Lexus RX 350 Prices Paid and Buying Experience

Just bought my wife a 09' RX FWD last Saturday with Premium, Liquid Graphite Finish 18" wheels, Cargo Mat, wheel lock and Rain Sensing wiper for $31652 which is a little more than $9000 under MSRP. We contacted 4 Lexus dealers in Dallas/Fort Worth area. The 09' RX is becoming a scarce commodity in our area too. We found 3 matched our color and options but 2 were sold during the time I was trading emails back and forth. The 3rd one was actually on "reserved", meaning someone agreed to buy but had not closed the deal yet. That deal somehow did not go through, and it is the one we ended up purchased. Can we get a better deal if we hold out? Probably, but chances are we won't get the color and options we wanted. There are plenty of Black 09' RX though, but being in Texas, Black is one color we cannot live with. I am sure people will get a great deal if they don't mind the color (there is one dealer has 7). Neither my wife nor myself like 2010's styling. Of course, that is all personal taste. One thing I do know is that there is always risk buying new/first year redesign model. I worked as a test engineer in the Automotive industries earlier in my career. What I learned quickly is that no matter how well the design or how much testing/simulation you do, there will be design and manufacturing defects. Manufacturers typically will make changes to their manufacturing process and/or redesign and implement them as they get more data based on warranty service and internal testing. Some choose to ignore the issues unless it is a safety hazard then (forced to) do a massive recall. As good as Toyata, it is no exception. For this reason, personally I will not buy a new/first year redesign model.

Replies to this message:
• bikerrn (Mar 05, 2009 5:36 pm)
  • tmanmiata (Mar 07, 2009 11:51 am)
• kf2009 (Mar 10, 2009 7:43 am)

Replying to: bmlexus (Mar 03, 2009 11:19 am)

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• bmlexus (Mar 12, 2009 3:10 am)

Replying to: tmanmiata (Mar 05, 2009 11:32 am)

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• tmanmiata (Mar 07, 2009 11:51 am)

Replying to: mar1an1 (Mar 05, 2009 7:58 am)

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• mar1an1 (Mar 07, 2009 6:50 am)
  • jciel2003 (Mar 07, 2009 1:08 pm)
  • jpzy3 (Mar 07, 2009 1:48 pm)
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    • mar1an1 (Mar 09, 2009 11:31 am)

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• brianbjg (Mar 07, 2009 5:56 pm)
  • rparis (Mar 07, 2009 6:30 pm)
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Replying to: jciel2003 (Mar 05, 2009 6:37 pm)

What is the added insurance tactics?
 
The thing that got me is that even for a car with 1000 miles, they showed me the invoice that has wheel lock, premium pain, cargo mats+all weather mats, etc as a part of the MSRP. Then they discounted like around $10k from that price, and then compensate the 1000 miles for like additional $500. I truly feel like I'm being have. It's not a brand new car, so they can't count all these used wheel lock, premium paint, etc. Afteral, the car was used for a test drive, shouldn't all the knick knack be counted in depreciation of value?
I think I've had it.... I'm giving up on the 09 Lexus RX350 and switch my attention back to the MDX. I was hoping to get good deals on the RX, but I truly have no patience for haggling back and forth. I like RX, but it's lacking several features that exist in the MDX. With all the haggling for a car that hasn't been redesigned for years, I decided to hang my hat.
 
Thanks for the info though

Replies to this message:
• jciel2003 (Mar 07, 2009 1:08 pm)
• jpzy3 (Mar 07, 2009 1:48 pm)
  • mar1an1 (Mar 09, 2009 11:28 am)
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  • mar1an1 (Mar 09, 2009 11:31 am)

Replying to: bikerrn (Mar 05, 2009 5:36 pm)

We got the Breakwater Blue with gray interior. We also did everything through email until we got the deal, then trade phone calls trying to reserve the car. We also got 3.99% for 60 months financing. We emailed all 4 Lexus dealers in our area, not all of them are as pleasant though. There is one salesman that was not very honest and tried to trick us in pricing. I ended up emailing his manager and asking to deal with another sale person. The dealer we purchased the RX from was excellent though.

Replying to: mar1an1 (Mar 07, 2009 6:50 am)

Replying to: mar1an1 (Mar 07, 2009 6:50 am)

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• mar1an1 (Mar 09, 2009 11:28 am)
  • jpzy3 (Mar 09, 2009 4:03 pm)
    • mar1an1 (Mar 10, 2009 11:04 am)
• mar1an1 (Mar 09, 2009 11:31 am)

Replying to: rparis (Mar 07, 2009 6:08 am)

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• rparis (Mar 07, 2009 6:30 pm)
  • brianbjg (Mar 07, 2009 6:42 pm)
    • rparis (Mar 07, 2009 8:37 pm)