Hi Paul
Going Oriental? well the Prius was the first, purchased a very beat up body wise Prius series 2 1.5 ltr) in 2012. Although had some minor disappointment in standard equipment, principally lack of heated wing mirrors and minimal instrumentation it was, once I had got used to driving it nice and relaxing to drive. The reason for purchase was simply that the C5 consumed a lot of fuel circa 29 mpg on the relatively short (12 mile) urban daily drive. The Prius returned 55 with no problem, had a better sound system less engine noise just a better drive for going and coming to work and only £10 per year tax.
On a longer run involving Motorway the difference was not so marked the C5 would return low 40's would cruise in the low 70's with no apparent stress . The Prius on the other hand would return 45 and while the Prius will cruise into the low 70's it feels slightly more stressed, the carrying capacity is less as well and of course with a load of bricks in the back the lights do tend to point skywards
Come 2015 and the C5 had a few problems, the FAP was coking up and there was a problem with the additive ECU and it was going to cost time and money so I started to look for a replacement. What I needed was a bigger Prius, enter a Lexus RX400H, this was a bit of a mistake should have found another four grand and purchased a 450H. The Lexus is big and comfortable, however fuel consumption on the Motorway is less than the C5 and the carrying capacity is also less, however every time I have to accelerate it does bring a smile to my face (after I have got the torque steer under control
.
Both cars have been extremely reliable the only thing I have had to replace was a wheel bearing on the Prius carried out by the local Toyota dealer while I waited, for not a lot of money, well impressed, and the exhaust system on the Prius after some toerags stole the CAT.
Put oil in them when I remember and Petrol when needed tyres occasional and that's it. Oh and fitting parking sensors on the Lexus, the corners were getting scraped without me even feeling it
Ah! yes cambelt change on the Lexus ,one reason why I should have purchased the RX450). Over the last six years I have only had to pick up a spanner in anger once, in truth I can't remember where many of them are.
I have always felt that both cars would have been better with diesel engines, would have improved the Mway consumption markedly so looking for a Lexus replacement was thinking about an RX450 but then the Peugeot came across my horizon, this seems to tick most of the boxes but do want to know more about it before going that route in particular about the auto gearbox and the traction batteries, how much detailed tech info is there what rev level of diagnostic kit needed etc. Hence my questions.
Yes would be nice to come back here on a more regular basis I still lurk occasional but being where I am have little to contribute, would that there was a site like this for Toyota / Lexus but I suspect that given the reliability particularly of the Hybrids it might be a little lacking in content, maybe that's why nobody here knows anything about the 508 hybrid
cachaciero
