The gauge reads warm before the 8 miles, but you don't get good mileage unless you run it longer. My drive to work never maximized mileage. Engine shuts off a few seconds after stopping for a light and will restart instantly. You should know that the car is silent when running on electricity but has other noises--especially when you're accelerating. Highway mileage was about 23 mpg. My IS would get much better highway mpg. Remember that I live in NJ where it is much colder and warmer than CA. My other gripe was the way the heat/ac would "save" gas and have more variations even with the digital temp. I would end up raising and lowering it all the time. Finally, the first set of tires wore out real quickly, but I replaced them with Bridgeston Alenzas which were still great after about 32,000 miles.
Some people report great mpg, but they must have different gas and temps. I was good about coasting, but truthfully I don't drive that conservatively.

 

If your decision is strictly financial, the 350 is a no brainer. I think that you should be able to close the spread on price more than you have shown.

I have had a 450h since last October and have taken it on several trips from South Central PA to Toronto. My lowest mileage was 25.5 mpg in very cold weather while my best was 28.7 in much warmer weather. My son has a Yukon hybrid and he is thrilled when he gets 23 mpg!!!! My typical mileage is 29-30 mpg in mostly rural type driving.

I am a gadget guy and always have the Energy Monitor screen displayed. It always creates good conversation when others are in the car with me!

It took quite a while for me to get use to the starting/stopping of the engine at stops and the "different" feel of the regenerative braking. I barely even notice either now.

 

The engine may warm up on the hybrid but the cabin doesn't, even if I use remote start. I was surprised about that (eco mode off BTW). My city commute to work is less than 10 miles with hills. Mileage is decent at around 27 MPG. On the highway the highest I've gotten has been 33 MPG.

The engine shudders a little on the 450h after started. It's undetectable when accelerating from a stop though. I'm used to it now.

 

Wow - thanks everyone for the input - I am going to talk to the dealer today. Thanks.

 

True Anita,I wouldn't spend thousands extra for the hybrid just to have heads up display option which I really like.
The LEDs I really don't care about.In fact,I'd rather have the HID's.

 

Before I came to the RX 350, I owned an LS460 for a year and a half, and traded for a LS600hL keeping it for the same amount of time. So, that experience influenced my RX 350 vs RX 450h later. There were some amazing differences between the two LSs; increased power and efficiency, noise reduction, and that all-important intangible, a good eco feeling. However, hybrids are a transitional technology, and a very costly one at that. And, if you chose to hold on to it over the long term, the costs won't end there.

In the past, I normally preferred to keep cars for a long period of time, but the rapid pace of development, similar to what happened in televisions has nuked that preference. We are flipping cars now every three years, so the hybrid "experience" doesn't make any financial sense at all. Even the "feel good" component is fleeting at best. While I really wanted to hold on to that 600 behemoth, I knew it was going to cost me a bundle ten years down the road at a time when it would have a negligible residual value.

Joe, I'm with you on the LEDs; I didn't like them one bit! Sexy? Yes, Bright? Nope! What does that remind me of?

 

A blonde female?
I've read the LEDs aren't great.Probably improve in the near future.

 

Watch it there, Joeb and Johnny!

I'll agree the LEDs are not that bright but the 6k fogs I have more than make up for it. They are sexy as hell. Sounds like some people need to get their vision checked

 

Anita, my assertion was covert, suggestive but covert!

Don't get me wrong, I love blondes; they're sexy as LEDs.

I have my share of blonde moments regularly; none of us are immune to that!

 

Well - it is over I took a RX350 home for the Saturday night and Sunday and drive an hybrid today - I got the hybrid - I know it makes no financial sense - but I love the technology. More to come later. Thanks for everyones help - you guys are awesome - glad to see there is such a lively community here!

 

Another hybrid in da house

Congrats and post pictures/details when you can pry yourself out of your 450h