October 16, 2006
I just purchased the ultimate gadget
Authored by Derik DeLong at 3:58 PM
Category | Geekery
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So I’ve let Dan run wild a little too long by himself. He’s clearly getting drunk off the power. It’s time I rein him in by posting about my experiences with a very big, very expensive gadget: the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid. I’m losing a 1997 Chevy Cavalier, so this is a big step up.
There’s a few key aspects I want to cover for this blog. The first and most obvious is the hybrid engine. It’s almost controversial for the tradeoffs involved. One side argues that you save money on gas while the other argues that you can barely make up the difference in cost. While I don’t have the resources to do a proper cost analysis, I can share how it performs. I can compare how much gas I go through as compared to what was already a pretty fuel efficient car.
Second, I want to play with the “Smart Key” system. The little lump you carry around to cause the car to unlock and start is sometimes known as a fob on some cars. I’m not sure I can share anything particularly insightful about these as they’ve been around a while, but it’s still fun.
Finally, I need to buy a Bluetooth cell phone (please give me recommendations that work with Verizon Wireless) so I can use it with the car’s built-in Bluetooth networking and speakerphone system. As far as I’m concerned, this should be in most cars by now. Bluetooth was designed for these kinds of applications. It’s a safety feature at this point.
I’m sure there’s a few other tidbits that I’ll want to write about. However, I don’t want this to be about just me. I want you to ask me questions. Any and all of them. It doesn’t matter how trivial you may think it is.
IDG NETWORK:
Comments
Welcome to the Hybrid club. :) I look forward to hearing how you like the Camry Hybrid -- I'm very happy with my 2005 Prius; 27500 miles, 46-48mpg lifetime average.
Regarding gas usage, please feel free to steal any ideas you like from this page:
http://scrye.com/~tkil/prius/gas.html
(generated by http://scrye.com/~tkil/prius/gen-gas-html_plx.txt )
Regarding a Verizon Bluetooth phone, I've only bad news for you. I got a V710, and while it does the headset profile just fine, Verizon crippled the firmware so thoroughly that it can't even exchange phone numbers. :(
Their coverage in southern California (San Diego and Los Angeles) was admirable, but I'm having issues in my new digs here in Albuquerque -- so it's likely that I'll try to move to an unlocked phone on a GSM network when my contract is up this coming May.
Happy driving!
Posted by: Tkil | October 17, 2006 1:49 AM
I'd recommend the KRZR Km 1 from Verizon, it's got Bluetooth, it works with iSync, and it's downright sexy.
Posted by: Richard Neal | October 17, 2006 3:06 AM
Is the dashboard in the middle like the Yaris?
A friend just bought a 2007 Yaris. It's real nice, but it's weird.
Posted by: Dan--the man![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://gadgets.macworld.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2006 5:21 AM
If you are looking for a relatively simple phone, the E815 is a good buy.
Posted by: Chris | October 17, 2006 2:59 PM
a bluetooth VZW phone? the RAZR V3m, dur.
good luck with the new toy/transport module
Posted by: ehren | October 17, 2006 7:10 PM
It actually has a regular dashboard. The model with a navigation system features a pretty screen that's standard on the Prius, but the primary information is in a regular dash.
Posted by: Derik![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://gadgets.macworld.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2006 9:02 PM
Tkil, that looks like a great way to through up some quick stats.
Richard, it indeed looks good, but unfortunately, Verizon's upgrade prices are ridiculous.
Posted by: Derik![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://gadgets.macworld.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2006 9:48 PM