AdvanSLF

A while back, I was browsing through the net and came across a spec sheet for a 2014 IS350 F-Sport. For whatever reason which I can't recall at the moment, I saved the damn thing. Fast forward a few months...now, I'm currently negotiating prices and best offers from multiple dealerships on a new 3IS. One dealer after another, I see their spec sheet lists the F-Sport package @ MSRP as $3,620. Both Cars.com and Edmunds.com lists the F-Sport package @ MSRP as $3,620 as well ($3,330 @ invoice pricing).. but..looking at the spec sheet that I saved from a few months back, the F-Sport was marked at $3,115 MSRP?

Whats up with that? Are people in Cali getting discounted pricing over other states? THat $505 difference may seem marginal to some, but hey, that's something I could use for gas or insurance. So did Lexus bump up their F-Sport package pricing over night and no one caught on? Are people on the east coast getting ripped off by Lexus? Or is this just a misprint on the spec sheet or possibly a hoax? You tell me.

crazych42

Doesn't mean there hasn't been, but the only price change I'm aware of is shipping. It went from $895 to $910.

moose66

See the attached link. It looks as if the pricing changes based on the model. So both prices you have seen are correct based on this.

http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases/...4+is+sedan.htm

doodlebug

Based on this link, the spec sheet looks like it's a misprint. The model listed is a 350, but the pricing is for a 250.

moose66

Good eye. In the end, it really shouldn't matter anyway. Those MSRP numbers should be just for reference. Buyers should be working deals off of the invoice price.

AdvanSLF

Guess you're right.. wish some dealer could misprint all the prices (for the lower) on my vehicle.

Very ture moose, but depending on the region and how early you plan to buy, that can be difficult. Three months ago people were still workign off of MSRP.. only now am I starting to see invoice and at the best, the dealers are only offering invoice and nothing below that that I've seen, heard, read.

Joe Z

iTrader: (10)

Yeup I took that photo.... Face glare on glass.. LMFAO

There were definitely Window Sticker misprints on the first arriving wave of MY14 IS's... to dealerships.

Those initial buyers got very lucky..

~ Joe Z

Slust

When people say "invoice price" what exactly are they referring to?

I've seen the typical invoice price and the internet sales invoice price at the same exact dealership ...general sales manager showed me. Neither of those are still probably not the true invoice price that we consumers think of it.

In addition I've seen a lot of insane deal claims made on this forum but when I check Truecar.com in their zip code the best deal it shows is $3k above their claim. For example if we take the car above with its option package, according to TrueCar.com the factory invoice price is supposedly $45,846. The unusually good deal in the LA area for that build is currently $43,939 (last week it was in the $44k range). Some people on this website claimed $40k, $41k and $42k while stating "$1700k below invoice" and the cars they mentioned had similar or more options. The absolute best deal on truecar.com for the LA area is saying 1 person reported $42.7k.

On flip side I've seen people report buying 250s in this price range! I think there is a disconnect on MSRP, invoice pricing and deals people are reporting. Simply saying invoice pricing really isn't clearing it up either especially when the dealership has shown me their internet pricing model.

I want to haggle with my dealership more but the lack of reliable information in addition to no bargaining power outside picking a different car company (I'm in a Lexus loaner as I have no car currently, there is only 1 dealership here, and I'm picking a rare build for this dealership) is making it really hard. I like haggling but right now the only clout I have is what people say on the internet. That's like going to war with a straw.

moose66

Your comments are very accurate. I didn't post my deal on this site for some of those exact reasons. I am somewhat of a bargainer, but when it comes to car buying my patience, or lack of, probably costs me a few grand. I used True Car to buy my vehicle. Did I get the best deal? Doubt it? Did I pay MSRP? Absolutely not. So to me, that is a deal.

I questioned a couple of those too good to be true deals a few weeks back. And I could taste the venom from the responses of those saying they were being completely honest. Who cares really. You as a buyer just need to make best use of all of your resources. The experts provide the best they can with the information they can get. The folks on this forum on the other hand, should be providing honest numbers based on real life experiences. But tread cautiously when trying to use those numbers. It could work in your favor, if legit. Ninety-nine percent of us on here are legit, Lexus people. The other one percent are the ones posting those unbelievable numbers.

Off to pick up my car!!!! Go luck with your search!

Slust

Thanks!

Well assuming those guy's claims are real they would still be outliers. It is completely unreasonable for anyone to think they can snag a 350 F-Sport for prices. If it happens, awesome but to expect it... ya, talk about setting yourself up for disappointment. One guy said he had the inside track with someone there. Another guy said he knew the sales guy in addition to him and his brother buying at the same time. Those claims are digging way into dealer holdback and incentives. Just like a Casino, dealers are successful because they always get their money.

Just noticed in this thread you said you were off pick up YOUR car lol. In the other thread you mentioned it's your wife's car. Now you need one for yourself if that one listed in your sig is your wife's ride. Though you do have a GS 450h so maybe not.

CtSFox

I agree with your points. In addiition, I think sometimes people in the forum get confused and misuse terms. For example, I've suspected some have confused ""Invoice" with "MSRP." Then, as others have expressed elsewhere, we are not always comparing "apples to apples." A person who appears to have stolen his 3IS for a few thousand less than the Trucar average may have unwittingly gotten that same few thousand less for his trade in.

Glashub

Slust. I've been enjoying your posts. I've been in online auto communities for years and have learned that most people don't post the whole story i.e. trade-in, financing, whether they were suckered into extended warranties and many just outright lie to agitate. It gets them off to know that they triggered a reaction. Nobody gets the best deal in town every deal. I do deals all year round. Some I win, some I lose but 99% of the time I arrive at a mutually beneficial fair deal.

Here's my story. 2014 Fsport with everything but rear shade and adaptive. I bought it the weekend it was released at the end of June. Played dealers off one another and got $1500 off of sticker. Car had a lose wire in passenger seat and used that to negotiate another $750 off. I paid cash for the car. Took my 2012 Genesis to CarMax where I got somewhere between good and excellent trade in value. A very fair deal. But not one that can compete with the claims of others.

I'd prefer using my time figuring out how I can make more money than spend my time trying to figure out how to save money with coupons, spending hours online looking for deals, etc. Different consciousness. Abundance thinking vs. scarcity thinking.

CtSFox

I agree with your thinking as well! By the way, I got about the same deal as you, special ordering in August with no trade in.

Celsius

iTrader: (1)

+1000000000