I got a 2007 IS350 red w/black interior sport package. No ML, but that was something I could live without. The sport package is basically the same thing as the luxury package (nav, park assist, ventilated seats, HID, electrochromatic mirrors, etc.) that comes on most 350s except it doesn't have the wood interior or illuminated scuff plates, again two things I can do without. For me it was a trade off between getting the car now and compromising on some features that weren't as important as others, or just waiting 4-6 months and special ordering. Some of the deal breakers for me would have been no park assist, no nav or the cashmere interior (that must get dirty easily), so I did have my limits where I wouldn't compromise. Also one thing I didn't mention before is that if I waited for the 2008s, my trade in would technically be three years old, so it would be worth about 10% less, and I think there would be less discounting on the new model.

 

i am going 80 mph and I still got 30 mpg.......

 

Very nice, congrats. Park Assist is not a normally seen option as it does not come with Luxury or Sport Package. It is a standalone option. Lucky it was on the car they got for you.

 

So you did get Park Assist & Nav ??? I haven't seen a Sports pkg with Park Assist, I wanted PA, but like you said it wasn't a deal breaker for me. As for the wood trim, didn't want it and don't miss it. You can add the illuminated scuff plates, it's a simple plug & play and runs about $200 (highly recommend, they look fabulous at night). Have fun with you new IS . . .

 

OMG, I think I am in the same boat as StanISlove. I placed special order for IS350+SportPkg+ML on 12/31/06 and received some bogus paperwork (nothing that resembles a contract). And I am still waiting. I called the dealership last month and they told me they expect the car to be shipped in May, which didn't happen (obviously).

Any suggestion what should I do next besides calling Lexus? I really wanted IS350 Sport package, but it's impossible to buy from the lot, so I had to special order.

 

unfortunatelly, there is not much you can do. It's really stupid. I called lexus corporate, and after two weeks of calling back and forth they were still unable to even locate my car (they had NO idea where it was) So they end up making me an offer for 350, but that is not what I wanted and I knew I'd be unhappy, so I called and cancelled the whole deal.

If I were you, I'd call your guy and ask to look into this, since it's been 6 month (4 month is standard) If he comes up empty, call corporate.

Good Luck!

 

Thanks for the info. It's actually 5 months and few days (not that it made any difference ) It seems they have been screwing me all that time...

BTW, I don't understand - was it dealership who made you an offer for 350? If so, I think they could plan it from beginning... They made you wait and then after 4 months offered you a car from the lot because they make more profit for less work that way.

 

A dealer could claim your order is in without actually doing it, making you wait, then when they wear you down you take whatever is on the lot. Isn't that the standard practice in sales to wait the customer out because the customer will be the one that gets impatient? That's what scares me about the special order process - little certainty and zero accountability. I was told in a special order they can't even guarantee you the car you want with the options and colors you choose that it's merely a preference and nothing set in stone, so what's the point of doing it? Wait four months and pray that Toyota decides to make the exact car you want? If I'm doing a special order, putting down a deposit, and waiting 4-6 months the car damn well better be exactly as I specified no ifs ands or buts.

 

There's not much you can actually do. The only thing you can do, is go to a dealer that knows how to order, rather than buying strictly on best price. What good is best price if you don't actually get the vehicle.

 

Definitely inform corporate of bad sales practices. BUT, StanISlove, if you have 'no paperwork', what's to stop you from working some other dealers hard, find what you want, and THEN get your deposit back? THAT's when your dealer's going to get off the stick...

 

OK, I got an update from the dealership today. My special order IS350/SP/ML was built in May and is currently in transit. I have a VIN now and the car is expected to be at the dealership in two weeks.

So, it is going to be almost 6 month wait for my special order. The dealer explains that it's rare color combination (smoky granite and cashmere) that made it took so long. I dunno if it's true.

 

Its probably the Sport Package/ML combo that delayed it, but 6 months is insane. Bets down your dealer sat on the order a few months before placing it.

 

Glad to hear it's coming!

And Smoky Granite + Cashmere is very rare. I see Black + Cashmere all the time, but never that combo.

 

Congrats on the new car. I also believe that the dealer must have screwed you. Personally, I believe all special orders that take longer than 3 months are due to the dealer sitting on the orders. I asked the dealer I am working with about this and they said they can get any color, option, or package special ordered at any time and it's only a three month wait no matter what. Also, they were able to tell me when the car would get built, when it would ship, and when it would be ready for me to take delivery. I think the dealers purposely don't give us any details and make us think they don't know or can't tell us anything. Trust me, they know way more than they let on, and by acting clueless and giving vague delivery dates of 4-6 months they hope to push people into taking whatever's on their lot.

 

I agree. Our dealership kept on saying that it would be 4 months to order a new one, but that was when they were trying to sell us a 2006 with 11,000 miles that was sitting on the lot. Now, after we ordered a new one, with a price that they matched from another dealer, when I asked if we might be getting a 2008, they said oh, no, your car will be here at the end of July or August.

Wouldn't you just love to get your hands on the salesmans' playbook? Do you think they have a secret handshake? LOL