and for any type of German car an extended warranty is essential
Well the point I was trying to make was that with other marques, like German as you suggest, they are still an internal combustion engine. You can find any number of specialists or mechanics to work on them and a manufacturers extended warranty isn't essential. However, with Lexus backing the relatively new and young technology of hybrid (with its complex internals and engineering) you don't have the luxury of finding any number of independent garages that specialise in fixing them if they (more aptly he hybrid part) go wrong. Hence leaving you to go back to a Lexus main dealer...and without the Lexus extended warranty, it's a wallet emptying experience. So, I say again, those folks owning and running hybrids should give very careful consideration to insulating themselves from expensive repair bills. And the Lexus extended warranty becomes essential (IMHO).