I found a good deal on a ES350 with cloth seats, however, how is the resale value of these cars w/ the cloth seats. It doesn't bother me but I can imagine it bothers some. According to KBB, it affects resale by $666, is this accurate in your opinon?

 

Damn..they have cloth seats for lexus?

 

No doubt the cloth seats willl effect the trade in value on an ES350. The longer you keep it, the less of an impact they'll have.

 

Cloth seats were available until MY'09. They are extremely rare, and the only two I've seen had no options. Is the car you are looking at a new '09 or a used vehicle? If you like the car and are happy with the ample list of standard equipment, I see no reason not to get it. You should be able to get a great deal on it.

Lou

 

Yes it's used and discounted heavy, but I'm just wondering when I try to sell it, if no one will buy it, or will it affect the value a lot (i.e. > $2000+).

 

I heard you have to special order an ES to get cloth seats. I would surely expect that the resale value would be impacted, the $600 figure seems reasonable. As lowrideraz said above if you're happy with the car and you're saving money then go for it.

 

I have only seen one such car and it truly had no options. I assume it is a 2009 or earlier car as I don't think they are availble in US anymore. I would think no leather and no options might have a real negative impact on either a later trade in or sale. I don't recall what the door panels were like on the cloth interior car I saw but if Camry seat covers happen to be the same you could add leather for maybe $1,200 - the dealers add leather to a lot of Camry's.

Dave Mac

 

I would definitely not purchase a lexus with cloth seats. there are SO many out there, why would you settle for it? Also, it would greatly affect the trade in value. Even Camry's come with better features than that.

 

The number will be a lot worse than that.
There's a small window of people interested in a ES without leather.
You and maybe one other in the USA.
Down the road when you sell or trade it,you're going to take a big hit.
No leather is as bad as a bad Carfax or even worse.

 

You think it'll be that bad? What's the cost of upgrading to leather after you purcahse the car? Should be around the package price.

 

Buy it if:
- you like it that way,
- you gonna drive it until the wheels fall off,
- you don't give rides to many people, or you don't care about their opinion.
It's a great value over Camry - made in Japan, high quality materials inside, people would envy the badge - you will enjoy it.
However these days luxury car without leather, sunroof or navi is not a luxury anymore.
People are not impressed until you tell them that these perforated Cashmere seats are not only heated, but also cooled. That blows them away.

 

Uh Uh, my wife had a well optioned '07 Camry before her ES. A stripped ES is far more feature rich, than a well optioned Camry.

Lou

 

There is a black on black '07 ES350 near me that has cloth seats. Reminded me of the European Benzs that have cloth seats too. On the used car market, I would think people would be asking why the cloth seats versus leather, esp in a Lexus. Your local automotive trim shops would be able to recover the seats in Lexus leather but at what cost?

 

Get a ES350 with leather..you won't regret it later down the road.
You might think that saving some money right now and cloth seats are fine.
But soon you are going to change your mind and want leather seats and interior.

 

By the time you would sell your car, cloth seats on luxury cars will be obsolite. The resale value will be greatly affected. Make sure you get a VERY good deal now, because you will loose on resale. To tell you the truth about resale value, i really don't believe in it, reselling a car is very difficult, you will loose some, so just concentrate on getting a great deal on the sale. The more gizmo you have on the car, better are your chance to sell it. The basic for now is leather seats, so i can't imagine cloth seats.