When I purchased my 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid in November of   2006, they had really just hit the market.  I didn’t want to deal with paying well over sticker for a Toyota Prius   since every dealer in town tried to mark them up.  Managing to grind the heck out of the sales   staff, I got quite a bit off of the sticker price.  At the time, I commuted to work on the   Los Angeles city streets   so I liked the idea of not emitting junk into the air while I was stopped at a   traffic light.  This feature definitely   works, as the engine shuts off and stays in electric when you are stopped.  Another nice thing is the relatively   smooth ride, especially on the highways.  The JBL stereo is awesome too!  I   often crank it up very loud and ruin   my hearing with the crystal-clear sound.  In addition, I am quite fond of the Bluetooth link that comes   standard on the Hybrid.  I just sync my phone and it   recognizes it every time I get in for hands-free operation.

Unfortunately, after only a few months, the interior of the car started to   rattle.  Not just a little, a lot.  The dash, center console, and seatbelt   housings are some of the noisiest things I have ever heard.  I have had three local dealerships “fix” the   rattles also.  Each time, they apparently   stuff some foam or something in there and it works…for a short while   anyways.  The noise gets quite annoying   on older roads!

As we all know – that gas mileage on the sticker is baloney   also!  I wish I got 40 MPG in the   city.  Of course, the sticker was made   before the big stink about honesty on those things.  In the car’s defense, the area I live in is   hardly flat so I am sure that contributes to the lower mileage.  Basically, I get in the neighborhood of 30-32   MPG.  I know this since the car tells me   - so it could be lying about that!  I am   sure its close, I only fill up every 2 weeks or so.

Overall, I am not completely convinced it should have   received Motor   Trend’s Car of the Year distinction.  I have one of those cautiously optimistic sentiments for the car.  I will keep it for a while though; the   comfort and other features are worth sticking it out for me.  That and the lower pollution part of it!