I have been doing my absolute best in trying to get the new inspiration series coupe. I have contacted every single dealer I can find who is getting one (over 40) and 99% are pre-sold with the remaining 2-3 wanting absurd markups or only willing to sell to their local market.

1) Is it always this difficult trying to get the inspiration series?
2) Should I give up and just order a bespoke? How could they get rid of the Flare yellow for this year!?!?!
3) Can anyone provide any guidance or help in trying to secure an inspiration series?

Thanks for the help!

 

It could make sense for the dealer to prioritize returning customers, since selling the LC will likely make them return a few more times.

I've put my name in for my local dealer where I've bought two cars in the past from the same sales person, and hoping they do get the allocation.
For the record I did contact my sales rep within a few days of the press release that was around mid July, and placed a fully refundable deposit for the coupe.
My previous purchases from them are two SUVs and I have not bought any of the F series nor the flagship models.

I'm also checking incoming vehicles for random big cities with 500 miles radius search and do see a about one incoming for each metropolitan area.
If you do the math, I think there are 244 dealers in US and 40 in Canada. So, on average they will get 2 inspiration series if you count the convertible.

 

I don’t think it works that way. Sadly, some dealers will receive 6+ allocations while some dealers will receive 0.
The more LC you can sell, the more allocations you can get from Lexus.

 

Yep, I think that's how it works.
It may be easier to buy a slightly used one.

 

My advice would be: wait.

A lot of people will say that they're happy to pay $120K for a car then when you ask for the money, they don't have it for some reason. I'm starting to see photos of the inspiration cars popping up, so they're hitting dealerships right now and that will probably take 4-6 weeks to get them fully sprinkled around the country. Some percentage of those cars' first buyers will fall through, then the dealers will ask their 2nd choice, some percentage of those will fall through etc.

Right now, the dealers haven't worked their way through the list of people who say they want one. You don't want to be one of those people that they call and try to pressure into buying now or the next person will get it.

By mid/late November, there will probably be 10-20% of these cars that remain unsold and are now sitting on dealer lots. Then you figure out where those are and you buy one. Don't try to be one of those late December haggler types, pay the necessary money to get the car. Because at that point, those dealers are worried that the car is going to sit on their lot into the new year.

I would also accept that there is a very real chance that you don't get one of these cars new, because the best way to do that is to have a long standing relationship with a dealership that gets one and wants to make sure you're happy. This will definitely be a problem next year when (if) the OMG FINAL EDITION is announced. Is there a dealer that you could possibly have this relationship with?

 

Managed to reserve one yesterday. This is what the manager told me after I asked several questions:
For LC500 Inspiration a dealer will usually get one of each (coupe and convertible) if they are getting allocation at all. They do not know how Lexus will allocate the additional convertible. If you see the coupe posted on their website, then it's almost certain already pre-sold.
The impression is that more people looking for coupe for this model year.
Usually high volume dealer will get update from Lexus HQ on certain days, twice a month. <--- find these dates for your local dealers.

Call any dealers within your area that has yet to post on their site for inspiration coupe on their update days. (Wont hurt to call the pre-sold one to put your name on the list in case the buyer back out.)
That's how I got my reservation. When I called in, no one else knows that dealer just got the allocation. They just got informed themselves and have yet to do anything with it.

 

Im sensing BIG ADMs in the making.

 

Thank you everyone for your feedback, I will continue to be as aggressive and persistent as I can be for the next 1-2 months. When should I throw in the towel and place the Bespoke order because it seems the timing from acceptance of order/delivery can vary drastically. I'd rather play it safe and have a car (even if it's summer of 2026) over not getting anything. December/January order for bespoke is safe enough?

 

Based on the other thread there are rumors that the production might end in ~ 6 months, so I think there is risk in pushing out your potential bespoke order..

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/lc-model-2018-present/1041911-2026-my-announcement-released-14.html#post11975594

 

I would place a Bespoke by Dec 1.

Word is, production for the LC will be stopping April 2026.

 

What's your goal here, collector / value appreciation or "owning your dream car"?

The appeal of the bespoke cars is that you get exactly what you want. None of the inspiration cars have been "exactly what I want" from a color combination / wheel perspective, and because there's no performance upgrade (due to Toyota not wanting to re-certify with the EPA) the styling compromises that come on the inspiration cars are only offset by uniqueness / collectability.

The risk you run with submtiting a bespoke order this late in the year is that some of the options you want -- dark trim, specific wheels -- may have run out by the time they do the next production run. Which means your car doesn't get built, possibly until the next fall production run after they stock up. We've seen reports of Lexus running out of these parts after their fall bespoke batch and then be unable to fill some bespoke orders in their spring production run. And if 2027 is the final model year, whatever "final edition" they do plus bespokes already in the pipeline will probably eat up their remaining production capacity.

My advice would be to do whatever you're going to do quickly. They're building ~1300 of these cars a year, so as soon as the final year is announced the dealer markups and collectors throwing money around is going to be absolutely stupid.

 

I've not heard or seen any indications that this is the case. Care to share a source? (Edit: I now see the post above, if that's the source no need to reshare)

Lexus has done a "Final" or "Ultimate" Edition for the RC-F and now IS500 in the last 2 years, there is absolutely no reason to believe that Lexus won't do the same for the LC500.

With that said, I wouldn't want to be trying to buy an LC500 in the final year of production. The dealers and collectors are going to get crazy.

 

Goal is to get the one I like the most. The matte gray w/ black/white interior and spoiler appeals the most to me. My top 2 bespoke choices have also been discontinued for 2026 (Flare yellow and copper crest). Obviously, I'm in the boat that ANY LC500 is better than none and I'd rather not be left empty handed. Just trying to get what I want while also avoiding greed.

 

buying my 24 LC was a PITA, crapshoot at best.

 

I did a national search on CarGurus for new LC coupes for sale, the results show 19 cars, 8 of those are over $120K which I'd guess are the Inspiration Coupes.

This is one of the examples from the dealer page, this looks to be an Inspiration Coupe: https://www.lexusofenglewood.com/new...CP5AY7TA112267

(ignore the pictures, the exterior color shows as "smoke")

I would run down that list of dealers and call them asking if (a) they have the car and (b) if they will sell it to you for MSRP. Good luck!