NoDak

from what i have learned, all minor issues can be handled by the toyota dealer. major issues that only lexus can resolve under warranty or hehe, plat ext warranty will be an issue for lexus to come get and fix and bring back from what i can tell.

unless i am wrong and someone can tell me otherwise

if i can buy a lexus plat ext warranty from a toyota dealer, i cant see why a toyota dealer cant fix any issues.

in the end i decided based on many factors.

mpg : 19-26 vs 16-23 and this being my daily driver, and driving 40 miles per day x 5 days a week.

gas cost : since 91 octane gas is a big premium here, from 40-60 cents above 89 octane w/ 10% ethanol, i have to watch the gas. in my legacy i was using 89 all the time but it gets the same 19-26 as the GS350 awd.

size : i like the roominess of the LS460, but in reality, 90% of the time its just me. when we go out we have to take the tacoma (warden's directive) so the extra roominess is a non factor.

age of car : granted the age really doesnt matter on residual value, but its perception of getting a 2010 car (which i already have a 2010 car) or a 2013 car

color : the red LS is nice but the DSM color matches the warden's truck and i just fell in love with that color when i first saw it

forum member pics GS350 vs LS460 : this is what pushed me into the GS, the mods looks and overall wow factor compared to the LS did it for me.

currently in negotiation with the salesperson via email with pickup date of the 28-sep-13 if things turn into a mutual agreement.

NoDak

well the back and forth has started. been going at it via email for about 4 hrs.

started at $450 a month (which i knew they couldnt match)

3.9% @ 72 months @ 5% tax (mind you i pay off 1-3 yrs early normally)

car is at 44,497 with a trade in of 14.5k

edmunds, nada, kbb show low side of 16k for clean trade in, high is 16.8, dealer clean retail at 19k

they offer 497 month, i balked, countered with 470 firm.

decent deal ?

now that i know what a 2014 4runner LE base is going for (41480) i have a viable fallback that the warden is happy with if this goes south which i have a feeling it will.

the good point of long distance dealing, not emotionally attached to a vehicle i cant see in front of me and i have instant online resources to filter out the bs.

forgot to add :

2013 4gs awd, deep sea mica, 15,542 miles, luxury package with cold weather package, premium package, bsm from what i can tell.

NoDak

well i guess that deal is over with. they are not budging on the trade in value of 14,500 from black book. but then again i dont blame them since it stacks in favor of them compared to the other 3 at 16,000.

i guess my short live time here is over actively, back to lurking in the shadows until next time.

off to research on a 2014 4Runner Limted.


and to everyone that commented and gave insight, i greatly appreciate your time and knowledge in pursuit of my first lexus.

NoDak

Trek

Personally, I always go new. Economy or Luxury, I never buy used. Sorry, "certified pre-owned." And I always prefer the ride that excites me--the "driver's car"--and I'm old. Go for the 2013 GS.

NoDak

well looks like the deal is back on. apparently the couple that had an appointment to drive it today backed out or whatever.

they called and offered me a new deal and now it gets weird.

has anyone heard of a dealer dropping the CPO to lower the price of the car? now granted I will be getting a lexus ext plat warranty but it just seems odd. is there any benefit of keeping the CPO and getting the ext plat warranty or should I take the discount of them dropping the cpo and still get the ext plat warranty?

any input would be greatly appreciated.

forgot to add: I had pretty much given up on this deal and also told them to the same effect on Friday. funny I guess, it seems they are getting desperate to offload this car since they are getting close to the 60 day window. the dealer told me they are selling it now for what the own it for to me since I have been the most interested person on this vehicle for so long. but I've been holding out for a deal that works for me. now I may have to go cancel my order on the 2014 LE 4runner I put in on Friday if this final hail mary works out for them.

have to see

SW17LS

Don't negotiate based on the payments. Negotiate the price down as low as you can and the trade up as high as you can, with the interest rate as low as you can (get approval from a credit union or something too) and the payment will come...

Dropping CPO will lower the cost of the car, it costs them I think $1,200 or so to certify it. With the dealer so far away, I'd go for it. Toyota cannot do warranty repair, even under the CPO or extended warranty...so a trip to Lexus will have to be in the cards to have any warranty work done.

NoDak

ok thanks for the info, especially the warranty work. being 550 miles away will be a big issue then for me.

that will pretty much seal the deal as far as NOT getting the vehicle no matter how good the deal is then.

I just don't have the resources to spend up to 2-3 days just to get warranty work done since its a 8-9 hour drive one way.

SW17LS

The good news is, it shouldn't need much warranty work...