toyota downgraded

Actually the best selling model year for the Camry was 2004.

mike hunt

But..but...a 'bad' Toyota is still good.

:-)

Natalie

That was also true of the original Taurus -- and look how well

I believe that the hybrid version is the only one with a chrome grille for now.

Personally, I like the new Camry a lot; I think it's the nicest- looking Camry yet. Not that the Camry has ever been all that exciting in the looks department...

Geoff

My best friend bought the original Escort, and still thinks it's the best car ever. I understand it sold very well in England, too.

GAH

We specifically steered away from Camry because they're so damned ubiquitous. Especially tan and champagne ones. We didn't totally rule it out, though.

Natalie

ISTR the same, to the point where for a while "Ford==Escort".

Just wondering: were the various "Escorts" the same? Over the years, manufacturers have had a sneaky habit of using the same name for differing designs in different markets. Wasn't Ford's Fiesta (or maybe the Mondeo, considering that name) their first "world car" -- ie, "basically one design, everywhere"?

Here in the Silicon Valley area, they're overwhelmingly popular with immigrant Chinese. No idea why. But I'd say that fully

Many of them also have slip-on lace seatcovers and headrest covers, and a box of Kleenex on the rear shelf. Some, those driven my women, also often have a white, plush toy dog on the rear parcel shelf.

This phenemomen is doubly interesting because to Westerners, an automobile is a vehicle (heh) for expressing one's individuality. But among Chinese, it seems to be a medium for expressing one's conformity.

Geoff

I got to see a hybrid Camry in person while at the dealer yesterday. The mirrors weren't on it yet (appears to come shipped with them off). The interior had leather and the control knobs were very large (not as techie as the Prius, for some reason). May be geared to the blue-hairs?

Although the sticker said 34-40 mpg, the fine print said 34-32 mpg. If the mileage is that much worse in real life, it may be a red herring (it was metallic red too). Sticker was $27,400.

I was rather disappointed in the mileage claims with the new hybrid Camry as I was with the measly increase of their Highlander model. The 3-4 mpg gain doesn't seem worth it unless you're a environmentalist. The Prius, yes, but their other hybrids so far - for sake of having a "Hybrid Synergy Drive" label, umm...no thanks.

Hope this all doesn't go the way of the Edsel.

B~

Dunno - I never even considered buying any Fords, so I never did any research on them

Natalie

Oh Chinese aren't the only ones with the tassle thing - very big with Hispanics as well.

How do you manage to see all that? Don't you watch the road? LOL

Again, they're not the only ones. The bubbas here have a lot of trademark things, like 'nut sacks' hanging from their trailer hitches.

Natalie

I have an 02 Highlander and because most driving is around town I get about 18 MPG. If I went the hybrid route, and got 15% better mileage I'd save about $400/year - that would make the pay back for the option one hell of a long time. Even at 25% increase the cost isn't worth it to be "green" on a $ basis.

Ron

My thought exactly.

Natalie

Different tassle things. The Chinese ones are "traffic safety amulets" (a lot of those people need all the help they can get in that regard), and usually have either a square, brass gong- like ornament on them or a little green Buddha-in-a-jar. In the case of Hispanics, I suspect that their tassels are probably from their high school graduation caps. Hanging those on rear- view mirrors has long been common among working-class youth.

: Many of them also have slip-on lace seatcovers and headrest : covers, and a box of Kleenex on the rear shelf. Some, those : driven my women, also often have a white, plush toy dog on : the rear parcel shelf.

Seeing it comes from paying attention to what's going on around me when I drive. Hell, that stuff is so common around here, a person would have to be blind not to see it. Kinda like pickup trucks in Texas.

Classy, eh?

I've never seen the trailer-hitch kind. The one or two I've seen were bolted to the back of the differential.

Geoff

.>>>>>

Still a POS Ford...hence 'Ford/Mercury :-P

Natalie

NOOO They're little flags of whatever nationality they hail from, such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, etc.

But..but... there are so many idjits out there. You can't afford to be distracted! And pickups (At least the really big ones) are very common among penile-impaired males everywhere ;-)

um... dumb blond moment - isn't that under the hood? At least they have

Natalie

Oh, *those.* Gotcha.

There used to be a Puerto Rican guy at my company who had Jesus decals on his headlights -- the idea being, I suppose, that dual images o'Jesus would be projected ahead of his car and protect him from harm. Bizarre. That's unique in my experience.

Kinda like how big SUVs are common among "penile-impaired" women. Heh...

Geoff

"As a white man, I'm accustomed to a certain level of deference and respect from women, dogs, and wogs." -- me

Geoff

When did Puerto Rico become a nation? I must have not been paying attention.

Merritt

Ummm then what is it? Besides a suburb of New York?

Natalie

WTF is a wog?

Natalie