Options
Lexus ES 300/ES 330 Prices Paid and Buying Experience
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Some dealers who are high volume will do just about anything to make a deal. They will let some go for next to nothing since that one deal could mean the difference of winning that month over another dealer.
Smaller dealers probably dont get into that game since they arent competing on a volume level.
Chevy can afford to give steeper discounts and rebates since the prices are so jacked up to begin with. If you dont believe that, what crazy company can offer up to 10k off MSRP??
kirstie_h
Roving Host
Host, Future Vehicles & Smart Shopper discussions
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
I am planning on obtaining a lease on a fully loaded Lexus ES330 2005 very soon. The MSRP of the vehicle is $38,669 and according to the salesman, he is selling it to me at $36,400 (94% of MSRP). Sales tax in my area is 8.25%. The lease will be for 3 years at 15,000 miles per year. I am told by the salesman that there is a $1250 acquisition fee to begin the lease through Lexus. I also have an old trade-in with a value of $3750.
The price I am getting is $530 per month including all fees and taxes. The first month's payment is taken care of when I turn in the trade-in, and 35 $530 monthly payments to follow.
Can anyone tell me if this is a good lease price based on the terms that other people have gotten? I would appreciate any information you can provide.
Thank you very much.
Also, I have noticed that folks purchasing vehicles in the Houston area were paying more back in August than were purchasers from other areas. Your dealer's geographical region really can make a difference.
Recall that the %MSRP should include all fees except govt fees.
Note mip58's very recent deal of 89% MSRP in the Illinois region.
Good Luck
All I am saying is to beware taking any one poster's deal as gospel. But several deals that are posted consistently can make a difference in your ability to bargain.
If I weren't so lazy, I'd go back over this site for about 1/5-2 years and make a summary of all the deals.
Were I looking for a new vehicle, I'd consider the effort, but my car is good for another 7 years.
Note that the summary would look like this:
poster's id, model number and year, month purchased, geographical region, MSRP, price paid, %MSRP. Optional - the options on the car.
Example:
atoews, 2002 ES300, March 2002, So Cal (Lexus of Cerritos), $39,963, $37775, 94.5% MSRP.
professordjf, 2004 ES330, August 2004, Dallas, $37,424, $34,000, 90.8% MSRP.
mjp58, 2005 ES330, March 2005, Region Unknown, $35619, $31800, 89.3% MSRP
pageguy2, 2005 ES330, Aug-Sept 2004, Havorford, PA (Wilkie Lexus), $38,444, $35000, 91% MSRP
Note that for consistency, the MSRP should be the "Total MSRP" listed on the sticker, because this number is constant - it does not vary from region to region or dealer to dealer. The price paid should include everything except government fees, like license and tax.
MSRP: $37,119,
Price Paid: $33,354,
89.8% MSRP
I bought the car from an auto broker, because they quoted me the lowest price. I tried to work deals with three dealerships, but no one gave me a lower price. I love the car, but I'm thinking that maybe I should have continued to shop around. Do you think this was a good deal or could I have done better?
I am also tracking the TL's and see a great amount of information on that car. It doesn't seem like Lexus is selling too well.
End result, she drives the ES.
Her pan on the TL:
1) Noisy as compared to the ES---she is right.
2) Rides rough! Not to me as the handling of the TL is far superior to the ES. Depends on what you want. Wifey happens to like a soft, cushy and QUIET ride.
3) Hated the cupholders in the TL....too deep for some cups and you can't get to the back cupholder unless you raise the armrest. I agree with her on this issue. Poor engineering.
4) She hated the passenger seat as it was only 4 way (front/back/up/down). She could not get comfortable and when I tried it, I agreed. Seems it woud take so little to make the seat comfortable/adjustable to all. Not done=bummer.
I think either car is GREAT and both can be bought for close to invoice but other than physical size/price they are really two different kinds of cars.
Pick your poison---can't go wrong either way.
I too have a 98 ES 300. Have 47K on it and it is absolutely the best car I have ever owned. Just put oil and gas in it and it runs & runs. This is the best car ever made by man (IMHO). I have my doubts about the 330.
ES330 (Blue Shale/Ash) with
- Navigation package with 6 disc CD changer
- High-Intensity Discharge Headlamps (HID) with Rain sensing Wipers
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob
- Power rear sunshade
- 17" Alloy wheels with summer tires
- Preferred Accessory Package (includes Cargo net, Trunk mat and Wheel locks)
MSRP - $37119 + TTL
Paid - $32400 + TTL (which in California adds $2286)
I was very happy with the dealership and the handling - no haggle - just asked what price I wanted and I got it. What do you all think of this deal? Appreciate your comments...
Why I chose ES330 over other choices (325i, TL, G35)? I need a softer/quiter ride -Not the sporty type.
=========================================
I think you have an outstanding deal. There are very few posters who receive less than an 88% MSRP deal, and yours is 87.2%. If you don't believe me, do a search of this site on "87". Of course, it could be that other purchasers in your region are getting the same deal you are, in which case you have an average deal.
Interestingly the best deals since I began tracking occurred in the Nov-Dec 2003, and the March-April 2004 time periods. I suspect that the reason for this is that the weather does not encourage auto shopping combined with the time in the lifecycle of the model year. Buyers want to wait and see the new model before they commit to the current one.
The worst prices occurred in 2002, when the vehicle was new. We were gettting like 93-94% MSRP then. I did not do the MSRP analysis back then, except on my own car, but I recall other deals being similar. Perhaps lenscap and kreativ could post their deals, as they purchased their vehicles at the same time I did.
In August/Sept of 2004, the new 2005 model was going for 91-92% MSRP, up from December 2003 prices for the 2004 model. In December of 2003, the prices were down to 89-90% MSRP with some very few posters getting 87 or 88%.
All in all, based upon my research here, were I buying an ES3x0 model in the future, I'd target Dec-April for the best deals and avoid August/Sept expecting the worst deals. I'd also try and purchase in So Cal, as dealer competition here seems to be tough.
Nikmin, for your car, each 1% of MSRP represents $371. The difference between 92%MSRP and 87.2% MSRP is: (.92 *37119) - (.872*37119) = $1783, a considerable savings if one is willing to wait until later in the model year lifecycle, and is willing to shop in the winter time.
Of course, this could all change tomorrow!!!
ES 330 Blue Shale Mica, Ash (strange coincidence!?)
Navigation package
MSRP $37119
Paid $32,500 + TTL
I bought it April 30, and I believe that made a big difference (last day of the month). A week earlier the same dealership quoted me $33,100. Actually, when I called another dealer to see if he could beat the $32,500 price, he said he could, by a couple hundred dollars, but he didn't have the color I wanted (he only had white and green with Nav.). I think the $32,500 price is actually below invoice by a few hundred dollars.
I have been following this forum for months, and it help tremendously in deciding to buy the car and knowing what would be a good price. The car is for my wife, which is why I also opted for a soft/quiet car. If it had been for me, I probably would have chosen the Acura TL, although lately there have been a lot of complaints about a vibration problem.
By the way, I showed the salesman a printout of the updated TSB TC004-03. He had never heard of it, but then again he had only been selling Lexuses for two months. I decided I would drive the car to see how bad the transmission shifted, and take it in for the "fix" if I wasn't happy. Since the car had only been on the lot for two days, is there a possibility the revised calibration had been done at the factory?
Have an '05---wifes car and she loves it. When I do drive it, the tranny seems "lazy"---i.e., shift from first to second l-o-n-g. Maybe they are trying for the "smooth" thing. Don't like it! Sounds like a programming issue and if the TSB addresses this, I'd like to know.
Thanks for any input.
I wonder when the 2006 will be at dealers.
There has been a lot of discussion on this forum about transmission problems - hesitation when accelerating and rough shifting. This TSB, titled "ECM Calibration: Shift Feeling Enhancement" - is a recalibration of the Engine Control Module, which I believe makes it a software fix. It is supposed to:
- Reduce downshift lag when accelerating
- Reduce gear hunting when driving on/off accelerator pedal between 10 and 20 mph
- Improve response rate during heavy acceleration from a stop
It is covered under your warranty. That's all I know. If/when I notice the symptoms it addresses, I will have it done. Again, others have discussed it in this forum, so you can get a lot of information by just searching on "transmisssion". Good luck, and give us an update if you have it done.
Vehicle: 32,500
Document Preparation Fee 45
Sales Tax (8.25%) 2,684.96
DMV Electronic Filing Fee 28
License Fee 264
Registration Fee 8
Calif. Tire Fee 8.75
Total 35,538.71
kirstie_h
Roving Host
Host, Future Vehicles & Smart Shopper discussions
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
Thanks!
Thanks!
A day or 2 later I called him to get the exact price because I wanted to check out financing outside of Lexus. He gave me the price and it didn't seem the same. I questioned it but he assured me it was the price he quoted.
Two weeks and the car came in and I picked it up. It was the next day when I realized it was not the upgraded radio system which I really wanted. I didn't even call them because bottom line I don't trust my sales person and don't expect anything to be done.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this. I was stupid---always get everything in writing. I thought it's Lexus I shouldn't have to worry about anything ----WRONG.
Thanks in advance,
The buying experience was wonderful. Sales person was great, didn't push anything on us, very straight forward. It took my friend two hours to decide on color as Longo had all of them. Then it only took one hour to write up the contract and sign the paperwork.
Very professional.
Spyderred.
Keep in mind that programs like Costco, Sam's Club etc. auto buying programs are "no haggle" programs. The dealer is supposed to give you the best price they can without your having to negotiate. Your salesman was violating the rules of Costco by trying to haggle with you.
Also, Costco should be able to provide you information on what kind of deals are available given the environmental factors at the time you are purchasing your vehicle.
I used Sam's Club to negotiate my deal in 2002. Based upon my experience, for Lexus anyway, these programs do not buy you much. I'd prefer to come to this thread to see what deals folks are getting at any given time, and then I'd negotiate a good price that way.
I might use Sam's Club or Costco if the only deals I could get in my geographical area were significantly higher (1-2% MSRP) than others on Edmunds were getting. This happened in Houston last August-September, when the lowest that buyers could get was 92% - 93% MSRP, which I consider outrageous. If the best I could get was 93% MSRP, I'd use Costco or Sam's Club as a sanity check.
Always do your research before hand, read the fine print carefully, study the window sticker hard, and get everything in writing. Even an e-mail will work since you can always print it out.
James
Good luck,
Spyderred.
Anyone here actually purchased an ES330 with VSC or is it a myth?