Thermostat issues

[iceminion]

Ok, this might be a new trend, as we have recently replaced the camry's thermostat with a DEALERSHIP thermostat. And my DSM has a DEALERSHIP thermostat.

Both cars never get anywhere near normal operating temp.

On every car ever, if you turn the heat to max, it should be almost too much to bare.

On my DSM and the camry, the gauge never even comes close to 50% and the temp coming out of the vents reflects appropriately.

Today coming home in rush hour (stop and go) traffic the temp in the camry finally approached proper temp, and for the first time for a week I was warm.

Has anyone else experienced this issue? every other DSM I have ever driven has heated up instantly and has given blistering heat even in the worst winters.

Plz: no comments about how the car will run better cooler, i concede that cooler engine temps help on the track/dyno, but for fuel economy the engine needs to get nice and toasty.