Because the lifetime cost can be significant if one keeps the vehicle awhile and drives alot. My LX is over 7 years old now. I expect our next SUV to be driven about 192,000 miles over its lifetime if we keep it 8 years.

EPA puts combined LX mpg at 15, but as everyone knows, EPA numbers are generally overstated (which is why the methodology will be revised next year), so to be more accurate I'll apply a 15% discount, yielding 12.75 (which I think is typical of what we've actually been getting). But the 2008 LX is known to be larger (at least lengthwise) and uses a 5.7-liter engine. On the other hand, it is a more modern engine, so let's cut the 12.75 only modestly, to 12.0.

Premium as of yesterday was $2.90 in my area (Greenwich, CT), but I happen to believe in Hubbert's "peak oil" theory, and think that over the 8-year presumed life of my next SUV, premium will average at least 4.00.

192k miles at $4.00 and 12.0 mpg = $64,000 of gas

Compare that to say a 2007 MDX, EPA 19 mpg combined * .85 = 16.15

192k miles at $4.00 and 16.15 mpg = $47,554

difference = $16,445

The current base LX is $67,400. The 2007 MDX (with sport/tech/ent) $47,800.

To me, the LX is worth at least $20,000 more, based on roominess, luxury, quality/reliability, and prestige.

But when I factor in our expected lifetime driving, the real difference is $36,000. Is it worth THAT much more to me?

 

You are way out there with your numbers. Lets use 15K miles a year and compare the 15 mpg LX with a 20 mpg econ SUV at an inflated $3.00 per gallon average. It's $1.97 per gallon today here in Missouri. You end up spending $3750 more over 5 years and 75K miles driving the LX. That's $60 per month or $2 per day. Like I've said before I can save that by changing my meal tipping habit's from 20% to 15% Now I am safer driving around in my 5600lb LX and I am more comfortable and I have more luxury. If you want to look at saving energy, have the tree hugging hollywood types move out of their 10,000 sq ft houses that cost $$$ and energy to heat and cool while the same tree huggers drive one of though electric cars trying to make a statement.

 

4500/yr premium to drive an LX v. an MDX based on your statistical formula.

if a v6 unit body construction vehicle will fit the bill for your needs, then all you have to decide is whether or not you WANT an LX. you will have to pay a luxury premium for features you will not use if decide to go that route.

if you decide that the v6 unit body construction vehicle will fit all of your needs you could likely find a similar vehicle that would save you another 4500/yr......

another thing to factor into your analysis (assuming you have more than one vehicle) is the cost of all of these things spread over several machines. we opted for the lux SUV/prius combo. gas mileage is certainly a large issue both from a financial perspective and an environmental one. many more miles will be put on our prius than the LX as the prius is the commuter car. so at 47.5mpg for 65% of our household miles and 15mpg from the LX for the other 35%. i use these numbers as they are what i have personally observed regardless of EPA. weighted average is around 36mpg. much better than when we were a 2 sedan family with one 4cyl @ 28mpg max and one V6 at 21mpg ish.

do some math. come to your own conclusions. i still think its a bit of a stretch to be complaining about gas prices when considering a vehicle with an MSRP of $70,000 when there are perfectly adequate alternatives for around half of that price.

jp

 

max707.

on the whole hollywood types thing, spot on. CA carpool lane sticker has made more environmentalists in one year than the sierra club in this state has in the past 20. as long as the air doesn't choke them too much and they can still drink the tap water and swim in the lake/ocean without getting too sick, americans as a whole don't give a damn about the environment.

get me my starbucks frappacino, damnit, american idol's about to start.

jp

BACK ON TOPIC:
LX570 pics in trucktrend? looked on their site and couldn't find anything. link? or is just in the mag? thx.

 

there is no alternative to a LX470...aside from a Land Cruiser.


You guys with your numbers actually dont make me feel so bad. I get about 10mpg compared to your 12-15. i thought people we getting around 17. I hope to see the new ones get the same gas mileage if they are going to give me over 100 more HP.

 

Totally agree. I just get a kick out of the Hollywood types with their 3 homes, pools, and then environmental elite attitude

 

One thing to keep in mind is that going to a 5.7, modernized, with a 6 speed lock-up, you'll probably end up getting better mileage. Heck my 8.1L 7000lb. truck gets equal mileage to the 00 LX I had. I average 8mpg @85 w/6000Lbs in tow and 13 unloaded. Gas prices are rather friendly around my area, 1.87 for 87 in Oklahoma last week when I filled up. When I saw the Toyota specs for the 5.7, you don't have to run premium, 87 is fine.

The more the engine has to work, the more gas you burn. Whereas the smaller engines have to rev up more, the larger ones have it easier. I can only compare off of 6.0L and 8.1L GM trucks. As they start getting the pounds added on, the larger engines return better mileage from what I've seen.



I wonder how much energy is wasted by studios et. al.

 

Hey All,

((I don't know if these photos were posted here before ))

These are some photos of the so called 2008 Toyota Land cruiser and Lexus LX ...

I'm not sure about the credibility of those so...


what do you think ?? and do you have more info ??



btw the front of the car looks the same of the spied one posted before ...

 

hope not..that thing looks like a wide version of the GX.

_mikey

 

just from looks alone it looks exactly like and Armada. if your thinking QX just say yourself a whole lot of money and get the nissan instead

 

I got to thinking and maybe Lexus might keep the LX as an LX 470 and introduce a new SUV based on the Toyota Sequoia as the new JX 570. Lexus SUV line up might look like this:

RX 350
GX 470
LX 470
JX 570

Just a thought...

 

um, no

 

Its going to look more swoopy than that, while maintaining its "tough" image. Understand the amenities will be on par with the LS 460.

Expect a hybrid to come!

 

My LX470 looks way better than the PIX above!

I do hope Lexus keeps the quad headlights, one of my favorite things about the car are the quad headlights!

 

There might be a chance the LX and GX swap headlights. Thus the LX and LS will share the same similar headlight design and the GS and GX will share the quad lamps.....