<p>Cool story Barrons.</p>
<p>I think the Lexus SUV hybrids are tuned more for performance than fuel economy. Hybrid does not always equal great mileage.</p>
<p>Hybrid mileage: 26/24
non-Hybrid: 17/22</p>
<p>If you do mostly highway miles, there’s little difference between the two.</p>
<p>:) </p>
<p>Sorry all, I guess I’m in the minority about cars… I just see them as transportation that you operate as cost effective as possible. </p>
<p>I deal with alot of folks whose financial house of cards is so lightly held together by spit… but they’ve got that luxury car and the big suv too. It’s not that I am an environmentist, I deal with finances and yes, if you’ve got it to burn fine… but that’s not that many folks out there. really. </p>
<p>I apologise to the poster for being so negative and I hope you are truly financially secure and truly can afford to purchase without anything down and have the means to pay in the event of jobloss or disability… man, I’m a bummer… professional side takes over sometimes…</p>
<p>The OP sounds like he’s looking for a luxury type of car with some good amenities. That being the case, I don’t think mileage matters (the Escalade has very low mpg). That is why I recommended the Lexus SUV…very comfortable, probably close to the price range (may be a tiny bit less expensive) and quite nice.</p>
<p>
I’m fiscally conservative but I also like cars and view them as more than basic transportation. One thing to consider is the actual cost of ownership of a car. If one excludes operating costs it comes down to depreciation of the vehicle whether directly by buying/selling or indirectly by leasing. Sometimes one can do about as well in the buy/sell delta with a more expensive car than a less expensive one yet they can enjoy the more luxo ride. If both cost in the neighborhood of x amount for that 3 or 4 year ownership period and if one can swing the float of the higher price then maybe it even makes sense to go with the higher end vehicle. Of course, this will still cost more than Mini’s 10 Subarus and more than the car I’ve been driving for 25 years but some people prefer the new car along with its amenities. </p>
<p>A colleague of mine purchased a new $93K Mercedes SL500 so I went out to kick the tires. It was a nice enough car but I couldn’t get it out of my head that the cost of his new car was about the same as 4 years at a UC and I felt I was getting far more value out of my purchase. OTOH - he didn’t have kids and never would and could easily afford the car so why not?</p>
<p>Why not indeed. He probably already went to college too and is enjoying the fruits of that investment. Mercedes don’t do much for me either but make it the Porsche GT-3 or a well restored 73 911 S and I’m drooling.</p>
<p>Get an RX hybrid. In California, at least, you get to drive in the carpool lane (even if you’re alone) because it’s a clean air vehicle or something like that. Some other states have similar programs.</p>
<p>^^Goes from 0 to 60 in approximately 7 seconds (I assume without Costco-sized bags of dog food in the back).</p>
<p>^^Is that a problem? I don’t think people buying Lexus hybrid SUVs are looking to floor the thing and zoom past other people in more so-called "boring " cars. I think they’re looking for comfort and luxury and a generally nice ride.</p>
<p>If you want a sports car, get a maserati. Or a porche. If you want something nice and comfortable, get the lexus.</p>
<p>H drives one 
but not a hybrid 
His is very zippy even with the Costco stuff, the hybrid one is supposed to be even more fun.</p>
<p>If 7 sec were a problem, Lexus would not have advertsed it so much on their website (that’s where I got the info from). 
I meant it’s a GOOD thing.</p>
<p>Oh, okay. I know close to nothing about cars, so yeah.</p>
<p>
I think one should think twice before buying a hybrid RX. Since the highway difference in MPG between the hybrid and non-hybrid is only 2mpg, if one is putting mostly highway miles on the vehicle then they may be less ‘green’ than the non-hybrid purchaser. How can this be?? The manufacturing and eventual recycling/replacement of the batteries actually uses energy to mine the components from the earth, ship the raw material around the world, manufacture batteries, ship around the world again, recycle, replace, etc. </p>
<p>It’s conceivable that the hybrid is less green than the non-hybrid model depending on usage.</p>
<p>That’s what steered me away from hybrids. Most of our driving is at highway speeds. Also the hybrids are pretty underpowered when operating at higher speeds.</p>
<p>I am not interested in a hybrid, the additional cost does not equate to the savings on gas. I do like the Lexus but the RX has been out a while and will be redesigned for next year. As an engineer I notice a significant difference between Japanese and German engineered vehicles, and find German cars to perform better. </p>
<p>[2009</a> Lexus RX](<a href=“http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=116536]2009”>http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=116536)</p>
<p>It seems like a dumb move to purchase a lexus RX when a new model will be released this summer. I am leaning towards the BMW 5 series, but am going to be test driving the Cadillac STS this weekend. The dealership claims the newer Cadillac models are designed and engineered to compete with their higher quality foreign rivals, so well see how that goes. I can not get a porsche or something along those lines. I am 21 and the insurance in NYC on a porsche will run well over $8,000 a year, as opposed to the $5,000 a year I am currently paying.</p>
<p>I thought you had to be over a certain age to buy a Cadillac. :)</p>
<p>Actually, that’s the way it used to be but Cadillac is changing quite a bit. </p>
<p>If you prefer a 2 seater and don’t need the back seat, what about something like the Audi TT or Nissan 350Z convertible that are less expensive than the Porsche Boxster that you should be get? The lower cost allows you to pay the higher insurance and have a fun car. You can always buy the bigger car when you have kids someday (assuming you don’t have them now).</p>
<p>The bmw’s are great cars and their maintenance package is amazing. essentially cost free for 4 years.</p>
<p>Best bet is to lease one for 4 years and you don’t need to worry about the model changes, resale and all that. </p>
<p>But in any event, don’t worry about the model changes, they do it constantly so I wouldn’t even make it an issue.</p>
<p>Their cars are “bullet proof”. problems are very rare. Porsche and Audi, by comparison are certainly xlnt, but their maintenance package covers very little.</p>
<p>Uri, are you sure it’s this year that the RX will be redesigned. We’ve been told by our local dealer that the new style and engine will be for the 2010 model. My H is going to the auto show tonight, actually, so perhaps he’ll see what it is that they have there. He’s a car ‘nut’ and he would agree with you that, generally speaking, the German cars’ handling is superior to that of the Japanese. He has had several of each, including several Porsches. His current favorite is a BMW M5, which he only drives in good weather. His winter car is a Subaru WRX STI. We’ve found that Lexus cannot be beat for quality control (we’ve had two), and I’m seriously considering another one in the next year when I need to replace the SUV I am currently driving.</p>
<p>If they announce it at the auto show, it’ll probably go on sale for 09. If not, probably 10 or 11.</p>
<p>“Their cars are ‘bullet proof’. problems are very rare.”</p>
<p>Compared to an Audi or newer Benz, they are quite reliable. But a beemer is brittle and breakable compared to, say, a camry.</p>
<p>sorry but you guys are both wrong.</p>
<p>[Priced:</a> 2009 Lexus RX 350](<a href=“http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=123985]Priced:”>http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=123985)</p>
<p>the vehicle is going on sale this summer, it’s an 09 model.</p>