A few weeks ago I decided to get a 2019 ES 300h with the Ultra Luxury package and Mark Levinson sound system.

The dealer told me it would have to be special ordered. I accepted that and made my order.

I was told my the dealer it would be 10-12 weeks until it starts production (not sure why that's so long) and another 3-4 weeks for building and delivery.

My order was placed on 10/24/2018. That means I should have it between 1/23/2019 and 2/13/2019.

I'm curious to know what other people's special order experience has been. Did it come closer to 13 weeks or 16 weeks? Longer than 16 weeks?

 

I was in the dealership last Wednesday trying to buy an UL 350. There are none around - even at other dealers - so looked into a SO. After getting a price I was informed I would get the car in February. So from 11-14-18 to some time in February was the answer if I ordered that day... I didn't order and plan to look around some more... Dealers do not like placing special orders but want to sell cars in their inventory that they're paying interest on. They'll blow smoke at you and tell you 3-4 months to get you to buy a car on the lot. I don't like SO but want to see the car in person when I put my money down... Then there's the waiting...

 

The dealership I've been working with was able to add options to a car they already had in production and it took significantly less time. I was told 120 days for a custom order, them adding features took about 5 weeks. Maybe that is a route you could go?

 

I don't like special orders either but I figured if I'm going to spend that much money on a car I want it right.

I didn't see my exact car before making the decision but I did see all the features I wanted. I test drove the hybrid a few times and played with all the other features in a 350 in the wrong color.

I also didn't have to pay anything at the time of ordering.

Based on what you were told hopefully I'll get it sooner.

The dealer never tried to push me into buying something off the lot. He was nice and knew I wasn't going to buy something that didn't have what I wanted.

Yeah, the waiting sucks.

 

I've been monitoring the inventory at the dealer where I bought my 2017 UL ES. When the first batch of 2019s came in, they had two UL 2019 ESs. After those sold, they had none for several weeks, but, just a few days ago, another UL car showed up on their website. It has an MSRP of around $53,500. So, there are some of them out there.

 

Were any of them hybrids? My dealer told me the UL 350 was pretty rare to find but the UL 300h was even harder if even possible at all. Then adding the ML system made it harder. He said special order was really the only way to get what I wanted. 300h UL with Mark Levinson and HUD in Nightfall Mica with black interior.

 

In the first shipment, in addition to the 2 ES 350 UL, there was one ES 300h UL. The one that they just got in a few days ago was an ES 350 UL.

 

I negotiated the deal on January 03. Had my delivery appointment on April 14th. (Car came in a day or two earlier).

So 14+ weeks.

I think they started production in the middle of March.

 

Thanks. If my experience is similar it looks like right around February 1st.

What year was yours? 2018?

 

Yes, it was a 2018.

 

I am curious as to what type of discount off of MSRP did you get on a special order?

 

I was given $1,000 off at the time of order. The dealer told me that I'll also get whatever incentives there are when the car comes in.

You really aren't going to get as much of a discount on a special order because they want you to buy off the lot.

 

The way it worked for me was that they negotiated the deal first.

Then they tried to find a matching car. None in the nearby area. They thought they had one in southern California, but they called the next day and said it was sold.

So we went the custom order route.

The price remained the same, because the negotiations come first.

Then, at the time of delivery, whatever incentives were available, were applied. When I made the deal in January, it was $750 cash back. When I got the delivery in April, it was $1000. So I got the $1000.

 

Hi just recently placed an order for a 2021 lexus rcf last month and wanted to see the exact times a lot of people had to wait considering ive never ordered a car before so just curious.

 

I negotiated the deal on January03. Had my delivery appointment on April 14th. (Car came in a day or two earlier).

So 14+ weeks.

I think they started production in the middle of March.

Along the way, the original sales manager left, then his replacement left. So I had 3 sales managers during this process.

The 3rd guy claimed at the first guy didn't put the order in correctly, and he had to redo it, which is why it took some time.

However, the 14 weeks is also in the 3-4 month time table I was given when I negotiated the deal.