Looks like Carsdirect now says you can get the new ES350 for $300 under MSRP. While this is hardly a groundbreaking incentive, it gives hope to those of us who are waiting until Christmas time to purchase. Forbes magazine predicted that 2007 would be a tough year for automobile manufacturers due to gasoline prices. They also pointed out that (similar to how interest rates affect the real estate market) consumers will be able to find a lot of dealers willing to negotiate their vehicles.

I hope this is true.

 

I keep wondering why all of the adverstisements. You would think that if the cars are so hot, advertising wouldn't be necessary. ON the other hand, some (or most) of the advertising might have been pre-bought, and they didn't want to change that.

Still, it's going to be interesting to see how the discounts play out. IN New Orleans, Lexus is advertising 3.9% on pre-owned certified cars. Maybe we will see something for new car financing.

 

Guys, I'm sorry. I originally posted that Carsdirect says you can get the new ES350 for $300 under invoice. That is incorrect. I MEANT to say that it's now $300 under MSRP. I'll edit the message right away.

Still, I hope this suggests that cars prices will continue to drop as long as the gas price prices continue to climb.

 

I'm kind of curious about what exactly people want with their ES350 pricing. Obviously in the perfect world, we'd all want $5K off and 0% financing to boot. But what exactly will make you bite, and go and buy the car?

East and West Coast will obviously be discounting due to competition and population, and appear to be already from threads here. Middle US and Canada probably won't discount as much, if at all in some cases or areas.

But what exactly would make you go out and buy the car today?

 

If i can get the UL package with nav and ML for $40,000, i would jump on the deal, hopefully in a year or 2 that will be possible.

 

guys go to this web site. they are selling es 350 for 2000 over invoice. the site is called fleetrates.com . they will get u in touch with an actual dealer. good luck and stop paying msrp

 

I just won't pay MSRP for a car. Just as a comparison, Shelby is putting out a version of the Mustang in both Convertible and Coupe edition. Some dealers are selling them for $10k over MSRP. They are getting it, so you can't fault the dealer.

It's all about relative value. My personal opinion is that the 350 is a beautiful car, but not worth MSRP. If the dealer comes down $2- 3k off MSRP, then it becomes a car that I will buy. Otherwise, just another good looking car (and there are many out there). And as we all know, the dealer is still making a buck at $2-3k off MSRP.

 

Got mine fully stocked AND 3,500 below MSRP....do your homework....there is good deals out there.

 

ES350 will sell in 7,000 units per month. There got to be deals if you are willing to deal, wait and bargain...

 

I personally agree with the Forbes article I read. This is going to be a tough year for auto makers; particularly the entry level luxury brands and SUV's. Gas prices won't affect the decisions of the truly wealthy people out there, but the middle and even upper middle class folks are starting to pay attention to fact that they're paying $60 to fill their tanks.

I expect the frugal models such as Camry, Accord, Maxima, Altima, Corolla, Civic, and Mazda3 to do very well in 2007. I also expect that yours truly will find an ES350 for around invoice price in 6 months.

 

No kidding, although the ES350 is nice, it's a high volume seller for Lexus, just like the RX. Just wait a few months and there will be great deals to be had.

 

have you actually bought a vehicle from fleetrates? whats the catch and how much do they charge for shipping and other miscellaneous charges?

 

I talked a little to Fleetrates and got a quote for 40k for an UL version. It would cost between $800 and $1000 to ship to me in Ohio. They are not really all that hip on trade-ins it seemed. If I go through my local dealer it will save me about $1000 in taxes since of course the total I'm taxed on is AFTER my trade in (dealer giving 12k). So it doesn't make sense for me to use fleetrates. If I lived out west and didn't have a trade I would say yes, but everyones situation is different.

They also have a place in Florida as well. But that doesn't do me any good.