Originally Posted by Fogcutter

And I'd rather send money to the Japanese for the hybrid than send oil dollars to people who hate us. Of course I'm talking about those evil Canadians, America's #1 oil supplier.

Originally Posted by The G Man

From my calculations, the RX hybrid actually have worst resale value than the RX350. If we consider the RX350 can be bought for about $1000 over invoice and the RX hybrid is going for MSRP. Let’s just stick with the last gen RX for the sake of fair comparison. The 2009 RX350 invoice for $34604, add a $1000 to that and it will cost $35604. The 2009 RX400h cost $42080 MSRP. A two year old 2007 RX350 with 20000 miles, according to the Kelly blue book trade in value in excellent condition goes for $28550. A used 2007 RX400h with the same mileage will get you $30250 in trade in. If we calculate the percent of the original value after two years, the RX350 retain 80% of its original value and the Hybrid version only 71%.

Originally Posted by Fogcutter

I bought the 450h because I liked the LED lights and 19" wheels. Additionally the 'Hybrid Snow' mode has better performance in deep snow, the gas model reportedly has trouble with shifting torque to the rear wheels consistently (there is a thread on this forum that talks about this, sorry I can't find it right now).

I find it interesting that people will spend $7K extra for custom wheels and a special trim package and no comment is made, but $7K for a hybrid doesn't make sense somehow.

The way I look at the 450h is that it is the RX with the highest level of trim. Really don't care about making my money back in gas savings.

A more important question is residual value. So far the hybrids seem to be doing very well at trade in time. That should translate into some of that $7K premium coming back.

Either vehicle is a fine choice, I'm really enjoying the 450h.

Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX

Guys no politics please



Hybrids have higher resale, period. They are in demand and sell in lesser quantities. I can sell my GSh today for the same price as I got it 8 months ago.



Great post (except the slap I took out) I agree with. The 450h is the highest trim level and let me list some other reasons major and minor;
1. Rarer than the 350
2. Coversation piece
3. Quieter than the 350
4. When the engine doesn't run its like a tomb. Quiet and 50% less vibrations to an already quiet and refined 350.
5. One of the few SULEV emission vehicles on the planet.
6. Possible HOV advantages
7. Gas benefits
8. Performance benefits
9. You might like the different wheels/details


I am not one to sell/push hybrids as the only vehicle to now buy but I am sold on its benefits and recommend them.

Originally Posted by Stormforge

WTF?!? the US is only 4% of the world's population, but consumes approximately 25% of the world's oil supply. don't blame canadians because of your egocentric views of the world, and your thirst for oil. you demand oil, we supply it. you don't like it? go and buy an electric vehicle or take transit.