Sucks that happened to you. Lexus is usually lenient with things like that.

The local Lexus dealer here has also been acting up lately. I dnno what it is.

Hope you get the service you deserve. And if you really want the GX, Don't let them get to you.

 

how did you dress when you went?

I always go in gym shorts and a Tshirt. If they cant treat me nice dressed down, I wont do business with them.
Same goes for furniture etc.

 

Maybe its the dealer's insurance policy. Running a red light is a moving violation, maybe there is some langauge in the dealer's insurance policy regarding that.

 

When we test drove our Lexus, the sales guy came along...

BMW, no salesperson...

Porsche, no salesperson...

IMO, coming from driving a BMW, you'll be disappointed by the handling of the GX... (At least I am... I drive a 325Ci daily, and the GX is a lumbering beast by comparison... sure, its an SUV compared to a coupe, but it tends to flop around and the brakes are way too sensitive and even the steering feels very loose... Even my old Land Rover Discovery (with Bilstein shocks) handled better... ) Definitely try to get one for a long drive in varying conditions... Had I done so, I would have at least looked at finding a GX with KDSS at a minimum...

 

Did you even go for a test drive w/ the sales person or at least spend some time talking w/ them so they knew your "real" interest level? If not, or if you just walked in and said "hi I'm so & so you spoke to on the phone and I'm here to take the GX for a test drive home by myself". Then by all means, I wouldn't let you take it either.

Plus, why couldn't your family come to the dealer w/ you? I see lots of families walking around the dealership every time I'm there. Mine has a nice kids room for that purpose (though I do enjoy a good game of Ms. Pac-man on occasion too ) How far away from dealership do you live? If it's more than 15-20miles (30-40 mi R/T + 5 miles for you to "show" it to the family) again, I'd say no way unless I was 95% certain you were going to negotiate on that particular car upon return....

It's a fine line weeding out tire kickers and serious buyers since it's all a big game business. I took my GX for a test drive w/ the salesman, then asked if I could take it home. He said go to it (much to the protest of another salesman who begged me to take another GX b/c he too had a "fish on the line" for GX I was going to take).

Lots of reasons are possible - especially since it was a Saturday - most likely their busiest day of the week...... I'd say, get over it and spend some time w/ the sales person allowing them to "show" you the vehicle and then request a solo drive home (thus giving them another shot). Or try one of the other local dealers in eastern PA or NJ since there's more than one.

Good luck!

 

I dont understand why would you compare the handling of one of the best handling sport sedan on the market with a SUV that is design to be a soft rider and a cruiser.

 

I couldn't believe how much faster I could take a 270 degree ramp on my way to work this morning in my Spyder, the GX handling really sucks!

(just kidding )

 

I hear you... it's an unfair and unreasonable comparison... My point was that if the OP was driving a 330Xi now, really test drive the GX and make sure your OK with the soft ride; I wish I would have... I guess I didn't expect the GX to be this soft... We took a limited test drive and although I noted it was soft at the time, I figured what with all the electronic bells and whistles on it (adjustable shocks, for example) I would be able to find a "ride" to my liking... Don't get me wrong, on the highway, its a nice comfortable ride, but on the country roads around my house, it flops all over the place...

Truth be told, we selected the GX based upon elimination... My wife didn't like any of the American SUVs, BMW did not have 7-seats at that time, and we didn't like the interior of the Acura (Nissan was generally left off the list). The vehicle that impressed me the most was the LR3. But it's reliability was abysmal, so it was reluctantly nixed... Leaving the GX. It had 7 seats, a V8, not too big, real 4WD and an upscale interior... reliability should be above average... But from a driver's standpoint, it doesn't do much for me... Hopefully next time we can find something that meets our needs AND is fun to drive...

 

The new BMW X5 now offers 7 seats and it handles much better than the GX, but the ride is very harsh and bumpy. Reliebility is average at best and that I drive is a PITA and full of problems.

 

I have not driven an X5, but I did have an X3 loaner for a day... drove nicely (more like what I'm used to from my 325Ci) and it had not only HIDs, but the directional Bi-Xenons... very cool. X5 with 7 seat would have "probably" been my favorite choice, but I would have had to look at the towing capacity of the 6-cylinder engine... stepping up to the 8-cylinder version (and it's related reliability issues) probably would have been a showstopper from a $$$ standpoint...

I played with I-Drive on a loaner vehicle once (and promptly almost ran into the back of another car ); Fortunately, even though I swerved to the shoulder in an avoidance manuever, the BMW brakes stopped me quickly enough and without drama that the swerve was unnecessary. I'm guessing that over time, you would either get used to I-Drive, or limit your use of it... Rumour is that BMW is in talks with Apple to possible supersede it...

 

All the BMWs does have very good brakes. The X5 with the performance package is simply amazing when it comes handling, I could not believe I was driving a SUV. The BMW with its active suspension still has a much bumpier ride than the GX, but it sure stays falt around the corners. They are suppose to be coming out with a BMW version of the Acura's SH-AWD, I am sure that will improve handling even more.
Salvator, did you install HID in your GX yet? If not, its real easy to do.
The Tow capacity on the V6 X5 is 6000 lbs, a little more than the GX. I price a V6 out a few months ago. Similarly equiped to my GX, the BMW were almost $15000 more since the BMW dealer would not come down much from msrp.

 

No... My wife won't let me touch any car that we are still paying on... no mods allowed...

That's surprising! I did not realize it was that high...

Yeah, that's what I figured as well... not quite 15K delta, but at least 10K... Sometimes you can score a deal on a CPO car that's a funny color or standard... My 325Ci is an unusual merlot-like color, apparently not very popular, and it doesn't have the sport package (so no sport seats, but because its a coupe it already has the sport suspension)... it had 9K miles on it, got it for about 6K off of MSRP...

Wife's 525iT is one of 147 (I've been told) with manual transmission... it has the sport package too... If only it had some jump seats in the back, we would have been set!

Trying to talk her into getting an X3 (there is a CPO one with 6-spd manual on our dealers lot) for 29K... 32K miles... She'd be happier with the AWD and ground clearance, I could take over her wagon...

 

Tell your wife HID is not a mod, its just changing light bulbs Besides, its for her own safety

 

Hm, I'm surprised...
I have always had really good treatment from the dealer I go to...

Even though I LITERALLY go in Pajamas at times...lol...

 

To be honest, I had never really thought about taking a vehicle home until I read experiences on this board. When we were checking out the GX, we were partly hesitating because we weren't sure if it would fit in the garage - nobody suggested we take it home and try it out.

Most of the time we would have somebody in the car or truck, and we test drove LOTS of vehicles in 2005-2006, both sedans and SUVs. I remember being surprised once when the Toyota dealer just handed us the keys (I think we were there so often that nobody wanted to spend time with us any more )

As a matter of fact, I believe the Lexus dealer had some sort of weird procedure where the saleman or "product specialist" had to actually drive us off their lot. Then he would park on some street and I could get in to drive, but I could drive the car back into the lot. I never could figure that one out.