Selling my BMW 325i and going to buy an RX, is this a good deal?

2006 Lexus RX400h 46,000 miles for $25995.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/ctd/972683157.html

I can get it for 25,500. I drove it, it seems ok. Battery was dead (how does this happen with an electric vehicle?), which worries me. Tires have about 10k left. What am I missing...?

Thanks in advance.

 

Which battery is dead. The starter battery of the large bank that runs the drive?

I would be carefull and have someone at Lexus check it out.

 

SOunds like the regular battery went dead, not the hybrid. It probably sat too long without being driven. Make sure you get a new one put in before you buy it.

 

I'd be weary of a hybrid that has 46K miles already. No one is sure how long the hybrid battery will last, but rough guesses are around 100-120K. This means that the battery could potentially be almost half depleted of it's service life. Isn't a new battery about $3000 installed or something?

Hybrids will always be an ecological choice, not economical choice. With that said, $26K is a good price, provided it's the loaded version with NAV/camera.

 

Just curious why you'd say that a hybrid isn't an economical choice? Someone who is more of a city driver can drive almost 10 miles to the gallon more than the RX 350 can. Over 10 years (some drivers do hold their cars that long), you'll come out ahead of that cost difference.

 

i am guessing that you don't own a hybrid.. 46k is nothing.

 

Well, I bought the car, and I am seriously loving it! I have a Mercedes SLK and a BMW 325i and was used to the German idea of luxury. However, where the Teutonic mindset seems to be luxury with a nimble but rough ride, the RX just pampers you.

 

Congratulations! Enjoy your new baby!

 

I was surprised by the comment on the hybrid batteries only lasting 100-120k. My wife and I just bought an 06 RX400h with 54K on the odo and I did a lot of research online prior to completing the transaction.

The hybrid battery bank in the RX is built to last well over 100K. Right now Toyota has first gen Prius Hybrids with over 300K on the odo without a hybrid battery replacement. If you look into the information in detail, the RX has 25 individual NiMH batteries inside the hybrid battery pack and they can all be replaced individually, so even if you do have issues, it is not likely that you would have to replace the entire battery pack at one time. I think I heard each NiMH battery in the pack runs about $100.00.

I just purchased my 06 with 54K for 23,900. I think 25,900 is probably a good price with 42K on the odometer.