I was commuting in a 2005 Jeep Wrangler. Now it is retired and with my monthly payment and Geico, my monthly budget has gone down. I still have the Jeep as a toy.
You're not crazy. I watch these grim faces at the pumps these days filling up. Unless you really don't care about what you spend on fuel, you need to look at this objectively. I care how comfortable my car is because I am in it at least 88 miles a day, 6 days a week. BUT - at least in CA, I am In it far less long TIMEWISE because of the HOV lanes so I can get home or to work faster... and be a lot more comfortable in both places than in a car!
I live near the Boston area. Fortunately, I don't have to drive into Boston or use the HOV. Although Massachusetts does not allow a one passenger vehicle use the HOV even if it's the Nissan Leaf, but some reason they allow motorcycles.
Once I added it up, it was a no-brainer. Coming out of a Jeep, the only thing I miss is the top down (can't do that in the winter, however) and the sound system (Alpine-Infinity-Kicker system), but now I have XM.
So I've had the PiP from the dealer for about 3 days. I've been getting about 76 mpg for the 3 days with 1 charge per day. Seem about right to you guys? Nevertheless, the LS430 gets me 18-19 mpg city.
The shorter the commute, the higher the MPG. 55 out of the last tank with one full charge per day and about a half charge before I go home.
I used to drive a 300hp BMW and I would never go back. I drove 35 miles yesterday and didn't use a drop of gas thanks to free charging stations in Santa Monica. Over the last 120 miles I am averaging 110 mpg. Toyota gave me a coupon for a free tank of gas. I am not going to buy gas until I get to 1200-1300+ miles. I was borrowing a 4 cylinder Passat while waiting on my PiP. It was $80 to fill that thing with 87 octane and its a sedan. Plus you have the advanced model, its basically a Lexus already. Your not sacrificing much, and your helping the planet.
Plug-In EV mode is addicting. My best day of EV only has been 128 miles, but 90 is more normal. My last 3000 miles is something like 1500 mpg and I might not buy gasoline for another 3000 miles.
Don't buy it - lease it. Then you'll have the option to give it back to the dealer in 3 years and get a plug-in Lexus hybrid.
Agreed, it's the main reason I went with a lease. In fact, I would love to see a poll which shows leasing vs buying results, I bet the lease # is unusually high for the PiP.
I leased it because TFS sets the residuals so low that you won't be stuck at the end of the lease if you want to buy it.
Sounds about right. One of my former coworkers who used to drive an Audi A4 then switched to an 02 or 03 Nissan Altima, then later a Honda Fit would say yeah, work on German cars was always "a grand here, a grand there". When he was driving the Altima, even though he liked the V6 engine, he would always say "Japanese cars suck!" mainly because he didn't like his Altima's handling.
