The recent burst of the petrol prices upwards on charts around the world is gaining heat on the individuals and organisations. To cope with these prices, people are scrambling to save on car petrol, which makes up a significant part of their increasingly expensive carbon footprint.
a Lexus IS-F, a green racing car?..
So, how to we alleviate this “pinch” and still be able to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle?
Infiniti M35
Forbes brings you the a list of the Top 10 Guilt Free Cars.
Believe it or not, people who drive luxury cars have feelings too. And many of them are just as unhappy with the high gas prices as everyone else.
Jaguar XF
“They don’t want to be seen as avaricious, ostentatious and self-centered,” says Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, a research group that focuses on the spending habits and trends of the wealthy. “Eighty-five percent of people worth $5 million or more are self-made [millionaires], and they are very frugal; that’s how they got where they are. They are very empathetic to the effects of energy prices on everyday people.”
Lexus LS 460
To find the most guilt-free luxury cars, we first looked at vehicles priced $40,000 to $90,000 and used Kelly Blue Book to measure each vehicle’s projected worth at the end of a three-year lease or purchase. A residual value of 50% to 55% for a three-year period is strong, says Eric Ibara, director of market valuation at Kelly Blue Book, but the number varies by segment. We then used Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mpg estimates to narrow down the list.
Mercedes Benz GL class
Two of the vehicles making the list are a clean diesel-powered sedan–the Mercedes-Benz E 320 Blue Tec–and a hybrid SUV–the Lexus RX 400.
Lexus RX400 hybrid
The E 320 gets 26 mpg on a 3.9-liter V6 diesel engine. Although diesel currently averages $4.79 a gallon nationwide, today’s diesels burn cleaner and, overall, are more fuel efficient than comparable gas-powered vehicles. The E320, which starts at $52,675 and comes with a multiple-airbag safety system, roll-over sensor and night security illumination, has a high residual value of 51%. That means lower lease payments and that purchasers can expect the vehicle to retain at least half of its value after the first three years of ownership.
Mercedes Benz M class
The Lexus RX 400 hybrid SUV gets an EPA-combined 25 mpg and is equipped with a 3.3-liter V6 engine that alternates between premium gasoline ($4.48 nationwide average per gallon) and an electric battery. Like the Mercedes E 320, the RX 400 has a high residual value of 54%.
Mercedes Benz E320 bluetec
Rounding out the top five are the Mercedes-Benz GL Class (55% residual value and 18 mpg), the Jaguar XF (52%, 19 mpg) and the Lexus IS F, the only car on the list that is not powered with a more efficient V6 engine. The IS F is equipped with a V8 that gets 18 mpg, but the car has the highest residual value on the list at 59%. Buyers who want the high-performance of a V8 will sacrifice fuel economy, but the car does hold its value, meaning a better payoff down the line when it comes time to upgrade yet again.
Audi A6
Also making the list are the Lexus LS 460 (50%, 19 mpg); Infiniti M35 (48%, 19 mpg); BMW 5 Series (47%, 21 mpg), Audi A6 (47%, 20 mpg) and Mercedes-Benz M Class (47%, 21 mpg).
BMW 5 series
[from Forbes.com]
