Poll: Fuel economy big car-buying factor
#16
I see a increased awareness of fuel economy even amongst upper middle class/affluent/educated buyers. Even the better performance and luxury cars are delivering improved fuel efficiency when compared to 10-15 years ago (not to mention safety levels as pointed out in article), and buyers are aware of this.
Private Party value: $24,770
A similarily equipped RX 350: $22,545
#17
... just like prius used value shot up by 4-5k this spring.
#18
Yah. I've been lookin for a new(er) Legacy GT for quite some time and I just can't find any. People are likin the small turbocharged engines I guess.
#19
love the rx450h but reports seem quite varied on its fuel economy.
#20
$39048 in gas for the 350
$27334 for the RX450h
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$11714 savings with the hybrid, not to mention no brakes jobs, more power, etc.
Last edited by bagwell; 05-28-11 at 10:08 AM.
#21
Depending on skills, you can save 25-30% in fuel costs, drive faster and more luxurious vehicle and save a ton on maintenance - no belts, no mechanical pumps, no disc/rotor changes for the life of vehicles and likely 1 pad change for 180k miles. Also more reliable powertrain too.
Plus get some of it back at resale (i bet by 2014 it will be like diesel vs petrol in europe)
#22
compared to a RX350 see the graphic for gas costs at 100,000 miles...so doubling those numbers to 200000 miles would be:
$39048 in gas for the 350
$27334 for the RX450h
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$11714 savings with the hybrid, not to mention no brakes jobs, more power, etc.
$39048 in gas for the 350
$27334 for the RX450h
-----------------------
$11714 savings with the hybrid, not to mention no brakes jobs, more power, etc.
And again, if i was in the market, i'd prob get an rx450h cuz it's just cool!
#23
and there WAS $2200 federal tax credit out there....if you woulda bought one sooner you could have got it.
also - some states offer state tax credits....Colorado currently offers a $4700 credit...(this can similarly apply when purchasing a used hybrid)
so the RX450h is virtually the SAME price as a RX350 in CO!!
#24
But what about diff in vehicle costs? Plus 200000 miles is a crapload and 99% of owners don't keep a vehicle that long. But rxh is prob what, 8k more? So saving 4k driving 8 times around the equator doesn't seem like much of a deal. It gets back to the usual argument that it's not really rationally justifiable but you have to want to get a hybrid, save the planet, go slow in the left lane and feel smug, etc.
And again, if i was in the market, i'd prob get an rx450h cuz it's just cool!
And again, if i was in the market, i'd prob get an rx450h cuz it's just cool!
PA currently offers a $500 rebate with the purchase of a new hybrid.
#25
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#28
But also, keep in mind with the RXh that it is a more potent vehicle than the 350. For us, and my roomate's parents as well, we were looking at vehicles that had a greater amount of power for towing. We tow a 21 foot boat with ours, but initially we crossed shopped the V8 X5, ML 320 Bluetec, and the like. These vehicles of course would have been more expensive to purchase than the RXh. Will this be the case with everyone? Absolutely not. Nevertheless, the RX 350 doesn't offer the power that the hybrid does.
Thinking about power, one could make the argument that most people don't need the added power of the RXh. I think that if Lexus were smart, they would develop a 240 HP hybrid setup for the RX, IS, and ES vehicles. Presumably this would be cheaper, more efficient, and more practical for many buyers who simply don't need all that the RX450h offers. Of course, I would not want to see the potent hybrid go away. The fact that RXh can average 30 MPG and do 0-60 in the low six second range is down right impressive.
Having said all of that. Certainly, vehicles such as the Active Hybrid X6 or the 600hL will never make sense financially. They are status symbols.