Topic: Used Vehicle Review: Lexus LS, 2007-2015

[Jaeger]

Great looking car, but those flower power wheels have to go.

 

Don't love the wheels but don't hate them - chrome would bug me more and I think the 2011s had those.  Besides, I'd have to save my dough for mounted snows.

5x114.3 pattern. Lots of Kia/Hyundai OEM rims can be found on Kijiji and used as snows. My winter rims came from Genesis Coupe and I'm glad I didn't get some cheap aftermarket ones.

Good advice.

[mmret]

Great looking car, but those flower power wheels have to go.

Eh I feel the Equus hails from the days when Hyundai still didn't have its styling quite right. Looks like a badly cribbed S-Class.

The new Genesis is fantastic OTOH. Much better looking.

[tortoise]

I agree with mmret on that.

Just looks a little unfinished on the front. It's still good looking and a hell of a value to though.

[Jaeger]

You is crazy! That is a fine looking car.

Eye of the beholder and all that but I quite agree - I think it looks terrific.  It has definite road presence. 

As for the new Genesis - that is still my overall fave, but 2015s are thin on the ground, as one would expect being just one model year old, and certainly can't be had for $30k.  In the context of shopping new that is the car to beat for me.  Picking an overall car to beat in the used context is a good deal harder because so much turns on the specifics of the particular example.

The rational part of my brain says just drive the Sonata for two more years then pick up an off-lease 2015 Genesis V8 Ultimate. Of course, that does nothing to scratch the itch.

Question for those who might know - for cars with adaptive cruise control, is the adaptive part defeatable?  Like, can you just run it as a regular cruise control if you wish?

[mmret]

Yes. But other than in bad weather why would you.

[evil_twin]

Eh I feel the Equus hails from the days when Hyundai still didn't have its styling quite right. Looks like a badly cribbed S-Class.

The new Genesis is fantastic OTOH. Much better looking.

Agreed.  Looks a little bit like someone said "make an S-Class....but different".   Not an ugly car, but far from my favourite.   
That said, it wouldn't stop me from buying such an example as a great value purchase.

However...

The rational part of my brain says just drive the Sonata for drive a 2011 Lexus LS for two more years then pick up an off-lease 2015 Genesis V8 Ultimate. Of course, that does nothing everything to scratch the itch.

I like that idea best.   The new Genesis is such a major step forward for Hyundai's design...I'd want to wait for a V8 example within budget.

Buy a used LS now, drive it for two years, and sell for a 2015 Genesis V8. 

[quadzilla]

Buy a used LS now, drive it for two years, and sell for a 2015 Genesis V8.

I really think that is the best idea yet.

[mmret]

Plus the nuisance of HST, winter tires, etc etc. Easier to just go straight to what you want.

[Jaeger]

Yes, the LS would not be a stop-gap car, but something I would plan on driving for at least 4 years.  We're still talking about a $35-36k car here.

Now a $20k R-Spec could be a have-fun-for-two years and then get an LS or Genesis V8.  I would do that for the right R-spec, one of which I unfortunately just missed. But waiting on the right used 2015 Genesis isn't the worst strategy.  Even by next year this time they will be more plentiful.

Drove another Equus.  Still a compelling bargain LS alternative, though I do prefer the LS straight-up, independent of price.

[Jaeger]

For those that shop used more frequently - is this "no-haggle pricing" bs something that is newly prevalent among larger pre-owned dealers?

[pi314]

When we bought our van, we negotiated even after they claimed to be "no-haggle". It'll be more annoying to negotiate though, for sure.

It also really depends on pricing. If they're quite competitive, it's possible they won't move much if at all. 

[ArticSteve]

For those that shop used more frequently - is this "no-haggle pricing" bs something that is newly prevalent among larger pre-owned dealers?

The GTA has undergone a significant shift in "peoples" .  Common theme among these "people" is their cultural habit of offering half of any list price as a starting position.  If you place an Ad in the Trader for a popular car; Honda/Toyota the first thing you hear on the other end of the phone is an offer of half the asking along with "I pay cash , take car no papers".  Lovely.  They will argue their position until you hang up the phone on them.  I'm sure GTA resellers have had enough of this extremely time wasting exercise and use "no haggle" as a defense.

If it becomes apparent that a buyer is sincere then there is always room for negotiation.  Although, the trade-in is the real place to haggle.

[EV Dan]

For those that shop used more frequently - is this "no-haggle pricing" bs something that is newly prevalent among larger pre-owned dealers?

I looked at a used Camry on behalf of someone interested to buy one. A totally murdered SE with the cheapest tires in existence, which have silver spray paint on them, as in DIY body work. And there was no perceivable "go" when I floored it. The punch line in the end was "no haggle pricing"    I curiously asked what if I liked the car and wanted $100 off? Seriously?

P.s. I also have a no-haggle policy on my trade ins. They go strictly by the black book. 

[Jaeger]

For those that shop used more frequently - is this "no-haggle pricing" bs something that is newly prevalent among larger pre-owned dealers?

The GTA has undergone a significant shift in "peoples" .  Common theme among these "people" is their cultural habit of offering half of any list price as a starting position.  If you place an Ad in the Trader for a popular car; Honda/Toyota the first thing you hear on the other end of the phone is an offer of half the asking along with "I pay cash , take car no papers".  Lovely.  They will argue their position until you hang up the phone on them.  I'm sure GTA resellers have had enough of this extremely time wasting exercise and use "no haggle" as a defense.

If it becomes apparent that a buyer is sincere then there is always room for negotiation.  Although, the trade-in is the real place to haggle.

I told one guy I would respect his no haggle policy, but expected him to respect my no haggle policy on my trade in and just pay what I tell him to pay. ;-) I said it humorously, with only the slightest touch of sarcasm.

[rrocket]

Nice car...I thought it looked too much like a Genesis for my taste. Not that the Genesis is bad looking. But I guess if you don't want anyone to know what you're driving..this is the way to go.

Really? I've seen a few of these cars around and can tell them apart from a Genesis. The Genesis seems quite a bit smaller and "generic". The Equus, on the other hand has impressive presence. Of course most folks won't be able to easily identify an Equus.

As car nuts, we can tell them apart. The average person? Not so much IMO.

[rrocket]

For those that shop used more frequently - is this "no-haggle pricing" bs something that is newly prevalent among larger pre-owned dealers?

The GTA has undergone a significant shift in "peoples" .  Common theme among these "people" is their cultural habit of offering half of any list price as a starting position.  If you place an Ad in the Trader for a popular car; Honda/Toyota the first thing you hear on the other end of the phone is an offer of half the asking along with "I pay cash , take car no papers".  Lovely.  They will argue their position until you hang up the phone on them.  I'm sure GTA resellers have had enough of this extremely time wasting exercise and use "no haggle" as a defense.

If it becomes apparent that a buyer is sincere then there is always room for negotiation.  Although, the trade-in is the real place to haggle.

I told one guy I would respect his no haggle policy, but expected him to respect my no haggle policy on my trade in and just pay what I tell him to pay. ;-) I said it humorously, with only the slightest touch of sarcasm.

I've been to a no haggle place. Told them to call me when they were actually ready to sell.

Wonder of wonders..they called me a couple weeks later when the car hadn't sold....

[Triple Bob]

For those that shop used more frequently - is this "no-haggle pricing" bs something that is newly prevalent among larger pre-owned dealers?

It just means don't be stupid and offer half.  Always room for negotiation.

[Jaeger]

For those that shop used more frequently - is this "no-haggle pricing" bs something that is newly prevalent among larger pre-owned dealers?

It just means don't be stupid and offer half.  Always room for negotiation.

The guy with the white Equus I posted was like "I won't budge a dollar on price" - which is nuts considering he is already priced $6k higher than anybody else on what has to be a hard to move vehicle.

[Triple Bob]

For those that shop used more frequently - is this "no-haggle pricing" bs something that is newly prevalent among larger pre-owned dealers?

It just means don't be stupid and offer half.  Always room for negotiation.

The guy with the white Equus I posted was like "I won't budge a dollar on price" - which is nuts considering he is already priced $6k higher than anybody else on what has to be a hard to move vehicle.

People are always willing to move when there is money in front of them.

[safristi]

 it's a Dog eat Dog world..................