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The Perfect Car for any Realtor

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

I have been enjoying my new car since March 2007.  It was a leap for me.  I had been in the car of my dreams before...a Mitsubishi Montero Sport.  It was my baby.  Leather seats, seat warmers, XM satellite radio, sunroof....I loved it.  I loved the feeling of power of being above everyone in traffic.  It was a great car.  The problem was that, like in every town in the United States, the price of gas was really starting to hurt.

So I did my research and decided to test drive (against my will, mind you) the Toyota Camry Hybrid. 

My husband is a devoted techie and loves to do online research.  He found it based on what I loved about my Mitsubishi, and what I wanted for work (GPS, luxury feeling car w/ great gas mileage...did I mention under $30K).

The minute I drove it ten feet I was hooked.  I love this car.

In the Mitsubishi I had a larger gas tank (by 2 gallons I believe) and got 270 miles to a tank of gas if I drove like a granny.  250 was really more standard.  In the Camry I get 500 miles to every tank of gas...in a smaller tank.   (Average MPG shows in speedometer as you drive if you wish.  I found it to be about 1.5 mpg generous in its reporting.  Here it shows over 40 mpg average for the tank after driving about 150 miles....never mind the cat hair above the G in MPG.)

 

If I don't get 500 miles to the tank of gas, it's been a lot of speeding and quick braking to blame. 

The car is great.  Its got an all leather interior, in-dash GPS, calendar, and a screen that shows people who want to see (clients who may be interested) when the car is running on battery, gas, or both.  Its even got a screen to show your average MPG for every minute of your trip.  That really impresses clients.

It's got the seat warmer I loved in the Mitsu, the sunroof, and is XM or Sirius satellite ready.  Its got in-dash bluetooth which I use constantly.  It has an IPOD doc, in-dash 5 CD changer and a great sound system.  It has plenty of leg room in the rear, and a great center console for my "tools of the trade" (flashlight, outlet tester, laser tape measure, regular tape measure, sign clips, etc).

My only complaint with this car is the trunk space is cut into by the hybrid battery. 

I kept the Mitsubishi to have for when I show rural properties, or when there is snow.  But if you don't need an SUV for weather purposes, I'd encourage you to take a look at the Camry Hybrid.  It will help you save a bundle on gas.

Comments (17)

Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI
Thanks for the recommendation Chris. I am in the market for a new car and I have been pondering getting a hybrid. 40 mpg is great.
Mar 16, 2008 09:57 AM
Amy Dawson, Vancouver, WA Realtor
Vancouver, WA
My V8, all wheel drive Jeep gets terrible gas mileage.  I'm filling up constantly.  I love how it drives, and all of its features, but with gas prices, I'm thinking maybe I should get a car. 
Mar 16, 2008 09:59 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Amy:  The Camry Hybrid won't disappoint.  I'd take it for a ride.

Wayne:  I average about 36 mpg per tank.  But I love that on the smaller tank, I literally go twice as far.

Mar 16, 2008 10:02 AM
Don Wixom
RE/MAX Executives Nampa, ID - Nampa, ID
"Looking out for your next move..."tm
I've been thinking of something smaller.. Thanks for the report!  I have a big gas hog, Nissan Armada for sale if you know of anyone interested!  ;)
Mar 16, 2008 10:05 AM
Scott Hutchinson
REAL ESTATE - Lago Vista, TX
Lago Vista Real Estate
I will definately look into this.  I just worry about something going wrong with it and nobody qualified to work on it.  Good Luck and Best Wishes!
Mar 16, 2008 10:13 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA
Scott:  Before I made my purchase I had the same worries.  Everyone talks about how expensive the hybrid batteries are.  My brother-in-law is a Certified Toyota mechanic.  Turns out that when the batteries have trouble, it is usually just one cell...and easy to fix.  I asked him if I should get the extended warranty and he said 'Yes, but not for the reason you think'.  He suggested I get it for the door handles.  Evidently they are the most common repair...and not very cheap. 
Mar 16, 2008 11:45 AM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate
Chris Ann:  I have found Toyota cars to be pretty decent when it comes to mileage.  I recently drove my Toyota Avalon on a fairly long trip, and it averaged 32.1 MPG.  Bigger car, not a hybrid, but for me, great gas mileage.  Wow... I wonder what I would get if it were a hybrid ?
Mar 16, 2008 06:13 PM
Tina Farinas
Fusion Real Estate Network, Inc. - Roseville, CA
REALTOR, ABR, GRI, SFR, CHS, e-PRO
Thanks for that information, I am actually doing my own research on hybrid and I hear this one is really good.
Mar 16, 2008 06:32 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Karen Anne:  I hear a lot of good things about the non-hybrid Toyota's as well.  In our business, good gas mileage is essential.  It just boggles my mind why I see Realtors in warm to moderate weather areas driving Hummers or ginormous SUVs. 

Tina:  Let me know what you end up with.  My husband will be in the market soon.

Mar 17, 2008 01:58 AM
Geno D'Angelo
Coldwell Banker Fairbairn - Mackinaw City, MI
Plus you can market yourself as enviromentally friendly
Apr 11, 2008 08:31 AM
Sandra Paulow
Aspen Properties, Inc. - Pinetop Lakeside, AZ
REALTOR, Associate Broker, GRI, SFR
Chris,  Great post.  I would love to get rid of my gas hog and get something more economical, gas hit $3.39 a gallon here today.  Maybe when I get my "hog" paid off I'll do the same.  Buy something more economical for the every day driving and keep the "hog" for the back road clients.  We have winter here too so need something with 4 wheel drive in winter.  Right now I could use the cut in my gas bill.  Enjoy your new car. 
Apr 11, 2008 09:24 AM
Eric Egeland
RE/MAX SUBURBAN - Libertyville, IL
SFR, e-PRO, CDPE
thanks for the recommendation
Apr 16, 2008 03:13 AM
Betty Knowles
Southwest Missouri Realty - Springfield, MO
Ready to sell? Call Betty!
Chris, just curious. Did you figure the gas savings vs the extra cost for the hybrid to see how many years it will take to break even?
Apr 16, 2008 11:13 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Chris, Toyota makes a bunch of great vehicles and it looks like you've got one there.
Apr 16, 2008 11:56 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Betty:  The car I would've bought otherwise was in the same price range, so I didn't bother.  Hybrids used to be crazy expensive, but it's just not the case anymore.

 

Apr 16, 2008 12:43 PM
Denise Allen
Resh Realty Group - Chesapeake, VA
Realtor@ Chesapeake, Hampton Roads
Good call.  I bought a VW Passat 2 years ago with a diesel and avg 36 mpg although the diesel costs a bit more.
Apr 16, 2008 12:58 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA
Denise:  Do you ever have a hard time finding a diesel gas station in a pinch?
Apr 16, 2008 02:02 PM