Post by ChrisM on Oct 4, 2018 20:09:53 GMT
A shortage of anything American meant that I was left to choose from a row of cars that included a Hyundai, some Toyotas and Nissans.
Supposedly the Toyotas were Corollas but when I went to open the boot (or should that be trunk?) I found CAMRY across it. I also wondered how to open it as there was no button, until I took the key out of the ignition and found a button to press. The boot itself was vast.
(At San Francisco airport, the cars were left with driver's windows open, unlocked and keys in the ignition; find what you like and just load up and drive off in it).
Thank goodness I took my own sat nav as there was no built-in GPS, although an issue with the 12V power socket meant that mt satnav would cut out at the most inconvenient times ! I finally used the USB port to power it instead, but even then, I had to only half-insert the connector or else it didn't power up.
I then struggled to drive off ! I was surprised that although it was an auto, I didn't have to press the brake pedal to start the engine, but I got a warning that the parking brake was on. No sign of a handle to release, or a level/switch on the console and in the poor light of a multi-storey car park (and after a long flight) it took me a few seconds to work out that it had an MB-style foot-operated parking brake somewhere close to where there might ordinarily have been a clutch pedal. So finally off I went....
Very soft and slightly wallowy ride although later on I got a chance to explore some twisty stuff and the handling wasn't that bad - no doubt more than competent for the way that most Americans seem to drive round corners. No DRL's unlike Europe and I did come across a road that was "daylight headlamps required".
The dash was very dated, reminded me of a 1970's hifi although there was touch-screen functionality which was not common all those years ago.
Interior was typical contemporary stuff
Instruments were nothing special but backlit rather than electronic
Not sure Martin would approve of the trailing lead to my satnav!
A large, wide and somewhat ponderous vehicle, (boring but competent if out-dated) and not sure how the Camry was the biggest-selling car in the USA a few years back for a few years too.
With about 14,000 on the clock it ran OK but the number of minor scrapes and chips to the paint suggested that it hadn't had a calm life.
Engine and gearbox - not sure that they were well matched.... it appeared to have an 8-speed slushmatic rather than dual clutch and it frequently hunted between gears. It also had radar cruise control, first time I've come across this and I did have one incident when it suddenly tried to perform a near-emergency stop despite there being nothing in front - a bit scary when there's a huge semi closing down on you ! Maintaining a set speed often resulted in the gearbox changing down and the engine really racing, just to gain a couple of mph or so.... not exactly relaxing for someone used to driving manuals.
Next time, if there is a next time, I'll try something else.
