Consider resale value, the options you listed will certainly help!

 

Park assist is just little sensors that warn you with beeps as you get close to anything with your bumpers. The beeping increases the closer you get. Its great for parking because you never have to worry about tapping your bumper by accidentally getting to close.

 

From what I've read, NAV and the other stuff depreciates more than the basic car. BUT, you're right that it will have greater appeal to more buyers. You make a good point.

 

I see. Come to think of it, I haven't seen any of the IS-Fs with the sensors on the bumpers, including the car I mentioned on this post. Gotta change my original post.

 

In a car that folks expect to see factory NAV... a "stripper ISF" will be much harder to resell, and if you trade it in, you will be insulted (more than normal) by what they offer you... as it will be harder for them to sell as well.

I agree, the 2010 and up Nav is much better than the older NAV's... and it is much more than just NAV..

 

How much of a hit are we talking about here? I may initially save $5K.

 

i don't think anyone can give a hard figure, but i am not surprised if they hit you by at least 4k. basically the car is going to be so hard to sell. for me, i wouldn't even look at the car if it doesn't have nav

 

Who asked for your opinion, Mr. Editor/Moderator?

Seriously, it looks like everyone is saying to get the overpriced NAV. Damn it. I'll try to get the $4K back in the stock market....uh oh...wait...market is headed south again....DAMN IT!!!!!

 

Why buy new? I never understood the prestige of buying new. Gently used with less than 20k miles is the way to go....

 

AGREED! I bought my first Lexus New and that will be my last new car! Yes, the new feel and smell is nice but NOT worth the extra money. I mean I saved over $20k buying a used ISF!

 

I paid 43k for mine with 19k on it a few weeks ago... Sure beats the nearly 70k the 1st owner paid for it.

 

Is that with tax and license? If so, that is an awesome price. What would a used 2011 go for up there?

 

I purchased private party. A few more thousand on top of that for taxes.... but there is ways around that...

I'm not sure on the 2011, if you see an ISF for sale used private party in the NW, its a lucky day, hard cars to come by.

 

I think IS-F usually come with Nav & Mark when they arrive the dealership except you are doing special order, but I heard the saleman told me that if you do special order, the discount will be less than the stock car

 

Like stated earlier you will have a much harder time trading your car in or doing private sale 90% of car buyers in this category are looking for those items and you would probably lose more money going this route rather then just getting it with ML,Nav etc.

Yes ML is not the best sounding system out there nor is it worst, it's main problem is that it lacks bass which is easy fix, same with Nav I had 08' IS350 was a bit of pain to use but in my 11' F is much easier and more accurate and when I'm lazy I just punch destination asst and Lexus operator does all work. Back up camera is great comes in handy all the time, same go's far parking asst, and sun roof nice feature it's ok.

Some thing else to think about if you don't care about listening to music that much then it's no big deal but if you do love music and decide to install your own system then this can get expensive
Head unit between low end $800 to $1500 and up for good one

Amps mono block plus 4 channel amp both amps between $800 and $2000 or 5 channel single amp $ 500 to $1000

Sub woofer low end $150 to $1000

other stuff like cap $100 to $300, wires, etc

Install, if you can't do work yourself that means paying shop additional cost. Your cost any where between low side 2k high side 5k

Bottom line if you compare what you get for your 4k (Nav,ML,Sunroof,Back up Camera,parking assit) against just cost of installing good sound system I say that 4k is bargain and remember if you trade your car in it must be put back to stock and you will not recoup your cost parting that stuff out you will take lose same go's for private sale if you try to pass cost along of system you installed most people will either do two things ask you to take out system and give them price minus it or just won't give you price your asking for it just not worth it in end.

Good luck with your decision.
Dave