I beg to differ. I wouldn't call 50 to 80k miles (depending on the price of gas) a TON of miles. Especially if you're going to drive the vehicle for 100k.

 

I can't recommend the SRX over the 450h, especially since it shifts horribly and it will cost as much/more than the 450h. It is a very nice SUV, no doubt and I enjoyed my time in it but it is RX 350 competition.

 

Too funny My parents turned in their SRX a few months ago after 39 mo lease with low mileage. The car was falling apart. They tested the new SRX but the price was along the lines of the 450h Yeah, can't justify that. Go with the 450h

 

Thanks everyone for your input. This is very helpful to me.

This is definitely a valid point and I have done my share of going back and forth on it. In the past I determined that the premium on hybrids was not worth it for my driving needs. I was also trying to eliminate any luxury badge from consideration and desperately wanted to keep the IS.

My needs/wants have changed somewhat since then, and now that I'm trying to find something that makes sense as well as be enjoyable for me to own/drive, I'm essentially throwing cost effectiveness out the window (if I go the luxury route). If I go cheap, I'm keeping the IS350 and the "cheap" car would have to be more of a value.

As it stands, the Forester is the only "cheap" car I really like. But it tempts me like hell to deck it out and then it's not cheap anymore.

I loved the RX350 when my Lexus rep showed it to me. I went in expecting nothing (I'd been given a brand-new '08 RX350 as a loaner and felt sort of ho-hum about it) but was actually very impressed with the ride and new interior. The AWD hybrid therefore "feels" like a better and more "justifiable" choice, even if it's only rationalizing on my part.

 

Well I think the new GM 3.0L is pointless. It is no more efficient than the 3.6L and it is alot less powerful. Thus you would have to spend the extra money on a 2.8L turbo SRX.