Hello All, I have a 2024 LC500 coupe reserved by refundable deposit. It should arrive in the next two weeks. Does it make more financial sense to just oder and wait for a 2025 model? Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

Is this a bespoke build or an allocation?

 

Allocation .... very close to what I would select.

 

DO you want the car now? Or 6 months from now?

That answers your question.

 

Personally this close to a 2025 I'd wait on the off chance 2025 is the last year of the LC. If it is, it will have a good chance to retain value substantially over other years. If it's not, it won't make an iota of difference since changes are minimal.

 

Are they the same price? A 2025 will be worth more than an identical 2024. And there are a handful of slight improvements. Dealers will likely not sell the 2025 as low as the 2024 for obvious reasons, but if they will do it.

 

Depends. And only you know yourself better than anyone.
Are you buying the car to enjoy it or are you buying the car as a trophy car and will only drive it occasionally?
Does depreciation/appreciation matter to you?
If I were to choose 2024 and 2025 and both of them are on the lot, the 2024 will likely have a much better price negotiation. If I can get 10k off the 2024 vs. paying msrp on the 2025, you bet I would get the 2024.
It’s kind of hard to imagine the LC will appreciate in value when you see so many sub $60k on the used market that are barely broken in.
Let say they discontinued the LC and it’s now hard to find, even if someone offer me $150k for my 2024 coupe, I still wouldn’t sell it. What else would I buy when I can’t find another LC to replace it. It would certainly makes me feel good but at the same time, I can’t part with it.

 

This purchase is not part of my investment portfolio. It is a pleasure toy. At this time, my thinking is very similar to the points you make.

 

But if you are reserving a 2024, that probably means you paying msrp(?) If that’s the case, just wait and pay msrp on the 2025.
And that is, IF you’re really really sure that allocation or custom build is yours.
I don’t have the warm and fuzzy feeling when the deposit is refundable. That just means nothing is guaranteed and the dealer owes you nothing. The nonrefundable deposit, in this case, is to protect you. The dealer knows it’s not hard to sell an LC nowadays.
Just make sure you have a LC coming and go from there.

 

I agree ........ I am aware that things can change.

 

I’m seeing lots of people who seem to be banking on this car becoming a collector’s item. I think that’s a mistake. It’s a car, and with only a handful of exceptions in modern cars (ignoring the silly years of supply chain issues where Hondas were selling over MSRP), these are depreciating assets. A ‘24 will be worth less than a ‘25 in January, and in future years, simply because it’s a model year older. For the same reason, virtually every car throughout history has seen discounts available on the older model in the period of transition to minimize that financial bite. Sometimes the previous model year is discounted so much that it’s actually the better investment, but just to the extent that you’ll lose less. (Look at ‘24 vs. ‘25 M8s, recently.) The “last model year” thing isn’t a value add in and of itself. MAYBE, if they do a limited run Inspiration Series. Will there be a handful of cars that fair far better than others by catching a bid on Bring a Trailer? Sure. Given that the market has reverted back to normal, if you go to trade this car into a dealer in five years you’re almost certain to lose money. (I’m open to the argument that every single LC will depreciate slower than similarly priced/marketed cars because of its scarcity, but depreciate it will.) If you bring a ‘25 home, park it in the garage and don’t drive it at all, if it turns out to be the last model year, in ten years maybe you’ll find a collector willing to pay up for it. (I know a guy who likes cars like that, and money truly is no obstacle. That said, a like-new ‘24 would probably find a similar price.) This isn’t an LFA, for a bunch of reasons. It’s a great car, and if you’d like to drive it in the next six months, and can maybe get the dealer to take a bit off of the top, the ‘24 seems like the logical choice to me. I just don’t see “the last year” adding much value to this car, especially if there’s no food fight to get a new one. If you get the last one that rolls off the assembly line, and keep total mileage under 100, that’s a different story, but such a car is likely to be kept by Lexus or someone along the supply chain before it hits the public. You’ll also never get to drive it, but that doesn’t seem like your plan. Good luck however you go.

 

Arrival in 2 weeks? No way I would wait knowing what I know now about the vehicle, too much enjoyment driving lost for me (bird in the hand). Also where I live Winter is coming. Besides the longer wait, assuming higher cost for the vehicle usually means higher cost tags and probably insurance. If there was some major change with HP or they went AWD then for me waiting is a different story.

 

Not driving your car to keep mileage down is like saving your wife for the next guy.

Enjoy the car, rack up some miles.

Pro-Tip: I, not long ago had quite a few collector cars that I did keep mileage down for the simple though of preserving, in the end I sold them all, I didn't even enjoy driving them at that point just because my mindset kept thinking of the rarity, etc.
Most cars are not an investment, some cars are. As much as we love our LC's, we have not reached that time for it be the case.

 

This is a good topic. I too have a new 24 hitting soon and I have considered the same scenario. 1.) I agree this car will hold value better than most, but they do all seem to depreciate. If you follow the used market on this car, then you will notice that the low mile, good condition coupes have pretty much bottomed out around $80k. Just about any year, "garage queen" coupe is going to be priced in and around that $80k mark. I am pretty sure just a guess) that 25 is the last year of this car and I also see very little change from 24 to 25 MY so I think values will be similar. I have a friend who is waiting to see if they do a "final edition" version this spring. Toyota/Lexus always seem to do "special edition" models in these circumstances so they will go one of two ways. 1.) They will do a decal/emblem on the final cars like they did the Supra in 97 or Land Cruiser80 in 97 which will be pretty much meaningless and be attached to most of them that go out the door. OR, they will do a "final edition" inspiration version that will be rare and hard to get. I am guessing the Bespoke car orders will be ended this spring as they wind down. It also seems like the 2024 Inspiration car in the frost white is a really slow mover so I think that they will not do something like that again. I guess that they go more generic and just badge all of the cars with something simple in the final months of production. I am going to take my late production 24 and be happy as I think there is the possibility of a feeding frenzy this spring once it becomes known that the 25 will be the last year.

I would grab the 24 and run with it. Mine was hard to get from the dealer and I feel fortunate to have it arriving soon.

 

I can’t speak for other purchasers, though I’m guessing they had the same issue, I think the Polar Satin finish is why Lexus had issues moving the ‘24 Inspiration Series. (It stopped me from buying one, after a long deliberation that included contact with different PPF shops and my detailer, and lots of calls from the salesman.) A satin finish doesn’t work for A LOT of people, situationally dependent. I liked the other bits, and would’ve paid up for that car even if it had the same white gloss paint available on a regular car. I think they could sell another Inspiration Series, easily, with the right color combo and paint finish. The satin is beautiful, but it doesn’t work for many.