Lexus IS300 ... how much can we negotiate?

2427 Views 14 Replies 11 Participants Last post by EricK, May 18, 2000

Will Cover

Discussion Starter · May 14, 2000

I visited my local Lexus dealer yesterday as well as my local BMW dealer earlier in the week and have narrowed down my choices for my next car between a 2001 Lexus IS300 and a 2000 BMW 323i.

I recently read that the invoice price of a Lexus IS300 is going to be $25,520 + $495 for destination charges. The base MSRP is going to be $30,500. Given that 25,000 IS 300's are going to be produced from June to December, it doesn't appear to me that this car would classify as a "high demand" type car, since 25,000 cars in not a limited production, at least not in my book. With that in mind, how much can one expect to negotiate off the MSRP when the IS 300's arrive in late June and early July? I know for a fact that two people have already placed desposits on them, one opting for a Millenium Silver and the other for a Diamond White Pearl. However, I was told by my Lexus representative that they do NOT specifically know which colors are going to be available just yet, but they do know that their first allotment of IS 300's will be fully loaded, with all options. A district manager is scheduled meet with all of the representatives on Tuesday to fill them in on the specifics of the car.

A general rule from what I have read on the internet is, take the invoice price of the car, add all the options you want from the invoice price as well, total them all up and add 3% to the cost of the invoice price and present this price to the sales representative. How successful do you think this would be with the release of the IS 300? Even though I believe 25,000 cars is not a limited production, I do believe there will be a high demand for these cars at first, which could limit the negotiations process. If a car is sitting on the parking lot without anyone having a deposit on it, it is NOT in high demand. Any opinions?

I'm reluctant to put down a deposit on the IS 300. If I do so, doesn't that hamper me in terms of getting the price of the car to what I am willing to pay for it?

Also, since a navigation system will NOT be available in the 2001 released on the IS 300, when it does become available the following year, is it something that WE (meaning if I buy the 2001 IS 300) can add to the car when it is released?

And finally, how do Lexus stereo systems compare to other cars, specifically the HK 12 speaker system found in the BMW 3 series as an option?

P.S.

If anyone has about 10 minutes, read this ...
http://www.pyramidwest.com/scenario.html

It's a very good car buying scenario.

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ISBlain

· #2 · May 14, 2000

Great topics for discussion..

1. Putting a deposit on an IS300 will secure you a spot in line for the car..you should have the ability to walk away if they won't flex on price..remember..new stuff typically brings top buck..Bimmers weren't, and in some places still aren't discounted much if at all!
2.Nav systems cannot be retrofitted int Lexus automobiles (at the dealer) There are aftermarket companies that sell these systems.
3.A month or so ago, Road and Track or one of those publications did a comparison of the Nakamichi Lexus System, to others in comparable cars...the bottom line was the Lexus system was the best that they had heard. The Nakamichi system won't be in the IS at release, but it may be offered later in the year.The stock Pioneer system is quite good..listen to an ES300 system if you wan't to get an idea.
3.Hope you order an IS..should be the best out!

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ringo

· #3 · May 15, 2000

I would be very surprised if you can get an IS300 for under MSRP.

PS The stereo in my SC400 is the best stock car stereo I've ever heard.

Sweetzzzz

· #4 · May 15, 2000

Well if base MSRP is 30,500$ and dealer invoice is around 25k$ and fully loaded is around 35k$ I would wanna pay around 33-34k$ after taxes and i'll be satisfied. Does anyone think I gotta chance? Thats still over the MSRP...

TEG

· #5 · May 15, 2000

Will wrote:
>> Given that 25,000 IS 300's are going to be produced from June to December,

Actually I think that the plan is for 9000 cars to be offered for sale this year.

The 25,000 number is the projected sales for next year....

If you see a car sitting on the lot for a while, then make a low offer and see what happens... Maybe all the waitlist people are waiting for a different color...

SpectraBlueIS300

· #6 · May 15, 2000

I wouldn't think that buyers in June and July will have that much negotiation power. It's not like Lexus really needs to sell this car below MSRP to get them out of the lot. The only scenario I can think of is the less popular colors may be sitting around and ripe for a bargain...

ALAN COCCA

· #7 · May 15, 2000

Originally posted by ISBlain:
Great topics for discussion..

1. Putting a deposit on an IS300 will secure you a spot in line for the car..you should have the ability to walk away if they won't flex on price..remember..new stuff typically brings top buck..Bimmers weren't, and in some places still aren't discounted much if at all!
2.Nav systems cannot be retrofitted int Lexus automobiles (at the dealer) There are aftermarket companies that sell these systems.
3.A month or so ago, Road and Track or one of those publications did a comparison of the Nakamichi Lexus System, to others in comparable cars...the bottom line was the Lexus system was the best that they had heard. The Nakamichi system won't be in the IS at release, but it may be offered later in the year.The stock Pioneer system is quite good..listen to an ES300 system if you wan't to get an idea.
3.Hope you order an IS..should be the best out!

Where did you get info on the Nakamichi sound system. I would love info on this!

ringo

· #8 · May 16, 2000

Alan, it was Car and Driver (March 2000) that did a stereo review. They compared a Bose Cadillac system (3rd place), the BMW 740i system (2nd), and the LS400 Nakamichi system. The reviewers included maestro Neeme Jarvi and J. Geils, along with 2 reviewers from 'Car Stereo Review.' The Lexus won in a clean sweep of all categories. I have the same system in my car and can say without hesitation that it's the best stock stereo I've ever heard.

-Ringo

dude

· #9 · May 18, 2000

I thought Lexus will start dealing with Mark Levinson and not Nakamichi in the near future...

Anyone know the date of switch-over??

(Or is that just a rumor??)

EricK

· #10 · May 18, 2000

Lexus will use the Mark Levinson sound system in the all new Lexus LS430 coming later this year. I'm assuming that they will incorporate that sound system in some of their other upperend models, including their GS series and Lexus LX470's.... I've heard Mark Levinson home systems and they're FANTASTIC!
Eric

onefortheroad

· #11 · May 18, 2000

25,000 cars/yr is alot, but like TEG said, only 9000 for this year. 9000 spread across the US is not many. To breakdown it down, ~700 IS300s are available for the western region, ~300 for the central region and ~700 for the eastern region on each shipment. Spread the cars out to all the dealers and you have only a handful to choose from your local dealer at any given moment during this year. Furthermore, this is a 1st year model, so all the people who likes to be "exclusive" will want to get their hands on it, irrelevant of cost. (Since this is a rich capitalist country, you know how many of them are out there.) Given these scenarios, your best bet is to wait for the 2002 model for a deal. This could be a good thing b/c all the kinks will be fixed, manual tranny and a NAV sysytem will be an option, and of course, more of them will be available for negotiation.

If you want a 323, well, just make sure you have no regrets.

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TEG

· #12 · May 18, 2000

Lexus also announced that the upcoming
SC430 (convertible!) will have a Mark
Levinson stereo...

Kim

· #13 · May 18, 2000

That's cool to have a stereo named after your first AND last name. Anyway, I've heard Lexus has one of the best stock stereos.

EricK

· #14 · May 18, 2000

yeah TEG, that's a given... What won't the SC430 have

[From TEG: A CLOTH TOP!!!]

[This message has been edited by TEG (edited May 18, 2000).]

EricK

· #15 · May 18, 2000

Kim
I have the Nakamichi sound system in my GS400 and I can attest to the fact that Lexus has incredible stereos.. My father has a 2000 BMW 740iL with the premium sound system (14 speaker, including 4 subs) and the system SUCKS! It's not clear at all and its subwoofers muddy everything up. Actually BMW's never had nice stereos. I did get a chance to listen to the sound system in the IS300 when it was on display at Lexus Rockville, MD and the sound quality was SUPERB!!!
Eric

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