When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I am planning on replacing my 2011 ES at the end of this year with a 7th Gen ES350 Ultra Luxury, hopefully with a reasonable "deal" during the December to Remember event. I have been following local dealer inventories recently, and have never seen the desired color/interior with the wood trim that I prefer, although I am allowed to build exactly the car I want on the Lexus configurator, so I think it can be done. The general feeling on the forums has been that the are better deals to be had from existing dealer inventory compared with a custom ordered car since they are incentivized to move cars already on their lot. My local dealer is also a "Lexus Plus" (i.e., no haggle) dealer now, if that makes any difference. My question is: how long of build time should I expect, and can I expect a better price during December delivery, even if the car is not coming from dealer inventory? Many thanks for any suggestions.
The best thing to do is purchase your car early November on the lot. They will get any color exterior and interior car from surrounding states, and split the transfer fee cost with you. Will cost around $500. You will get a really good deal on your car then off of the MSRP purchase price and you will still get the red bow on top of your car as in the December to Remember deal. By the time December comes along, most colors and options are gone since you are purchasing a preceding year ES 350 Ultra Luxury vehicle.
My local dealer is also a "Lexus Plus" (i.e., no haggle) dealer now, if that makes any difference.
In Oct '18, when shopping for the '19 F Sport, the Lexus Plus local dealer gave us the discounted set price. A dealership 15 miles south gave us a price $2200 lower on the same (same VIN) car. When I called the Plus salesperson to tell them I was getting the car somewhere else, he said "you should have called me. I could have matched that price."
Thanks for the replies and the information, guys. Although I have received great service from my local dealer, I am not a fan of the Lexus Plus business model.