Sat 19 Aug 2006
Tah-dah!!!
As you can tell, I did it. I got an offer that I couldn’t turn down. My ex came through BIG TIME. (No, not that one.) Through some connections, I got an offer (through the phone) from Longo Lexus for an IS350 with navigation system, which I wasn’t even considering because I couldn’t afford it (it was either gonna be the IS250 with nav or IS350 without), and the offer was lower than what I’d expected to pay for the 250. Just on a whim, I then called another dealership that had internet sales specials, and that guy gave me a quote on the same car for $200 less than the connection’s quote! I was pretty set to go on that, but I called the connection guy back as a courtesy to let him know to not bother running financing numbers for me. That guy, once I told him the offer I got from the 2nd dealership, told me to hold on while he checked for permission to go below what he’d been authorized, then called me back within minutes and beat the last guy by $111. So we took off and drove there. The car was being primped and gassed while I signed some paperwork that was already laid out for me, credit check was run and my amazing credit score was 127 points higher than what qualified for their best financing offer, so I got the lowest APR ever offered to me by any Lexus dealer I’ve spoken to, with 5 work days to find a better offer to switch over financing without penalty. Costco’s car loans, by the way, seems to be 2.5% lower than the best dealership offer on Lexuses. So I’m gonna get that going in the beginning of the week and drive up a check to the dealership.
I bought that car sight-unseen without a test drive. The drive home was amazing. It was quiet, the dealership guy programmed my home as the first hot-key destination for the navigation system, my cell phone has been synchronized to the car via Bluetooth and I can now take calls thru the car’s speakers without ever taking the phone out of my purse, the ride was smooth and the car is incredibly responsive to the gas pedal. There are so many luxury things inside and around that car that I’m having trouble absorbing it all into my head. Perks like starting the ignition with a push-button instead of a key-turn, and oh yes, oil changes that will come to YOU, at your home, place of business, school, wherever, without an additional fee. So I can have my oil changed while I work and have it done before lunchtime, and I don’t miss a beat in my day. The navigation is wonderful, too, the way she talks to me and dings at me to alert me to when to turn and how many lanes are on the freeway, and which side the freeway entrance is on. My only complaint is that gas mileage is crap compared to my Accord, but everything else is so sweet I’m sure I’ll get used to it. I haven’t even seen my new car in daylight yet. Can’t wait.
Many thanks for doing research, listening to me contemplate the decision aloud, offering advice, tolerating me re this car purchase, to Mr. W, Gary, James, Dwaine, Diana, Jordan, Vicky. And of course, all the blog readers who had to read all these posts. The salesguy, Martin, is awesome; extremely efficient, no-nonsense, funny, informed and informative. Let me know if any of you want his info for your own purchase!
Congratulations for the purchase! 🙂 What is the color of your new car? Are you going to post a pic of your new toy for us loyal readers here?
congratulations!! Yay. Now you can drive to FL and see if the gas mileage is correct 🙂
Thanks! The car I posted is the color of my car. =) It’s called “blue onyx pearl,” but it looked just black last nite. I may post a pic, as soon as I look better. That may be awhile. As for driving to Florida, I think because you got your new car first, Jordan, that you should be the first to have the honor of driving between our two states.
Nice.
yay yay yay!
after i talked to you, i immediately logged on bwm.com and built my dream m3- black on black. i saved it becuase i wasn’t gonna buy it immediately, but i didn’t want to forget what my dream car looks like.
I am. I’m driving to Oklahoma in November! Why Oklahoma you ask? The boy is graduating from basic training on Nov. 2. 🙂
grats.
post some pics.
titanium tint, ftw!!
Congrats! That is fabulous!!!! You have great taste!
Thanks, thanks!
atkcat, what’s “ftw”? forthwith? I can’t remember whether this is the car that has the heat-deterring windows already. If it is, I don’t need to get it tinted. Maybe it was the G35.
*blush*
ftw = for the win
im not a geek. really im not.
oh btw, i suggest you wash and wax the car the first couple of times yourself. give it a few good coats of wax too keep it all pretty.
I have had no road rage in the last 3 weeks.. probably because I have a new SUV and I figure if I have road rage, the chances that someone pulls out a gun and shoots at my car increase way more than with *no* road rage… SO… no road rage it is. Can’t be messing up my nice new shiny black SUV.
I’m also parking way far away from others when I go places too.. the kids haven’t complained but they think it’s funny that I go through the trouble to park way far out in the parking lot and we come out and there is a car RIGHT NEXT TO OURS. grrrr.
atkcat – any recommendations on wax brands?
Jordan – that happened to me TODAY! HAHA!
Conspiracy. I think they know why we’re parking where no one else parks… they get that evil grin on their faces and think “I’ll show them!!”
I recommend Meguiar’s Gold Class Liquid wax. Comes with the applicator(s)
Terry cloth towels or diaper cloth towels to remove the wax.
A polishing cloth to give you car a final buff.
Lexol leather care for your seats
Armour-all for you dash and or tires.
a bucket, car wash soap, and sponge if you dont have them already.
avoid circular motions when washing, applying/removing the wax from the car. Use long side to side/up and down strokes to prevent ‘spider scratches’.
you can pick up everything at your local Kragen or Pep Boys.
Thanks for the tips! I never knew not to use circular strokes. Man, will the expenses ever end for this car?
No never. I just ran mine through the new super duper car wash for $9. It drip dried as I drove off.. now I have little dried water dots all over the car. That’s what I get for buying black.. silver doesn’t show that!