Author Topic: Ditched my gas guzzler  (Read 3238 times)

Rcc

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Ditched my gas guzzler
« on: October 04, 2012, 07:51:38 AM »
Before starting the ERE / FI / MMM path - my prior car was a Lexus LS430. Loved the ride, the comfort. Hated the gas bill.

For a while - I just accepted that was "the cost of a nice car ". After starting the FI journey, over the last year or so - I eliminated lots of other expense and waste areas, and finally was ready to go after car expenses.

Test drove a prius ( not a fan ), held off for a while, then became aware of the Lexus hybrid : Ct200H. Having been a Scion Xa owner, the space considerations were not an issue. 90% of my use for a car involves driving in a 20 square mile area ( too dangerous to bike ) with just rcamp Jr and I.

After a test drive or two - I then tested the used market... bingo ! Found a model with the amenities I preferred.

So, yesterday - I took the LS430 over to the lot, test drove ( again ) the CT200h and liked it. After the trade in - paid the difference in cash - and am now driving a vehicle that gets 43mpg city, 40 highway. The last owner only kept it for 8k miles, and took care of that depreciation for me ! I picked up last years model, for ( doing a quick # check in my head ) a little over 30% off the new sticker price.

So smiling after that - I also smiled as I read in detail the maintenance manual... for the next 98k miles .. my maintenance is oil, rotate tires, inspect the obvious - and check fluid levels. FAR less than the LS430 called for.

The wife, as she did with the Scion - mentioned "thats an awfully small trunk" - to which I just smiled. When we had the Scion we made do just fine .. but just in case MMM has already shown the way for that - and maybe for Christmas I'll ponder bumper storage options.

Now back to pondering how fast to obliterate my mortgage :)

Kamikaze Emu

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Re: Ditched my gas guzzler
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2012, 07:57:12 AM »
Nice work and well done.  I was not aware Lexus had a hybrid but it makes sense given the Toyota connection.

Hope it treats you really well.

Rcc

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Re: Ditched my gas guzzler
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2012, 08:19:10 AM »
Thanks !  I look forward to putting 125k miles on this, or more. I wish I had heard of Fuelly ( gas, mpg tracking ) when I bought the LS, as it would be fun to show the fuel savings direct as I get data on the CT.

Kamikaze Emu

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Re: Ditched my gas guzzler
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2012, 09:34:47 AM »
I just checked the fuelly numbers on the CT200h and you cannot argue with that.  It nets out to about 2/3 of what my civic uses so I am a bit jealous. 

I'm aiming for another 5+ years out of my civic which I should easily get and hope by that time all electric vehicles have progressed nicely.  At the least I'll go the hybrid route as you have here. 

Thanks for the eye opener.

Rcc

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Re: Ditched my gas guzzler
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2012, 12:21:02 PM »
MWAHAHAHA!

Just back from my first fill up on the car.

Fuelly says : 46MPG

IIRC : 8.9 gallons to fill up, $32 spent, 417 miles since last fill up

Quite happy with my starting numbers

My stats arent on the website yet, but will post a link when they are.

flyfamily

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Re: Ditched my gas guzzler
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2012, 02:14:35 PM »
That is awesome!

We sold our Excursion several years ago. Biggest (literally) mistake ever.
Husband has a motorcycle, in it's place, as he travels quite a bit. We paid cash.
Averages 50+ mpg. A car would have been better in many ways for him. However, he's 2 years into it and going well. That was his choice ultimately (car vs. motorcycle).  ;)

mm1970

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Re: Ditched my gas guzzler
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2012, 06:28:22 PM »
Very nice!  That's way better mileage than my Civic.  I didn't realize that automatic Civics suck when I bought it.

My boss and one of my engineers both have that Lexus.  The boss was driving 800 miles to visit family 2x a month, with a big Lexus SUV.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!