What is a "good" price?
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: GA
What is a "good" price?
Hello everyone! I've been lurking here for a while now and have been shopping for a new car recently.
I need some very specific advice. I did some searching about pricing and just didn't get the answers I am looking for.
Let me set this up. I am looking at getting a brand new IS 250 or 350. I am also going to finance the purchase.
My question for you is: For someone without any special connections, how much above/under invoice is realistic?
The results I found discussed leasing and used pricing mostly. The official discount off MSRP poll isn't specific enough.
Any help I can get from you will be much appreciated. If you are not comfortable discussing price publicly, then please PM me!
I need some very specific advice. I did some searching about pricing and just didn't get the answers I am looking for.
Let me set this up. I am looking at getting a brand new IS 250 or 350. I am also going to finance the purchase.
My question for you is: For someone without any special connections, how much above/under invoice is realistic?
The results I found discussed leasing and used pricing mostly. The official discount off MSRP poll isn't specific enough.
Any help I can get from you will be much appreciated. If you are not comfortable discussing price publicly, then please PM me!
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 0
From: Dark side of the moon
Depends on your poker skills, and which car you are looking for. In stock IS250's have been known to go for $5k+ under MSRP in certain areas, and IS350's $4k+ under.
Special orders are more difficult to get better prices.
Special orders are more difficult to get better prices.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: GA
I wasn't aware that made a difference, but here goes:
2008 IS 250 RWD A/T
Invoice: $33,598
MSRP: $38,600
Options:
Z1 - Preferred Accessory Package
PT - Premium Plus Package
HL - HID Headlamps
NV - Navigation System
LR - Rear Spoiler
FT - 18" Wheels w/Summer Tires
LM - Lady Magnet
2008 IS 250 RWD A/T
Invoice: $33,598
MSRP: $38,600
Options:
Z1 - Preferred Accessory Package
PT - Premium Plus Package
HL - HID Headlamps
NV - Navigation System
LR - Rear Spoiler
FT - 18" Wheels w/Summer Tires
LM - Lady Magnet
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 0
From: Dark side of the moon
I wasn't aware that made a difference, but here goes:
2008 IS 250 RWD A/T
Invoice: $33,598
MSRP: $38,600
Options:
Z1 - Preferred Accessory Package
PT - Premium Plus Package
HL - HID Headlamps
NV - Navigation System
LR - Rear Spoiler
FT - 18" Wheels w/Summer Tires
LM - Lady Magnet
2008 IS 250 RWD A/T
Invoice: $33,598
MSRP: $38,600
Options:
Z1 - Preferred Accessory Package
PT - Premium Plus Package
HL - HID Headlamps
NV - Navigation System
LR - Rear Spoiler
FT - 18" Wheels w/Summer Tires
LM - Lady Magnet
In simplified form, your configured car has $X MSRP and $X-Y invoice where Y is the difference between MSRP and invoice on the total package. In reality, your base car has $M MSRP and $M-N invoice and each option you add also has $Q MSRP and $Q-R invoice, where R (the difference between MSRP and invoice) changes both in actual dollar value and ratio to MSRP for each option.
Sorry for the pseudo-math.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: GA
Wow, you guys are really fast!
I am wondering if $34,000 before TTL is possible on a car in the dealer's inventory with $33,598 invoice.
I also saw that some people here think that the 350 retains more value than 250 models. Is there any truth to this?
I am wondering if $34,000 before TTL is possible on a car in the dealer's inventory with $33,598 invoice.
I also saw that some people here think that the 350 retains more value than 250 models. Is there any truth to this?
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Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 315
Likes: 2
From: California
A Suggestion....
If you want the BEST price, dont buy new. Buy a used car. 2 years old. You get a car that has depreciated substantially, while still retaining its "newness"....For example...I bought a loaded 06 IS350 with 18,000 miles, Nav, Sport Package, Mark Levinson, for 31K....MSRP on that car was closer to $46K 2 years ago. Retail on that car today is $37K....It still has the new car smell, and I got it for less than an NEW IS250....In 3 years, which car will be more desireable...an 06 IS350, or an 08 IS250? You also can pay it off faster, and if you sell, its worth more....the depreciation on a new car will kill you in the first 2 years then it will level off and depreciate at a much slower rate....so let someone else pay the depreciation and then you get the car at a much better rate. Also you can look at service records and know if that particular car had any issues...and with Lexus 100k mile pre owned warranty, you are not putting yourself at risk by having a car thats out of warranty.
If you want the BEST price, dont buy new. Buy a used car. 2 years old. You get a car that has depreciated substantially, while still retaining its "newness"....For example...I bought a loaded 06 IS350 with 18,000 miles, Nav, Sport Package, Mark Levinson, for 31K....MSRP on that car was closer to $46K 2 years ago. Retail on that car today is $37K....It still has the new car smell, and I got it for less than an NEW IS250....In 3 years, which car will be more desireable...an 06 IS350, or an 08 IS250? You also can pay it off faster, and if you sell, its worth more....the depreciation on a new car will kill you in the first 2 years then it will level off and depreciate at a much slower rate....so let someone else pay the depreciation and then you get the car at a much better rate. Also you can look at service records and know if that particular car had any issues...and with Lexus 100k mile pre owned warranty, you are not putting yourself at risk by having a car thats out of warranty.
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Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 315
Likes: 2
From: California
True, but if you compare Apples to Apples....what do you want? More for your money...In 5 years the value of an 06 IS350 will be more than the value of an 08 IS250, yet you paid more for the IS250. Thats reality. So there may be no depreciation, how about this...you can pay less for 100 more HP, bigger brakes, and a nicer car in general....While an IS250 is a nice car, the IS350 is nicer.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: GA
For me, choosing the 250 over a 350 is not really about affordability. I drive over 12,000 miles per year and sit in enough traffic that I don't want a very powerful car.
If acceleration were priority one, then I could just get a base IS 350 instead of a nicely equipped IS 250.
Buying new for me is important, because I am so incredibly good about taking care of my cars. I always change the oil on time and measure tire pressure on the regular. The thought of owning a car that I don't the entire history of makes me uncomfortable.
What I am trying to achieve here is get some experience from some seasoned Lexus owners who have already been through the negotiation/buying process (some more than once). I don't really know what to expect, since I am a first time Lexus shopper.
If acceleration were priority one, then I could just get a base IS 350 instead of a nicely equipped IS 250.
Buying new for me is important, because I am so incredibly good about taking care of my cars. I always change the oil on time and measure tire pressure on the regular. The thought of owning a car that I don't the entire history of makes me uncomfortable.
What I am trying to achieve here is get some experience from some seasoned Lexus owners who have already been through the negotiation/buying process (some more than once). I don't really know what to expect, since I am a first time Lexus shopper.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: GA
Are you saying that you regret getting the 250? I actually test drove the 250 today and found the power to be adequate. Although... it's definitely lacking compared to what I have right now.
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 315
Likes: 2
From: California
For me, choosing the 250 over a 350 is not really about affordability. I drive over 12,000 miles per year and sit in enough traffic that I don't want a very powerful car.
If acceleration were priority one, then I could just get a base IS 350 instead of a nicely equipped IS 250.
Buying new for me is important, because I am so incredibly good about taking care of my cars. I always change the oil on time and measure tire pressure on the regular. The thought of owning a car that I don't the entire history of makes me uncomfortable.
What I am trying to achieve here is get some experience from some seasoned Lexus owners who have already been through the negotiation/buying process (some more than once). I don't really know what to expect, since I am a first time Lexus shopper.
If acceleration were priority one, then I could just get a base IS 350 instead of a nicely equipped IS 250.
Buying new for me is important, because I am so incredibly good about taking care of my cars. I always change the oil on time and measure tire pressure on the regular. The thought of owning a car that I don't the entire history of makes me uncomfortable.
What I am trying to achieve here is get some experience from some seasoned Lexus owners who have already been through the negotiation/buying process (some more than once). I don't really know what to expect, since I am a first time Lexus shopper.
