XSeries-forum

Hi All just thought id post a lines on my experience of the new Lexus Hybrid v my E70. I was given a Lexus RX450 3.5 Hybrid (Petrol) for a week whilst mine was in the bodyshop.
This was due to some kind lady managing to roll her passat complete with tow bar into the front of mine, and impaled my grill, bumper and number plate. Ouch, and a £600 claim on her insurance. ::)

Initial impressions of the Lexus were favorable, it was comfortable reasonable size and the fit and finish was typically japanese. Id alway wanted to experience a hybrid and put the technology to the test. My assesment of this although limited is thus: Essentially the electric motor only comes into its own at 30mph and below. Now I would of expected the lexus with its new technology and its 44.8 mpg claimed combined figure to be fairly accurate, but alas this was far from the truth.

I covered a mere 150 miles during my time with it, mixed driving, but I hasten to add all well below national speed limits and coupled with easy acceleration at all times. I was therefore quite astonished to discover that id only managed 33mpg, I can eek out this with my old tech oil burner! Pretty poor I think considering this was a £55K state of the art motor.

Normal service now resumed, I'm back in mine, and everytime I see a Lexus hybrid I have a little smile to myself.... ) 

I always take hybrid figures with pitch of salt given that when tested they are on purely electric power when urban driving, so unless you do a lot of slow city driving it will be hard to get close. Why not have a hybrid mated to a Diesel engine? At least then you should see better figures.

Don

Is it to do with the start/stop power draw that only petrol hybrids abound? 

Diesel engines need more to switch them back on, so bigger batteries and charging circuitry to get the energy back in.  We found that the system on our old Mini Countryman pretty much never worked because either the air temp was too low, the a/c was on or the battery volts were too low after it had done a few start/stop cycles in traffic.

I had deposit down on new RX450h until my brother told me to buy a mans car and got the 40d X5.

On supreme / ultimate diesel I'm getting 670 miles to a tank - average 35 mpg. And that includes 300 miles of North Wales mountain roads in second gear and motorway and B roads. I don't hang about either.

I'm absolutely amazed with the BMW.

[quote="ImaginativeTruth"]
I had deposit down on new RX450h until my brother told me to buy a mans car and got the 40d X5.

On supreme / ultimate diesel I'm getting 670 miles to a tank - average 35 mpg. And that includes 300 miles of North Wales mountain roads in second gear and motorway and B roads. I don't hang about either.

I'm absolutely amazed with the BMW.
[/quote]
Yes a great choice, nothing comes near to the experience.

[quote="Don Coffey"]
I always take hybrid figures with pitch of salt given that when tested they are on purely electric power when urban driving, so unless you do a lot of slow city driving it will be hard to get close. Why not have a hybrid mated to a Diesel engine? At least then you should see better figures.

Don
[/quote]Yes I agree, common sense would be to mate it to a diesel unit. However if the Lexus is representative of just how far hybrid technology has come, and god knows it should be @ £53k. I think its woefully inadequate for the task.
I think I'll just stick with the old oil burner!

[quote="X5Sport"]
Is it to do with the start/stop power draw that only petrol hybrids abound? 

Diesel engines need more to switch them back on, so bigger batteries and charging circuitry to get the energy back in.  We found that the system on our old Mini Countryman pretty much never worked because either the air temp was too low, the a/c was on or the battery volts were too low after it had done a few start/stop cycles in traffic.
[/quote]
Yes to be fair the electric did seem ok in a city environment, but if this is your prime requirement, I certainly wouldn't splash out over £50k to achieve this. I'm afraid hybrid engineering has left me wondering why bother?

[quote="Peter_R"]
As the old saying goes.....

You do not get something for nothing!
[/quote]
Never a truer statement, and @ a mere £50k+ for the Lexus I fully agree  )

you could try a Nissan Leaf? If your into monitoring your mpg which lets be honest we all are! You do need something to talk about when your not caravaning or wife swapping

[quote="Buz007"]
you could try a Nissan Leaf? If your into monitoring your mpg which lets be honest we all are! You do need something to talk about when your not caravaning or wife swapping
[/quote]

but a leaf doesn't use petrol so surely MPG is relevant

I don't have a caravan I stay in 5 star hotels

That fling with Mars/IQ was supposed to be a secret

That cat was meant to stay in it's bag  )

[quote="Mars"]
That cat was meant to stay in it's bag  )
[/quote]

Whats with the profile pic

Yeah, that worried me too.  The Koala I can understand, but the other?!!!

[quote="535dboy"]
[quote="Mars"]
That cat was meant to stay in it's bag  )
[/quote]

Whats with the profile pic
[/quote]

I just liked the juxtaposition of a cute and cuddly in the arms of a nutter.
More vacuous selfies to follow

Mars...or is it IQ?

[quote="Mars"]
[quote="535dboy"]
[quote="Mars"]
That cat was meant to stay in it's bag  )
[/quote]

Whats with the profile pic
[/quote]

I just liked the juxtaposition of a cute and cuddly in the arms of a nutter.
More vacuous selfies to follow

Mars...or is it IQ?
[/quote]

I feel that you have been stalking me again !