bisley13

Hello,

I want to order a 2014 RX450H but I've been told that prices haven't been released yet. But I can still place an order.

So that means I'm unable to comparison shop around for the best deal. Is that a common practice for doing a special order? Anyone know when the prices for the 2014 cars will be released? I don't know if the dealer is being straight.

Cheers!

BertL

Yes, in my experience, that is normal until prices are released, or at least very close to it. Dealers can place orders in advance of official announcement by HQ, but they don't always have the pricing or even their cost yet. I've run into the same thing with Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz including my 2014 that was ordered 2.5 months before the car was even officially announced and pricing became available.

Your option is to wait to place your order, or perhaps you can negotiate something with the dealer such as "not to exceed", some % over 2013 pricing as they may have a feel for it (I did that with BMW once), some % over invoice, or some other combination you come up with that is important to you. At a minimum, if they can't do something like that, be sure your deposit is 100% refundable at a minimum. Just realize you are likely to pay some sort of a premium to have a "first off the line" vehicle vs say one that is not special ordered, and is sitting on the lot towards the end of a model year, at the end of a month, when the dealer is trying to move inventory to make room for a new MY. I am personally OK or have at least sometimes come to grip with that myself, so you will have to personally decide what makes sense for you. You just won't have the leverage and ability to negotiate on a special order, and certainly not at the beginning of a MY that one may towards its end. Others here only care about the best deal and not necessarily having exactly the features they truly desire -- I care about something in-between, but certainly MUST have what I want if I'm spending the money I do on a luxury ride.

Good luck.

bisley13

Thanks, Bertl! I feel the same...if I'm paying this much for a car, I don't want to "settle" for what's available. But on the other hand, I don't know if I want to pay the price for getting the car of my dreams. :-)

Cheers!