Still trying to locate/purchase our 2010 RX 350 AWD with Nav and Rear entertainment. Who knew this would be such an adventure. Part of the trick was finding an exterior color we wanted, and also a vehicle that had not been sitting on someone's lot for 6 months. After much searching our dealer said he could just go into the system and alter the options on one of the vehicles they were slated to receive in the future. We were extremely happy with that idea and knew it would add some time to the whole ordeal. This was mid April. He called us at the end of April telling us that Lexus had sent out the production plan for May and the one we had ordered was slated to be built. At least we thought, since we had ordered Golden Almond with Parchment interior with Nav and RE....only 1 was being built in the system for the entire month of may (that is a very rare combo...true story). Dealer calls me throughout May when they get their list of allocation and informs me that they never got allocated to that vehicle....WTF????!!?!?!?!?! Instead they get allocated a Silver/Grey with Nav and RE. Whatever..that's fine, that's what we'll end up buying. However, he gives me this explanation today....

"The reason it's so hard to get the rear entertainment package is because those are built in Japan...."

****edit**** "those" meaning vehicles with RES...not the actual RESs.

After searching this forum, I found the thread about VIN numbers starting with 2 being Canada and J being Japan. The VIN of the vehicle we are slated to receive starts with a 2. What in the hell is going on? I was under the impression that only the hybrids and certain colors (Truffle Mica) were built in Japan. Can anyone help tell me what the true story should be.

I'm not really concerned about where it is built...just the fact that he is lying (or at least it seems that way) and that if it is being shipped today 5/25, why in the touch does it take a month to get from Cambridge, Canada to Lexington, KY? (expected delivery date is the week of 6/21). A month travel time from Japan is understandable.

 

I am not sure about RES being built in Japan, but I can say that the hybrid and also the ones with the luxury package (HUD) are built in Japan. But if the vin number starts with a 2 and the car has RES, then obviously its false.

However regardless of where it was built, they still had to order one from factory with RES thus the wait time.

 

my understanding is that if a VIN is available, the vehicle is built and ready to be shipped. if it ships today (his words) how in the world can it take a month to ship to a dealership in Kentucky...if it was built in Canada?

which if my understanding of where Cambridge is...outside of Detroit, that's just a short ride down I-75 to Lexington. 1 day tops. (i'm kidding of course....but 1 month!?!?!)

 

Try LONGO LEXUS in El Monte, CA

 

I have a hard time believing Longo Lexus would match/beat my current offer and not charge me to transport the vehicle on a truck to Lexington, KY. And then offer me as much/more for my trade and not charge me to ship that to them. That would have to be an expensive service. What motivation do they have to help me? Too much additional cost involved with going that far out of market.

 

Very bazaar story! I recently was told almost the same story. Only one RX of what I wanted was being built for the month. Dealer calls Lexus Regional rep and requests top priority for the vehicle since I am a repeat customer. No problem they say.

2 weeks later no vehicle is slated to be built with my specs for the month. WTF Then dealer finds one that was going to Las Vegas with my specs and the buyer canceled so I am getting that one. This has been going on for a month. Not sure what they do with these cars in transit, glad they're not produce. BTW car is still not here. Got into L.A. a week ago and I live in Phoenix.

 

so basically my salesman either got bad info from someone else, or fed me bad info that he made up. regardless, if the VIN starts with 2....canada, J....Japan. the RXs with the RES aren't necessarily built in Japan.

so now the real question. should it take a month for transport from the factory in Cambridge to dealerships in the lower 48? especially if the factory was informed that this vehicle has already been sold and "hot" status was requested.

 

Our dealer strung us along for over a month (close to two). It got to the point where we still weren't any closer to receiving our new RX than we were before we even walked into the dealership. So we called top level management for both Lexus Corporate and the owner of the chain of dealerships we had been dealing with. The next day we not only recieved our full deposit back plus our trade in vehicle being cleaned (although they damaged it while it was on their lot which they also ultimately repaired) but were given an additional incentive to buy, which we then took to another dealership within the chain where we had previously bought our '03 ES new.

After making that switch we had our '10 Red RX with Nav in a little over one week. We were given constant updates from the manager (we never dealt with a salesman) and were handled with the utmost courtesy.

Basically, you're not the only who's been strung along and lied to. It's a disappointing experience, especially when spending on a luxury Lexus where competence and responsibly are expected. I suggest you take your business elsewhere and your experience ought to improve.

 

Car dealers are like a crapshoot; once in a while you get lucky...