Well I just Googled "2008 Camry Hybrid" and saw todays Toyota press release. Verifies the reduced equipment level (to LE instead of basically XLE), but the base price is down $1000 as well. So I'm happy. We were considering a base LE before deciding on the Hybrid, so as far as I'm concerned, this is $1000 in my pocket.

 

Pairing the phone with the car is complex and takes a lot of time, I did it twice and swear not to do it again.

Cellphone use while driving should be banned anyway...

I understand the multi-cd need for most people. I don't need it as I have 13 CDs ripped into 1 MP3 CD (MP3 DVD-ROM will be nice and cheap to add). the multi CD feature is not useful to me. In any case, I love the quietness of the Camry - 95% of the time I drive with the windows up, the fan almost off and the radio off. Nice and relaxing.

Getting rid of the voice-activated interaction and 300 Kg extra weight will be OK. (I know the car is complex, thank you Toyota - just keep it simple for me)

The volume setting (0-100) is just too coarse grained. 4 is too soft, 5 is too loud - I need 4.5! (Maybe an auto speed/volume feature could help)

Sorry if a little bit off-topic

 

Gee, what if someone wants the package but without the moonroof. I would hope they have a listing of accessories to choose from.

I'm thinking the $1000 MSRP off of the 2008 Hybrid could be to attract Accord, Malibu and Altima customers.

 

I had second thoughts. The price was dropped $1000, sure, but the price of the individual missing options (as viewed in the LE price list, since they are optional on the LE) was $2000. Not a good deal at all. So we canceled the base 2008 and went with a loaded 2007. A lot more luxury than I originally was after, but we can afford it.
One could say they won't really take off until they can be more affordable, however since they can easily sell every one they get (at least around here) they really don't have any reason to charge less.
I don't know about the Malibu, but both the Accord and Altima have Hybrids, although the Accord Hybrid is a flop in the market and the Altima has limited availability. The real problem is the roughly $3000 price premium to get the hybrid. And the $1000 price drop it seems actually made that even larger.

 

Honda did drop their Accord hybrid not long ago. I heard the Altima is a little noisy. Thats another of the many reasons I like the Camry.

 

I was hoping they'd use a darker leather in 08. I find the interior to be boring.

 

Just saw this http://blogs.motortrend.com/6212738/...008/index.html and I'm glad I bought an 07 now. I wanted a loaded car as I was comming from a loaded SUV

 

Loaded '08 TCHs will be available. The price cuts apply to a new trim line that did not exist in '07.

 

But with the de-featured base, loaded '08 TCHs will probably be about $1000 more expensive than the '07s. So buy the '07 now if you can. (Also keep in mind that if you qualify for the federal tax credit, it goes away at the end of September.)

 

How so? If they remove $1000 of features to make a de-contented model how does that translate into a $1000 increase in the fully featured model lines? I bet the full featured models are close or only slightly more expensive that the '07 equivalents. In the non hybrid line the price increase for the '08 is only $100.