One thing that scared me off from the SC430 was that it had a V8 engine and relatively low gas mileage. I realized that I was going to have to get a more, gulp, economical car to make a second car payment a bit more palatable.
Over the previous 16 months, I had invested about $5600 in the 1999 ES300 and the mechanic told me that if I wanted to make it to 200,000 miles, it needed another $4000 invested in it. I could not go forward to my dream car but could not keep throwing money at the old car either.
Bonnie really liked her Hybrid Highlander and was getting about 27 miles per gallon on average. This was an improvement over the 21-22 miles per gallon the ES300 was getting. So, back to my Lexus dealer to see what pre-owned hybrids they had in stock now.
It was so disheartening. None of the affordable cars held any interest for me. I was rapidly closing in on a Toyota Prius, due to the 45 miles per gallon they were reputed to get, but I did not want that car. I thought it looked frumpy, and I have an image to maintain… (or create!)
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