Aztecs27
Money List Winner
My dad is starting work for a local Lexus dealership tomorrow - hoping I can negotiate a good dead on one of their hybrid MPV thingys.
Aztecs27
Money List Winner
They've 'just' bought out the NX series which is slightly smaller than the RX and the newer hybrids have better MPG, I believe.
Not great though. The NX came out with great hopes but if you look on Lexus forums people are only getting mid 30's in them. I think they look really good but the mpg is a let down.
Aztecs27
Money List Winner
Balls. The old man will have to give me a REALLY good deal then!
Squeeze the pips. I'm hoping they can improve the mpg over time, throw in some software upgrades etc, as I like the look of it, the Lexus brand is solid and reliable so it is a car I want to be able to look at as an option. Not at 35mpg though. You have to be in the low to mid 40's for a car of this size to be viable.
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vkurup
Guest
I like the look of the NX.. so looked at some of the reviews. it seems the electric is only for start and acceleration... and gives about 2 miles under 30!! that would just get me to train station. I think plug in makes more sense in the mpg category than a electric supported..
Aztecs27
Money List Winner
We are a bit limited as to the cars we can look at because a.) we currently drive the worlds largest car (mkIV Mondeo) and the wife doesn't want to downsize if possible and b.) as we have a dog, we need a hatchback.
So the fact we "need" a big car means we are pretty limited, especially as the wife is very picky when it comes to how a car looks. I'd happily have an estate (old man cars apparently) or a smaller hatch (Seat Leon for example) but she doesn't want to compromise on space and I have to admit, having so much of it has been nice the last 5 years. But we've now topped 100k and have already had to fork out over a grand to fix the DPF filter, so I really want to get away before it starts costing us even more money.
need_my_wedge
Has Now Found His Wedgie
Pretty sure I've seen that one parked up in LBGC car park, if not I've certainly seen it somewhere around MK myself.
I thought hybrid's didn't need home charging, only need that for full electric? My brother has a Lexus RX hybrid, second one now and loves it, but he has a short journey to work and can use the electric side of it a lot. Also have a mate who has a Prius, which he loves driving local around MK, saves him a fortune over his old BMW M5...... My diesel Juke is up for change this time next year, I've also been contemplating a move to electric. Doing a 120 mile round trip to my office three days a week rules out most options at the moment. A hybrid won't make use of the electric side enough, and the distance is too much for a full electric model. I'm hoping rumours are true that by next year Nissan will have a longer lasting set of batteries in the Leaf, if I can get the return journey in with charging over night, may be a serious option. Will be looking more as the year goes by.
BubbaP
Occasional Player of Golf
That really is the key, to think about your needs and try and match them as best as. There are a few different takes on hybrid solutions around and they have evolved over last 5 or so years.
For me, majority of my long journeys are for work, and my work does mileage expenses based on engine size. Then of I course I can claim the difference against the HMRC rates. So a 4.8M long vehicle giving easy mid 50s MPG works well for me in that regard.
A lot of personal mileage is around where I live, where it is typically a lot of single carriageway road, say 45 - 55 MPH, then runs through a road lined village at 30, back to 45-55, back to another village. So this sort of journey suits the charge as you go hybrid model pretty well.
That said I noticed the PHEV appear on the company car list recently, so I am interested in where you land and what you find out. As that may be a future option to consider. Good luck with your decision.
Aztecs27
Money List Winner
Just bringing this thread back up. Went to see my Dad at the weekend to see how he was getting on...Made the fatal mistake of looking at an NX...now both me and the wife have fallen in love with it! FFS!
Not bought one yet, but seriously considering it as we can get nearly £4000 off the car from the dealer through various deals and whatnot...which gives a realistic monthly payment and a decent guaranteed car value at the end of the term...so am very tempted! Compare the interior quality to any car in the same range/size and it's so far ahead it's almost laughable. Even the basic spec has full leather dashboard etc...oozes quality. MPG isn't the best, but the hybrid mode should be great for short drives and driving round town...As said above, it will get you 2 miles on a single charge but if you're in stop start traffic, the battery re-charges every time you break, so it's re-charging all the time... Now I just need to find the money to buy one.
Not bought one yet, but seriously considering it as we can get nearly £4000 off the car from the dealer through various deals and whatnot...which gives a realistic monthly payment and a decent guaranteed car value at the end of the term...so am very tempted! Compare the interior quality to any car in the same range/size and it's so far ahead it's almost laughable. Even the basic spec has full leather dashboard etc...oozes quality. MPG isn't the best, but the hybrid mode should be great for short drives and driving round town...As said above, it will get you 2 miles on a single charge but if you're in stop start traffic, the battery re-charges every time you break, so it's re-charging all the time... Now I just need to find the money to buy one.
Did you drive it? I'm intrigued to know what it is like. I agree, they look lovely and Lexus build quality is renowned.
Aztecs27
Money List Winner
Not yet, as the demo they had was sold that morning....but hoping to give one a whirl in the next couple of weeks, so will keep you posted!
My dad raved about it though (before we even mentioned we might want one), after he got to test drive all the cars on his first day in the job.
My dad raved about it though (before we even mentioned we might want one), after he got to test drive all the cars on his first day in the job.
This review was in the latest Auto Express
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/lexus/nx/92118/long-term-test-review-lexus-nx-300h
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/lexus/nx/92118/long-term-test-review-lexus-nx-300h
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vkurup
Guest
I havent been near it yet, but I like the styling. It is interesting that Lexus is a top brand in the US, while it is mostly seen as pensioners car.
TBH, not too impressed by the 2 mile range on the electric. I would not be able to get to the train station and back without firing up the gas. If it had a good mph then it might still be in contention.
Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
Can't help but feel hybrid cars are just a fad. I don't see how such limited mileage use on electric can be worthwhile against the costs of them.
I also fail to see why electric cars are so talked about when we only just have enough electric generation for what we currently need, and of course electric generation is pollution free
I also fail to see why electric cars are so talked about when we only just have enough electric generation for what we currently need, and of course electric generation is pollution free
Aztecs27
Money List Winner
Is that trip a straight trip with no stops though? If its in stop/start traffic, it should get you there in full EV mode as the hybrid engine regenerates in stop/start traffic.
That review in Auto Express is interesting - I assumed the Q5 was a lot more expensive (ie. in the RX price range)...so I might look at those too, as the Q3 is pointless and tiny.
The cabin of the NX is pure luxury though...I love it.
Aztecs27
Money List Winner
Can't help but feel hybrid cars are just a fad. I don't see how such limited mileage use on electric can be worthwhile against the costs of them.
I also fail to see why electric cars are so talked about when we only just have enough electric generation for what we currently need, and of course electric generation is pollution free
Perhaps, but with all the uproar of emissionsGATE with diesel cars, I wouldn't be surprised to see an influx of more hybrid cars (with better technology) and less diesels over the next 5 years.
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vkurup
Guest
My run to the station has a couple of roundabouts and merging turns and maybe 1 or 2 set of lights. However it may not have enuf length to start charging... And the work trip is about 20 miles round trip ...
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vkurup
Guest
I am keen to know the impact on the electricity bill on having a hybrid... I believe the real saving would be if you had Solar + battery backup + hybrid..
Thats why I think Solar + Tesla Gigaset + Tesla X/S/anyone would be fab to have... but dont have the money for any of these at the mo
Rooter
Money List Winner
Just wait for home Hydrogen fuel cells, and hydrogen cells in cars too. Its the future i tell you. Currently working on a 1mW datacenter that is going to use HFC instead of diesel generators, going to be the first of its kind.
