I've just started the journey of special ordering a new LS500. With one exception 20+ years ago, I've always bought used. I've attached my build from the configurator.

The builds that are coming into the DFW dealers don't match what I want and if I'm going to drop this kind of cash, I want my configuration. If I'm going to settle for what the dealers happen to have, I might as well buy used and save the dough.

The dealer nearest me seems pretty uninterested in doing a special order. They are pushing me toward their already allocated cars. This doesn't surprise me, but it won't get them a sale.

Do any of you DFW folks out there have dealers with whom you've had particularly good purchase experiences?

I'll keep this post updated as I go through the process.

 

If I were you and with this configuration, you will most likely find this on the West Coast. When you look at the higher end Japanese vehicles that come loaded to the max, you'll find them in Hollywood dealerships, Santa Barbara, SanFran and in San Diego. I know for a fact that is the case. You should reach out to one of them and see if they have what you are looking for on the showroom floor and if so, flatbed ship it to you. Or go there yourself, as I traveled to another state to buy mine and drove it home (What a wonderful way to get to know this vehicle). Also, I believe they will be more willing to work with a special order as those locations deal with special orders all the time.

 

As far as I know. There is no such thing as a special order for Toyota and Lexus products. You would have to have the dealer allocate or request one from another dealer.

 

The dealer said he could a special order but didn't know whether Lexus would be willing to do my specific build. Which seemed odd, since it worked in the configurator.

But maybe when he said "special order" he meant swapping out one of their allocated cars with this build. I have no idea.

 

Well I know it's done just as you configured it all the time. You should try the folks over at Lexus of Santa Monica - see what they have - they usually cater to the stars from that location or at least the 1%'s in that area. There's also Mission Viejo Lexus, I used to live near them and got my IS from them and they always have or do "orders". BTW, this is not a special order "per se", most of the equipment is installed at the harbor/dealer, just depends. But I'd be one of those places should be able to get you what you want.

Edit: To say that it's special order is sort of stretching it and I agree with LexsCTJill - there really is no such thing as "special order" - however, its really just what those dealers are ordering for their market. So if you want a vehicle that has what you are looking for as configured, you'd need to be / look in the market that demands those feature, which is why I'm recommending California.

 

I don't know if things have changed with Lexus since I special ordered my LS460 in March of 2007, but I would think if you could specify it in the configurator then it can be built. My dealer also preferred that I buy one of their lot cars, but I told them that wasn't happening. Once that was established, they happily took the order for the car.

It would be great to place the order with a local dealer, and I think if you play hardball with them, they will acquiesce and take your order. And if they don't , well then it's their loss because you will go to a dealer who will take the order.

And BTW, just because you are special ordering the car, you deserve the same discount to MSRP as the lot cars.

 

Update: My local dealer ordered an LS to my configuration. Lead time will be around 6 months.

 

I guess maybe covid is slowing things down. I recall that I ordered my LS the first week of April, 2007 and it arrived on the last day of June.

 

I’m wondering if they were hesitant because you basically ordered a loaded car without the ML system. That would be a hard sell if you back out. And in my personal opinion, the ML system is probably one of the best things about this LS.