With the extra things they tag on like Oil cooler, towing package, without a hitch etc I think even a lower discount on a custom order might work out cheaper. Let me see what happens. But I am excited to the see the heavy discounts in So Cal and ATL. Mid-west seems pretty dead for deep discounts.

 

I'm in the process of doing this currently. I had very specific colors and things I wanted and the only way to get them was a custom order. Obviously nothing is final until the papers are signed but I'm pretty happy with the discount I'm getting. I'm also happy getting the extra's installed for less than it would cost for the dealer to install them after the fact. Plus... this could be salesman talk, but I was told is the dealer was to install the mud guards and tow hitch they would only come with a 1 year warranty. Getting them added to the sticker before delivery means they get the same warranty as the vehicle, so 4 years (at least this is what I'm being told).

Final MSRP: $64,754
I wanted mud guards ($155)
and a tow hitch with ball mount ($650)

$6000 dealer discount
$500 lexus lease rebate

$58,254 sales price.

 

Mind sharing the dealer's name?

 

What you are saying is true, but it is also the reason why I would not likely be inclined to do a special order. If, for example, I can buy an RX out of a dealer's inventory with the Luxury Package and more options for about the same price as a special order RX with only the Premium Package and fewer options, it would be an easy choice for me to buy the more nicely equipped vehicle out of the dealer's inventory. Not only would I be able to enjoy the more nicely equipped vehicle, but, at trade-in or re-sale time, that more nicely equipped vehicle is going to have significantly higher trade-in or re-sale value.

You are correct about how typical pricing varies by region. I’ve been following pricing for various Lexus models for several years, and, consistently, the Southern California region has had the lowest pricing. At the same time the Midwest has consistently had the highest pricing.

Note, though, that, if you are in the Midwest, you can overcome much of the pricing disadvantage by contacting the internet sales departments of all of the Lexus dealers within, say, 200 miles of you. If you contact those internet sales departments of, say, 8 dealers and tell them what the configuration of the car you want is, you will be likely to find several dealers that aren’t interested in being competitive at all, but all you need is to find 2 or 3 or 4 of them who really want your business, and you can let them compete with each other for that business. Again, though, the interest of the dealers to be competitive will be smaller on a special order than it likely would be for cars in their inventories.

Also, you really cannot compare pricing details on a straight sale with those from a lease or financed deal. If a dealer can make a good profit from the lease or finance terms, it can discount the price of the car from MSRP by a greater amount and still make as much profit as it could make with a smaller discount on a straight sale of the vehicle.

Further note that this is not the best time of the year to be buying a new RX or other Lexus vehicle. Coming out of the winter, especially in the Midwest, there is a lot of delayed demand from people who were waiting until spring to buy a new vehicle, and the dealers don’t have to be as competitive with regard to pricing as they would have to be at other times of the year. Right now, Lexus is not offering any rebates on the RX or on most other models. As we move through the summer and into the fall, you can expect that significant rebates will be available.

 

I was hoping someone here could give me some advice on price shopping. I am looking to purchase a 2017 RX450h here in the next week and according to cars.com there are only about 10 that meet the color/options I am wanting. Since they are all 1,000+ miles away I figured I would start email communications with a few dealerships that had them in stock. Now I have seen people in this thread get thousands off MSRP but one dealership said the best they could do was $100 off claiming that they are rare. I can see cars.com says there are only 10 but I can imagine that there are more in stock that just aren't listed on that website. Does that sound like a normal discount?

 

StephyKay,
1) They will have more in-stock than listing even with the Dealer website
2) A few thousands off is more the norm than the hundreds
3) Some Internet Sale Managers can discount more base on the need of his or her qouta for the month/quarter/FY.
4) Look around on the internet, some websites will list a range of what people paid. Them aim your number to the lower end.
5) Relationship with the internet sale manager at a Dealer get you more discount.

Anyways, if you like to chat email me your phone number. Hope you will get as much discount as possibe since we worked too hard for our $!

 

I will approach it a little differently. I will ask for quotes on the car with similiar configuration with the color they have readily available. Once I short listed the dealers that have quoted me the price I like and hopefully have something in written then I can go in person and ask for the specific color. Since they have already quoted a price they willbe more inclined to give you deeper discount on a limited availaibility vehicle as compared to right of the bat. If the dealerships are far then you can ask them over the phone too but only once you already got the traction and established yourself as a serious buyer who is about the pull the trigger.

 

That's a good way to go about it. I'll try that with the dealer here in town. Thank you!

 

I hate it when the salesmen use that line "They're so popular we can't give a discount". The dealer gets so much compensation from the factory for just moving units, even if they just break even on the selling price. My approach is always to sit at home and call the internet sales managers within 100 miles from my home, then I take the top offers and call back and try to get them to battle it out. Some want your business and will try to make it happen and other will tell you they can't come close. I saved 10% off MSRP with just 4 hours work on a 2017 450h with luxury package and quite a few bells and whistles.

 

I think the competition is intense in CA. In the mid-west not so much. Likewise in states with smaller populations.

 

I am looking for a premium pkg. Any sales manager in Houston or Dallas to recommend?
i contacted two dealers, who are only offering $2500 off. Comparing with you guys it's not a good price at all.

 

Getting pretty poor discounts here in Canada. Dealers only offering $2k on stuff that is on the lot...

 

It is not a good price - almost an insult. Do your shopping/negotiating via the web and emails with dealers in California. Then, grab an inexpensive flight, buy your car and, drive it home.

 

Johntx,
you should check with the dealers in Southern CA. They can ship the car to you as well.
I was at the dealer today and Ali at Newport Lexus said he can help buyers out of State as well.

 

I'm in TX as well and it seems like dealerships aren't in the mood for deals. I contacted someone in CA and they were very happy and willing to help, with a big discount too, but they said shipping is roughly $1.00 per mile. At 1800 miles away that cuts pretty deep into their good deals.