras KL. The smaller ones could only do but it depends on the insurance companies subscribed. The one in Bangi could only entertain MISG insurance company. The change of windscreen took two days t by Toyota Cheras even though the work is not a major one. It should have been  completed the most just one day including the processing of insurance. The fact that it took almost two days shows the inefficiency of Toyota Cheras and Toyota Malaysia.

Mirrorlink in Toyota Camry Hybrid 2015 Malaysia. How to make it work? Does anyone know?

It's almost a year since I bought My TCH from an authorized dealer in Malaysia. The mileage on the odometer after 9 months  indicates  more than 22,000 kms which is about the average distance that  Malaysians drive their  cars in a year When I bought the car,  I was given the impression that the car was equipped with an impressive JBL system with 10 speakers. Wow !! I thought I would be a very happy person with an properly fast and comfortable car and with a very good sound  system built in. Alas , It turned out that the sound system is only slightly better than the average system that you get in a Proton- Proton is a Malaysian car manufacturer. I thought the speaker system in the Proton Iriz- a sub compact car,  is much better. In fact, if you are a TCH owner in Malaysia, you will realize that there is only one speaker at the back. That is why the speaker sound in the CH is totally unsatisfactory. Don't be fooled by the claim of 10 speakers.

Mirrorlink -Does it work in Malaysia?

Another feature that should impress me that is supposed to be available is called Mirrorlink. The Mirrorlink is prominently highlighted in Toyota advertisement when it was first promoted. I was actually bought by that feature . What the mirror link does is to actually make your smartphone display to be shown and operated on the car's wide touch screen . But I don't know how that  is done. Even with an I-phone it's so difficult to get it connected. How could Toyota with its might could actually promote a product that is not working in Malaysia. (Please tell me if you have the same problem with the Mirrorlink  in the car assembled in your country). I'm begging anyone with the ability or knowledge to show me how to use the Mirrorlink connection / application.My suggestion to Toyota Malaysia is not to promote something that is not applicable in this country. It creates bad publicity for your company and the name of Toyota which is  quite a bulletproof name.