rbudiman

Hi guys,

I just need your opinions on this one. I am currently looking into trading my 2009 IS 250 AWD with 26500 miles on it for an 2007 IS 350 with 31000 miles. The IS 350 has 1 more option than my 250, which is Premium Two option (Seat Memory). Is it worth it to do a straight trade-in with a dealer? Is it possible to ask for more? Say about $2000 more from the dealer?

By the way, I live in Minnesota, and it snows really bad. Do you think an IS350 with snow tires on it can handle the situation? I am going to use the car everyday to commute from home to school. I live about 15 miles away from school. Thanks in advance for your suggestions, greatly appreciated.

IXI187IXI

iTrader: (3)

imo i wouldnt trade a car in for pretty much the same car.

laobo979

iTrader: (5)

If you want it why not I traded mine AWD for IS350 and I'm more than happy with it. You can run snow stud less or snow performance tire in the winter and be fine

redline201

iTrader: (13)

i would do the trade if snow wasn't a factor. i know my is with stock tires was impossible to drive up my street with less than an inch of snow on the ground. ( I live at the bottom of a hill) But i heard snow tires makes a huge difference.

rbudiman

how about from the value of the car? Based on kbb, I think I can sell my '09 IS 250 AWD for about $30k (private party value) and the '07 IS 350 only worth $26k(private party), even the suggested retail value of the '07 IS 350 is only $29k... What do you guys think? should I do the trade if the dealer let me do straight trade in?? or do you guys think It is possible for me to ask for $2000 from the dealer?

Thanks

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

If you think a 250AWD and a 350 are the same car you clearly haven't driven either



To the OP- you'll be fine. There's folks who drive 350s (and IS-Fs) in the upper midwest, upstate NY, even Canada with no problem with good snow tires.

I certainly think you ought be able to ask for something from the dealer... rather than 2k I might consider asking for 1k and a 7 yr/100k lexus extended warranty though since you're losing 2 years of "warranty" in the trade.

rbudiman

the problem is, the dealer that has that car is not a lexus dealer. Is it still possible to ask for it? What if the dealer don't wanna give me extra money instead they only let me do the straight trade in? Should I still do it? or should I just wait until I find another deal?

I was thinking to find a '08 one but there isn't any dealer that has an '08 one near my city.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

Ah, then no he's less likely to do it... if he's a lexus dealer he can throw the warranty in for his cost, a 3rd party would have to pay more for it.

With that much of a price difference you'd be better off selling your privately, but obviously you have the issue of not having a car in between.

So if it's a 3rd party dealer then best off asking for the cash difference in values...I'd probably start with "kbb says there's a $4000 difference in value, so give me the 350 and $3000"

Ideally he offers 350 plus 1k, you settle on 350 plus 2k... and you can easily get the warranty yourself for less than 2k


Be careful though- you can only buy the Lexus warranty if the car is still within the original factory warranty period.

The very first 07s sold are just leaving that period now. You'd need to know the cars "in service" date (ie the date it was oriignally sold) to know if it was less than 4 years ago or not.

(all that assumes you want the warranty... if not just keep the cash)