gabstok

Hey everyone,

I'm new to CL but have been on different forums for many years, mostly shooting, preparedness, motorcycles and such. It looks like there is a lot of knowledge here. I've already found a lot of good info.

I have never owned a Lexus but their track record is excellent. I'm big into Consumer Reports and they always do well.

I'm looking at buying a CPO 2011 GS 350 (26K miles, $33K listed) from the local Lexus dealer and I have some questions on the best way to play my hand. For the time being, I'm convinced that I want to buy this car but am always open to suggestions from experienced buyers/owners/sellers.

Thanks up front for any info you can offer.

1) OPTIONS- For the 2011 GS 350, what are some of the primary options or packages that would set this apart from other GS's from the same model year? There's such a long list of options, it's hard to recognize something significant that might not be included. I'm guessing that the 2011 is the last model year of the Third GS generation so it's hard to compare to current publications.

2) PRICE- From what I could see from other CPO 2011 GS 350s for sale, $33K is near the low end of the spectrum. Thoughts on dealing down that price?

3) CPO WARRANTY/ EXTENDED WARRANTY- I do feel an extended CPO warranty (3yrs extended to 5yrs) is a good idea. I can afford the extra money and hate to spend money on cars outside of the payment/insurance/gas/routine maintenance. What is the difference between an extended CPO warranty vs. an extended Platinum/ Gold VSA? Will I be given the option to purchase either at time of sale?

4) DEAL ADD-ONS- I read about working new tires, new brake pads and 35K miles service into the deal. Are there any other suggestions on how to get the most from this purchase?

5) CASH vs FINANCING- I can afford to pay cash outright for the car but some have mentioned that if you disclose this information too early, it could cause the dealer to be less flexible on the negotiation of the price. Another option is the Lexus financing offers, some look as low as 0.0%. My credit is solid so I'm sure I'll qualify of anything that is available. Or I could get a loan from USAA and pay it off after a couple of months. I'm not really sure of my best Course of Action on this aspect.

That's all that is going through my head right now. I'm sure I'll think of something else right after I post this. I'm planning on going in to the dealership on Monday as I don't want this car to be sold before I get there.

Thanks again, I appreciate your help.


gabstok