ziggyziggy

OK so the wife and I have been car searching and would like to buy a 2011 RX in Starfire Pearl. At first we wanted the 450h because of the hybrid idea and its better for the environment, visiting the gas station less frequently because of better efficiency, the whole "made in japan" thing, and the blue lexus badge up front We know that a comparably equipped 450h is around $5000 more than the 350.

Now since we don't really expect to save enough gas to make up for the $5000 price difference, the real question comes down to personal preference and "personal image" i guess. The 450h is more expensive and less common on the streets. Besides these things, what are the real advantages of the 450h to justify the $5000?

BlueSurf

I questioned what I should do also. In Aug. I picked up my 450H from Sewell in Dallas. i drove a few hundred miles for the best price. I saved thousands. Buying the Hybrid was the smartest move. I now have a few thousand miles and i'm getting 30-32 in the city drive. that's awesome. My highway is 28-29.
I love the way the car sounds and moves. it has a total of 295hp, hit the pedal and it moves! Its quiet and the FACT it is made in Japan says it all.

Good luck.

Take a look at truecar.com for your best deal. if you use a new york zip like 10573, you will be shocked at the 6000+ you can save.

billy44bo

For us have put 75k miles on our RX330 Look at both the 450h have a few more free things in it that the 350 did not.

kitlz

Yes, there's a few extras in the 450h over the 350. I looked at both even though I was sure the 350 was next. One drive in the hybrid and I was hooked. The gas mileage is up there on the list but it's just one of the reasons I went with the 450h. Other things to consider. I am a city driver. The fact that I am burning no gas sitting at lights or while stuck in traffic makes me feel good. Driving in stealth mode at low speeds is pretty cool. Only the rolling tires make noise. The power is phenominal when needed. The switch from electric to gas is seamless with almost 30 extra HPs over the 350. No detectable gear shifts either.

Most importantly though, don't try and justify spending the extra money on the 450h. Sure, paying $5K less is nice but will you be happy in the 350? Do yourself a favor and take the money aspect out of the equation. Carefully weigh the pros and cons. And be confident that whatever one you wind up choosing, you're getting a great vehicle.

jskennedy

if you live in the city, 450 isn't a bad idea

if you're more of a highway driver, the 350 gets excellent mpg w/o hybrid markup

i've averged 25.3 mpg over 21k miles

my best tank was 28mpg, & that was commuting to work which is 75% highway travel

i did the math for my driving habits & i would save ~$450/yr if i had a hybrid, w/ a $5k markup it would take me 11yrs to break even, if the batteries lasted that long

i may be missing the smugness, but i have $5k to buy other toys with


not trying to talk you out of 450, they're a great fit for some, but if your goal is to save on gas you may be disappointed

another way of thinking of it is the 350 comes with a free $5k home theater,

what's you ratio of time in from of the tube compared to time behind the wheel

billy44bo

but the deal is it is only money and you can make more tomorrow.

ziggyziggy

i wish that money wasn't an issue. how great would life be? haha jk. well i live in NYC and local driving takes about 50% of my time on the road. i know the 450h is a smart choice but since its so advanced and has lots of high-tech equipment like the battery, brakes, and hoohas, i am afraid that every little thing will require pulling into a lexus dealership to fix. can i still go to my local mechanic to fix a lot of the common things likes brake pads and get oil changes? i am afraid the average mechanic does not know how to handle these vehicles.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

I don't know about the RX450h but my Camry hybrid has a 8yr/100K mile warranty on hybrid tech parts and batteries.I would think Lexus has the same or better coverage.
Brakes will last over 100K miles.Oil changes and filters are the same.A shop can work on a hybrid.
No big deal.
I didn't go for the 450h because of the $5k and because my RX350 is only driven 5-6K miles per.
I can add that I love the hybrid technology when I drive the Camry.It's just so different and nice but $5K plus sales tax is a lot of money too.
My loaded Hybrid Camry was virtually the same cost as the loaded V6 XLE so I went with the hybrid and am so glad I did.The wife loves the hybrid technology too and she isn't a 'car' person at all..

ziggy1

The 450h does have the same 8yr/100K warranty.
If you have oil change by non-lexus service, make sure they use the 0w20 that lexus (and toyota for prius) recommends.

ziggyziggy

what do you mean by "Brakes will last over 100K miles"? Does that mean I dont have to change the brake pads for 100K miles? The brake pads are also special brake pads that help regenerate energy, right?

kitlz

There's less to maintain on the 450h than the 350. Not as much to break down or wear. Obviously anything under warranty has to be repaired by the dealer. But in my 12 years' experience with the RX I haven't run into many issues that required going there outside of the routine stuff. I go to mine for everything because I love my dealer and service advisor. Discounts and freebies make it well worth the 30 mile trip And that's not often at all, twice a year at most. A local mechanic should be able to handle the simple maintenance like Joeb said. The biggest challenge might be taking off the engine covers Oil change is now basically once a year (first two free from Lexus). Just make sure you keep the receipts to avoid warranty issues down the road. That applies to the 450h or the 350.

Not trying to complicate your decision

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

I've read of Prius brake pads lasting over 150K miles.I don't know if the pad material is anything special.I doubt it.
I do like that on the Hybrid the brake pads aren't used as much due to the technology and I have maybe 75% less brake dust.

eaeolian

My Prius pads are on 130K, and will probably give me another 10K or so.

ziggyziggy

what is different about the brake pads?

kitlz

Daayyyumm! Makes buying the 450h worth it if it means no more brake pad changes for me I definitely notice less brake dust. Cleaning the rims is a breeze!