Posting this here in the TALK section instead of PURCHASING section, but crosses both topics.
After getting a run around from my local dealer about not knowing when allocations will come, with guess of wait maybe 2-3 years, and a few markup add-ons, with $2k non-refundable deposit, I decided to head to a slightly bigger dealer more towards the downtown area.
The director at this 2nd dealer was not only super chill, but it was too easy to ask about when I could get a GX. He asks for my driver's license ands starts adding my order into his system, without even discussing what the deposit is, markup add-ons, wait lists/times.
I tell him about my experience from the other dealer, and he said here no problem, I get an allocation for your trim, I call you, even if it is not your colour, you like you take, you don't like you continue to wait. Claimed that most likely will not be several years to wait, will likely land on something that fits close.
Then I ask him how many he sells, he tells me 5-6 per year, wait what ? I ask him about his wait list, he gives me a best guess of 50-60 ppl. That math does not look good. Tells me not to worry, will all work out in the end, because people are too picky and will end up waiting and I can bypass them.
Then we discuss trim, tells me that 70% of the ppl on his list want OT, so better chances to land an LUX+/Exec sooner, competing with less ppl on the whole list.
THEN THAT IS WHEN THINGS TAKE A TURN IN THE CHAT (hence this post) ....................
Dealer: Have you ever driven a GX ?
Me: No
Dealer: Hmm, have you ever driven a big truck ?
Me: Besides the occasional U-Haul, nothing like an Escalade, Yukon or F-150 no, let alone a GX, oh yeah an Isuzu Rodeo in my younger years
Dealer: I owned 3 GX's, '21, '22 and '24
Dealer: They are TERRIBLE to drive on public roads, pulls all over the place
Dealer: I workout and am in shape, and I had to drive it with 2 hands to keep it in the lane
Dealer: Bounces all over the place, pulls left and right, struggle is real
Dealer: My wife hated it
Dealer: Will you at least offload with it
Me: Not at all, zero interest, just own it for fun and going to work and long road trip vacations
Dealer: Hmm, well ok, your choice
Dealer: You know this truck is highly stolen right
Dealer: Those f***** are good, they will put a tracker on your truck and follow you everywhere
Dealer: Have a client who had his GX stolen 3 times, even with tracking on it
Dealer: Wife felt she was being followed all the time
Dealer: Did you check with your insurance, won't be cheap
Me: Yeah insurance not bad, close to the cost for a TX, aware of the high theft thing, very worrisome
Dealer: Ok, your choice, let's continue
Dealer: Have you driven a TX500h hybrid
Me: Only the TX350
Dealer: The TX350 is a cow, the 500h is an incredible drive, handles so well, super comfortable, lots of power, neighbour has one and the look is growing on me. Own an RX500 and want to upgrade to the TX500 next, amazing drive (with 4-wheel steering too)
Dealer: My wife said to me, I am done with this madness (GX), between horrible street driving/handling and high theft fear, change models
Me: How come you are willing to "sell" me a GX
Dealer: Simple, you will either lease or finance with us. If you were coming in here to pay cash, different story (export)
Me: How much for financing
Dealer: 6.9% for 72 months, $2200/mo (CAD) with zero down, can talk trade-in later
Me: Any mark-ups / add-ons
Dealer: Nothing, why would I do that, just the truck and a bit of luxury tax
Me: (thinking) probably making their money on the financing interest
Dealer: You know this thing is a gas guzzler right ?
Dealer: No joke, cost me minimum $160 - $180 (CAD) per week, was horrible.
You get the point here, the chat went on way more than the above, but in the end, he told me, I call you, you want it you take it, you don't want it, the next guy will take it. You change your mind and eventually want a TX down the road after impatiently waiting, can move your deposit to that. I can make you a deal on a future TX, zero deal on the GX.
Great looking truck, but is the drive really THAT BAD on the roads ???
Is the gas consumption really that bad ??
Are those who are financing paying that high of an interest rate with Lexus ??
Are some dealers allowing a cash purchase ??
After getting a run around from my local dealer about not knowing when allocations will come, with guess of wait maybe 2-3 years, and a few markup add-ons, with $2k non-refundable deposit, I decided to head to a slightly bigger dealer more towards the downtown area.
The director at this 2nd dealer was not only super chill, but it was too easy to ask about when I could get a GX. He asks for my driver's license ands starts adding my order into his system, without even discussing what the deposit is, markup add-ons, wait lists/times.
I tell him about my experience from the other dealer, and he said here no problem, I get an allocation for your trim, I call you, even if it is not your colour, you like you take, you don't like you continue to wait. Claimed that most likely will not be several years to wait, will likely land on something that fits close.
Then I ask him how many he sells, he tells me 5-6 per year, wait what ? I ask him about his wait list, he gives me a best guess of 50-60 ppl. That math does not look good. Tells me not to worry, will all work out in the end, because people are too picky and will end up waiting and I can bypass them.
Then we discuss trim, tells me that 70% of the ppl on his list want OT, so better chances to land an LUX+/Exec sooner, competing with less ppl on the whole list.
THEN THAT IS WHEN THINGS TAKE A TURN IN THE CHAT (hence this post) ....................
Dealer: Have you ever driven a GX ?
Me: No
Dealer: Hmm, have you ever driven a big truck ?
Me: Besides the occasional U-Haul, nothing like an Escalade, Yukon or F-150 no, let alone a GX, oh yeah an Isuzu Rodeo in my younger years
Dealer: I owned 3 GX's, '21, '22 and '24
Dealer: They are TERRIBLE to drive on public roads, pulls all over the place
Dealer: I workout and am in shape, and I had to drive it with 2 hands to keep it in the lane
Dealer: Bounces all over the place, pulls left and right, struggle is real
Dealer: My wife hated it
Dealer: Will you at least offload with it
Me: Not at all, zero interest, just own it for fun and going to work and long road trip vacations
Dealer: Hmm, well ok, your choice
Dealer: You know this truck is highly stolen right
Dealer: Those f***** are good, they will put a tracker on your truck and follow you everywhere
Dealer: Have a client who had his GX stolen 3 times, even with tracking on it
Dealer: Wife felt she was being followed all the time
Dealer: Did you check with your insurance, won't be cheap
Me: Yeah insurance not bad, close to the cost for a TX, aware of the high theft thing, very worrisome
Dealer: Ok, your choice, let's continue
Dealer: Have you driven a TX500h hybrid
Me: Only the TX350
Dealer: The TX350 is a cow, the 500h is an incredible drive, handles so well, super comfortable, lots of power, neighbour has one and the look is growing on me. Own an RX500 and want to upgrade to the TX500 next, amazing drive (with 4-wheel steering too)
Dealer: My wife said to me, I am done with this madness (GX), between horrible street driving/handling and high theft fear, change models
Me: How come you are willing to "sell" me a GX
Dealer: Simple, you will either lease or finance with us. If you were coming in here to pay cash, different story (export)
Me: How much for financing
Dealer: 6.9% for 72 months, $2200/mo (CAD) with zero down, can talk trade-in later
Me: Any mark-ups / add-ons
Dealer: Nothing, why would I do that, just the truck and a bit of luxury tax
Me: (thinking) probably making their money on the financing interest
Dealer: You know this thing is a gas guzzler right ?
Dealer: No joke, cost me minimum $160 - $180 (CAD) per week, was horrible.
You get the point here, the chat went on way more than the above, but in the end, he told me, I call you, you want it you take it, you don't want it, the next guy will take it. You change your mind and eventually want a TX down the road after impatiently waiting, can move your deposit to that. I can make you a deal on a future TX, zero deal on the GX.
Great looking truck, but is the drive really THAT BAD on the roads ???
Is the gas consumption really that bad ??
Are those who are financing paying that high of an interest rate with Lexus ??
Are some dealers allowing a cash purchase ??
