New Prime or buyout the leased CT200?

Fully understanding that I'm asking a biased group for opinions - perhaps I'm wanting a biased answer.

The choice coming up soon is to buy the CT200h I'm leasing now. Pretty well decked out, just not the real leather seats as I wouldn't want that anyway. 2017, 20,100 miles and $20k buyout in June. Great little car, but gas mileage limited to low 40s or so. It's quiet, I like it. Has navigation assist that I like - talk to a real person, they put your destination into the nav system as you're driving.

Compare to walking away from that, purchasing a 2020 Prime Limited, road-trip to get the $3500 regional incentive, and $4500 PHEV tax incentive. Doesn't have the nav assist available, but has some neat tech bumps like dynamic cruise, blind-spot alert, lane assist ...

I really like the idea of a PHEV that I could charge from my garage outlets. My commute is 10 miles one-way, so excepting winter and summer conditions (Minnesota), would be mostly electric miles.

Thoughts? Opinions? I like new things too much, I like green things a lot, and I still like my little CT200. Although I'm getting antsy at almost three years with it. Thanks!

 

Drove one briefly, but wasn't charged. Exactly like you'd think, a Prius. A lot like the CT200, same engine, but older NiMH battery in the CT, same CVT.

Yes, charged would be much different.

Do Primes ever charge the traction battery to full on their own - e.g., long freeway drives?

 

When I bought the CT, they were closing out the model. So, Lexus offered $6000 off to lease it. (Wish they'd have offered that to buy it.) Given that and a trade in, I've been driving around payment free for the last 3 years. If I wanted to buy this very car from a dealer, they'd probably want $24-25k for it. So, being able to buy it at $20k is a pretty good deal.

 

"My only real concern for you is the loss of perceived handling / sportiness with a new Prime. Your CT has a sporty 17" wheel & 215/45 tire package.

You might want to spend a few $$ for an upgraded 17" wheel & tire package on a Prime to get that feel back."

Thanks for the great idea on the wheels/tires package. I'll see if that's common, or if I'll have to work a deal on something to trade out the wheels/tires.

 

Lease is up in June. Anyone hear anything about the CARB state incentives dropping between now and then?

Would be best if I could wait until the lease is almost up (months are already paid for). But if the incentives would drop, that could shift the equation.

 

Thanks, good to know.

Just checked out a Leaf today, That was a pretty decent car. Wasn't able to find a Bolt to drive. Tesla Model 3 though, late in the day. That was an interesting vehicle. Everything happens through the touchscreen. Considerable trunk space, can probably fit my guitar gear in there for gigs. Very, very low pressure sales, just answer all your questions, and enthusiastic about the car.

The east coast incentives for the Primes are looking pretty good. I like that the car doesn't have to pull around a bigger, heavier battery. The mechanicals and ICE would normally be a concern for reliability, but just not so much with Toyota.

There might be a trip out east for me later this month ...

 

Put a down payment on a Limited. Wanted the heated steering wheel, blind spot monitor, parking assist.

Did some sleuthing with the map, zip codes, and Toyota's website. Closest to Minnesota with the $3500 rebate is Buffalo NY. A bit under 1000 miles for the drive back.

I pay the balance with a cashiers check. Setup insurance with my agent before. Transfer plate or back window paper to drive it home. Sales tax collected when I register the vehicle and get plates. Not too difficult.

Turn in my leased CT sometime soon...

Time to setup a flight. Just wish the Lake Michigan ferry was running in March for the drive back. Hate the run through Chicago, but other routes add hours.