Based on historical announcements from Toyota, in about 1-3 weeks we'll have more information on 2025 models. This lines up with them suggesting a September production and December delivery. Waiting at this point is the way to go if you don't have an order in.

 

Picked up my 24 LC in Jan. 24,didnt like wheels but have ordered new ones...wheels here in 2 weeks...will keep posted....lots of choices.

 

Reading through this thread as well as some others on this forum brings one thing to mind. You would think that a company that is asking a six-figure price for a car would make the process a little more transparent to the person paying that amount. Instead, Lexus muddles the process to the point where, depending on the dealership you go do, they give contradictory statements about how the process works. Admittedly, ordering a car is a relatively rare occurrence. However, in my opinion, each dealership should have at least one manager trained in a uniform process so that customers aren't left wondering what's happening with their car.

Then again, maybe Lexus figures that if people are so gung-ho about a car that they are willing to pay that much money for it, then they are willing to suffer some corporate abuse in their quest for that car.

 

car dealers have a HIGH turnover of sales "specialists" and to find 1 that has figured out the system is rare..PM if u want to special order a LC and I will give U my salesmans info...

 

I've thought about this often in the past few months as I've researched and gone through the process myself. I think what's working against them is that this is their first go at bespoke, and the average dealership probably gets 0.3 orders a year (or in their lifetime). Speculation but google suggests 300 Lexus dealerships in North America, and I think I read somewhere only about 100 bespokes are ordered a year. That being said, two simple solutions would help SIGNIFICANTLY:

1. Standardizing the process between Canada and the US (the way corporate interacts with Canada and the US seems to be different, putting aside state/province differences)
2. Making a "catch all" training video for both salesperson and customer. This may sound silly, but given the effort/time to train someone at a dealership on a bespoke process (given the low order volume and number of sales people in a dealership), making a "So you're thinking about a bespoke car from Lexus, let's introduce both you and your salesperson on what to expect". I'd sit down with my salesperson and be "educated" alongside them on what to expect. A 15 min video on the process, showing me the factory, a short speech by the chief engineer, etc. And then have Lexus provide supplementary "after the fact" training that the salesperson can review after I leave the dealership so that the next time I come in they're ready to execute on the order.

 

And a Golden Ticket tour of the manufacturing site! Wasn’t it Volvo that at one time allowed you to go pickup a vehicle at the Plant? I’d love to tour the plant (and the Casio site). One would think that they would do more to recognize Customer loyalty.

 

Volvo and a bunch of others used to offer European delivery, and also insuring your vehicle there for a few days or a week when you grabbed it. I think because of some tax or other loopholes you'd save either tax... PDI or something else? I think slowly the incentives got lowered. But last I checked Porsche still offers factory delivery. But from what I remember Volvos was the best financially. To the point that it was cheaper to take EUI delivery and a full vacation than to get it in NA.

 

Maybe they offer a tour if getting an LFA? . I think it would be fun to tour the plant, maybe sit down with engineering / design or something. The Company I retired from (Business Aviation) would provide tours for existing/potential Customers if requested. It actually had a fairly large participation rate and closed some deals. I have a daughter who’s graduating college in a bit and she want’s a family trip to Japan (she’s big into Anime and character drawing). Maybe we will knock on the door!

 

I vaguely recall reading about a plant that would let you watch your particular car being assembled. I want to say it was a VW plant here in the states, but my memory of the article (20 years ago or more) is rather rusty.

 

If you take a trip to Japan they let you tour the factory. Here is a video of someone doing that.
Bentley still offers a site visit when you buy I think. I know I got that offer when I bought mine a few years ago.

 

Thanks for sharing this. Stunning factory! Stunning car! I would like mine in 1) Structural Blue, 2) Ultrasonic Blue, 3) InfraRed and 4) NoriGreen.
Since the chance of getting an LC is miniscule (for me), I thank my lucky stars that I have an RC350 in Ultrasonic Blue. I enjoy every minute
of driving it.

 

Don't wanna disappoint you, but I've heard that some people have been waiting way longer than 3 months.

 

Just heard from my dealer- My LC500 Bespoke Edition was built yesterday and will be arriving at the dealer by late June- That is about 3.5 months after order was placed.
Not too bad- Can't wait!!

 

I also ordered the $40 wheel upgrade on my Bespoke order and it was accepted and built- Should get delivery mid June! Maybe Lexus discovered it had too many optional wheels and decided to let the $40 option through

 

Very cool! Congrats to you! Looking forward to some pics. :-)