Phil

I just ordered a 2001 LS 430 with UL. The total cost came out to $66,600 (after some haggleling). Originally I wanted the 2002 but was told by the salesman that they WILL NOT deal on the 2002 and will ask, and get, the $70,000 sticker price.

Any thoughts? I really don't know if I am getting a "deal" or not. To tell you the truth, I just can't wait for them to find my 430 and I will buy it regardless. If they can't find it, I will pop for the 2002. Was just wondering if most Lexus dealers were charging around those prices for 2001 and 2002 models.

GS4Will

Hi Phil,

several weeks ago one of our longtime member from san franc. just picked up a silver/blk LS430 w/ultra pkg for ~$70k out the door. since here in cal, the sales tax is whopping 8%, i figure his selling price is ~9-10% off from MSRP.
so i guess ~$63k for the 2001s at the moment. several guys and i will be getting gs430s in the coming weeks thru my sales mgr buddy. would you like me to check for you on the prices? the dealer does car transporting all the time, and i believe the freight is ~less $1k to oregon.
and since you are from oregon, you would not pay cal sales tax. i just need to know your color combo, the exact equipment, and if you will be buy/lease.

wait, i reread your posts, you just ordered? so you just placed a REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT, correct?

when the 02s come out in 3 months, the price will be at full sticker. let me know thru PM box below, or

lexusbill@clublexus.com

will

LOTC

somebody know all the packages that are availabe for the LS 430?

Phil

edogg:

All you need to do is go to http://www.lexus.com and check out what packages you want. I ordered the UL (Ultra Luxury) package because it had all the goodies I wanted. There isn't much you can add after that.

Phil

Stephen

Last month I was quoted about $66K for an LS430 in the Metro DC area.

LOTC

Stephen,since you have driven both the 98-00 LS400 and the LS430.How would you compare both interiors?

I am planning to get one of the other in a few years.

Also how does the GS400 interior compare to those LS models.

gsnav

I'm not sure if you are talking about me. But we got our LS430 for just about 70 out the door. I live in the bay area and we used the most popular car brokers out here in the bay ( www.Hammerauto.com ) and he got the car from So Cal. Cause no dealers around here would go that low considering most dealerships in so cal sell twice as many cars as the dealerships here. But let me know if you have any question.

GsNav@clublexus.com

Stephen

Eric, The interior of the LS430 is much more lavish, more wood etc etc. The two cars drive identically though. I drove them both back to back and could not tell one difference in power, smoothness or isolation. Identical. Plus I like the exterior of my 98 better, so the only plus for me was the interior. That wasnt worth the difference between investing $0 a month on a car and letting my company handle everything and shelling out $1200 and taking care of it all myself.

Hopefully it'll get a facelift in 2003 when I trade, it should.

LOTC

Yes stephen that was a smart move $$$$ wise.I would love to see a change in the LS430 in a couple of years.It just to bulky and fat looking.

Stephen

I've heard some good things for 2003, new nose and rear, new wheels, possibly a 5.0 liter V12 option or a "sooped up" version of the V8...

LOTC

That would be nice to add a little sportiness to the LS cars.

I would go for a tuned V-8 than a V-12 because of MPG's.

Stephen

Naa, dont see it being sporty. I see it being more of an S600 type movement.

The V12 would put Lexus in another mental arena with buyers, and most people who buy cars of that nature are unconcerned with MPG anyways.

bobkon_ls430

For what its worth, here's how I purchased my LS430 here in the Bay Area. Still may have paid too much, but its the easiest way I have found to buy a car. Last three cars including the LS bought this way.

First, I waited until the end of the month, when dealers are more eager to move their inventory. I went on Lexus' website to the dealer contact page, and I sent the same message to five dealers in the Bay Area.

Basically I said I was a highly motivated buyer that was not inclined to shop dealer to dealer or play those back and forth games and spend a whole day in the dealership, my time was too valuable. I also said I only have the following weekend to make my decision and buy the car, after that it may be months. I even said I was comparing the LS to Mercedes and BMW. I told them exactly what package I wanted, and exact color (gave them two choices). It helps to know if its available to start with somewhere within those five dealers, because they all trade inventory, and it should not cost the buyer any more because of trading. I gave them two choices, both the UL package, and a regular LS with ML&Navi. I asked for all responses to be by email, that way you can use it as an offer if you have to play two or three dealers.

All five dealers responded within hours with written offers. They ranged anywhere from $5000 off the MSRP to $6700 off the MSRP, plus fees, on either model that I chose. They had the color choices I wanted too. That still gave them plenty of margin on a car marked up about $10k over invoice, plus their holdbacks and marketing funds. Plus it didn't cost them anything to sell me the car.

I played a few of them back and forth, and finally took the offer for $6700 off MSRP on a parchment crystal with ML&Nav, and they included the paint/interior protection, which after pointing out to them was to their benefit too because when I turn this lease in after three years, they will have a much better car to resell, and I will get a new one likely from the same dealer. In total, I spent about two hours at the dealer to close the deal. I made an appointment for that weekend to review the car, and had the finance gal waiting to do all the paperwork. The worst part was a salesman showing me everything in the car when it was time to leave, but they have to do it.

Thats how I bought mine. Maybe I could have saved a few more dollars spending the whole day at the dealership, but it was worth it just to not go through that hassle.