LantanaTXGenesis
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I feel so weird saying that, "upgraded from 2013 Lexus GS350", but it couldn't be closer to the truth.
I must admit that most think I'm crazy, as this is now my 38th car since 2004. I trade every 4-6 months, or 10-12k miles. My goal on each and every buy is to buy for a price lower than Kelly Blue Book trade in value. You have to look hard, but the deals are out there. I've found that when I execute as above on the buy side, I can trade for a price close to what I paid, and in some instances make $1-2K.
I bought the 2013 GS 350 in September for $31k with 24k miles on it. Traded in this morning for $29km with just over 35k miles on the clock. So for those of you doing the math, I "lost" $2k on this trade. I look at it from a different angle and figure I just spent $2k on an 11k mile lease...pretty good deal. The kicker, those 11k miles were all business miles, reimbursed at .56/mile, tax free....do the math...
So back to this morning's transaction. While traveling on business this week I spent a couple hours in the hotel looking at the new (2015) Genesis, first looking at used ones to see what has already hit the market. I really didn't see anything south of $30k yet, and those that were close were base 3.8's.
As I begin to scour the local DFW market, I saw some pretty aggressive pricing on remaining new 2015's, with many dealers running with the E-price. I will admit that I phoned in a favor from a friend to work for the best deal possible.
My typical buy for below "kelly blue book trade-in" might seem crazy, but it was doable. I priced out a 2015 used Genesis 3.8 with the signature package, and the trade-in value when running with 15k miles was $32-34k.
My goal: buy a new 3.8 Genesis Sig for less than $32k.
Final pricing:
2015 Genesis 3.8 RWD w/ Signature Package
MSRP $43,315
Purchase price prior to TTL: $29,638
That's more than 30% below MSRP, and this vehicle is new. 41 miles, NOT a demo. A 5.0 with an MSRP of $52k could have been had for $16,500 off sticker....that is not a typo, and I don't qualify for any special rebates.
TTL was nominal, no dealer-adds, and a reasonable $125 doc fee. Minimal sales tax as I had the shelter of a $29k trade-in value to offset the $29.6 purchase price.
Now back to my title, "upgraded from Lexus GS350". Out of my prior 37 cars, almost everything has been high-line, lots of E350s, 528i's, Jag XF, Jag XJ-R, Corvette, the list goes on. Only one Lexus though, and it bored me to death. No sport factor whatsoever, it wasn't the ultimate quiet vehicle everyone touts, it wasn't agile, it wasn't that quick, the factory stereo sucked, and it had been in the shop 3 times already for stupid little things such as a parking sensor going out. Other than the looks, there wasn't much I liked other than the free cookies and peanut M&M's in the Lexus waiting room....
This is my second Genesis, my prior was a base 2012 3.8, with minimal options. It was a great car, but ultimately a fuel-filling problem and poor dealer service lead to my sending it off to its next owner.
I must say that with 50 miles on this new generation it might be one of the best all-around cars I've owned. Quicker and more nimble than the GS350, much better stereo, love the pano sunroof, nicer and higher-end feeling interior, and in my opinion better looks. At a sub $30k price point, I couldn't be happier with the deal and I feel like I just robbed a bank!
One mod prior to leaving dealer's lot....get rid of the ugly "H" logo on the trunk. Done.
I must admit that most think I'm crazy, as this is now my 38th car since 2004. I trade every 4-6 months, or 10-12k miles. My goal on each and every buy is to buy for a price lower than Kelly Blue Book trade in value. You have to look hard, but the deals are out there. I've found that when I execute as above on the buy side, I can trade for a price close to what I paid, and in some instances make $1-2K.
I bought the 2013 GS 350 in September for $31k with 24k miles on it. Traded in this morning for $29km with just over 35k miles on the clock. So for those of you doing the math, I "lost" $2k on this trade. I look at it from a different angle and figure I just spent $2k on an 11k mile lease...pretty good deal. The kicker, those 11k miles were all business miles, reimbursed at .56/mile, tax free....do the math...
So back to this morning's transaction. While traveling on business this week I spent a couple hours in the hotel looking at the new (2015) Genesis, first looking at used ones to see what has already hit the market. I really didn't see anything south of $30k yet, and those that were close were base 3.8's.
As I begin to scour the local DFW market, I saw some pretty aggressive pricing on remaining new 2015's, with many dealers running with the E-price. I will admit that I phoned in a favor from a friend to work for the best deal possible.
My typical buy for below "kelly blue book trade-in" might seem crazy, but it was doable. I priced out a 2015 used Genesis 3.8 with the signature package, and the trade-in value when running with 15k miles was $32-34k.
My goal: buy a new 3.8 Genesis Sig for less than $32k.
Final pricing:
2015 Genesis 3.8 RWD w/ Signature Package
MSRP $43,315
Purchase price prior to TTL: $29,638
That's more than 30% below MSRP, and this vehicle is new. 41 miles, NOT a demo. A 5.0 with an MSRP of $52k could have been had for $16,500 off sticker....that is not a typo, and I don't qualify for any special rebates.
TTL was nominal, no dealer-adds, and a reasonable $125 doc fee. Minimal sales tax as I had the shelter of a $29k trade-in value to offset the $29.6 purchase price.
Now back to my title, "upgraded from Lexus GS350". Out of my prior 37 cars, almost everything has been high-line, lots of E350s, 528i's, Jag XF, Jag XJ-R, Corvette, the list goes on. Only one Lexus though, and it bored me to death. No sport factor whatsoever, it wasn't the ultimate quiet vehicle everyone touts, it wasn't agile, it wasn't that quick, the factory stereo sucked, and it had been in the shop 3 times already for stupid little things such as a parking sensor going out. Other than the looks, there wasn't much I liked other than the free cookies and peanut M&M's in the Lexus waiting room....
This is my second Genesis, my prior was a base 2012 3.8, with minimal options. It was a great car, but ultimately a fuel-filling problem and poor dealer service lead to my sending it off to its next owner.
I must say that with 50 miles on this new generation it might be one of the best all-around cars I've owned. Quicker and more nimble than the GS350, much better stereo, love the pano sunroof, nicer and higher-end feeling interior, and in my opinion better looks. At a sub $30k price point, I couldn't be happier with the deal and I feel like I just robbed a bank!
One mod prior to leaving dealer's lot....get rid of the ugly "H" logo on the trunk. Done.
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