They been using JIT since forever so that's not the reason. They simply figured out that by producing just enough or slightly less than market demand, they dont have to give discounts like they used to or like pretty much every mainstream car company. They became the richest car company for that reason.

 

Thats exactly what it is.

 

Yep.
Slow dripping out just enough cars so nobody gets a discount.

Max MSRP.

 

And I wouldn't even have an issue with that if I could get my hands on what I want and they had decent lease support. I'll pay MSRP, just give me a good residual and MF.

 

I've leased several cars/trucks from Toyota and Lexus, and in the past, they were reasonably competitive with lease deals and the lease payments were almost always cheaper than financing, but for the past 5 years or so, each time we've shopped, the leases have been pretty crappy. Because I don't write off a lease payment, I'm always just looking for the best deal, whether that's a lease or finance. The last one I leased was the 2020 Tacoma, as it was a super good lease, but for the Tundra and my GS, the leases were terrible.

 

I asked my salesman (he sold me several Lexuses) when I was driving the TX500h how the lease deals were and his response was "Terrible" lol

 

So much for the idea that salespeople aren't honest. I have actually dealt with several in my years that didn't sell out to deception. And a few others that, well..............

 

Oh he's great...

Can't hide that the deals suck, I would find out in short order.

 

What issues


Wonder if Toyota forces consumers to opt for the Lexus version of the GH to get the plug in? And as you mentioned before the only version of the TX we would be interested in would be the 550h+. If we weren’t going for a a plug in version we would opt for the GH platinum hybrid max over the TX 500H

 

TX550h+ being hard to find

 

Wait till they get hit with the RAM shortage in a bit.

 

At least he was honest. Lol

 

"Suck?" Perhaps ...but, with all due respect, aren't you the one who is always telling us that home and vehicle-prices (and leases) are primarily-determined by the market and supply/demand? Especially in this money-rich D.C. area, there is a demand for upscale vehicles....gotta pay to play.

 

In a weird way I actually like hunting down vehicles. Kinda how I ended up getting the RAV4 prime.

 

trying to analyze your needs/wants it ain’t easy

observations:

if the GLS or others get the PHEV feature, i expect them to be WAY more expensive than other options (gas, hybrid).
seems like you really have no interest in an ev since none have the range you want unless you get an unproven gravity. even if you could make it to your cousin’s with zero stops, you’d still needs to charge to get back and it sounds like he lives in a charging ‘dessert’ unless you risk burning down his house (kidding!) with the dryer plug option we’ve discussed (which i think would work absolutely fine - i even have a 30A level 2 charge i could sell ya for cheap ).
you say the XC90 is ‘tight inside’, well almost every suv that fits in your garage will be compared to the pacifica.
you don’t like ev ‘quirks’ (aka modern features/design, like it or not ).
the top tx is ugly up front, but it’s relatively roomy, i like the interior, and checks your boxes, IF you can find one.

they all have compromises… just have to pick which ones.