Johnhav430

jumped online to see how many S sedans are at a MB dealership in Orlando. Answer is 8 (this may be a million dollars of inventory already, it matters if it's 8, 5, 16, 23, 0). None of us here own a car dealership (those who do are exiting in droves or selling to corporations), but most of us are in business. Ideally, one does not carry inventory anymore, there is a cost associated with it, and there is tons of technology available to minimize inventory.

edit For pete's sake, even football players' shoulder pads generate stats today that the industry uses, as does the ball itself.

JDR76

Johnhav430

That dang business school didn't teach me anything in 2 years, and it was full time. I shoulda just studied online forums.

edit, no

Stroock639

it would've been nice if the dealership i was at always carried enough inventory...

jrmckinley

Just had a black LS500 F Sport park directly behind me (parallel parking against a curb) this afternoon. I was hoping to get a side profile pic of the new gen LS compared to my 2010 460 but the owner left before I could get one. It was pretty cool seeing the cars so close to each other to see the evolution of the design. The 500 has grown on me a lot since release - I think it looks good in any color, but that black with the red interior looks extra sharp.

Sulu

You have the anecdotal experience from 1 dealership but can you effectively extrapolate that dealership's experience to all other dealers all across the large and diverse country? What does not sell at the dealer you spoke with (the RX-L and LS) may sell at other dealers in other, much different parts of the country.

It is difficult to judge model sales just by looking at what is or what is not in the inventory. The no-inventory model works well for a just-in-time manufacturing situation, where supplies lines are robust and suppliers are relatively close by.

But you cannot extend the no-inventory model to retail sales, where buyers like (and need) to see, touch and try the various products (and different configurations of a product) before they buy, and then be able to buy and take delivery immediately. Even remote (on-line) purchase retailers such as Amazon retain an inventory of products so that they are able to deliver as soon as an order comes in.

SW17LS

8 cars in stock is not a lot lol

jrmckinley

Finally got to sit in one of these as I was waiting on my 460 to have pics taken of my "sticky" interior panels for replacement. Very impressed with fit and finish. Back seat had more room than I anticipated based on other reviews - and the driver seat was all the way back when I got into the back seat. I had no headroom in the rear though - and I'm just under 6'2" so it's not like I'm a giant. I like the unique exterior styling as I see more and more on the road - would like to drive one at some point soon to see how it compares to the 460. Reading about some pretty crazy deals in the LS500 portion of the forum.

-J-P-L-

I still haven't seen one and I'm on the road 10+ hrs a day. It's been out for a year. Haven't looked at numbers but it certainly seems like past LS's sold far more. Likely true for the whole segment anyway in the age of crossovers.
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