Traffic

So's I was jammed up in traffic yesterday, and a stubby chunky car inched by that similar in size to mothers Saturn Vue.

This had a NZ 300h on the hatch with a Lexus logo.

Anyways I looked it up and it appears to be a bonafide gas/electric AWD 30-35 mpg city car.

She insists being driven around in her car with 26-28 ingress/egress seat height as sedans are too low and pickups are too high. Her car is older but great shape I just did the 100k mi valve belt replacement. it goes about 20 mpg and a replacement should do about 30 in town.

This Lexus model seems to be new out for year so few comments.

Anyone have experience with the power train - is it the same as the Prius where wheelspin pulls all power off the wheels - a negative in MN ice & snow...

Well FWIW..... the reviews aren't very favorable about it

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...review&usg=AFQjCNFm_9iMXhEhmxxFAnfMeTXzvBbDJQ


" the NX300h is more about buffing up your carbon-footprint-related cocktail-party conversation than it is about making any real sacrifices. Lexus expects that less than 10 percent of NX customers will choose the hybrid. The other 90-plus percent will get both a better deal and a better crossover."

I have been seriously looking at the BMW X3 diesel for grandmas car. 30 mpg chugging around town.

Lots of different people will be hauling grandma around or running her errands and I just know one of them will ignore the diesel signs and pour in gas. Then I get the call grandmas car wont start...

The NX has a hatch floor length of 36" w/seats up which easily fits a folded wheel chair. Surprisingly the front seats are uber comfy. Dunno yet on the wheelspin PCM action so gonna wait for some snow. The dealer has a CPO with 7k mi and about a $6k discount might work if the color is acceptable.

See that Toyota is advertising a hybrid RAV on TV & I imagine the powertrain is the same so may get some commentary about slippery roads.

Well sounds like the electric rear axle operates exactly like a Prius and sits idle when the FWD is spinning.

Both axles must move in order for the AWD to engage.

http://www.rav4world.com/forums/109-4-4-electric-rav4-hybrid-ev/213186-awd-sure.html

$50K + for restrictive AWD is something to stop and consider. I figured something was up as there are no AWD demos on youtube and the dealer was dancing around the explanation.

The 2L gasser AWD does not seem to be limited but mpg is no better than current vehicle.