Hi GX 550 community!
I have been closely watching this Lexus GX 550 vehicle since its launch last year. Since then, I've always wanted the Overtrail trim as I would like to do some overlanding/off-roading activities with it (like I have with my Tundra - my 3rd truck in my life). As the months of research went by, I realized that this is my dream SUV and as such, I would get the Overtrail+ to have all the bells and whistles - why not, I earned this in my opinion.
Since the start of this year, I began researching on how to get one of these and I came to a quick conclusion that it would take a long while. Phrases things like supply & demand, dealer markups/add-ons, dealer allotments, waiting list, Service Marker Area (SMA), deposits became all too common, worrisome and quite frankly, daunting/intimidating. I knew about the list of Lexus dealers with "no mark-ups/add-ons” but their wait list was 6 months to 1.5 years out and they catered more to their SMA customers before someone far away like me would be called back. So, I gave up on this dream temporarily earlier this year thinking that perhaps 2026 may be more realistic. In the meantime, I watched countless YouTube videos on the vehicle and the itch came back. On Sunday (5/11/25), I started looking around again online to see if the demand settled and supply increased. It hasn't.
Despite all this, the following day on Monday morning, I made my round of calls to local Lexus dealers, just gaging the supply and demand. By shear dumb luck, a faithful call was made to Lexus of Riverside and low and behold, they had my eventual GX 550 Overtrail+ sitting on the lot for sale (no reservation/deposit as the person who had reserved it didn't close the deal over the weekend, or the deal fell through). It was just sitting there and available for purchase. It only had 8 miles on it so it was new. I just called at the right time.
I quickly drove there from 30 miles away; test drove it and began negotiations. Unfortunately, this dealer does have markups. I unwillingly had to pay some but was able to negotiate down the markup ($10k down to $6.8k). No other added crap (on top of the markup, they were pushing hard for gap insurance and extended warranty – stood my ground and said no thank you) and other things from the finance guy (the final guy you sign all the paperwork with - admittedly, I did add 4 more years of scheduled maintenance service - so 8 additional maintenance services - 5 years/10 services in total for $2,800 more).
On mark-ups, after over a year of tracking and learning, my thought process was it is either money (eat the markups/add-ons ) OR time (wait for a long while before being able to reserve one for yourself) - you had to give something - sorry for the ones that gave both and good for the ones that were able to miraculously avoid having to give both. I could no longer wait (and I wasn't on any wait list due to the SMA thing above - so if I put myself on one, it would back of the line on less priority line for me which meant over a year of wait at least). Perhaps others had different experiences. Here in Southern California, I think this is more than fair. I never wanted to pay dealer markup and perhaps I got screwed (I hope not). But I think with the supply/demand, it is the price you pay out here and I can live with it.
In a manner of literally 4.5 hours, my Monday went from calling around to being at home with a brand new 2025 GX 550 Overtrail+ with Nori Green Pearl with optional Bi-tone Black Onyx (my sales guy actually drove it to my house and followed me on my Tundra). He Lyfted back to the dealer – big shout out to the entire Lexus of Riverside team – thank you). The interior is Chateau NuLuxe/Olive Ultrasuede and Black Grained trim. She is a beauty and I am so blessed and honored to own one in this way and so soon. We have aptly nicknamed her Seaweed GX.
So, over the last couple of days since purchase (while constantly gawking at her and having a full-time smile on my face), I have begun her upgrade journey and research. I joined this forum. I will detailing her journey here in the hopes of helping enthusiasts with ideas and also for my enjoyment in sharing her development. We’re certainly excited with all this. A huge thank you to this community and other resources already for helping me with ideas, narrowing down options and making informed decisions. Thank you so much. I hope you guys will follow along. Here’s some pictures of her as purchased.
I have been closely watching this Lexus GX 550 vehicle since its launch last year. Since then, I've always wanted the Overtrail trim as I would like to do some overlanding/off-roading activities with it (like I have with my Tundra - my 3rd truck in my life). As the months of research went by, I realized that this is my dream SUV and as such, I would get the Overtrail+ to have all the bells and whistles - why not, I earned this in my opinion.
Since the start of this year, I began researching on how to get one of these and I came to a quick conclusion that it would take a long while. Phrases things like supply & demand, dealer markups/add-ons, dealer allotments, waiting list, Service Marker Area (SMA), deposits became all too common, worrisome and quite frankly, daunting/intimidating. I knew about the list of Lexus dealers with "no mark-ups/add-ons” but their wait list was 6 months to 1.5 years out and they catered more to their SMA customers before someone far away like me would be called back. So, I gave up on this dream temporarily earlier this year thinking that perhaps 2026 may be more realistic. In the meantime, I watched countless YouTube videos on the vehicle and the itch came back. On Sunday (5/11/25), I started looking around again online to see if the demand settled and supply increased. It hasn't.
Despite all this, the following day on Monday morning, I made my round of calls to local Lexus dealers, just gaging the supply and demand. By shear dumb luck, a faithful call was made to Lexus of Riverside and low and behold, they had my eventual GX 550 Overtrail+ sitting on the lot for sale (no reservation/deposit as the person who had reserved it didn't close the deal over the weekend, or the deal fell through). It was just sitting there and available for purchase. It only had 8 miles on it so it was new. I just called at the right time.
I quickly drove there from 30 miles away; test drove it and began negotiations. Unfortunately, this dealer does have markups. I unwillingly had to pay some but was able to negotiate down the markup ($10k down to $6.8k). No other added crap (on top of the markup, they were pushing hard for gap insurance and extended warranty – stood my ground and said no thank you) and other things from the finance guy (the final guy you sign all the paperwork with - admittedly, I did add 4 more years of scheduled maintenance service - so 8 additional maintenance services - 5 years/10 services in total for $2,800 more).
On mark-ups, after over a year of tracking and learning, my thought process was it is either money (eat the markups/add-ons ) OR time (wait for a long while before being able to reserve one for yourself) - you had to give something - sorry for the ones that gave both and good for the ones that were able to miraculously avoid having to give both. I could no longer wait (and I wasn't on any wait list due to the SMA thing above - so if I put myself on one, it would back of the line on less priority line for me which meant over a year of wait at least). Perhaps others had different experiences. Here in Southern California, I think this is more than fair. I never wanted to pay dealer markup and perhaps I got screwed (I hope not). But I think with the supply/demand, it is the price you pay out here and I can live with it.
In a manner of literally 4.5 hours, my Monday went from calling around to being at home with a brand new 2025 GX 550 Overtrail+ with Nori Green Pearl with optional Bi-tone Black Onyx (my sales guy actually drove it to my house and followed me on my Tundra). He Lyfted back to the dealer – big shout out to the entire Lexus of Riverside team – thank you). The interior is Chateau NuLuxe/Olive Ultrasuede and Black Grained trim. She is a beauty and I am so blessed and honored to own one in this way and so soon. We have aptly nicknamed her Seaweed GX.
So, over the last couple of days since purchase (while constantly gawking at her and having a full-time smile on my face), I have begun her upgrade journey and research. I joined this forum. I will detailing her journey here in the hopes of helping enthusiasts with ideas and also for my enjoyment in sharing her development. We’re certainly excited with all this. A huge thank you to this community and other resources already for helping me with ideas, narrowing down options and making informed decisions. Thank you so much. I hope you guys will follow along. Here’s some pictures of her as purchased.
