From what I have read the curent gen ES350 has a trip computer that shows instaneous MPG. Is this feature helpfull in moderating your driving to improve your MPG? I ask this because for my current car (a 10-yr Honda), I use an aftermarket product called Scangauge to improve my driving habits.
It works well, gave me about 10% better fuel economy through awarness and altering my driving style. It would be great to sell this thing and not have to install something manually on my dash, if the trip computer provides this info in a usefull way. Thanks

 

The on board trip computer give you real time feedback on your MPG's. It works well and for those who are concerned about milage I suspect you will be able to affect it. I don't think you will need an add on unit. I usually set mine to read either the temp. or the miles left on a tank of fuel. I use CC where ever I drive so modulating the gas peddle is not one of my priorities.

 

I have been using the trip computer for the last couple of months to improve my driving habits and have increased my gas mileage by almost 25%. And beleive me, changing a lifetime habit was not easy. Most of the change comes from your acceleration rate, I still pretty much drive at the same speeds as I always have.

You won't need to install any kind of add-on device with your new Lexus.

Dave Mac

 

The monitor in the car can be set for real-time feedback if you wish. You can see tank average, general average and real-time MPG read-outs on the screen. I leave mine on general average MPG most of the time.

 

I use the real time MPG as my default view. I have averaged about 25 MPG over 15,000 miles, with very little freeway driving. I was averaging about 20 with my 2003 ES300 over the same type of driving.

 

My mind doesn't always register when I press on the gas. The real time guage is a helpful reminder to lay off the gas when it isn't necessary.