Toyota Camry Problems

The batteries used in Toyota hybrids have been good for many hundreds of thousands of kilometres, so it’s surprising that yours has failed after so few kilometres and just four years old. I would approach Toyota and put your case for a refund to them.

Cost, weight, and space saving are all advantages with a space-saver. I guess the other consideration is just how many times do you need to call on the spare. For most people the spare goes along for the road and is rarely used.

It depends on how much of your driving is local and how much is open road/highway. It also depends on what it is you want, i.e., performance or fuel economy, and how much you’re willing to pay. The hybrid has good performance around town thanks to its electric motor, and the economy is also good, but it’s not so good on the open road. The four is a quite a good blend of performance and economy around town and holds its own on the highway, while the six is a little thirsty in town and goes like the clappers out of town. The four would be my choice as the best all-rounder.

Ford was having heaps of trouble with its dual-clutch automatic transmission back then, so it would be wise not to take the risk of buying one. Holden was in just as much trouble with the torque-converted auto in the Cruze, and I would urge you not to go down that route either. Instead of those, consider a Toyota Camry.

In defence of the dealers it’s hard to diagnose a problem that isn’t there when they do their checks. Without anything to guide them they are taking a stab in the dark by changing parts they “think” might be causing the problem. If it is happening every time you drive the car I would suggest you have one of the dealership mechanics go on a drive with you so you can demonstrate what it is you’re concerned about. That way they might get an insight into what the problem is. Other than that, try an independent brake mechanic, and see if they can fix it for you.

It can be found in your car’s service book, but it’s 100,000 km.

When buying an older car that’s done lots of kilometres it’s best to go for a well-known and respected brand, a car that is in the best possible condition, and one that has been well serviced. The Camry is a well-respected name from a highly regarded company, and providing the car you buy is in good condition and has been properly serviced it is probably the best option for you.

If you want a reliable ride go for the Camry, buying the Jetta is a gamble, which could end up being an expensive one.

The capacity is 65 litres, but you won't be able to get 65 litres into it when refuelling, as there will always be a reserve, even when the low fuel warning light comes on. Toyota suggested: “the fuel warning light could be coming on prior to the tank being completely empty. The "low fuel" warning lamp setting might err towards the conservative, however this ensures our customers have ample time to refill their tanks before running dry and minimising the possibility that they'd ever run out of fuel.”