Traded my GS for a LS460 yesterday.
09-30-08, 08:27 PM
#19
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Congrats Doc. You need to give us the full skinny on the LS purchase experience - IIRC, you were going to buy a new ES at the same time you negoitated a new ES for your mother (in-law) but the dealer pulled a bait & switch and you backed into a 3GS at a sweet price . . .
This was a normal deal. I made a deal at the same dealership where I bought the ES and GS 2 years ago. $750 over invoice and I was ready to take it. Then I saw posts on CL about $2k under invoice.... so I went to a different dealership with that info and walked out with a smoking under invoice deal. I worked them on the trade too so they ended up giving me $1k more for my trade than other dealerships. I think the net net is a $4k under invoice deal if I factor in the trade.
The last 2 days of Sept are the best days to buy a car PERIOD.
@ everyone else, thanks for the kind words. I'll post some observations and comparisons soon. There are a couple of surprises that I didn't expect going from a GS-->LS.
09-30-08, 11:29 PM
#20
Lead Lap
i think we all are!! its just a matter of "belly-ing up" and doing it! 
i wont even attempt to upgrade unless i can get the LS460L with the Touring Package though. AIR-RIDE SUSPENSION BABY!!!
if i get the straight 460....ill want the "L" so i might as well just save the pennies and get it instead.
congrats on the LS man. im jealous.
i wont even attempt to upgrade unless i can get the LS460L with the Touring Package though. AIR-RIDE SUSPENSION BABY!!!
if i get the straight 460....ill want the "L" so i might as well just save the pennies and get it instead.congrats on the LS man. im jealous.
10-01-08, 05:24 AM
#23
Lexus Test Driver
Nice move Robert, so you finally got sick of all the rattles in your GS huh 
The LS is rattle free I hope. If you dont mind me asking, how much did you get for your 07 GS. I am think about trading in as well.
The LS is rattle free I hope. If you dont mind me asking, how much did you get for your 07 GS. I am think about trading in as well.
10-01-08, 10:45 AM
#24
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My trade was a minty 07 GS350 with ML/Nav and 36k miles. Perfect condition, they offered $27k to start and I negotiated up to $29k. In hindsight, I almost wish I had just kept the car as an extra because it has been so damn near perfect and reliable. 
BTW, I too would have preferred the LWB LS460L with touring package but I had to draw the line somewhere. I only use this car to commute back and forth once a week to an office I have 2 hrs from my home. I started out with a 4cyl Camry SE with the intent being that I have a comfortable cheap car with great gas mileage that I can rack up the miles and drive as a beater. That progressed to the Solara SLE V6 then the GS350 and now I have ended up with an LS460. This is way too much car for my needs but that's the nature of the beast right guys? You get to a place and say... just one more upgrade.... then one more upgrade.... Same thing happens when you build a house, the final number ends up 30% over budget before you know it.
BTW, I too would have preferred the LWB LS460L with touring package but I had to draw the line somewhere. I only use this car to commute back and forth once a week to an office I have 2 hrs from my home. I started out with a 4cyl Camry SE with the intent being that I have a comfortable cheap car with great gas mileage that I can rack up the miles and drive as a beater. That progressed to the Solara SLE V6 then the GS350 and now I have ended up with an LS460. This is way too much car for my needs but that's the nature of the beast right guys? You get to a place and say... just one more upgrade.... then one more upgrade.... Same thing happens when you build a house, the final number ends up 30% over budget before you know it.
Last edited by 2thfixr; 10-01-08 at 10:57 AM.
10-01-08, 10:55 AM
#25
Lexus Fanatic
damn depreciation. looks like lexus fairs only a little better than hyundai.
50+% in 3 years.
10-01-08, 11:27 AM
#27
My trade was a minty 07 GS350 with ML/Nav and 36k miles. Perfect condition, they offered $27k to start and I negotiated up to $29k. In hindsight, I almost wish I had just kept the car as an extra because it has been so damn near perfect and reliable.
BTW, I too would have preferred the LWB LS460L with touring package but I had to draw the line somewhere. I only use this car to commute back and forth once a week to an office I have 2 hrs from my home. I started out with a 4cyl Camry SE with the intent being that I have a comfortable cheap car with great gas mileage that I can rack up the miles and drive as a beater. That progressed to the Solara SLE V6 then the GS350 and now I have ended up with an LS460. This is way too much car for my needs but that's the nature of the beast right guys? You get to a place and say... just one more upgrade.... then one more upgrade.... Same thing happens when you build a house, the final number ends up 30% over budget before you know it.
BTW, I too would have preferred the LWB LS460L with touring package but I had to draw the line somewhere. I only use this car to commute back and forth once a week to an office I have 2 hrs from my home. I started out with a 4cyl Camry SE with the intent being that I have a comfortable cheap car with great gas mileage that I can rack up the miles and drive as a beater. That progressed to the Solara SLE V6 then the GS350 and now I have ended up with an LS460. This is way too much car for my needs but that's the nature of the beast right guys? You get to a place and say... just one more upgrade.... then one more upgrade.... Same thing happens when you build a house, the final number ends up 30% over budget before you know it.
10-01-08, 11:27 AM
#28
Lexus Test Driver
Actaully, $29K is a good price, Kbb list your car at $26K in good condition which is usually where most 2 to 3 year old car falls into. I hope I can get kbb value when I trade in mine.
Good Luck with your LS Robert, I am waiting for the LS AWD to come out and when I hit the lottery
Good Luck with your LS Robert, I am waiting for the LS AWD to come out and when I hit the lottery
10-01-08, 11:28 AM
#29
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@ socalJD, you have a great memory! Yes that's exactly what happened. They screwed up so they gave me a GS350 at $200 over invoice a week after the car came out which I guess was great at the time.
This was a normal deal. I made a deal at the same dealership where I bought the ES and GS 2 years ago. $750 over invoice and I was ready to take it. Then I saw posts on CL about $2k under invoice.... so I went to a different dealership with that info and walked out with a smoking under invoice deal. I worked them on the trade too so they ended up giving me $1k more for my trade than other dealerships. I think the net net is a $4k under invoice deal if I factor in the trade.
The last 2 days of Sept are the best days to buy a car PERIOD.
@ everyone else, thanks for the kind words. I'll post some observations and comparisons soon. There are a couple of surprises that I didn't expect going from a GS-->LS.
This was a normal deal. I made a deal at the same dealership where I bought the ES and GS 2 years ago. $750 over invoice and I was ready to take it. Then I saw posts on CL about $2k under invoice.... so I went to a different dealership with that info and walked out with a smoking under invoice deal. I worked them on the trade too so they ended up giving me $1k more for my trade than other dealerships. I think the net net is a $4k under invoice deal if I factor in the trade.
The last 2 days of Sept are the best days to buy a car PERIOD.
@ everyone else, thanks for the kind words. I'll post some observations and comparisons soon. There are a couple of surprises that I didn't expect going from a GS-->LS.
B/c my wife is thinking of stealing my GS from me, so maybe it might be a good time for me to give LS another try (but still tempting of GT-R
); especially right now we can get it couple thousands under the invoice. 
Anyway, thank you for sharing!!!
10-01-08, 11:30 AM
#30
Lexus Fanatic