ES3

My first IS350 was marred with ultra-fine scratches due to a poor prep. The lines were ONLY noticeable under showroom light, outside they were much more difficult to see. Now I'm waiting for another one.

I've been told take the car from them immediately and clay and zaino it... curious what everyone else has done, will do?

Maximus350

Ahh HELL NO! Do your own prep!!!

nois3504me

I just picked up my IS350 yesterday. I only had them prep the interior and i did the exterior myself.

now all i need to do is change my name

imageWIS

How do you ask them not to prep?

Jon.

the lndr

Mine came out fine. Sorry to hear that.

Shaine

At JM lexus in SoFLA i was told that there is a mandatory $600 prep fee that they will not waive no matter what. at least not on an IS250 with nav.

picus

If the car is already on the lot with the plastic off it's been washed, so you might as well let them prep it. If it's got the plastic still on it or it's a special order you just tell them not to prep it, as in, leave the plastic on, don't wash, polish, wax, anything. Just make it clear to them you want it exactly how it came off the boat, plastic and all.

Shaine

yea but if i tell them that, do they still have the right to charge me the $600 prep fee even though im opting out of it?

TimboIS

Are you talking about the $590 Destination Charge?

Yes, I'd get the dealer to prep the car, that's their job not mine. If they screw it up then it's their problem not mine.

MongooseGA

iTrader: (6)

That's why you don't screw it up, because they will. Dealership detailers don't care about your car after it's sold, they just need to get the job done as quick as possible.

Shaine- the $600 fee is a common dealership rip off that commonly includes a "sealant that will last the life of your car". It's BS. Just check out http://autopia.org and read how toproperly detail your car on your own. You'll ejoy doing it, too.

AsianGirl007

iTrader: (1)

I've never heard of any dealer charging $600 for dealer prep. I'm sure its a misunderstanding, probably destination or LDA.
And you can always check your car in daylight before taking it home. Scratches are bound to happen sometimes, can't be helped. The paint is waterbased. These cars don't come over from Japan in a protective bubble. They are on a boat, on a truck, at a dock, and exposed on a lot. Parts of the car are covered in tape, but not the entire car. I'm with Timbo on this one, prepping the car is dealership's job, let them deal with getting it right.

MongooseGA

iTrader: (6)

If it's what I'm thinking of, it's the optional protection package or something like that. They use some sort of "indestructable" paint sealant and a can of scotchgard on your interior.

AsianGirl007

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, sometimes they try to "force" paint sealant on you to up the anty. Scotch Guard, Simonize, Auto Armor, Mop and Glo, etc.....
But thats diferent from the regular dealer prep which is where they remove tape, remove plastic, do a detail, put in a full tank of gas, remove window sticker, and lay out floor mats.