Lexus Canada is offering free maintainence (similar to BMW) on all 2008 models. They are promoting it as part of the Lexus experience. In reality it is a thinly veiled attempt to distract buyers from the mega price differential between US and Canadian pricing....about $10000 on a loaded IS350. As the Canadian $ is now worth $1.25 US, many Canadians are shopping for cars etc in the US. This has seriously angered dealers in Canada, but it is the car companies who are responsible for this blatant price gouging/ripoff.

This deal should be offered to all those who bought a 2007 model this year, with a similar price point as the 2008, as we were all loyal to the Canadian dealer/manufacturer and paid the higher Canadian price. Not to offer it to us is discriminatory and disloyal. Shame on Lexus.

For those interested in demanding this free maintainence, you may want to write to Lexus Canada. Keep us posted on how you make out.

 

Sorry for the typo, instead of $1.25 it should read $1.035.

 

Yeah, I hear you. But what has the Cad$ vs the Japanese Yen done over the last year or so? That may also be driving the Canadian price level. I'm not sure what currency Lexus ultimately deals in.

I was working in Canada last year and I was out browsing for watches. Saw a Rolex in one authorized dealers showroom priced at 'X Cad$'. Later that day I went to another authorized dealer and they had the same watch at '95% of X Cad$'? Why? Rolex Canada had rolled back their MSRP in Canada due to the strengthening Cad$. This surprised me as Rolex almost never reduces prices, but they did it. I suppose Lexus is looking at supply and demand and if demand is still holding up and their competition isn't reducing their prices they won't either. Someone has to blink first. Since it is difficult to import cars from other countries (unlike watches or other portable items) there is less pressure on the distributor to lower prices. And the customer gets hosed much of the time.

Complaining won't do much. Not buying their cars WILL get their attention.

 

Yeah, I made a thread about this a while ago. It's totally retarded but whatever, I'm not going to Lexus to service my car anyway.

What I don't understand is why the IS250 is about $4-5,000 cheaper in the US whereas the IS350 is about $15,000 cheaper in the US. Makes no sense to me.

But if you haven't heard, someone is bringing a class action lawsuit to all car manufacturers for ripping off Canadians over the last few years. Those who purchased cars since fall of '05 (I think) will get some kind of settlement if the case wins... which probably isn't that likely, sigh. I guess I'll have to be happy with my $48,000 IS250 which isn't even AWD.

 

Toyota/Lexus is not one of the car companies (there are four, one of which is Nissan) that are defendants in the class action lawsuit. Not sure why, but from the little I know, maybe they should be.

 

This is exactly what is happening. Canadians are shopping in the US for cars, both new and used and other consumer goods with high price variations.

Walmart and other large retailers are starting to respond by reducing prices to be more competitive with similar products in the US. The federal Minister of Finance has called in major company executives for "consultations". (Read that as "read the riot act"). In other words if they don't respond the government might force them to. Not sure how they can do that, but the Minister of Finance wields a very big stick.

Lexus have only their greed to blame. Cdn/US exchange rates have been steadilly rising over the last two years. Lexus response: instead of gradually reducing their prices, they actually increased them for each of the last 26 months! (Got this from a Lexus insider). What greed and arrogance.

 

Well the CBC article I read says most NA and Jap car makers are named as defendants.

 

Here's a link so you can see what it's all about.

Like BMW Canada free maintenance Lexus doesn't cover everything.

Regular Maintenance Service
The following outlines the requirements of the Factory Recommended Maintenance Schedule requirements in time and/or distance intervals. Some additional services may be required at an additional cost depending on your vehicle model and driving conditions. Please refer to your model specific Factory Recommended Maintenance Schedule for a complete description of services.

 

Actually, Toyota is not mentioned.

Read the "statement of claim" yourself here:

http://www.jruslaw.com/classactions/...entOfClaim.pdf

 

I went to the dealer and asked them if I could get the maintenance, lol, and they said no.

 

Write to the president of Lexus Canada and demand it or a refund of the difference between Cdn. and US prices. I will be doing that. If we do nothing, they will continue to take advantage of us...let us not be part of the silent majority...they depend on that.

 

There is a comment somewhere that if they get complaints from customers of other car manufacturers, those manufacturers may then be included in the suit. Check out the web site for more info to determine if Lexus/Toyota customers qualify.

Sure hope this suit and any settlement will force what seems to be greed, restraint of trade and disloyalty to customers to cease!

 

Lexus dealershipers in the USA also refused to sell to Canadians because Lexus has threaten these dealershipers with a potential of losing their franchise. I thought in the USA, it's illegal to discriminate based on nationality and it's anti-competitive.

 

You have the right to refuse business to anyone. Stay in Canada and wait in line for healthcare!

 

i should be getting my ordered IS250 in december, and like you im pretty pissed about the fact iv payed atleast 9 grand more for my car then an equivalent American consumer would. I called a lexus dealership in Minnesota before buying and asked if there was any way around their policy of not selling a new lexus to a canadian citizen and they snubbed me, telling me the only way would be to buy a used lexus, which is something I didn't really want to look into.

I have had serious thoughts about writing to Lexus canada about this, however i dont want to run the risk of being blacklisted by my dealership lol. Also, even with a well penned and anger filled rant about car pricing, i doubt Lexus canada's reply would be anything more than a typed apology from some lower level secretary.