GX550 & LC250 Tracking Thread

[Phillyd2]

Having a certified check sitting in front of you on the desk when talking to the finance guy certainly changes the vibe but bless their heart that they still go through the motions and act like there's still hope.

 

[Specialeyes]

Buying a car from a dealership is the biggest PITA experience out there.

 

[M1911]

Buying a car from a dealership is the biggest PITA experience out there.

My GP told me yesterday it is time for me to schedule my next colonoscopy. I think I prefer that to buying a car -- at least I'll be sedated.

 

[ThRiLlGmYr]

My GP told me yesterday it is time for me to schedule my next colonoscopy. I think I prefer that to buying a car -- at least I'll be sedated.

That would be a great gag. Show up to the finance office with an anesthesiologist and a bunch of IV's.

I bought my used LX from a Toyota dealer and the finance guy was painless. I guess there are no products to push on a 10 year old Lexus. It was my first time paying "cash" for a car and I was surprised how easily they took a $30K personal check.

 

[xlx]

I'm starting to get impatient waiting for a Land Cruiser with the premium package without the optional 20 inch wheels. I've turned down 7 so far in central Ohio. It seems that all the LC's with premium package are also coming with the 20's. I know somebody earlier said there were only like 30 vehicles in the system with 20 inch wheels but if that's the case they're all apparently coming here.

Let me know what dealer you are working with. I’m in the hunt for a 1958 model but hate the dealer experience. Good luck

 

[tacoshawn]

Longo Toyota just affirmed that this Heritage Blue Land Cruiser trim with premium package will be in around 23 May for me if I want it. Great color and limited amount of port options.

I asked if they have any demo units so I could go up there this weekend and do a test drive in advance to help me decide between LC and GX. Unfortunately, no demo units as all incoming are 100% spoken for and will be customer delivered.

This is the second one I’ll have an opportunity to get, I turned down a black FE. I have a love/hate relationship with black cars and have sworn them off. No more black cars/trucks. I do have a black Triumph motorcycle, but that’s a lot less work to keep clean.

 

[shinkle23]

Let me know what dealer you are working with. I’m in the hunt for a 1958 model but hate the dealer experience. Good lu

Let me know what dealer you are working with. I’m in the hunt for a 1958 model but hate the dealer experience. Good luck

I turned down three from Toyota Direct, three from Germain Toyota and one from Byers Toyota.

 

[MeWantLC]

Not sure if I should laugh or be upset, maybe the former. ! LOL. Got a call from a dealership not to far from me, car should arrive today he said... Asking $109,000 !



Edit: I hope I used the "former/later" thing correctly, I always get it wrong, but ... I am actually laughing. LOL

 

[M1911]

Not sure if I should laugh or be upset, maybe the former. ! LOL. Got a call from a dealership not to far from me, car should arrive today he said... Asking $109,000 !



Edit: I hope I used the "former/later" thing correctly, I always get it wrong, but ... I am actually laughing. LOL

I hope you laughed at him.

 

[TheLCProject]

Not sure if I should laugh or be upset, maybe the former. ! LOL. Got a call from a dealership not to far from me, car should arrive today he said... Asking $109,000 !



Edit: I hope I used the "former/later" thing correctly, I always get it wrong, but ... I am actually laughing. LOL

That's a shame. Not sure if I'd rather have that happen or what happened to me (somehow not placed on the list despite several touch points).

The former happened to you and the latter happened to me

 

[BigMF]

Just went up to my local dealer and they were off-loading a 1958 Edition. They'd gotten a FE in the previous day. All the ones they have coming in are already spoken for so no test drive. It's hard to plunk down $70K+ for something you haven't test driven. Also, they are putting $20K on top of the FE's and $5K on top of the other trims. I might just wait until the person who paid $97K is tired of it next year and wants the new hotness and dumps the LC. However, I do live in one of the top 10 wealthiest per capita counties in the country so I guess I shouldn't be TOO surprised. The LC (and even the LX600) pails in comparison (price-wise) to the $240K Bentley Bentayga on one side of it at the red light and a $550K Mercedes Brabus G Wagon on the other side.

 

[Fort9378]

Just went up to my local dealer and they were off-loading a 1958 Edition. They'd gotten a FE in the previous day. All the ones they have coming in are already spoken for so no test drive. It's hard to plunk down $70K+ for something you haven't test driven. Also, they are putting $20K on top of the FE's and $5K on top of the other trims. I might just wait until the person who paid $97K is tired of it next year and wants the new hotness and dumps the LC. However, I do live in one of the top 10 wealthiest per capita counties in the country so I guess I shouldn't be TOO surprised. The LC (and even the LX600) pails in comparison (price-wise) to the $240K Bentley Bentayga on one side of it at the red light and a $550K Mercedes Brabus G Wagon on the other side.

Someone on landcruiserforum bought a first from Franklin. Ouch.

 

[TWILLY]

Yesterday, in the same day, I saw my first 250 up close and drove my first Rivian R1S. The 250 wasn’t as impressive to me in person as in pictures. The Rivian, on stock 34s, is on the other hand a planted, quiet, rock solid, hyper nimble and high-riding fighter jet on wheels. It feels like a military weapon, in a good way. I’ve never driven anything like it. It’s clearly the future.

 

[Specialeyes]

Yesterday, in the same day, I saw my first 250 up close and drove my first Rivian R1S. The 250 wasn’t as impressive to me in person as in pictures. The Rivian, on stock 34s, is on the other hand a planted, quiet, rock solid, hyper nimble and high-riding fighter jet on wheels. It feels like a military weapon, in a good way. I’ve never driven anything like it. It’s clearly the future.

If they make it thru their start up growing pains (I’m talking cash flow) and can show they are here to stay I’d be thinking long and hard about that upcoming R2.

 

[TWILLY]

My GP told me yesterday it is time for me to schedule my next colonoscopy. I think I prefer that to buying a car -- at least I'll be sedated.

Standing from the negotiating table, he declared, “you’ve convinced me — I’m getting a colonoscopy instead.”

 

[BigMF]

Just went up to my local dealer and they were off-loading a 1958 Edition. They'd gotten a FE in the previous day. All the ones they have coming in are already spoken for so no test drive. It's hard to plunk down $70K+ for something you haven't test driven. Also, they are putting $20K on top of the FE's and $5K on top of the other trims. I might just wait until the person who paid $97K is tired of it next year and wants the new hotness and dumps the LC. However, I do live in one of the top 10 wealthiest per capita counties in the country so I guess I shouldn't be TOO surprised. The LC (and even the LX600) pails in comparison (price-wise) to the $240K Bentley Bentayga on one side of it at the red light and a $550K Mercedes Brabus G Wagon on the other side.

Decided to check out the GX550 at the Lexus dealer about 3 miles from the aforementioned Toyota dealer. They actually had a "demo" model I could test drive which was an unexpected surprise. That said, we only had 20 minutes to do it because they were literally taking 20 minutes "reservations" for test drive. I lucked into an open slot when I showed up. The demo was a Premium and not Overtrail, which I really would have preferred but it was good enough because I was really just testing the comfort of the seats and handling.

Impressions:

• Very comfortable for my 6'4" 205 pounds.
• Handled nicely in the limited test drive
• Sufficient power/acceleration for my normal driving
• Interior was definitely more refined. However, I was comparing to the 1958 edition so obviously a bit skewed.

The dealer is selling at MSRP with the added requirement of purchasing the 5 year maintenance plan from them for approximately $3300. Honestly, I thought that was a very welcome concept because at least you are getting something of REAL value for the added cost over MSRP. Apparently, it can actually save you money over the long haul due to the 15K services running $1000-$1200. They said there is about a 9-month waiting list if you wanted a specific build (colors, options, etc.)

So, my math works out like this:

• Land Cruiser Edition LC
  • premium package but no 20" wheel upgrade and a few other options = $68,935
  • New AT tires since the stock ones are mall crawlers = $2,000
  • Dealer Markup = $5,000
  • Total = $75,935
• Lexus GX550
  • Overtrail with similar options = $70,835
  • * Maintenance plan = $3,300
  • Total = $74,135

So, for $1,600 less out the door, I can get the vehicle with nicer interior plus other Lexus "refinements" but minutes the Stabilizer disconnect and 2400 watt inverter. If you consider the maintenance plan as not really an additional cost, the difference is $4,900 cheaper for the GX. If you factor in the 6 MPG difference in fuel economy at $3.75/gallon around where I live, it'll take about 8 years at 15K miles a year to cover the difference.

Decisions, decisions....

 

[TheLCProject]

Decisions, decisions....

What are you deciding about? What to hope to have a chance to buy in more than nine months?

 

[Specialeyes]

So, my math works out like this:

• Land Cruiser Edition LC
  • premium package but no 20" wheel upgrade and a few other options = $68,935
  • New AT tires since the stock ones are mall crawlers = $2,000
  • Dealer Markup = $5,000
  • Total = $75,935
    

If you have a little patience and put forth a little effort you can get yourself this LC without a dealer mark up.

 

[BigMF]

What are you deciding about? What to hope to have a chance to buy in more than nine months?

Yeah, I guess. Also, there's the Trailhunter 4Runner coming in the fall to muddy the waters, figuratively and literally.

Also, curious if the dealer markups are still going to be in place 9 months from now.

 

[VamosHugo]

If you have a little patience and put forth a little effort you can get yourself this LC without a dealer mark up.

I'll be curious to hear folks' experience pushing back against dealers trying to slap on markups. I've reserved a 1958 (with no markup) but had my name on lots of lists. Yesterday, another dealer offered me a similarly specced 1958 but with a $14K markup (actually $13,995...). When I politely declined and said the ADM was not something I was able to justify he said "everything is negotiable." So it all seems very speculative and hopeful on the dealers' part right now.