Gas Prices / Future of the GX470?
#16
Lexus Test Driver
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You are right, trading in a car for better maileage dont make sense, but it make sense to trade in for a car with better mailage if you are in the market for a new car anyways.
#17
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Thread Starter
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Plus Bob's point does not take into account the first time
GX buyer that with rising fuel costs will decide against the vehicle.
I hate to say it because I adore the GX470, but I think if fuel
keeps rising at the current rates, the GX470 we all know and
love may be history within 5 years.
=
GX buyer that with rising fuel costs will decide against the vehicle.
I hate to say it because I adore the GX470, but I think if fuel
keeps rising at the current rates, the GX470 we all know and
love may be history within 5 years.
![](http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/ItsZep/gas.jpg)
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#18
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Most cost trade studies of selling your SUV and getting a hybrid, even at $5/gallon, will result in such a long payback period that it simply does not make good financial sense.
p.s. I hate to see people make financial decisions based on emotion - they are usually the wrong decision.....
p.s. I hate to see people make financial decisions based on emotion - they are usually the wrong decision.....
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#19
Lexus Test Driver
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If we achieve 17mpg on our GX's, and drive an average of 15,000 miles per year, its costing us an additional $883 per year for gas for every $1 increase in gas prices.
I had an 04 GX that I traded in for an 07 RX400h. After a year of missing the GX, I traded in the RX400h and went back to an 08 GX... I wasn't getting the advertised MPG on the RX400h (although many claim they do), the difference between the two vehicles from my experience is maybe 6MPG.
Using "my" real world MPG differences between the two vehicles:
Annual fuel cost for the GX @ 17mpg & 15000 per year (@ $4.50 gal): $3970*
Annual fuel cost for RX400h @ 23mpg & 15000 per year: $2934*
So its costing me roughly $100 more per month to drive the vehicle I want to drive... It's going to take more of a difference than this per month to deter me...
For every .50 increase in gas prices over the $4.50 a gallon, its costing me an additional $10 per month to run the GX over the 400h...
I probably paid a premium of around $6000 for the RX Hybrid, which equates to a six year pay-back @ $4.50gal...
*GX Requires Premium, RX400h Recommends Premium.
Jim
I had an 04 GX that I traded in for an 07 RX400h. After a year of missing the GX, I traded in the RX400h and went back to an 08 GX... I wasn't getting the advertised MPG on the RX400h (although many claim they do), the difference between the two vehicles from my experience is maybe 6MPG.
Using "my" real world MPG differences between the two vehicles:
Annual fuel cost for the GX @ 17mpg & 15000 per year (@ $4.50 gal): $3970*
Annual fuel cost for RX400h @ 23mpg & 15000 per year: $2934*
So its costing me roughly $100 more per month to drive the vehicle I want to drive... It's going to take more of a difference than this per month to deter me...
For every .50 increase in gas prices over the $4.50 a gallon, its costing me an additional $10 per month to run the GX over the 400h...
I probably paid a premium of around $6000 for the RX Hybrid, which equates to a six year pay-back @ $4.50gal...
*GX Requires Premium, RX400h Recommends Premium.
Jim
#20
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Thread Starter
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"Here is a summary posted by Wall Street Journal"
But isn't that comparing apples to oranges?
Or are all new cars "Hybrids"?
I just think with energy prices soaring that more and more new car buyers
are not going to be looking at big SUV gas guzzlers vs. smaller vehicles.
The problem isn't current GX owners, the problem is if there is a huge
reduction in new GX purchases, thats what will motivate Toyota/Lexus to drop the line.
I hope I am wrong.
But isn't that comparing apples to oranges?
Or are all new cars "Hybrids"?
I just think with energy prices soaring that more and more new car buyers
are not going to be looking at big SUV gas guzzlers vs. smaller vehicles.
The problem isn't current GX owners, the problem is if there is a huge
reduction in new GX purchases, thats what will motivate Toyota/Lexus to drop the line.
I hope I am wrong.
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Last edited by itsZep; 06-12-08 at 05:53 PM.
#21
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (2)
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Fuel mileage was never a consideration in our purchase of the GX. If it were we would not have bought it and if we had to purchase another vehicle today it would be another GX. I was not a big GX fan when we purchased it but I certainly am now.
To add, the media always tends to blow things out of proportion for ratings (shock value) . Prices are lower but certainly not at the level the media portrays them to be.
To add, the media always tends to blow things out of proportion for ratings (shock value) . Prices are lower but certainly not at the level the media portrays them to be.
#22
#24
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Just came across interesting data on gas prices:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/gas1.html
So we are continuing to enjoy cheap gas
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/gas1.html
So we are continuing to enjoy cheap gas
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#25
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Thread Starter
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"? WSJ compared identical hybrid to non hybrid (with exception of Prius, compared to Camry). Point was that hybrid is not necessary is a financial decision"
I gotcha, but in my mind it's an apples to oranges for what I have been discussing in this thread because it assumes people are looking only at Hybrids. New vehicle purchasers and current gaz guzzler owners when they are considering a new vehicle purchase can look at new vehicles that are not "Hybrids" but that get much better gas mileage than their current vehicle. Thus they can get much better gas mileage without paying the hybrid premium. If a person was ready to trade in their several year old GX they may choose a different new non hybrid vehicle now because of energy costs where as the same person a year ago may have considered getting another GX.
I gotcha, but in my mind it's an apples to oranges for what I have been discussing in this thread because it assumes people are looking only at Hybrids. New vehicle purchasers and current gaz guzzler owners when they are considering a new vehicle purchase can look at new vehicles that are not "Hybrids" but that get much better gas mileage than their current vehicle. Thus they can get much better gas mileage without paying the hybrid premium. If a person was ready to trade in their several year old GX they may choose a different new non hybrid vehicle now because of energy costs where as the same person a year ago may have considered getting another GX.
Last edited by itsZep; 06-13-08 at 04:29 PM.
#26
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[Very nice] 4x4 truck based high seating vehicle with engine optimized for towing is not the best choice for 1 person highway commuting, agree.
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#27
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"? WSJ compared identical hybrid to non hybrid (with exception of Prius, compared to Camry). Point was that hybrid is not necessary is a financial decision"
I gotcha, but in my mind it's an apples to oranges for what I have have been discussing in this thread because it assumes people are looking only at Hybrids. New vehicle purchasers and current gaz guzzler owners when they are considering a new vehicle purchase can look at new vehicles that are not "Hybrids" but that get much better gas mileage than their current vehicle. Thus they can get much better gas mileage without paying the hybrid premium. If a person was ready to trade in their several year old GX they may choose a different new non hybrid vehicle now because of energy costs where as the same person a year ago may have considered getting another GX.
I gotcha, but in my mind it's an apples to oranges for what I have have been discussing in this thread because it assumes people are looking only at Hybrids. New vehicle purchasers and current gaz guzzler owners when they are considering a new vehicle purchase can look at new vehicles that are not "Hybrids" but that get much better gas mileage than their current vehicle. Thus they can get much better gas mileage without paying the hybrid premium. If a person was ready to trade in their several year old GX they may choose a different new non hybrid vehicle now because of energy costs where as the same person a year ago may have considered getting another GX.
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One nice option for my area, is that Honda will have the leasing option for the Fuel Cell FCX vehicle. I think that will be around $600/month. But, that is one bugger of a waiting list.
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I wish the best of luck to anyone wrestling with the decision about what to do with the truck. I wonder how much that type of vehicle depreciates on a monthly, if not weekly, basis. After all, the people you will sell/trade it to have to dump it somewhere. All those factors contribute to the rapid collapse of the vehicle's value. At this point, I don't think they would give me near what I think its' worth.
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Sadly, as this scenario plays out, I am beginning to feel socially and ecologically repugnant driving such a large vehicle around by myself.
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#28
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Anyway, my point is rather then getting down on yourself for driving the GX, I think you should drive it with pride and enjoy it because it truly is a splendid vehicle. Damn, maybe I should have become a psychologist
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Last edited by GatorGreg; 06-14-08 at 06:46 AM.