tracerit

After calculating my taxes, I realized that my future $25/hr job will turn out to be $17/hr So I'm going to hold off on a new car. I was considering a BMW 330i, IS350, TSX, TL, and A4 2.0T but now I'm going to wait until christmas 2008 and just get a used IS350 to last me for more than five years. Damn 30% taxes!!!

I was wondering what the depreciation rate is usually for the IS? Just trying to get a feel for what to expect a few years later.

cliffud

iTrader: (3)

get the first generation IS. the depreciation has already hit it since the 2nd gen has come out.

if you're really looking at depreciation values, i don't think the new IS will depreciate that much since it packs so much value into the price and the interior wins over the BMW 3 series - hands down. not to mention, quality, lower cost of ownership than the bmw or audi. With the TL and TSX, you're still driving a honda. I'd drive a Toyota before I'd drive a Honda.

tqlla3k

iTrader: (1)

You will make about 52K/year. which is approx 2500/mo after taxes+benefits.

TurkEclisp

your gonna want something else by then :P

tracerit

I love the body of the first gen IS, but the interior looks too cheap and shiny for my taste. And I plan on getting a car that I can hold onto for +five years and the first gen would be way too old by then. I currently drive an 04 Accord, and it has served me well after 20k miles. I don't mind keeping the Accord until I actually can afford an IS350 however long that may be.

You're right about the 2500/month i forgot to take into account my benefits. For three months I was calculating how I would budget my 52k/year salary thinking tax was ONLY 10% LOL. Got a real shocker when I used paycheckcity.com's paycheck calculator

gsrthomas

iTrader: (1)

If you cannot afford the IS350 than get an IS250. That is what i'm doing. You can get a IS250 manual for around $28500 here in cali. Ive seen two people that paid in the $28k range.

tqlla3k

iTrader: (1)

X-mas 08? Wow thats a long time. I think waiting is a good idea.... but thats a pretty long time. At minimum you should be able to save some $$$ on options.

TimboIS

Lexus dealers always tell you that Lexus don't depreciate as fast as other vehicles. That is, until you try to sell it. You're looking at 50% depreciation after 3 years.

paeko73

I saw a used 06 IS 250 (2000 miles) advertised for sale in the newspaper yesterday for $35,995. That's almost like buying it brand new at the dealership. Something was wrong with that seller's mind.. or the IS depreciates very very tiny little!!!!

tqlla3k

iTrader: (1)

I wonder about this. WHen I was looking for an 01 IS last year(may).... people were asking 18-22K. I was shocked. That means the 01 only depreciated 9-13K... or 29-42% over 4 years. Not terrible.... esp considering a new model was coming out.

Thus I ended up with an IS350. I was expecting the old IS to be like 10-15K.

By X-mas next year, i would expect a loaded car to be 2-4K more than a base, whereas right now, they cost like $9K more.

mkaresh

As others have said, the IS will likely hold its value very well. The old one certainly has. I was shocked by how much a friend of mine paid not long ago for a 2002.

Another thing to consider, given how much of your income you'd be shelling out on wheels, is the cost of insurance. You never get that money back.

tragic22

Here's what I'm wondering. I'm going to probably wait till the end of this year to try and get a used 06 IS 250 with navigation. So far I've looked around on autotrader and cars.com and sites like that and I've seen a used 250 with navi for as low as $35900. I'm hoping that buy November - December I'll see some for around 32k. Does that sound reasonable?

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

That's possible. That car (250 auto tranny with premium, nav, and 18" will be typical) is about $36k new (invoice is $32k). To get a year old used one for $32k with not-so-bad mileage is actually a pretty reasonable price.