Playdrv4me

Keep in mind that "invoice" is not what the dealer paid for the car... Dealers are notorious for making you think this. What is more correct to say, is that you could give them 3-5 percent over what THEY paid for the car (there is a formula for it) and they could still keep the lights on... Lexuses are usually however a little tougher to deal on. It looks from the below, that the price being quoted here arent half bad.

Heh... Man this is GREAT, of all things to illustrate my point with, he just bought an GX470...
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/lexus-gx470-suv.htm

bunka

Nice article but it outlines some of the basic comments I pointed out. The writer says he "got a good deal" at ~$5400 off retail on his 04GX. But one of the things I noticed reading the article is that he INCLUDED the cost of the 3rd row seat in his MSRP. Therefore, he REALLY got around $3,400 off MSRP. Since it was pretty much included in the list price the MONTH after he bought his. Using this same logic I could claim that I got $7,400 off MSRP. Cost is all persepecitve and everyone's is different.

DSW

bunka:, Can you please elaborate more on your statement about the third row seat being included in the list price? From all what I have gathered from KBB and Edmunds, it appears that the third row seat is still "optional".

Thanks

bunka

That's the tricky part. The third seat was originally listed as an option. About 50% of the way through 2004, the COST was removed from the window stickers and was listed as N/C. This essentially meant that Lexus had changed the way it accounted for (or didn't account for) the value of that rear seat. So, essentially for the later part of the year the rear seat had ZERO cost to include and ZERO value once included. In short, the "option" became a "feature" built into the base of the car. This was kind of a marketing blunder on Lexus's part IMHO. If they were going to "claim" that the rear seat had a cost, they SHOULD HAVE continued to include it in the price of the vehicle and then represented the cost savings as a reduction to that original price (Accounting 101). The end result of ZERO change but at least the TRUE value of the "Option" would still have been properly reflected in the calculations. Of course, accountants and salespeople hardly ever walk on the same planet so it's pretty likely that no one from accounting ever realized that no one in marketing had addressed this issue (and visa-versa). The bottom line is that 3rd row had no additional cost to many of us (and also no value although SOMEHOW it now appears to once again have a value if they are once again charging for it). If Lexus has once again started to charge (rather than throwing it in for free) for the 3rd row option (term used lightly here), then maybe all of us 04 owners should start to reference our discounts off of a value that includes the 3rd row "option". In which case,, it would appear that I got an actual discount of $7,114.00 on my purchase instead of the actual $5,034.00 discount that appeared on my official paperwork. Hmmm, I think this means that I now need to call back up my salesperson and see when Lexus is going to send me the check for the $2,080.00 balance they originally ommitted off my contract.... In the end, I paid $46,409.00 for my 04GX equiped truck: Base Price ($45,375), 3rd row (No Cost), RSES ($1,560), NAVI ($3050), Towing prep ($50), wheel locks($81), Cargo Net ($59), Rear Spoiler ($551), Cargo Mat ($92), Destination ($625) which totals up to $51,443 without the cost of the 3rd row or $53,523 with it (guy in the article quoted above got a $3,500 discount and I got a $7,114 discount if we use the same math/equipment, etc). I think that in the future, I will simply claim the $7,114 discount and when they wonder how it could be so large I'll explain that it's an accounting error on Lexus's part and point them to this thread for the details. This is all getting a little too much. I think I need to go....

nyc11370

2005 Silver & Ivory GX470 with:
NAV
3rd Row
Hitch Bracket
Spoiler
Preferred Accessory Package
Destination
MSRP: $52788
4-5% ARP
Negotiated to $47350 before tax, is this good deal?

<VENOM>

In NY hell yeah, what dealer is that

LexusBob

Just purchased new 2005 Blizzard Pearl GX!
Paid $47,700 for it on Long Island.
Vehicle has:
3rd row seat w/AC
Nav/Mark Levinson
Spoiler
Hitch, mats, etc.

The only thing it doesn't have is DVD RES. I have 2 kids and figure that I can just buy a portable DVD (we don't take many long drives).

I feel pretty good about the price paid. Any thoughts?

BTW, dealer threw in window tinting.

<VENOM>

Is the tint pre-cut for the GX, if not pass

LexusBob

I'm assuming (uh oh) that it is. It is installed at dealer and warranted by Lexus for life of vehicle, as per salesman.

It was the only extra. I passed on pinstriping and gold package.

bunka

Not bad for a 2005. The equvilant 2004 was about $2,500 less around the end of the year. The same pattern will probably apply for the 05's as well but if you want one now rather than in October, you have to pay the price.

nyc11370

Finally picked up my 2005 Silver & Ivory GX470 today with
NAV, 3rd Row, Hitch Bracket, Spoiler, Preferred Accessory Package, Destination
MSRP: $52788
Traded in my Mercedes 99 CLK430 very well - I got almost full Manheim dealer auction price

$47350 before tax with 4% ARP

I am glad I waited 2 month. The dealers wanted close to MSRP in december because people rush to buy it for tax write off.

End for February is the best time to buy car since the businss is slower - cold weather plus people just spent a lot of money during Christmas/New Year and pay tax.

Starting late March and April people will receive tax refund and many of them will go out buy cars so the deal will not be as good compare to February due to higher demand.