Prius Plug-in Advanced vs Lexus ES 300h

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by jameskatt, Feb 17, 2013.

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  1. jameskatt

    jameskatt Member

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    As other manufacturers match up with the Prius, it is interesting to see how this affects purchasing decisions.

    The 2013 Prius Plug-in Advanced lists for $40,320.
    It gets 95 MPGe for its 11 miles of battery power and 50 MPG in hybrid mode.
    The engine has 138 total horse power = 98 HP Gas + 78 HP Electric engine
    0-60 MPH is 10.6 seconds.

    The 2013 Lexus ES 300h Hybrid lists for $39,725.
    It gets 40 MPG city, 39 MPG highway, 40 MPG combined
    The engine has 200 total horsepower = 150 HP Gas + 141 HP Electric engine.
    0-60 MPH is 7.6 seconds.
    Top speed is 112 MPH.
    Lexus dealerships will give you a free loaner Lexus while your car is in for maintenance or repair.
    Lexus mechanics are also sticklers for perfection. (After tune-ups, the car simply feels brand new - owning 5 Lexus cars myself).

    The Lexus is going to cost about $45 more a month for gas than the Prius when - or about $5400 more over the next 10 years when commuting long distances where the electric-only portion becomes less of a factor (e.g. my daily commute is about 200 miles, mostly highway 70-85 mph, with a long hilly run).

    The Lexus is far more luxurious, quiet and comfortable than the Prius. It is great for long-distance commuting and travel. With its power, you won't have to worry about climbing up hills and keeping up with traffic.
     
    #1 jameskatt, Feb 17, 2013
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are you having some sort of episode?
     
    #2 bisco, Feb 17, 2013
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  3. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    It's not a fair comparison, OP should be comparing a non-PiP Prius w/less equipment. Or, the OP should be comparing a HyCam to the Lexus ES hbyrid.

    A lot of the stuff that comes standard on an advanced PiP costs extra on the Lexus ES hybrid and will bloat the price well beyond $40K.
     
    #3 cwerdna, Feb 17, 2013
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    why is this posted in the prius plug in forum?
     
    #4 bisco, Feb 17, 2013
  5. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    The ES hybrid is also ineligible for $4000 of tax incentives ($2500 Federal tax credit and $1500 CVRP).
     
    #5 cwerdna, Feb 17, 2013
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  6. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    Sounds like the ES is the better car for those applications.

    But here in California, the PiP is going much faster than the ES because it's eligible for single occupancy in the HOV lanes. I don't think the ES seats are as comfortable as my living room sofa as in I'll spend more time at home with a PiP over an ES.

    Lexus maintenance cost many times more than a Toyota so I can easily afford a rental on long term repairs.

    The hatchback form factor swallows a lot more items than the battery limited trunk in the ES.
     
    #6 mmmodem, Feb 17, 2013
  7. mnml

    mnml Ain't nobody got time for that.

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    Why would you want to drive an ES?
     
    #7 mnml, Feb 17, 2013
  8. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Take a drive through the suburbs without the engine.

    The plug introduces new comparison criteria.
     
    #8 john1701a, Feb 18, 2013
  9. Ken Blake

    Ken Blake Active Member

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    What OTHER manufacturers? Lexus=Toyota.
     
    #9 Ken Blake, Feb 18, 2013
  10. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    If I had 40k to spend, there is no question that I would purchase a ES300h over a PIP.

    The PIP is still in its first-generation and will quickly become a dinosaur as plug-in technology improves.

    In addition, at heart, the Prius was designed to be a $25k-ish car and the build quality/materials clearly reflect this.
     
    #10 The Critic, Feb 18, 2013
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  11. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    #11 cwerdna, Feb 18, 2013
  12. JacquesTutite

    JacquesTutite Junior Member

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    Goofy comparison. The two cars are night and day, except for the word "hybrid".
     
    #12 JacquesTutite, Feb 18, 2013
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  13. Drake

    Drake Junior Member

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    Given the huge amount of money wasted in gas and insurance vs the PiP, the comparison is not fair. (The Lexus cost a lot more in the long run than the PiP) If you want to pay more, I think you should compare against the Model S which is more expensive but cost next to nothing to drive and is eligible to subsidies. ;) Then your HP & power argument will not stand a chance ;)
     
    #13 Drake, Feb 18, 2013
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  14. SJ PiP

    SJ PiP Member

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    PipA if you want to really lower your carbon footprint, and still get many of the same goodies you'll find in Lexus... Radar cruise, led headlights, heads up .
     
    #14 SJ PiP, Feb 18, 2013
  15. jameskatt

    jameskatt Member

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    This is not a goofy comparison at all. Both are hybrids made by Toyota. Both have Toyota hybrid engines. The Lexus just has a more powerful one.

    The biggest problem with the Prius Plug-in Advanced is its high price of $40,320. This takes it into luxury car prices with higher expectations for what you get for your money.

    This forces the consumer to look at his or her other options since other vehicles become similarly affordable.

    The fact that both cars are night and day highlights how out of whack the price is for the Prius.

    It also illustrates how close these two cars are in long-distance hybrid performance. After all, the Lexus gets 40 MPG while the Prius gets 50 MPG. And it illustrates how much more luxury you get with the Lexus versus the Prius Plug-in Advanced for less money.

    Toyota should LOWER the price of the Prius Plug-in Advanced to UNDER $30,000 to reflect that these are not luxury vehicles. The base price for the Prius hybrid should be $16,000. Anything over these prices is a rip-off.
     
    #15 jameskatt, Feb 18, 2013
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  16. mnml

    mnml Ain't nobody got time for that.

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    I would say the CT200h would be a closer comparison to the PIP.
     
    #16 mnml, Feb 18, 2013
  17. jameskatt

    jameskatt Member

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    Here is another competitor for the Prius Plug-in Advanced:

    For $36,820, you can get the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - clearly a luxury car.
    This gets 45 MPG city and highway.
    It's engine is a 2.0L Atkinson-Cycle I-4 Hybrid engine - with technology licensed from Toyota.
    The gas engine has 141 horsepower. The total engine has 188 horsepower.

    Anyone knows that you can hypermile/ecodrive the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and get 45 MPG or more.
    But when you want to accelerate, it will simply and clearly overpower the Prius.
    And it already has a more quiet, luxurious ride than the Prius Plug-in Advanced.

    You save $3,500 with the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid over the Prius Plug-in Advanced.

    This makes it difficult for the consumer when it comes to choosing which car to drive.

    But for long-distance drivers, the Lincoln clearly wins.
     
    #17 jameskatt, Feb 18, 2013
  18. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    Does this count the $2500 federal tax rebate on the PiP (plus any applicable state rebate)?
     
    #18 CharlesH, Feb 18, 2013
  19. jameskatt

    jameskatt Member

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    The Lexus CT200h is a close competitor to the PIP.

    At $32,945, it costs $7375 less than the Prius Plug-in Advanced.
    It gets 43 MPG city, 40 MPG highway.
    It has the same exact engine as the regular Prius.

    The primary difference is that Lexus gives you the best service even compared to their Toyota siblings.
    Lexus mechanics simply are perfectionists and will tune the car to like-new condition. They will catch the little things other mechanics will miss.
    Lexus will even give you a free car wash and detail and a free loaner Lexus while your car is in for service.
    When you own your cars for 10 years or more, it is the service that makes the greatest difference when it comes to keeping your car in tip top shape.

    Since my Lexus dealership owner also owns the Toyota dealership, it was interesting that he preferred driving the Prius over the CT200h. Lexus could have designed the CT200h better.

    And perhaps the redesign is coming in 2014 since I hear rumors that the 2013 CT200h is the last year for this model.
     
    #19 jameskatt, Feb 18, 2013
  20. jameskatt

    jameskatt Member

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    No. This is simply the savings in price you get for purchasing the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid instead of the PIP Advanced. Any tax rebate is a bonus.
     
    #20 jameskatt, Feb 18, 2013
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