So my parents are shopping for a new RX. The dealer offered them an '07 RX350 for $39K, and an RX400h for $45K. So is it worth spending more. My dad is really leaning toward the hybrid. They do alot of highway travel from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. So anything is better than the 21 mpg they get currently in the 300. But, the question becomes is it worth spending extra money on goodies, such as navi, in order to get the hybrid version?

 

The FWD gas version will get better highway mileage than the hybrid. So go with gas.

Real world the RX400h gets about 24MPG.

The cost difference will take years to recoupe.

 

I'd buy the hybrid (You're asking on the 400h forum after all) - whether or not the price difference makes sense only you can say. It's not a purely fiscal decision - the hybrid is faster and has better resale, too, in addition to the $1k tax credit.

 

We get some significant snow fall in PA, so FWD isnt an option.

 

And the warranty is also very appealing.

 

Just got a phone call from my dad, he's takin the 400h out for test now.

Also told me that apparently the Prius has been discontinued?

 

Maybe he's thinking of the Honda Insight?

 

Hybrid it is. They liked it alot.

 

Nah, Lexus told him this.

 

Not a very informed one. Not only is the Prius not being discontinued, it's getting a huge improvement for 2008 - lithium ion batteries and all new powertrain setup to provide better accelleration and 50% better fuel economy.

 

I believe its the 2009 Prius that's getting the re-design, including the lithium batteries, more powerful engine and ~100 mpg. I wish it was the 2008 as I am waiting for the '09 to come out so I can buy one.

As for the hybrid or non-hybrid RX issue, I have the 400h and love it. I think most buyers of hybrids, whether Lexus or otherwise, don't buy hybrids to save gas. They buy hybrids because hybrids are much more enviornmentally friendly and because the technology is so cool. With a hybrid, you get rid of what was so inefficeint with internal comustion engines (ICE), i.e., poor performance, waste of engergy and excess pollution when accelerating or idiling by use of the hybrid system, and you take full of advantage of what is so efficient about an ICE engine - i.e., great efficiency, power and low emmissions at cruising speeds.

 

My Lexus dealer told me the following.

"Hybrids are all about fuel economy in the lower tier cars. i.e. Prius, Civic, etc. However, Lexus is not doing hyrbrids for fuel economy but rather performance. The CVT transmissions coupled with better 0-60 times, without using more gas is the selling point from a Lexus point of view."

 

Exactly right!!

 

Kind of a tough place ... the more highway driving you do the LESS improvement you see in the fuel economy (relatively speaking compared to city fuel economy).

NON HYBRID city : 18mpg
HYBRID city : 31mpg

NON HYBRID hwy : 24mpg
HYBRID hwy: 27mpg

So you derive less fuel economy improvement if you are travelling mostly highway, BUT the way to drive more miles overall is to put on the highway miles.

I thought long and hard about getting the hybrid, but didn't just b/c a lot of my driving is on the highway and I couldn't quite justify the $6000-$7000 real world price difference.

 

I think hybrids make sense if you are only leasing. Regardless of the Lexus warranty, when a Hybrid is 8 years old and out of warranty and in need of new batteries and motors, no one will want to buy the car and spend thousands on electrical components. So I think the resale value will be aweful for hybrids. Plus no independent shop can work on them. You have to plan your travels around Lexus dealerships.

My BMW dealer will not even take hybrid in trade unless you are willing to take a serious bath. They have several brands on the lot and cannot sell them.