I apologize. @ChronoR is correct. I meant to write NiMH, not NiCAD, lol. I was having a discussion with a friend about Tesla battery packs, while doing some research on battery technology - it must have been too much battery talk for me today.

 

I agree with what everybody has said. My 2013 has just gone out of warranty with almost 30,000 miles. No problems at all. One advantage of the 450h which I really enjoy in the hot Florida sun is when my wife goes shopping and I elect to stay in the car, the air conditioning runs on the battery so the engine is off. When it does get low the engine will turn on to recharge it. It might not sound like a big deal but in Florida it really comes in handy.

 

yep thats how my hybrid camry is now. It is awesome in traffic and sitting. However, it looks like the 450 is about 5k more then the gs350. It will take wayy to many years before I broke even on gas savings with the 450.

 

Yeah, I picked up the 450h not because it'll ever save me on gas but because I like the total package (smooth, instant torque, quiet, more options standard).

 

 

went and test drove a 2013 gs450h that is for sale here in socal. It has every option I can think of including cold weather package. DUAL PANE front Windows Wife said the bluetooth did not sound as good as the 2015 gs350 I tested out last week. and the 2015 didnt even have ML sound :/

I did the decibels test while driving and it was solid, even on the freeway it never got above 70. my Camry basically is never below 80 at any time

 

I have the ML system in my GS450h and like everyone here on the forums will tell you, the stereo system's performance is HIGHLY dependent on the source material.

Try playing a DVD-Audio disc in the car with ML to really test the system out. If you don't have access to DVD Audio discs, then try playing some very high bitrate files. The clarity is what separates the ML from the standard premium sound system. Also, you won't hear any distortion from the speakers at even high volumes.

It also depends on what genre of music you prefer - for something like rap music, the premium sound system might sound better because I felt it had a stronger bass presence (especially mid-level bass).

I've been pleased with ML, but for me (personally), it wasn't a make or break thing. My car has the luxury package so it came with the ML system. You can also search the main 4GS subforum since I know there are a number of topics that were discussed on the premium sounds vs ML and whether it was "worth it."

I think you're doing the right thing by test driving the cars back to back to see how you feel about each of them. We appreciate your updates, so please continue to report back as you get closer to a decision (or make one).

~ Im2bz2p345

 

yeah, I am going back and forth with what I want to do. It is hard to drop 30k for a 2012/2013 with 50k miles. Not to mention it had the luxury wheels for 2013 hybrids, which are hideous

 

My wife has one with ML that I occasionally drive, never had Bluetooth issue with any iPhone even newest models. However, my '14 GS350 with ML having static noise with iPhone8.

 

I think the main strength of the ML system is the clarity and the strong yet subtle bass. I had JBL (boom boom bass) in my Prius, after owning my GS450H with ML for a while I now understand this ML system has much more gradations in the bass. I don't know how to explain it really. Be sure to set the equalizer a couple of notches to the back. The virtual surround requires high quality source and doesn't work well with every type of music, but when it works the music comes from all over the place and it's great.

The main strength of this car? The instant torque. I've never really owned a fast car before, so this is my first, I absolutely love it. Especially when I drive a friend's car sometimes I truly understand how briliant this car's power is. As for road noise, it's very low. You will get wind noise from the mirror area and the sunroof though.

 

Thank you for the reply. Yes, the quality of the Bluetooth was okay. I tested sitting at a dealership and on the freeway going 70mph. it has less road noise than my car for sure but it is a lot of money to pay for just a little less road noise. I am negotiating and we will see what happens.

Glad you like the instant torque. You should drive a corvette hehe

 

Similar to you, I've had a 2010 Camry V6 and then a 2012 Camry hybrid. I tried both but realized going to a 350 seems so wasteful of energy everytime you break. And knowing myself, I realize that going back to a pure V6 will make me constantly wonder if I should be using the gas or drive like a grandma. Decided that a 450h is the way to go so I don't question myself everytime I have an opportunity to push on the gas pedal. So you may not break even that quickly but you sure as hell won't feel as guilty when you want to pass a BMW or take off at a red light.

ML is great bluetooth is really strong though I primarily use the USB Aux for music its a better at playlist management and selecting a song as you're driving the car.

 

good post. I test drove a 2012 as I said before and it had every option that was offered that year. I just can't seem to bring myself to pay that kind of money for something that is slightly quieter then my Camry is. Yes, it is a very nice car but a lot more money for a little less road noise. I am leaning towards trying to soundproof the Camry hybrid at this point but I am still researching. Not to forget I will be getting 28-30mpg vs 42mpg I am getting now. And I drive 40k a year