Anyone know when the model year rolls over? I recently tried to get an IS350but was told that 2008s are coming soon (end of the month) so there wasn't much out there right now in terms of inventory. I also wanted to know if the IS350 is only available in one configuration as it is here in the metro NYC area unless you special order one. I was quoted 3-4 months minimum because of the model year changeover. IS350s are scarce (as are ISes in general) as they are really pushing the AWD 250 up here where there is often snow and ice in the winter. Don't get me started, but if I wanted the slower and safer Lexus I'd pick any other Lexus besides the IS.

 

Wow... end of the month? I doubt that. Its only May!

 

I think they are BS'ing you. New models will roll into showrooms in late August - early September. I bought my '06 in August 2006 and there were no 2007's on the lot at that time. The supply of IS350's is low, and probably won't get appreciably better when the 2008's come out. It's a supply and demand situation. Depending on what options you want you may well have to special order a 350, but if you order now and the model year changes before your's is built you'll just get a 2008 version instead. You don't have to wait until the 2008's to come out to order.

 

Well that was what I was trying to figure out. He said the IS model year rolls in late May to early June. Is that even possible? When did the 2007's officially get released? I think that would be a good indicator. I guess my other question is, does it really take 3-4 months to get one if you order it? I was told that was a conservative estimate and that it could take longer due to the model year change. Apparently the IS350 only comes with the Luxury Plus 18 inch wheels package around here. Unless you special order it no other options are available. Kind of frustrating trying to get one of these things.

 

Toyota usually rolls out the next model year around august - september.When I went to purchase my tC in july of 2005 I waited til the first of september to get my 06.

 

Any info on 08 IS350 changes? HP increase? Improved handling? Different wheels? Anything?

 

Put it this way, if we (the entire 2IS forum) knew about the 08's we would all over it in a heartbeat to know the changes and updates .

 

wrong. no bs..previous ground dates dont always match(2008 RX's been out for over a month)
and yes for the eastern area IS's (350's) are built the same...we were in a period(it might be over now) where california will not accept special orders to japan because the plant is switching to 2008...
the normal special order wait is about 3-4 months..if you order after they cut it off you prolly add 1 month for the time that they switch over..
Evitzee is right about limited production..the 350 is @ an 11% build of ALL(250/350) IS's...anyway a salesman dont get paid till u take delivery so in his interest the sooner the better

 

I thought maybe I was getting BS'd but it sounds like you guys are saying it really is 3-4 months. I was told that 350's were also next to impossible to come by. This idea alone blows my mind because isn't this supposed to be a performance model? Why wouldn't they make more 350s?

Hopefully I can get more info out of the dealership about the 2008s. I doubt it will be much different than the 2007s, but if I have to put down a non-refundable $5k deposit on a car sight unseen, the least they should do is tell me what I'm paying for though they seem pretty reluctant to release any details at this point.

 

I really hope this is true… my guess is that if they will downgrade the engine you will get our IS300 228 bhp which indeed suc*s… but at least the rest of the world would be forced to make more mods for meeeee
and why is the 5K depo non-refundable!! That's just a lot. We pay a refundable 1,066.66$ only

 

We only have the 250 and 350 here. And yes the deposit is $5k non-refundable for me to special order a 350 (if those will even exist in 2008). Problem is the dealers aren't very forthcoming with information about the next model year, so I'm at a crossroads between ordering this car or something from BMW which I loathe to do, but if the buying/shopping process is that much simpler where they actually want to sell me a car, then what else can I do. Apparently Lexus doesn't want my money or business because they're really trying hard not to sell me this car for whatever reason. I've been back and forth with internet sales and the sales staff in person, and I'm an easy sell too - price is never the hold up with me, it's whether or not they can get exactly what I want and how long it takes. Would you believe they tried to sell me a used 350 the minute I said that's the model I wanted?

 

Yeah I bought my 07 in September.. and they had just arrived.

They probably aren't very forthcoming because they have NO idea. Usually when stuff is posted on the main Lexus site is when you should pay attention. Thats how I knew the 07s were about to roll out.

 

Simple answer here ..... find another dealer who will work with you and not against you. He sounds very unmotivated (i.e., lazy). There is no reason you should have to put $5,000 down on a special order. A $500 or $1,000 deposit is reasonable, and contrary to what they say, no deposit is 'non-refundable'. They are just trying to discourage you from getting what you want, which is why they keep blowing smoke about model changeover. Run out of that type of relationship and find a better dealer. You won't be happy if you stay with these goons.

 

1 out of every 4 IS' built is an IS350. I forget where I read that figure but I want to say it was something that Lexus corporate had released. The engine in the 350 is used in the ES and possibly the GS, and I imagine they are allocating the engines for those cars. I'm sure more people inquire about the 250 than the 350 too.

 

Perhaps your dealer was quoting the internal Lexus factory swing time. To have the cars on lots in Aug/Sep, the factory probably has to adjust sometime in June.