Hello from Bella Vista, AR

My name is Dennis Wilkins and I am a retired Army Master Sergeant. I do not own a Lexus yet but I would like some advice on one that may come my way. A 85 year old friend of mine who has more money then common since is getting ready to trade her 2010 LS 460 AWD SWB in on a new 14 or 15 LS. Her 2010 LS 460 is loaded to the gills, it has 25,551 miles on it. It is equipped with the ML sound system, comfort package and is AWD. I have seen the window sticker which is still in the glove box. The list price back in 2010 was $74,857. She traded a 07/08 LS 460 and gave 50K to boot. Here is the sad part, she can no longer drive and in all likelihood will never be able to drive the new LS. When she needs to go someplace I drive over to her house pick her up and take her to her Doctors or out to lunch in her Lexus. Or here care taker drives her to the hair dresser or lunch. She switch's back and forth between mid-grade (89) octane and (91/93) octane every other tank. The car was the new car sales mgr's demo when she traded for it. It came with 19 inch tires on it, but she did not want 19's and made them switch the 19 inch out for 18 inch tires. They put 18's on mounted on chrome rims which I think was a $1,200 option. I have told her I might be interested in the car depending on what they will give her for it on trade. So my question is this. In all likely hood what will she be given for trade in value? What would be a fair price for this car? If I buy it from her can I get CPO warranty coverage on it? I have told her she should keep the 2010 but I do not believe she will and do not want to see it go back to the dealer, who will sell it for a bundle and make a ton of profit. This car is in pristine condition and has all it's services completed on time.

Thanks for any advice.

Dennis

 

It appears that the dealership took advantage, if not out right cheated her, on the trade in value of her 07/08. If she is going to the same dealership that should be to your advantage because you will easily be able to offer her a better price. Go to Edmunds.com to check on a fair valuation of the car.

You can get an extended warranty from a third party, but I don't believe you an get one from Lexus.

One more point, if you are able to buy the car from her, you might want to help her purchase a new one from the stealership. My guess is they would want MSRP, if not more. Don't let the bastidges take advantage of her. Tell them if they don't treat her right you are driving her to the MB dealership.

 

Thanks for the response. What kind of trade in would you expect on a LS460 of the vintage and condition? Would you be expecting high 20's low to mid 30's or higher? Is the switching back and forth on the Octane grade going to be a problem with this engine? She told me a couple of weeks ago that she had received a letter from Lexus about extending her warranty out to a 100,000 miles and I think the cost was around $2,400. She said she was not going to do that. If the warranty expires can you get extended warranty from Lexus after the fact?

Dennis

 

As far the trade in value, plug in all the specifics on Edmunds.com.

IMO the gas is no problem, but read this thread

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...d-threads.html

I'm traveling until Friday, when I get back I can give you the number of a Lexus dealer in AL or AR, I forget, who discounts the Platinum warranty, which is the one you want. You have to get it before the original warranty expires, so check in service date, you are fine on miles.

 

From the information you have given, it looks like the trade-in value would be somewhere in the low-30s. As Nospinzone said, you can get more exact info on edmunds.com. It does sound like the dealership took advantage of her in 2010. If she insists on getting a new one, I hope you can work out a mutually agreeable price and join us here in the LS owners club! You would love the car and be the envy of your friends. :-) Good luck!

 

I guess what I am hearing is if they offer her mid to high 20's to low 30's then I should buy if from her and I would be getting a good deal? I really hope she keeps the 2010 LS and uses the money she would spend for something of value and something that would make a difference in others lives.

Dennis

 

Buy this car in a "pass through" transaction at the Lexus dealer. Get the dealer to appraise the 2010 LS as a trade-in. They can sell it to you at that price plus a transaction fee of typically $250-$500. The Lady gets the tax benefit on the trade-in value and you probably get a nice car at a very good price. Just be sure to have your money lined up at the time the deal happens.

 

Good advice, I will keep that in mine should she decide to go through with what I think is a bad ideal. I must admit that every time I drive her in the Lexus I always come away with the thought that this is a sweet ride and I would really enjoy driving it.

Dennis

 

If you do this, you can also buy a Lexus Platinum extended warranty from them.

 

I got to drive my friends 2010 LS460 today. I looked at the original window sticker and the installed options include the Comfort Package, Cold Weather Package, Luxury Value Edition and Accy Package. The Comfort Package included Intuitive Parking Assist. What is this? The Luxury Value Edition does include the Mark Levinson Premium audio system with 19 Speakers. The Performance Feature includes Center Differential/Adaptive Variable Suspension. Is this the air suspension feature? I was wrong in that the Lexus did not come with 19 inch wheels. It came with 18 inch Aluminum Alloy Wheels of which she did not like so they put on the 18 inch Lexus chrome wheels which I think she said was a $1,200 options.

Dennis

 

I ran the Vin Decoder and learned that yes it has air Suspension. I also discovered that the Intuitive Parking Assist is radar assist not a self parking system. Are the varies packages that I listed fairly standard packages?

Dennis