markrivers

Simple poll folks!

Except for the lucky few with 2012 RX Are you still going with the "recommended" Premium" gasoline?
Right now, here in Los Angeles, the price of regular unleaded is at where the Premium was 2 weeks ago.
So, will you continue filling up with Premium?

UCSB

I will continue to use premium gas. When I purchased my 450h in 9/2010 I expected higher gas prices. In fact I created a spreadsheet and modeled three different rates of gas price increases. Actual prices have been worst than my worst case scenario ... that just means that my breakeven is faster (perhaps as low as 36,000 miles). I do have some credit cards that give me 5% (and 4%) back on gas purchases. If you are not using this strategy, it is an easy way to get back the difference between regular and premium.

If gas was an issue for me, I would just trade my RX in on something more economical. My brother is getting his new Prius Plug-in next month (he drives a regular 2010 Prius right now). He has a free charging station at work and is projecting that he will be getting 150 MPG. That is really impressive. He jokes that his current Prius is almost free to operate. I read recently that Lexus is going to introduce a high mileage hybrid version of the GS by this summer. It will join the already announced high performance 2013 GS 450h as a high mileage option (especially in Europe) and may get 50 MPG. I would definitely be interested in the car if (when) it makes it to the US.

Cruiter

I'll continue to use premium as well. No matter what the price goes to, the cost of premium for me is about $30 or so a month more at 30 cents a gallon difference. If I buy at COSTCO, it's about .20 to .22 cents more which brings the difference down some.

But trying to save a few dollars a month on a $50k plus car resulting in less performance, mileage, and possible emissions harm doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Could cost more in the long run.

High gas prices (plus higher model w/more trim/equipment) was the reason I stepped up to the (h) anyway (approx 30% more mpg). People in the 350 right now would probably be happy to buy premium if they could get our mileage (oh, that's right, premium is required on theirs as well for the 2010 and 2011 models).

Now that's not to say if I can use Toyota for the same regular service and save about half the bucks on average I won't do that. That's real savings. My Lexus Service Adviser is aware now of the huge difference and trying to mitigate it a bit. We'll see if he's been successful next service interval.

TampaOwner

u can use regular gas with any of these cars, it makes no difference.

jtrue28

Yeah, that "Premium Fuel Only" sticker is just a joke. /rolleyes

jblazing

Regular is the way to go:
http://www.cartalk.com/content/premium-vs-regular-0

Cruiter

OK, this thread started with a simple poll and a few replies then escalated to non-official (meaning non-official responses that it's OK to burn what you want) claims that Lexus Corp and the manuals and engineers are totally wrong.

Unfortunately some folks would rather believe the 'cheap' answer because of the 'immediate' benefit. Before it gets to a real shooting match with more non-official claims, I'm going to close this thread in the best interest of the forum.

For those truly in doubt, the correct information can be obtained through your Lexus dealer or Lexus Corp online at http://www.lexus.com/contact/ or by mail at:
P.O. Box 2991-Mail Drop L201
Torrance, CA 90509-2991

Folks, let's please discuss the cars and issues as owners would/should without trying to validate our wants (cheaper gas) with claims that have no official validity. And please make no claims regarding our cars if you don't own the model you're discussing. I noticed one poster showed 'none' under an owned Lexus.