JKashat

iTrader: (1)

I'm trading in my '06 GS 430 (Blk/Blk, loaded except Radar Cruise) towards a 2007 LS460L (Blk/Blk, loaded except Pre-Collision & Radar Cruise) and was curious as to what the dealer would offer me on the trade so I went to KBB.com and I am VERY dissappointed. I know KBB can only give an idea but they estimated my trade-in value at $33K-$41K?!? What gives, I thought that Lexus was supposed to have great resale value? Any thoughts?

IS350jet

Lexus DOES have great resale value. However, it usually means long term resale value. You are trading an almost new car. ALL cars take the biggest hit in the first year of ownership. If you were to wait 5 years you would see that your GS would be holding its value very well.

LexFather

Just look at Autotrader, GS 430 resale is very high, I have only seen one below $40,000 since its debut and it had $59,000 miles (Funny it was in Atlanta)

jjbodean

the gs430 value is crushed right now cause they arent making it anymore until the gs460 comes out, and the gs350 has more horsepower. the gs430 never has had great resale value as compared to the gs3 models. we just dont sell nearly as many.

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

I would probably wait another year or try to sell it out right.. The dealer will probably low ball you but then again they should have incentives since your trading for another Lexus... GL

TF

jjbodean

actually, lexus used to have owner loyalty cash rewards but phased them out several years ago starting with the 2001 ls430

chumsdad

I was astonished to see how few GS 430s and 450s have been sold (see below). They are by far the slowest selling Lexus car models at this point and note the 34% year over year decline. That does not look good for a car that just came out less than 2 years ago. That raises a question-if gas prices jump back up again, will they really make the GS 460?

My salesman suggested the 450h is the car for me and I said no thanks. Resale is definitley one concern but more than that, I like watching the engine zing to redline in each gear. The GS 350 AWD looks like the one I will buy. I'm betting a year from now the GS 350 one year sales will be well ahead of the 2006 300's.

TOYOTA RETAIL SALES
(INCLUDES FLEET & HAWAII)
November, 2006

---- CURRENT MONTH ---- -- CALENDAR YEAR TO DATE --
DSR % DSR %
2006 2005 CHG 2006 2005 CHG

ES 350 6,678 4,637 44.0 67,251 60,807 10.6

LS 430/460 3,613 1,670 116.3 15,681 23,723 -33.9

SC 430 406 628 -35.4 5,361 7,533 -28.8

GS 300 1,664 2,223 -25.1 21,676 24,834 -12.7

GS 430/450h 196 396 -50.5 3,426 5,192 -34.0

IS 250/350 3,599 4,447 -19.1 48,729 11,271 332.3
TOTAL LEXUS PASS.
CAR 16,156 14,001 15.4 162,124 133,360 21.6

LexFather

1. The Lexus GS 460 is confirmed from Lexus.
2. GS 450h production is super limited, 5,000 units worldwide and only 2,000 for the USA, meaning Lexus is MEETING its expectations.
3. GS 430 production is all but ended, much like LS 430 production. Lexus (and every car maker) simply ramps down production as they ramp up for the newer model. Ignorant companies would continue to build GS 430 cars, then have the GS 460 on the lot, and then have huge GS 430 inventory they cannot sell.

Hope this helps!

Actually the opposite. GS 430 will go down when the GS 460 is out, being it will be an older engine model. As I have stated it has held well.

jjbodean

i respectfully disagree

its down now

chumsdad

I am aware that they are selling all the 450's that are being made- my dealer in Rockville, MD outside DC sells 1 or 2 a month. Something that limited concerns me from a resale value perspective, a concern I certainly do not have with our RX, which sells 100k plus units a year.

When the new GS was previewed in 2005, I wanted a 430 bad. Then when they came out I was less impressed- the 430 cost too much and had an “old” engine, while the 300 was too slow. Then, this fall I first saw that ad showing the GS 350s racing out of New York City and they said something about 303 hp, to which I did a double-take. Now that I have driven the 350, which sells better, has a lower price and rips right along, I want it even more. Hopefully by March one will be in the garage.

dchen2

Its tempting for me to pick up a used 06 GS430 now though. I have a 01 430, just got a oil change last night and test drove a really nice metallic gray/black pre-certified 06 430 the dealership had available. has a tad high miles at 33k but but the asking price on the car (which was fully loaded with the ML/nav) was only 42.1k (I am sure I can get it down even more) and thats with the Lexus certified 100k warranty!

Test drove a GS350 also, very peppy engine, just lacking that V8 torque and even mildly stripped (the one I drove only had the prem package, no nav or ML) costs 48k msrp. Decisions decisions!

And since I am buying used, the 06 will have taken the worst of the depreciation hit as well, meaning I could potentially trade it in on a GS460 without getting killed.

twister

@dchen2: if you are planning to buy GS460, why not wait until its out? You will loose more money overall by buying that used '06 GS430 and than trading it in for GS460 in less than half-a-year. This works really good with software when you buy soon to be upgraded program version at a close-out price and than pay a small fee for the upgrade If you take into account farther depreciation, extra fees and registration, taxes you will have to pay twice - I don't think it will be such a great deal at the end. Plus, you will inherit some of the early '06 built problems. Don't forget, you are not getting 100k warranty, but rather 60k remaining in your case.

Another plus toward GS350 with Premium package, its what I have (no Nav/ML). I can't reference to you the price I paid since my dealer did me a favor after buyback of defective ES350, but I'm sure you can get that 48k msrp to drop easily by $5k. ML audio would be great for DVDs, other than that a stock premium audio system is pretty good. NAV is up to your own preference if you have a need for it, or can live with $500 portable NAV which is easier to upgrade and to plan your route at home when its hooked up to your computer As you have seen, stock audio system already comes with 7" touch screen with all the controls. Everybody who seen inside of my car tells me "cool, you got Nav" Of course, if you need every single bell'n'whistle in your car and willing to pay for it, than you will have to buy a fully loaded machine.

Hopefully, some of these bits of info will help you with your decision!!!

Gojirra99

According to dealer who had attended product meeting, the GS460 won't be out until late September next year . . .

hsk73

Well.... BMW dealer offered me $35,000 for my 06 GS300... So, you should be able to get alot higher then mine.
I was going to traded for 530... But, I've decided to wait year or two.... since I'll be loosing around $5,000....

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

First off, 33-41 is a huge range.

Second, you're talking trade-in value, which is very different from what someone can BUY a used one for. Lexus wants to make money, especially on yours which would become a CPO car so you're probably losing 4k or more right there.

You would be better off selling privately, even with the difference in tax for the new car.

Trade-ins are basically good if you don't want the hassle of selling privately, but you pay a BUNCH (thousands) for that convenience unless the dealer has some kind of other incentive behind the scenes where they can make you feel happy with the trade-in, but it's really a shell game. hsk mentioned a good GS300 trade offer by BMW but BMW has loads of dealer incentives which they could be applying to make the deal seem sweeter.