Ordering 2025 RX350h

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 1, 2024 | 10:31 AM

#16

budwom

Advanced

Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 712

Likes: 356

From: Vermont

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrinkle

I believe this is not a "bug" but a "feature" in Toyota/Lexus process/systems - "lean" processes to keep costs lower. In other words, accommodating customer-ordered customizations lead to more complexity in the manufacturing and supply-chain. They have to keep inventory and/or have smooth flow of all possible parts, if they don't keep pre-set and predictable customizations to the cars - therefore the customizations are "boilerplate" decided by Toyota/Lexus ahead of time. Hence Toyota/Lexus are cheaper than comparable "luxury" brands like BMW, Audi, Mercedes - for almost equivalent features.

Did I love my Audi's exactly customized purchase ? Yes.

Did I love my Audi's reliability and ownership experience and costs ? Hell, no.

So I swallowed the fact that Lexus sold me those "illuminated door sills" or "Triple-beam headlights" when I couldn't care less for them, because Lexus configure the car for me. Matter of trade-offs. They also sell in volume and there is much demand, so they don't feel any pressure to do otherwise.

100% agree, This is the way car buying works these days, especially for cars with high demand. We told our dealer what we wanted and didn't want, and waited just a few weeks to find something that met our needs, even though, like you, it included some minor features we really didn't want. Full customization does nothing for the car manufacturer except increase complexity (as you noted).

Last edited by budwom; Dec 1, 2024 at 10:32 AM.

Dec 1, 2024 | 04:36 PM

#17

Derek305T

Rookie

Joined: Feb 2022

Posts: 34

Likes: 18

From: FL

In the US there are no custum oders; if a dealer offers you a custom order they will simply wait for the closest thing and offer it to you when they get it. To get the car I wanted I just drove about 300 miles to the dealer that had the closest thing.

Dec 1, 2024 | 07:50 PM

#18

japanfoodbinge

3rd Gear

Joined: Nov 2024

Posts: 3

Likes: 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemu30

we gave a deposit on a car that was coming in about 8 weeks later. 63k msrp bought for about 61k. They said no haggle on a hybrid, I said bye bye and they wouldn't let me leave.

Thanks! good to know, will give that a try