New Prius III, or used Lexus HS 250h

A title is branded if it has been:
salvaged
junked
rebuilt
reconstructed
in a flood
in a fire
odometer tampered with
manufacter buyback (lemon law)

etc........

In other words it has diminished or no value. Unless it is REAL cheap and/or has been inspected & repaired by a qualified & reputable shop......I wouldn't buy it.

 

^^^
Doh! I didn't catch that. Ack! If it's salvage title, it better be DIRT cheap as it has no warranty. And yes, who knows the circumstances and how good of a job was done fixing it.

I did drive one for a week (won a one week test drive) and liked it a lot. I didn't post much about it but did post a bit at http://priuschat.com/forums/lexus-hybrids/94667-traded-our-prius-lexus-hs250h.html#post1337328.

Tradeoffs of the HS include a lot less cargo room and flexibility since it's not a hatchback, worse mileage and less interior room. One of my FB friends from high school felt it looked like a Corolla (from pictures), and to some extent, I agree.

But, for some, there is the "prestige" of owning a Lexus branded vehicle vs. one w/a Toyota badge.

 

Seems like the same $25K branded title car.

 

That one is well equipped! The one loaned to me didn't have HUD, LKA, adaptive CC nor Mark Levinson stereo.

Only downside is Lexus basic warranty runs for 4 years/50K miles, and so there's not much left, by mileage.

 

I've had the Lexus HS250h as a loaner a couple times and was not overly impressed. I feel the Prius has more room for both passengers and cargo. The HS trunk is only about 12 cubic feet and the back seats do not fold down. Granted, I already owned a Lexus and was looking for a more base level and flexible vehicle when I went hybrid shopping this summer. A new Prius made more sense than a HS to me. Also, I would try to get a Lexus CPO HS if you go that way as it is a great CPO program.

For more HS info, visit Club Lexus at HS 250h Model - Club Lexus Forums . (I'm Caddyowner over there.)

 

As I am trying to get rid of this crappy rattle car at the moment, I'd say: Beware of buying a prius!!!

Take the lexus!!!

Mileage isn't everything! I bought the first prius in 2006, and it was great. Smooth and silent ride. Then I bought the MY2010, the technology is fine but the refurbished-trash-interior ruins every bit of the smooth hybrid feeling!

 

I'd go for a "good" loaded used 250h. Just need to do your homework.

 

Lexus all the way.
One of the best car quality makers in the market period.
Toyota is rattle box, that makes me shamed to drive anybody in with. all the noises it makes for 2010 car. every body ask me how all is this, how many miles on it, pain in my nice person.
i only care about the mpgs and look of prius.
No comparison.
c

 

Some easy DIYs can fix Prius's rattles.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...2011-prius-rattles-99-cents-neat-version.html

My Prius has been rattle free for months after the fix.

 

Go for the new Prius. I don't like used cars unless I know who has owned it! Consumer reports rated low!31MPG

 

Consumer Reports have a lead foot in short road test.

They rated 2010 prius at 44MPG in road test. But they got a overall fuel economy at 40.4MPG in a 2002 Prius with nearly 208,000 miles.

EPA number is more reliable to me.

 

However, I don't really understand why Lexus put HS250h into its product line.

It looks like a 4 door prius sedan with an old camry hybrid powertrain. It will never sell.

They should get rid of HS250h and replace it with an all new ES250h.

43MPG from 2012 Camry Hybrid is amazing. They should do it in Lexus ASAP.

 

CR results at Most fuel-efficient cars and Best & worst cars review, fuel-efficient vehicles. Last page of http://www.consumersunion.org/Oct_CR_Fuel_Economy.pdf compares their tests to the pre-MY08 EPA tests.

 

Thanks for the links.

But 32 city MPG for 2010 Prius form CR. I don't get it.

I never see that low number in my Prius, even in the -4 F winter.

But if they drive it like Jeremy Clarkson, 32MPG makes sense.

 

Did you read the info they provided on their city test? There's still some ambiguity in my mind about the procedure (like how long is the cool down period, if any, between each run?). However, I don't think labeling them as "biased" makes sense.

http://web.archive.org/web/20081231...-advice/most-fuelefficient-cars-206/index.htm were their 2nd gen results. If one drove a 2nd gen like what's described in their tests and used door placard tire pressures, I don't think their city figure is that far off... esp. if the cooldown period is hours or overnight between each of the six runs.

 

If you want leather, most of HSs have heated/ventilated leather seats. (I really don't care for non-ventilated leather.)