My salesman just called me about the ES sales cancellation and deposit credit.
I mentioned I'm going with a '09 IS 350 special order.
Now as you may have read,I'm not happy with special ordering because I can't till late August according to Lexus HQ.I would get the car in Dec.I don't want a winter delivery.If I order in Dec-Jan ,I'll get the car in the spring but my 250 will depreciate.
The dealer will give me $25K now for my IS which like getting $26750 privately with the sales tax trade in savings without the sale hassle.A good trade in price on a base 250 AWD.
I would think the '09 body will be the same Though there may be a few minor changes like maybe a new style coinholder.
The IS-F just came out so the IS models should be same.



Would you just order an '08 and get it by Sept or go with an '09?

Both $1500 over invoice but I can get a few hundred dollars in accessories (spoiler,mats)with the '08 along with a Sept delivery and more for my 250 than I would get in Dec...
The sales manager will also try to find one with the equipment I want.

IMO the ball is in your court! You have a car so they are at your mercy. 08/09...that really doesn't matter. 09 you have the newest if they do any slight updates? 08 you have a great car with no miles compared to the rest of the market. you have plenty of room to rack up the miles and still have nothing to worry about.

If you are like me you wont wait and just get it

2009!! BABY!

Thats what im getting. JOEB, if you dont get an 09' im gonna be having all the glory and im not sharing hehehe

Yea but if you had the $$ now wouldn't you just get the 08?? Or would you seriously torture yourself longer

If i had the money I would buy an '08, but i wont have the money for a while, sooooooo buy the time im ready, it's 2009 time!

You can do better on your trade... got $27,200 for mine...

Yea that is what I figured. I think this is the position Joe is in where I dont see that much benefit on the waiting process.

Other option is to wait it out till after winter and see if the coupe is released Not sure if a coupe would make sense for your needs but I think it would be worth the wait and make the car a little different.

I have only once purchased the same model car, it had a slight change in HP, but in the end I got home and wasn't excited. It just didn't feel like I had a "NEW" car...This is kind of what you will end up with but the HP gains.

Would you consider something outside of a Lexus??

In that you’re driving a nice ’06 IS, I would certainly wait for an ’09. There may be enough enhancements to justify it.

And I too am not a special order fan. The wait is just too long. But rather than finding something in inventory when the ‘09’s come out, there’s another way. Just tell the dealer exactly what you want in equipment and a few color/interior preferences and put down a deposit. If they’re a good dealership, the first one that comes in with those parameters will be yours. Of course, you still may have to negotiate the price, but that’s always the case. I’ve done this with my last two cars, and I was surprised both times how quickly the exact car I wanted came in.

I would go for an '09.

I would wait to be happy with my purchase, especially since you are concerned about yearly depreciation, since you mentioned you don't want the IS350 to arrive in the Spring...

Close call both ways.
I have an appt at Lexus 2 o'clock tomorrow.My sale guy insists I test drive the 350.Ok,twist my arm.
Then I'll talk to the sales manager and see what's up.

Actually,I was offered $25.5K.

Dealers use the Galves book for trade in values in my NYC metro area.That book is always lower than KBB and NADA.At least 5% lower.

Unless you are desperate to ditch your car soon, I'd say wait for the '09.

Bah I special ordered a 2007 in February 2007 and after multiple screw ups by that particular Lexus Dealership, I had to settle for a 2008 and picked it up in Sept.

Just make sure you're happy with your decision. I'm quite content with what I got.

It's really not a question of desperation.It's a question of whether I really want to wait till next spring for what may be the same car for more money.
There may be some subtle changes but nothing radical.
My car will also depreciate if I wait till spring and there may be a price increase on the '09s.
I do long for the luxury options and more power.

The new design Audi A4 is really nice too.

unless you specifically know what the '09s are going to look like and how they are going to be packaged, you are dealing with a relatively high unknown factor.

on the other hand, you know what the '08s bring to the table. in addition, you have the cash in hand and a trade-in ready. however, will your money have the same buying power next year? will your trade-in be worth just as much next year?

IMO you should pull the trigger on an '09 is if 1) i know what the '09 model looks like and how it is packaged, and 2) your money and trade-in holds the same value.

otherwise, get the '08.

btw at the rate the power of the dollar is falling, i wouldn't wait too long...