Hot Damn: Want a Hybrid Car but love driving Luxury Cars....

[LynneSin]

http://www.lexus.com/models/hybrid/

Lexus is now selling the 2006 RX Hybrid

.

Mind you this thing is going for around $50,000, but you'll make it up in gas cost. But it's great that we finally have a luxury hybrid car now available to people who want to do the right thing by conserving gas but also want to drive a top of the line vehicle.

Then again, Lexus is owned by Toyota - would you have expected anything less?

[jasmeel]

1. Awesome! I was just thinking that someone should do this!!!!n/t

[realFedUp]

2. "you'll make it up in gas cost"

I don't think so, but it's the right idea.

I like the hybrid Highlander coming out
but at $33,000 minimum, it's tough to
reconcile making up that much difference
in gas savings.

I'm thinking scooters now.

[Cronus Protagonist]

24. Hybrids save about $700 a year in gas costs

Hybrids save about $700 a year in gas costs at 15,000 miles a year and $2.50 a gallon. They cost more than $3000 over the regular car, sometimes as much as $7,000 over and their resale value is low.

If you want to save gas money, drive a smaller car, carpool and or use public transportation. If all you want to do is burn less gas and don't care how much it costs you; you are willing to pay to do it in style and the Hybrid's the way to go.


http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[Beaverhausen]

31. Hybrids produce nearly zero emissions

it's not all about money you know. :eyes:

[Cronus Protagonist]

51. That was the crux of my point

It's not about saving gas money, not at all. It's about burning less fuels, and if you can afford the extra costs of a hybrid, go for it.

http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13
Buttons for brainy people - educate your local freepers today!

[realFedUp]

44. I agree, if the car is reasonably priced to begin with

We know these cars tend to be up to $3,000
more than regular and similar cars without
the hybrid engine...so paying $50,000 for
a car saying you want to save money seems
kinda screwy.

I'm all on board for getting a hybrid,
I just don't want to pay a ton more for
it. I know there are some states paying
rebates too which can be factored into
the pricing.

[Booster]

46. A Hundai (sp?) care dealer told me the other day to wait. He said

the price of hybrids will come down as soon as demand goes up, just like everything else. I will drive my little noisey RAV4 until the Highlander or Lexus comes down to a reasonable price - like any of them are reasonable.

[Taverner]

47. Actually a new Prius is only $23K

And their resale value is pretty good, as are most Toyotas (in fact some 3 year old Priuses have been going for close to original sale price)

One can buy a new Prius for 23K or a new Accord for around the same. Both are mid-sized, and both have the same amount of room.

You can have your cake and eat it too - no need to scrunch into a Mini with the motor of a Vaccuum cleaner (and the roominess of a sardine can.)

[realFedUp]

55. that's true...the Prius is doing well as a resell too

I want an SUV hybrid...so that's what
I'm referring to in price range.

[leftofthedial]

25. well, if you drive it for 25 years

you could make it up in gas costs . . .

[Cronus Protagonist]

52. Maybe, but the disposal of the nickel batteries might cost you

... as I said, it's not about saving money, but they will put less emissions into the atmoshpere, about the same as most small cars like the Focus, for instance, which can be bought for only $9,999 and gives almost the same gas mileage and emissions as the hybrid Escape which costs $25,000+.

[LynneSin]

38. you have a point but...

...the purpose is we now have vehicles available on the market that will appeal to those with money to burn when it comes to car shopping.

We're not getting these people into a Hybrid Prius or CRX, but we could get them into a Hybrid Lexus SUV. And believe me, owners of expensive cars still bitch about gas mileage so I think this is a very marketable vehicle!

[Fleshdancer]

3. Finally, a car my husband and I can agree on

I only have two requirements for my car: it must be fuel efficient and it must work. I don't care about the color or what it looks like, I just want it to be reliable and responsible. My husband is a pain in the ass when it comes to cars because he's into the status symbol BS and it drives me nuts! I don't understand his love for sports cars or SUV's and I never will. This car would be an acceptable compromise.

[sidwill]

9. The big picture is....

It will start to be "cool" to own a hybrid once high end manufacturers start too compete in the market. Look for all the other high end SUV makers like Volvo, VW, Infiniti, etc.... to follow suit with the ultimate result being the ascendancy of hybrids as the standard.

[LynneSin]

11. And look for Ford and GM to ignore the market

thinking that somehow the "Buy American" will outsell "Buy a car that is reliable and not going to cost you a fortune at the gas pump." This is same exact scenario about 20+ years ago when we had the first gas crisis and Japan started to import these tiny lil cars.

[Blue Belle]

43. Actually...

Ford and GM are in the market. Ford currently has the Hybrid Escape SUV out, and GM is currently manufacturing its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups with “mild” hybrid powerplants...

Check out more info: www.hybrid.com

[ultraist]

26. good point! it's now chic to own a hybrid

It's also great to see automakers coming out with faster and more comfortable hybrids--definately a step in the right direction!

This site has a good list of hybrids:
http://www.hybrid.com/

Toyota Motor Corp. will launch gas-electric hybrid luxury cars at home and abroad in 2006 to set itself apart from the competition, sources said.

The leader in hybrid technology expects the environmentally friendly vehicles to help it better compete with foreign luxury carmakers such as Germany's Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

The domestic offerings will carry the Lexus name, to be introduced in Japan in August.

First in line is the GS luxury sedan, whose hybrid version will debut simultaneously in Japan, Europe and the United States in the first half of 2006.

[Bozita]

4. 29mpg combined ... impressive

[cheezus]

8. it's 2005 and 29mpg is impressive

...for a hybrid

christ on a crutch

[Taverner]

48. For a full-sized SUV 29 is good

Compare to a Toyota 4Runner - which gets about 15

[asthmaticeog]

13. How is 29 mpg "impressive?"

My Honda CRV gets roughly that with a regular engine, and it's a bigger car. A hybrid ought to do BETTER than an I.C. engine, or else what's the point?

[bloom]

32. So people can feel Ok

about driving their luxury cars? :shrug:

I wish people would be happier bragging about their fuel economy than their sticker price.

But then Exxon has got people believing that global warming is a "hoax".

[iconoclastNYC]

35. No, so people can burn less gas driving thier luxury cars

People are going to buy what they want in a free society...people want big luxury cars....at least they can burn less gas with this option.

And this also helps drop the cost of hybreds becasue of the economies of scale. The more hybred vehicles produced the less the option will cost.

[bloom]

36. For the rich delusional people

who don't "believe" in global warming and the problems of more CO2 and whatnot in the atmosphere - I can understand.

To me - it's not about free people using up more than their share of the resources - it's about everybody doing any reasonable thing they can to reduce the burden each of us is putting on the world with our lifestyle choices.

I think luxury buyers could put pressure on car manufacturers to create cars with 50+ gas mileage - the more that consumers make that a priority - the more car manufacturers would take notice.

The politicians aren't doing anything. I see it as a political statement - what people buy.

[info being]

39. It may not sell very well

I, personally, don't see a benefit. 29 MPG is not that great and the price is way too high. Not all hybrids are created equal...which will likely be the downfall of the hybrid.

[bloom]

41. Someone on UCTV yesterday

(@ a conference on global warming) was saying that hybrids are the best bet as far as cars go in helping with reducing emissions/pollutants. That hydrogen cars, etc. wouldn't ever be as "green" as what hybrids can be.

But the idea is cars with better and better gas mileage - not the same mileage that they could have had anyway - only with more features/a larger engine, etc.

[trekbiker]

50. downfall of the Hybrid????

better read up on Hybrids. Better acceleration, better performance, much better gas mileage. the new Hybrid Accord dusts the ICE standard Accord. Toyota clearly sees the future and is waaay ahead of the pack. Honda not too far behind. Toyota has stated that they plan to offer hybrid versions of all thier models. We'll never see gas below $2 again and in all likelyhood it will skyrocket in the next few years as Peak Oil finally sinks in.

Also, Hybrid prices will come down closer to straight ICE models with economies of scale. Hybrids are the future. Here to stay. Ford, GM, etc are in real trouble because they are short term thinkers. toyota consistently looks out 10-20 years. they knew that quality was the answer to market share waay back and they clearly won that game.

I remember getting into similar debates with my friends in the 1970's who derided the cheap little "Rice Burners". well... my present "Rice Burner" has 330,000 miles with no repairs or trouble.

[LynneSin]

37. Because vehicles that compare to the Lexus get alot less in gas mileage

http://www.lexus.com/models/comparison/rx_hybrid.html

I did a comparison of the Lexus RX400h (the hybrid) with a 2005 BMW
X3 3.0i AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 6M) and 2005 Cadillac SRX AWD 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 5A).

Gas mileage for the vehicles:
(City/Hwy)
Lexus Hybrid: 31/27
BMW: 17/25
Cadillac: 16/22

So there is a definate improvement with the Lexus especially if someone is doing more city driving than highway.

When I bought a new car in 2001, I bought a Toyota Corolla because it was reliable AND it was what I could afford. But I'll be honest, if I had some money to my name, I know I would be driving something a little nice - maybe a Lexus. The RX400 is classified as an SUV and it's gas mileage is almost the same as my Corolla (29/35 and I'm mainly a city driver).

We will lose the battle trying to convince people that they shouldn't spend their money on nice cars, especially with people who have the capacity to walk into a dealership and plop down $30-$50k for a car. But what we can do is make options available like this new Lexus where the well-to-do can have their nice car AND save the environment/lessen dependancy on foreign oil to boot.


THIS is major. A Luxury SUV Hybrid on the market and I'm really excited!

[malmapus]

5. I want a sports car

I am sooo torn, I'm looking to buy but I want the 05 Mustang GT....but the responbile part of me says to look at a Prius..........AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

[ultraist]

29. hybrid sports car

http://www.hybrid.com/modules.php?name=Top_10_Hybrid_Vehicles

[Wcross]

6. I would love a hybrid but it might not work for me.

I drive almost all highway miles and it seems that the gas engine runs while running at high speed. Also I understand that to charge the batteries the cars use the brake. On my daily commute there is one stop sign I stop at and two red lights.(my commute is 42 miles)

I am looking into getting a conventional car next time but with the highest mileage rating I can find. I don't care what it looks like, I would love to just burn one gallon on each leg of my commute.

[maxsolomon]

14. VW TDI

50+ on the highway, slightly worse in city.

plus 100% bio-diesel puts NO MONEY IN PRINCE ABDULLAH'S POCKET.

[Ron Green]

33. I've got 2 of them now.

I've had a Golf for a couple of years, and liked it so well that we chose a Jetta wagon TDI and just got it yesterday.

[trekbiker]

53. Prius might work out well for you...

check out this site. Seems the commuters are doing better in gas mileage than the city drivers.

http://www.priuschat.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=18

[cheezus]

7. luxury cars

yep, that would look great parked in one of the 4 stalls in the 5 bedroom 3 bath mcmansion
:sigh:

[LynneSin]

10. Yeah, I know how you feel

but this is a way to attract new markets. If this Lexus can get good press reviews and gas costs continue to rise, I can see more people making the switch to hybrids, even folks unlike us who never gave a damn about the environment and such.

It's really all about the dollars!

[newportdadde]

12. 50k?

DAMN. Hell I could almost pay off my freaking house.. what a joke.

[Touchdown]

16. *sigh*

...and if we all liked the same things, life would be pretty boring.

[Sapphire Blue]

42. I'm gonna run out and get one

... just as soon as I win the Lottery... after I can spare a buck to get a ticket.

Nice to know that not everyone is adversely affected by the economy and that someone can afford 50K for a car.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

15. I'm on the waiting list...

Probably will get it in the fall. Can't wait. This is a great car for me, as we do a lot of in-town driving (where it runs on the battery instead of gas).

[coffeenap]

17. My Prius has enough "stuff" on it to help luxury-loving people get over it

Besides, I have outrun many a speeding semi on Chicago area highways! All this and averaging 47mph, mostly local and half in winter.Drive one--they are great!

[Taverner]

49. Second for the Prius

Just got mine, and at $23K it is far from "overpriced"

[unhappycamper]

18. This time last year I was looking at a Mustang GT or a 350Z.

Now I'm looking at Civics, Insights & Priuses. I would prefer to buy American, but Ford & GM continue to build what they think I want. Too bad. . . . .

[LynneSin]

40. American?

My Japanese car was built somewhere in California.

Knowing how the corporations screw over the little people, I make it a point to buy a car that is BUILT in America regardless of where the Chairman of the Board lives.

Anyhow, my last cars - both "American" were not even built in the United States. My Grand Am came from Canada and my Neon came from Mexico.

[goodhue]

19. I want a hybrid but love driving cheap subcompacts.

How long will I have to wait?

[ultraist]

27. Top Ten Hybrids

http://www.hybrid.com/modules.php?name=Top_10_Hybrid_Vehicles

Toyota Prius
Leading the Toyota hybrid car line has been the acclaimed Prius a 4-door hatchback that seats five people and starts at $20,810. The Prius never needs to be plugged in.

Honda Accord Hybrid

Lexus RX 400 Hybrid

Toyota Estima

Ford Escape

Mercedes
With the introduction of the Grand Sports Tourer expected in the US in the first half of 2005, Mercedes added a powerful voice to the luxury hybrid car market. The powerful diesel/electric hybrid drive system the company first announced at the New York Car Show in early 2004, is further proof of the German company’s emphasis on.

Mazda RX-8 RE
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles may be all the rage on the developmental circuit these days, but that doesn’t mean hydrogen won’t make it to the highway in more conventional ways…at least if Mazda has a say in it.

Silverado Hybrid

Porsche Hybrid

Subaru Scrambler
Subaru, a marque that doesn’t come readily to mind when talking advanced technology vehicles, can be a bit of a tease. Back in 1991, this automaker all but stunned the automotive world with a sports coupe that could generously be called atypical – the cutting edge Subaru SVX.

[Spider Jerusalem]

20. "Want a hybrid car, but can't give up the status-whore lifestyle?"

"Is it important that people you don't know are impressed with your material possessions? Do you just HAVE to have the 'right' car to fit in and get noticed among the other shallow, pretentious type-A workaholics in your trendy gated community? Do you want to LOOK like you care about the environment, despite all your wasteful self-indulgence? Then the new Lexus is the car for you! Gets the same gas mileage as many standard midsize sedans, despite superior technology and for only TWICE the cost!"

[KittyWampus]

21. LOL! You Could Write Comedy/Satire.... Funny But True And Ultimately

Sad.

:) :(

[newportdadde]

22. lmao

Spot on.

[Cats Against Frist]

23. Yay!!!

IMHO, paying for something that far outside of its "use value" is as big a travesty to humanity as wasting gasoline.

Fer shure.

[ultraist]

28. I'm willing to pay a little more to pollute less

Organic foods are also more expensive but they spare our environment massive pesticides.

If we don't start supporting green products, they will never go down in price.

[Cats Against Frist]

34. I'm not talking about organic food, I'm talking about a Lexus

I buy all organic food, for health reasons -- number one, because most organic foods don't use overprocessed corn products (corn syrup, corn oils, aspartame, etc.), and for lots of other HEALTH reasons, and I also support lower priced hybrids. I see these things as being close to their "use value," because they actually provide a benefit, while being more expensive. I recently bought a Tom Bihn bag, that was $50, but it was made in the U.S., by U.S. workers, for a company who pays its taxes in U.S. -- and it is quite well made, AND from the Pac NW, a local/regional company in my sphere. (Except for that I'm currently in Iowa for a couple of years, but that's another story).

I can't see any other reason for buying a luxury car besides vanity. And I believe that national-brand consciousness, brand naming and things priced far beyond their use value (and people stupid enough to pay for those things), are just as wasteful as buying a gas-hogging SUV.

That's all I'm saying.

[KlatooBNikto]

30. My wife and I used to own two separate gas powered cars.We traded both

of them in for one RX400h hybrid and have been driving it for the past two weeks. It is an extremely well designed car.In city driving, which is where we do most of our driving, we get about 36 MPG.

It is an awesome car. Eerily quiet,though.

[in_cog_ni_to]

45. Toyota has a new SUV hybrid due out in June. "Synergy Drive, Highlander"

If you cannot view this email, visit
http://www.hybridsynergyview.com

Add [e-mail] to your E-mail Address Book or custom
sender list to ensure receipt of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy View Newsletter to your inbox.




People can't wait to get behind the wheel of Toyota's first SUV with Hybrid Synergy Drive®. Here's your chance: in June 2005, Highlander Hybrid will go on sale at Toyota dealerships nationwide!

For the third consecutive year, environmentally aware Oscar® nominees and presenters used Toyota hybrid vehicles for the awards show transportation. Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, Orlando Bloom, Salma Hayek, and Morgan Freeman were among the celebrities who arrived at the red carpet in the Toyota Prius and Highlander Hybrid . The effort to raise awareness of greener transportation through association with Hollywood star power was themed "Red Carpet/Green Cars".

The second-generation Prius has been a hit with buyers and critics since it came to market in Fall 2003. One price of success: Prius' popularity led to extended delivery times. But with more Prius than ever coming off the assembly line, buyers may be in for a pleasant surprise now.

The 2004 Toyota North America Environmental Report is a revealing profile of Toyota's environmental performance. It documents the environmental side of being a major auto manufacturer, covering Toyota vehicles plus 30 Toyota North American locations.
In January, Ellen DeGeneres and Toyota combined efforts to raise money for tsunami victims by auctioning a new 2005 Prius. The American Red Cross and UNICEF tsunami relief funds received the $38,600 proceeds from the sale.
Prius owners: we want to hear from you!

Toyota vehicles score high in online automotive green guide

Toyota receives federal Energy Star award

Toyota environmental grants and activities

6 quick tips for drivers to reduce air pollution



The Lexus is sweet! $50,000 is out of my price range. :(

[KlatooBNikto]

54. My wife and I were able to afford the Rx400h by getting rid of our two

individual cars and getting just one hybrid instead. It makes it necessary for us to plan our day better but the effort is worth it just to cut down on the waste.

[medeak]

56. 2 year wait at my Lexus dealer

they are only getting 4 a year.