so I went to the Lexus dealer last Saturday to check out the IS300. I got an email invite from Lexus to drive the IS300 and receive 60 free songs from connect.com (new sony website). While I didn't drive the car, I did sit in an '04 Silver/Black E-Shift. It truly is remarkable what Lexus gives you in the IS300 for an MSRP of $33K & Change. I really like the dash materials and chronograph instrumentation along with the RWD, I6, LSD, Standard HID, Metallic Paint, Leather, sunroof... The salesman was very courteous. I told him I wasn't interested in the car and didn't want to waste his time on a test drive, so could he please sign the form. No Problem. I told him they probably didn't have the 5-speed LSD model I would have wanted to drive anyway, he said they'd have to get one in.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Fun Performance Value Reliability Safety Affordability Great Sales & Service Experience
Only areas where is comes up a bit short are: moderately high insurance cost, could use a smidge more interior room and drop the space-eating trunk hinges, and needs deeper overdrive for better highway fuel economy.
I didn't see a "prices paid" section for the IS300, so thought I would post here. Does anybody know what these are selling for now as compared to invoice? Is it possible to get one for at or below invoice price? (I see the TMV price, but it looks high.) I know there is a $1500 marketing support on this car.
I live in the Detroit area, so there are only 2 Lexus dealers here, both owned by the same people.
Also, will this car be a nightmare in the snow? When will it be restyled?
1. The current IS300 platform should run from MYs2001-2005. The next IS300 reportedly comes out in late CY2005 as a MY2006. This new IS will be completely restyled and have new engines (e.g., V6 and V8).
2. Buy snow tires for winter use and you'll be fine.
3. Negotiate your best deal. Start low and work up from there. IS300 has been a slow seller and there is Lexus to dealer support. You should be able to get a good deal. (Your deal is harder to break out if you are trading in a car.) I bought an IS300 SportCross on 6/10/04. I made my first, last and best deal on 6/2/04. We were about $2,700 apart. Dealer called me back 8 days after and took my offer.
Check out the August 2004 issue of Sport Compact Car (Primedia Publications). Pages 118-124. Article titled "The Sure Thing: This IS300 lives to drift, but you'd never know by looking at it." Story profiles one owner's modifications to his 2002 IS300 sedan with manual transmission. He initially used Stage 1/2/3 Swift Racing Technologies supercharger systems, but didn't get sufficiently desire HP (Stage 3 wheel dyno'd at 263 hp). So he went to a Turbonetics turbocharger with Spearco front-mounted intercooler. Thinks he is pulling about 300 hp. He went with Tanabe's Racing Medallion exhaust. And Tanabe anti-roll bars and Pro SS coil-overs, front and rear.
Has 7 very nice pictures plus the listing of all the mods.
You have to love the Cusco carbon-fiber strut tower brace in the trunk. And the TRD gauge pod with the 3 big Defi-Link Gauges (where the nav system would be) is to die for!
sunrisewatcher... What is the invoice price on the car as optioned to MSRP of $32,600? You can use Edmunds and other data to come up with the invoice. Think you are under their invoice price. Even with the Lexus to dealer incentives that might be there, doubt you can get $6,200 (or 19% from MSRP) off.
dealer in NJ is willing to sell me 2004 is300 w/leather/power pkg, all season tires w/5 spoke alloy wheel locks, heated seats and cargo net for invoice(roughly 30k)
christina271... If you are able to get an IS300 at or near invoice price, you'll be getting a good deal. It is usually hard to get dealers below invoice. Be careful if they try to tack on fees and charges.
Does anyone have firm information on any Lexus to dealer incentives? The actual dollar amounts? Do they vary by region?
So much of today's incentives are tied to lease subsidies and subsidized finance rates.
yeah i thought it was pretty good too..but will it get better before the end of summer??i'm not in any real rush but would love to drive it while its warm out
i have also driven 325i(too expensive, in my opinion) a4 1.8 ( worried about reliability, and also seems too expensive and underpowered?!)
only thing turning me off about is300 is the SALESMAN!! i spoke to him in person friday night w/ my dad..he called sat morning...then saw him again yesterday morning to get a VIN # to call insurance company..he called 2 hrs later bothering me..thank god he's off today.. i understand he wants to make the sale but he's being very obnoxious and not giving my dad and i time to sort everything out...if i even go to another dealer i want to get that same price he is quoting me..or even better..other thing holding us back from making the deal is amount they will give us on a trade in..i'm just frustrated because he calls so much..he wanted my dad to do all the "paperwork" with him over the phone..which doesn't let us negotiate etc..what should i do?
christina271... You are getting a first-hand education about the art, science, and frustration of car buying.
The DEAL is the total package. They can give you a great price on the car and low ball you on the trade in. That happens a lot. You have to look at the bottom line:
1. Cost of new car 2. Value of trade in 3. Cost of financing 4. Avoid any dealer spiffs like rustproofing, paint protection, etc.
Your goal is to get the best overall deal. Don't focus on any one part. The trade complicates things, but don't get discouraged. You have to factor in what the difference is: new car price-value of trade in.
I've seriously tried to buy a BMW from my local BMW dealer about 8 times since 1995. In each case I could get a great price on their new car, but in each case they would offer me a horrible deal on my trade. In my state, you don't pay tax on the trade, just the trade difference. So if you sell to a private party and buy a new car without a trade, you pay full tax on the entire amount. That is about $1,500 on a $30,000 selling price. One reason I have always traded.
Have you told the salesperson you don't appreciate his tactics? Lexus is normally known for a rather soft (softer) touch. Tell him you want to think about it.
christina - Invoice sounds kind of high to me. They were going for about $1000-1500 under invoice last summer when I bought mine. I can't imagine why they would be any higher this year.
I have found that working with the internet sales managers has made the car buying process much more enjoyable. You can call them up and they give you their best price. You might be able to haggle a floor sales guy a few hundred lower but it would probably be a knock-down, drag-out negotiation session, which I don't enjoy as much as I used to.
i ended up talking to an internet sales manager in NY he was willing to sell me the car w auto/power/leather/preferred accessory pkg for 28,475, but only give me 13,500 for the trade..we needed closer to 15,000 for the trade. went back to the first dealer who dropped the price to 30,000 with a 14,500 trade...they told me if i buy the car in NY i need to pay to have the car inspected here, and they think i am getting a shady deal in NY...what do you guys think??
Deciding between an 01 IS300 with 25k miles or a new 04 Honda Accord. The driver is my 18 yr old son. He's responsible, but is a normal kid (still growing up and making mistakes!).
Questions: Will the 04 Accord be significantly cheaper to run? Mileage, insurance. I'm worried that when the warranty on the IS 300 runs out early next year I'll be looking at big Lexus repair costs.
I think I can buy the IS300 for two to three grand over the deal I can get on the Accord. How does that affect the question about the cost to run (the IS300 is a more expensive car and I don't have the initial depreciation).
What about the safety of putting an IS300 in the hands of an 18 year old. I read Consumer Reports, but what kid (or adult) can resist zipping along in a car like the Lexus?
onechow... I have a 13-yr-old son and an 11-year-old daughter. I've already told my son he is going to drive my current work '00 Hyundai Sonata (2.7L V6 5-speed w/TC-ABS). I don't plan on letting either drive my IS300 manual. I wouldn't let kids have a serious sport sedan like an IS300 as a first car. Don't tempt kids or give them things that encourage them to get in over their heads. (But my first car was a rusting (by '79, the year I got it) '76 Ford Maverick with 250 I6, 1-barrel carb, and AT.
Why not go with a Civic? But if you have to go Accord, go 4-cyl 5-speed manual. One nice thing about Hondas is that if he is responsible and he can afford to buy things later on his own, there are a ton of aftermarket parts for Hondas. Tuner crowd loves 'em. They can be customized. Exteriors and interiors. Engines, exhausts, brakes, etc.
You should check with your insurance agent. The IS300 is rather expensive to insure.
They can work the numbers however they want, but the dealer in NY is $500 cheaper. I'm sure the other dealer thinks he is "shady", but the only difference is... the difference.
Getting car inspected? Not sure, but I'm betting that costs all of $15.
I don't know your state tax laws, but there is one thing to think about. If your state gives you a credit for the trade-in when figuring the sales tax you have to pay.... It may not apply if buying at an out-of-state dealer. Although, it seems your local dealer would have brought this up, if that were the case.
If you have to trade cars, and can't sell the old one yourself.. then focus on the difference. The car in NY is cheaper by either measure.
thank you so much for all of your input..it was greatly appreciated
i just picked up the car this morning.. i ended up having to finance part of it so the car came to 30,500. the rate is 2.69..with tax it was 32 and change, but im only financing 20k...the car is black and looks great!! i probably could have done better on the price but i needed the 1000 more on the trade that nj was willing to give me..so that kind of made the deal... i got some coffe mugs key chains a gift certificate to a nearby restaurant and an ezpass holder thrown in LOL
christina271... Whatever else you do, ENJOY your new car. Don't look back. Don't worry about what you paid. That is all behind you. We could all do better, so why worry? Now all you need to do is drive her on exciting roads and have some fun in an excellent all around serious sport sedan. Take a road trip to nowhere, all for the drive!
The gas mileage will be considerably worse in the IS, too. I only get about 20 MPG on average in a mix of surface streets and congested freeways. Maintenance and repairs (which should be minimal in either car) will probably be more expensive for the Lexus, also. From a purely financial point of view, the Honda looks like the way to go - and that's not easy for me to say - I hate Hondas.
Congratulations! If you enjoy driving there isn't a better car out there in which to do it for the money. I can't figure out why the trade in price semed more important to you than the net cost but if that's what it took to make you happy, than who am I to question it?
not to rain on your son's parade, but insurance costs are high for young drivers... especially with a brand new car (and Honda at that). Have you looked at a used Accord?
Will adopt you only if I don't have to pay for college costs. My first car was a 66 Olds Jetstar with only one a/c vent working (better than none) and a faded paint job, a real sex machine.
My son's going to a school where half the kids seem to have $30k-plus cars (or SUV's). It's all relative.
Am thinking I'll bid for the IS300 instead of a new Accord. Even though it's more expensive to buy and maintain, at least it's taken the depreciation hit, and it's a Lexus so it should hold its value well.
onechow - I humbly recommend that along with the car, you kick in for a defensive driving school where he can learn how to control the car in emergency situations. If he is used to fwd cars, this may help him understand the differences in how rwd behaves at the limit.
we owed more on the accord we traded in then it was actually worth..and since it was my dad's and he was giving it up, i told him i would pay the difference. i mean i guess it all kindsa works out..i picked the car up yesterday at 12:00 and i already have 160 miles on it!!!i want it to stay new foreverrrrr
After negotiating with the dealers, it looks like the price difference is staying wider than I would like to spend on a kid (or myself). Can find a new Accord for 18k, a CPO 01 Lexus for > 24k, too much of a difference to pay for a used car. Rats. Bucks wins over beauty, this time.
A great idea to send the 18 yr old to driving school. Would do it myself, too.
He took the regular classes a few years ago to get his license, but I assume you are referring to something more sophisticated. I Googled the internet for something like that but only came up with what sound like new driver classes or traffic ticket penance classes. Any suggestions of national companies or organizations that teach emergency avoidance? I remember that Renault Motors used to have an ice driving class in Colorado, although we're in the Sunbelt. And Renault ain't in the US any more.
Bob Bondurant has a Teen driving academy and I think he is based in Phoenix but may hold classes in several locations: www.bondurant.com Danny McKeever runs one here in California: www.raceschool.com I think Skip Barber moves around the country and offers a teen course: www.skipbarber.com If none of those work for you, I'll see what else I can find. I have already told my 13 year old that I will pay for him to attend one of these.
And by all means, sign yourself up for one. I went to the Lexus Performance Driving school in March and it was a blast. I'd recommend it but they only have a couple a year - one at California Speedway and one in Houston.
Thanks for the comments on advanced safety driving schools for teens. I wonder if a kid is more or less likely to drive wildly after taking one of these courses. I could see the temptation to try out what you've learned... I wonder how each course handles the aspect of stressing responsible driving.
Which courses are the best run? The Phoenix one looks like a big operation (and has the most expensive course).
Since I have a few years before my kid is ready for one of those schools, I haven't dug into them too deeply and I can't share any first or second hand expereinces to tell you which is best. Certainly, different kids will react differently to this training but I believe that for the most part, these courses place a heavy emphasis on safety. If the kid is the type to push the limits on the street, he will at least be more knowledgable about what those limits are and how to react when you get past them. The fact that several large auto insurers offer rate discounts for graduates of the Bondurant program would seem to indicate that there is some real world data that says kids who have been through this program are safer drivers, overall.
opps my last post i accidentally hit ENTER heheh well well well did you end up getting the is300 onechow? well now you get to hear from me i'm about your son's age. i purchase my is300 when i graduated high school getting ready for college. i so love it! no problem yet of course and i bought mines cpo for 21,995 2001 leather/velvet watever. heated seats and everything nice along with it... i'm pretty sure i had those days where i just wanna floor the accleration pedal with a civic next to me at a red light (0_0) but it's worth it soo worth it only my lil white is300 in the parking lot man did the girls like ride in it... hahah fo show well later folks and one more thing wat is up with ya folk disagreeing with an is for a young driver? dudes if they can show responsibility y not? everyone only live onces y not live it with excitement and luxury!!!!
Still looking seriously at the IS. Checked out the 03 Acura TL. Seems like a lot of car for the money. My son liked the handling of the IS better. May look at the TL-S. What do you think?
Looked at the IS 01 and 02. The 02's are three grand more than the 01's, at least the one I saw. 02 is less faded inside, but don't know that it's worth three grand more.
TL is FWD; IS300 is RWD. Makes a big difference in driving/handling dynamics. The TL is a very powerful FWDer, which also means torque steer. FWDer has its weight up front over the front tires, which are used to both accelerate and steer. (I'm no fan of powerful FWDers.)
The '01 ISs do NOT have the front side curtain airbags. Don't believe you could get VSC in the '01s, either. All '01s came with automatic transmissions. The manual transmission and SportCross models arrived in '02.
Got a 2002 IS. 27k miles, with certified warranty. 17 in tires (doesn't that mean they're summer tires?). Don't think it has ltd slip differential. It's automatic.
Silver out, black in. I looked at another one with a beige interior but the kid prefers black interior so that's his choice if he wants to bake. Trying to think what other options but as you know there's not much to add. No spoiler. The tires are new. Owned by a Lexus technician (that's cool!) who traded it in.
I hope it won't be in the shop much but if it is guess who gets to drive the loaner Lexus? Not the 18 year old, since he can't legally.
Now to help him pick a college where they don't allow cars for freshman. So the car can stay with his parents, to watch over it.
Got a 2002 IS. 27k miles, with certified warranty. 17 in tires (doesn't that mean they're summer tires?). Don't think it has ltd slip differential. It's automatic.
Silver out, black in. I looked at another one with a beige interior but the kid prefers black interior so that's his choice if he wants to bake. Trying to think what other options but as you know there's not much to add. No spoiler. The tires are new. Owned by a Lexus technician (that's cool!) who traded it in.
I hope it won't be in the shop much but if it is guess who gets to drive the loaner Lexus? Not the 18 year old, since he can't for insurance reasons..
Now to help him pick a college where they don't allow cars for freshman. So the car can stay with his parents, to watch over it.
The IS300 has both 17-inch all-season (Bridestone RE092) and summer (Bridgestone RE040) tires. Besides the tire model, all-season tires have an "M+S" label on side of tire. [Believe there is also a rare 16-inch tire option, with all-seasons.]
LSD is an option for all IS300s, both automatic and manual, as well as the automatic-only SportCross. All 3 of my IS300s had/have LSD.
The optional Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system can only be had with the automatics.
Do you have sunroof? Optional full or Alcantra (fake) leather packages?
onechow - Congratulations! I hope your son appreciates how lucky he is. Don't get too excited about the loaner cars - all I ever see for loaners are ESs and RXs - blah. The one time I got a loaner it was an RX and I couldn't wait to get my IS back.
I don't know about rare... but it sure is ugly.. six spoke wheels (even numbers look bad for some reason)... makes it look like like my CRV around the wheel wells. When I was looking for a used one, they pointed one out to me... uh, no thanks.
The 2002 we got has leather/escaline interior, sunroof/power seat package. I have the original window sticker. I don't see VSC or LSD mentioned. The salesman, who's been accurate on other info and has been with Lexus a long time, says he's positive the car has VSC. But I don't see it mentioned anywhere on the sticker.
I like the top rating in the April 2004 Consumer Reports for safety. I like that the car has front, side, as well as side curtain airbags.
We never got to drive the Acura TL-S. He didn't like the handling of the TL (2003), wanted a sportier ride. I saw a lot of the TL's on the road yesterday, didn't think they were that great looking, although I hear it's an excellent car.
onechow... If you have the original window sticker and the VIN on it matches your car, then go with what it says.
Both LSD and VSC were/are options. LSD for both manuals and automatics but VSC only for automatics. If your car had optional VSC, the window sticker would have it clearly listed and priced.
Other way to tell is to look in your owner's manual and look at the instrument panel warning lights. IS300 has 3 separate warning lights for ABS, Traction Control, and, if equipped, VSC. All IS300s have ABS and TC. If your car has VSC, there will be a VSC light on the instrument panel, which should light up briefly when the key is turned to the "ON" position. Believe the VSC warning light is located above the tachometer (at about 7K RPMs), right to the left of the speedometer (at about 60 mph).
I had a number of salesman tell me that VSC was standard on ISs. Several of them had no clue what the difference between VSC, LSD and traction control was. Of course, as riez noted, VSC is not standard. In fact, in all my searching, I never found one in Southern California that had VSC. And the only ones with LSD were genereally fully optioned out, including NAV.
Here in the snowbelt Midwest, appears Lexus dealers order all their cars with LSD and, for automatics, VSC. Plus heated seats. All three of my IS300s, which I bought off the lot, have LSD. My wife's automatic IS300s both had VSC. All the ISs I've seen on dealers' lots have had LSD and VSC.
If you want to show the salesperson his/her ignorance, just ask to see an IS300 brochure. Then flip to the standard and optional equipment page. Then point out how both LSD and VSC are optional.
Comments
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Fun
Performance
Value
Reliability
Safety
Affordability
Great Sales & Service Experience
Only areas where is comes up a bit short are: moderately high insurance cost, could use a smidge more interior room and drop the space-eating trunk hinges, and needs deeper overdrive for better highway fuel economy.
I live in the Detroit area, so there are only 2 Lexus dealers here, both owned by the same people.
Also, will this car be a nightmare in the snow? When will it be restyled?
Thanks for any help.
1. The current IS300 platform should run from MYs2001-2005. The next IS300 reportedly comes out in late CY2005 as a MY2006. This new IS will be completely restyled and have new engines (e.g., V6 and V8).
2. Buy snow tires for winter use and you'll be fine.
3. Negotiate your best deal. Start low and work up from there. IS300 has been a slow seller and there is Lexus to dealer support. You should be able to get a good deal. (Your deal is harder to break out if you are trading in a car.) I bought an IS300 SportCross on 6/10/04. I made my first, last and best deal on 6/2/04. We were about $2,700 apart. Dealer called me back 8 days after and took my offer.
Has 7 very nice pictures plus the listing of all the mods.
You have to love the Cusco carbon-fiber strut tower brace in the trunk. And the TRD gauge pod with the 3 big Defi-Link Gauges (where the nav system would be) is to die for!
www.sportcompactcarweb.com
MSRP is around $32600
Another dealer has the same spec but with leather/alcantra, I can push down $400 more. My target price for this vehicle is $26,400. How's that?
Another question: Is it true that I can pay less tax if I buy a car in a lower-sales-tax-rate county in the same state? Thanks!
wheel locks, heated seats and cargo net for invoice(roughly 30k)
how much better can i do on this car??
Does anyone have firm information on any Lexus to dealer incentives? The actual dollar amounts? Do they vary by region?
So much of today's incentives are tied to lease subsidies and subsidized finance rates.
i have also driven 325i(too expensive, in my opinion)
a4 1.8 ( worried about reliability, and also seems too expensive and underpowered?!)
only thing turning me off about is300 is the SALESMAN!! i spoke to him in person friday night w/ my dad..he called sat morning...then saw him again yesterday morning to get a VIN # to call insurance company..he called 2 hrs later bothering me..thank god he's off today.. i understand he wants to make the sale but he's being very obnoxious and not giving my dad and i time to sort everything out...if i even go to another dealer i want to get that same price he is quoting me..or even better..other thing holding us back from making the deal is amount they will give us on a trade in..i'm just frustrated because he calls so much..he wanted my dad to do all the "paperwork" with him over the phone..which doesn't let us negotiate etc..what should i do?
The DEAL is the total package. They can give you a great price on the car and low ball you on the trade in. That happens a lot. You have to look at the bottom line:
1. Cost of new car
2. Value of trade in
3. Cost of financing
4. Avoid any dealer spiffs like rustproofing, paint protection, etc.
Your goal is to get the best overall deal. Don't focus on any one part. The trade complicates things, but don't get discouraged. You have to factor in what the difference is: new car price-value of trade in.
I've seriously tried to buy a BMW from my local BMW dealer about 8 times since 1995. In each case I could get a great price on their new car, but in each case they would offer me a horrible deal on my trade. In my state, you don't pay tax on the trade, just the trade difference. So if you sell to a private party and buy a new car without a trade, you pay full tax on the entire amount. That is about $1,500 on a $30,000 selling price. One reason I have always traded.
Have you told the salesperson you don't appreciate his tactics? Lexus is normally known for a rather soft (softer) touch. Tell him you want to think about it.
Or... My Dad is handling all of this.. please call him with any questions.
Good luck.. Don't let one pushy salesman ruin it for you.. You'll have a great car when you get done.
regards,
kyfdx
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I have found that working with the internet sales managers has made the car buying process much more enjoyable. You can call them up and they give you their best price. You might be able to haggle a floor sales guy a few hundred lower but it would probably be a knock-down, drag-out negotiation session, which I don't enjoy as much as I used to.
thanks for all of your help
i ended up talking to an internet sales manager in NY
he was willing to sell me the car w auto/power/leather/preferred accessory pkg for 28,475, but only give me 13,500 for the trade..we needed closer to 15,000 for the trade. went back to the first dealer who dropped the price to 30,000 with a 14,500 trade...they told me if i buy the car in NY i need to pay to have the car inspected here, and they think i am getting a shady deal in NY...what do you guys think??
focus on getting the price you want for the IS300 first. Get that done, then talk about the price of your trade.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Questions:
Will the 04 Accord be significantly cheaper to run? Mileage, insurance. I'm worried that when the warranty on the IS 300 runs out early next year I'll be looking at big Lexus repair costs.
I think I can buy the IS300 for two to three grand over the deal I can get on the Accord. How does that affect the question about the cost to run (the IS300 is a more expensive car and I don't have the initial depreciation).
What about the safety of putting an IS300 in the hands of an 18 year old. I read Consumer Reports, but what kid (or adult) can resist zipping along in a car like the Lexus?
Thanks.
Why not go with a Civic? But if you have to go Accord, go 4-cyl 5-speed manual. One nice thing about Hondas is that if he is responsible and he can afford to buy things later on his own, there are a ton of aftermarket parts for Hondas. Tuner crowd loves 'em. They can be customized. Exteriors and interiors. Engines, exhausts, brakes, etc.
You should check with your insurance agent. The IS300 is rather expensive to insure.
Getting car inspected? Not sure, but I'm betting that costs all of $15.
I don't know your state tax laws, but there is one thing to think about. If your state gives you a credit for the trade-in when figuring the sales tax you have to pay.... It may not apply if buying at an out-of-state dealer. Although, it seems your local dealer would have brought this up, if that were the case.
If you have to trade cars, and can't sell the old one yourself.. then focus on the difference. The car in NY is cheaper by either measure.
regards,
kyfdx
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thank you so much for all of your input..it was greatly appreciated
i just picked up the car this morning.. i ended up having to finance part of it so the car came to 30,500. the rate is 2.69..with tax it was 32 and change, but im only financing 20k...the car is black and looks great!! i probably could have done better on the price but i needed the 1000 more on the trade that nj was willing to give me..so that kind of made the deal... i got some coffe mugs key chains a gift certificate to a nearby restaurant and an ezpass holder thrown in LOL
Maintenance and repairs (which should be minimal in either car) will probably be more expensive for the Lexus, also.
From a purely financial point of view, the Honda looks like the way to go - and that's not easy for me to say - I hate Hondas.
I can't figure out why the trade in price semed more important to you than the net cost but if that's what it took to make you happy, than who am I to question it?
My first car (bought at 18 yrs old, with my own money) was a '70 Galaxie with 113K miles.
Will you adopt me?
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My son's going to a school where half the kids seem to have $30k-plus cars (or SUV's). It's all relative.
Am thinking I'll bid for the IS300 instead of a new Accord. Even though it's more expensive to buy and maintain, at least it's taken the depreciation hit, and it's a Lexus so it should hold its value well.
After negotiating with the dealers, it looks like the price difference is staying wider than I would like to spend on a kid (or myself). Can find a new Accord for 18k, a CPO 01 Lexus for > 24k, too much of a difference to pay for a used car. Rats. Bucks wins over beauty, this time.
A great idea to send the 18 yr old to driving school. Would do it myself, too.
He took the regular classes a few years ago to get his license, but I assume you are referring to something more sophisticated. I Googled the internet for something like that but only came up with what sound like new driver classes or traffic ticket penance classes. Any suggestions of national companies or organizations that teach emergency avoidance? I remember that Renault Motors used to have an ice driving class in Colorado, although we're in the Sunbelt. And Renault ain't in the US any more.
www.bondurant.com
Danny McKeever runs one here in California:
www.raceschool.com
I think Skip Barber moves around the country and offers a teen course:
www.skipbarber.com
If none of those work for you, I'll see what else I can find. I have already told my 13 year old that I will pay for him to attend one of these.
And by all means, sign yourself up for one. I went to the Lexus Performance Driving school in March and it was a blast. I'd recommend it but they only have a couple a year - one at California Speedway and one in Houston.
Which courses are the best run? The Phoenix one looks like a big operation (and has the most expensive course).
Certainly, different kids will react differently to this training but I believe that for the most part, these courses place a heavy emphasis on safety. If the kid is the type to push the limits on the street, he will at least be more knowledgable about what those limits are and how to react when you get past them.
The fact that several large auto insurers offer rate discounts for graduates of the Bondurant program would seem to indicate that there is some real world data that says kids who have been through this program are safer drivers, overall.
Looked at the IS 01 and 02. The 02's are three grand more than the 01's, at least the one I saw. 02 is less faded inside, but don't know that it's worth three grand more.
Thanks for the comments.
TL is FWD; IS300 is RWD. Makes a big difference in driving/handling dynamics. The TL is a very powerful FWDer, which also means torque steer. FWDer has its weight up front over the front tires, which are used to both accelerate and steer. (I'm no fan of powerful FWDers.)
The '01 ISs do NOT have the front side curtain airbags. Don't believe you could get VSC in the '01s, either. All '01s came with automatic transmissions. The manual transmission and SportCross models arrived in '02.
2002 IS certified pre owned. Gonna be a happy recipient! Thanks for the advice.
Silver out, black in. I looked at another one with a beige interior but the kid prefers black interior so that's his choice if he wants to bake. Trying to think what other options but as you know there's not much to add. No spoiler. The tires are new. Owned by a Lexus technician (that's cool!) who traded it in.
I hope it won't be in the shop much but if it is guess who gets to drive the loaner Lexus? Not the 18 year old, since he can't legally.
Now to help him pick a college where they don't allow cars for freshman. So the car can stay with his parents, to watch over it.
Silver out, black in. I looked at another one with a beige interior but the kid prefers black interior so that's his choice if he wants to bake. Trying to think what other options but as you know there's not much to add. No spoiler. The tires are new. Owned by a Lexus technician (that's cool!) who traded it in.
I hope it won't be in the shop much but if it is guess who gets to drive the loaner Lexus? Not the 18 year old, since he can't for insurance reasons..
Now to help him pick a college where they don't allow cars for freshman. So the car can stay with his parents, to watch over it.
LSD is an option for all IS300s, both automatic and manual, as well as the automatic-only SportCross. All 3 of my IS300s had/have LSD.
The optional Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system can only be had with the automatics.
Do you have sunroof? Optional full or Alcantra (fake) leather packages?
Don't get too excited about the loaner cars - all I ever see for loaners are ESs and RXs - blah. The one time I got a loaner it was an RX and I couldn't wait to get my IS back.
I don't know about rare... but it sure is ugly.. six spoke wheels (even numbers look bad for some reason)... makes it look like like my CRV around the wheel wells. When I was looking for a used one, they pointed one out to me... uh, no thanks.
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2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I like the top rating in the April 2004 Consumer Reports for safety. I like that the car has front, side, as well as side curtain airbags.
We never got to drive the Acura TL-S. He didn't like the handling of the TL (2003), wanted a sportier ride. I saw a lot of the TL's on the road yesterday, didn't think they were that great looking, although I hear it's an excellent car.
Yes, he realizes how lucky he is.
Both LSD and VSC were/are options. LSD for both manuals and automatics but VSC only for automatics. If your car had optional VSC, the window sticker would have it clearly listed and priced.
Other way to tell is to look in your owner's manual and look at the instrument panel warning lights. IS300 has 3 separate warning lights for ABS, Traction Control, and, if equipped, VSC. All IS300s have ABS and TC. If your car has VSC, there will be a VSC light on the instrument panel, which should light up briefly when the key is turned to the "ON" position. Believe the VSC warning light is located above the tachometer (at about 7K RPMs), right to the left of the speedometer (at about 60 mph).
There is no warning light for LSD.
If you want to show the salesperson his/her ignorance, just ask to see an IS300 brochure. Then flip to the standard and optional equipment page. Then point out how both LSD and VSC are optional.