Originally Posted by skingsland

Do you honestly think they'll care?

One of the funniest parts of this experience, is that he kept telling me that I needed to trust him and the dealership a lot more. As I kept (politely) asking questions to "trust but verify", he got increasingly upset and angry at me. But at the same time, he kept getting my name wrong (happened at least 4 times). So he'd say "well Chris, if you can't learn to trust us I don't think we're going to be able to do business." Me: "my name's not Chris."

Originally Posted by LeslieRC

I never heard of an experience like yours. I've purchased 5 Lexus vehicles from the same dealership and, while the negotiation experience was sometimes "involved", I never once had cause to question the competence or behavior of the salesman. Based on what you've written about your experience I would say that a "bait and switch" tactic is being used. In other words, the salesman wanted to "lock" you into a special order and so he misquoted you the price. You have the salesman's name on a "piece of paper" that states the price you were quoted. Is that a contract? Maybe; maybe not. Maybe it's just an "offer", but not an "acceptance". It has always been my experience in buying cars that the price I negotiate with the salesman had to be ratified by a manager at the dealership. In this connection, be prepared for the dealership to raise such a claim in your case, or retort that the salesman lacked the requisite authority to agree to that price. You have some leverage that you could use if such an event were to occur though. You can say that you "detrimentally relied" on the salesman's assertion of price to the extent that you gave this dealership a deposit, as opposed to going to another dealer. In this connection, you also should state that the fact you had the salesman write-down and sign his name to the price he quoted was because you found it so incredulous, and that you gave the salesman every opportunity to correct his assertion. My advice would be to "have some fun" with these folks, since you're already prepared for the worse-case scenario. Also, pray that the salesman has been fired by the time your car arrives.

Originally Posted by skingsland

Well, what if I got a copy of the purchase order when I gave him my deposit check, and had the general sales manager sign it? Do you think that would be enough to hold them to the price?

Originally Posted by skingsland

Well, what if I got a copy of the purchase order when I gave him my deposit check, and had the general sales manager sign it? Do you think that would be enough to hold them to the price?

Originally Posted by skingsland

Here are some of the things he told me, which I suspect are false:

1) That the preferred accessory package is put on ALL IS 350s by the factory, and even if you special order you can't have it removed. (Isn't this just cargo net, wheel locks and a trunk mat?)

2) That ALL Lexus dealers in the country will only take a check for a special order deposit, not a credit card. This directly conflicts with what 2 other dealers have told me.

3) That Lexus is DECREASING production of IS 250s and 350s. When I told him I had heard just the opposite -- that Lexus was increasing production to match the demand -- he said where did you hear that, an internet chat room or a msg board? "Who are you gonna believe, my Lexus Rep or some person on the Internet?" (exact quote)

He used this last piece to claim that pricing will probably never come down from MSRP for IS 350s. I said another dealer had offered me $1000 off a special order already. He came back and said: "I just talked to the sales manager, and he told me that that other dealer is going to order your car, then not tell you when it comes in and try to sell it for MSRP. If they do, they'll order you another one, and you'll keep waiting until they can't sell it anymore, then they'll call you and tell you it's in." I said in my best fake sincerity voice "wow, I can't believe a LEXUS dealer would do such a thing!" Him: "Yup, but THIS dealership would never DREAM of doing that to a customer."

Oh, and I almost forgot the best one!!

4) No bank, dealership or financial organization will give someone a loan for a car more than 6 years old; and most won't offer financing on a car exactly 6 years old (my trade-in is a 2000 model year). I would be shocked if this was the case.

Originally Posted by skingsland

Did he have any of this stuff correct? I just called my credit union, and they'll finance anything 7 years old or less.

Originally Posted by lexusls430

Id say go for it but make sure your deposit is refundable incase you get the wrong car.

Originally Posted by skingsland

Did he have any of this stuff correct?

Originally Posted by jlin101

Although the preferred accessory package is technically optional, most, if not all, of the vehicles are equipped with it (it's such a small sum compared to the total cost of the vehicle anyway, compared to 500-1000 dollar for cosmetic items like gold emblems or pinstripes. Don't lose sleep over this one). The rest of the stuff he told you is mostly BS; however, if you can hold him to that price with a contract, I would still go through with the deal. You can always go to another dealership for service if you're not happy with this one.

Originally Posted by skingsland

Do you honestly think they'll care?

One of the funniest parts of this experience, is that he kept telling me that I needed to trust him and the dealership a lot more. As I kept (politely) asking questions to "trust but verify", he got increasingly upset and angry at me. But at the same time, he kept getting my name wrong (happened at least 4 times). So he'd say "well Chris, if you can't learn to trust us I don't think we're going to be able to do business." Me: "my name's not Chris."

Originally Posted by skingsland

OK, but if I'm special ordering that means I can specify exactly what's on the car when it's built, correct? He said I had to have it on there because he wouldn't be there at the manufacturing line to remove it himself (cause it goes on ALL Lexus IS's according to him), though he'd "try to get it removed" if possible. I care far more about being lied to than the $200 cost of the package.