£23,000 Increase in 7 Years. Reasonable?

[SH20]

The list price of the highest spec 2024 LS500h AWD referred to by Lexus Dealers as  the Pleat Trim level is £128,260 incl first year road tax and £23,000 more expensive than it was in December 2017.      The Pleat is basically a Takumi model with a black and rose coloured interior (only colour available with the fancy pleated door cards and Kiriko Glass) but other Takumi models have  door cards with  wood veneers and conventional door card coverings.  However only the semi aniline leather features for the Pleat Trim.   The non pleat Takumi has L- Aniline leather as standard which apparently has an even more soft feel to it than semi aniline leather and cheaper at £122,060.     Another model at £128,260 called the Nishijin is just another variation of trim with black only leather and Haku wood inlays.   The road tax is an eye watering £1650 unto year 5.     As usual in the biggest market for Lexus the list prices for these same cars start at $81,000 base level 2 wheel drive to $117,000 for an AWD version with top trim.    

So another example of the UK having to pay more than any other country  because we always have.    Are these LS cars really worth such a huge price figure.   

 

[Malc1]

The old and ancient Ls400s always had those now expensive super upmarket …….. pleated door cards  👍

The new Ls500 AWD at even £135k doesn’t seem too bad …… the odd £10/20k here or there is oft irrelevant to buyers of brand new cars …….. with money to burn methinks 

Company Tax Efficiency comes  to mind maybe ! 

Malc 

 

[GMB]

34 minutes ago, SH20 said:

The Pleat is basically a Takumi model with a black and rose coloured interior (only colour available with the fancy pleated door cards and Kiriko Glass) but other Takumi models have  door cards with  wood veneers and conventional door card coverings.  However only the semi aniline leather features for the Pleat Trim.   The non pleat Takumi has L- Aniline leather as standard which apparently has an even more soft feel to it than semi aniline leather

Sounds like money for old rope to me, but, hey I am just a (once) working class grotty old northern pensioner who likes fish and chips and pies from Wigan. I am currently saving up for some fish and chips at the end of the month. If we hit target I may go for broke and get some peas as well.

I fondly remember my old 60s MG and some other sports cars with a crinkled black painted dashboard. Door cards? there weren't any!  I Think it was the Crapumi edition with Shih-Tzumi trim. It must have cost the manufacturers all of £3 to produce.

[RONNIE W HODGEKINSON]

36 minutes ago, Malc1 said:

The old and ancient Ls400s always had those now expensive super upmarket …….. pleated door cards  👍

The new Ls500 AWD at even £135k doesn’t seem too bad …… the odd £10/20k here or there is oft irrelevant to buyers of brand new cars …….. with money to burn methinks 

Company Tax Efficiency comes  to mind maybe ! 

Malc 

 

Treat Yourself Malcom You Got Plenty Money..lol

[SH20]

Once the horrendous first 2 or 3 years depreciation has played it's part a high spec car seems like a better option.   My LS500h is the Pleat model and the spec is very very high in all areas and bought as a six year old car. This is where the appeal lies for me because the mileage tends to be modest and the service history also tends to be main dealer. 

Can't say I put too much store in the over egged 10 year extended warranty, mainly because I tried to make a claim for a noisy door window blind which was rejected immediately but that aside the car is an excellent and well made car with great mpg returns.  Would still only buy a really good used vehicle though.      

[Malc1]

Me too ……. unless there’s a big big company tax advantage to buying brand new 

I’m only ever buying a great 2nd hand limo ……. and I’m not seeing anything much better for me than my existing beauts 

BUT I’m awaiting with interest the upcoming potential of a Lexus Toyota Hydrogen Power limo …… in my lifetime tho’ I’m really not sure 🤔 

4ltr V8  Lexus limos are ok by me tbh ……. I’ve never hankered after car prestige or one-upmanship ……. getting in and out of a car is today’s big challenge for me ….. capacity for holiday luggage and proven to be capable of a few 000 mile trip too  😄

Mobility aids too one day maybe ( heaven forbid 🤣 ) and that Ls400 cavernous boot …….. what’s better than the Ls400 ( or a pair - just in case 🤔 ) 

Spending £125k on a car 🙃 my family would pop me in the loony bin 👌…… justifiably eh ! 

Malc 

 

[ColinBarber]

2 hours ago, SH20 said:

Are these LS cars really worth such a huge price figure.   

Given that Lexus has only sold 2 in the UK all year I would say no 😉

 

2 hours ago, SH20 said:

So another example of the UK having to pay more than any other country  because we always have

You cannot draw that conclusion from looking at the US prices - they are amortising homologation, staff training, spares holding, literature design and publication etc. over 10,000s of vehicles in the US compared to 100s across Europe. Plus the UK price includes VAT which is not present on the US prices.

[Spock66]

I do think the prices of new cars has way outpaced inflation over the past few years.

Just look at the luxury car tax stuck at £40k, even a top spec Mini now falls into that category.

[SH20]

2 LS cars Colin   wow, True,  I've never actually seen another one on the road  in the last 10 months of owning one but that's a very low sales figure.

There is a great car themed business situated in Sherburn in Elmet near Leeds (Loads of videos about it on YouTube) which has everything in terms of a Bodyshop, Paintshop, Mechanical shop, Classic Car restoration, large cafe, large restaurant, car accessory shop, and meeting rooms for car clubs to hire.   They have themed car and bike  days at weekends, Saturday and Sundays and during the week coffee and car days for like minded folk.    On the 14th November there is an all Japanese day which I imagine will include mainly fast Japanese sports cars.   I'm going myself but only in the hope another LS500h might attend but I'm not hopeful.   

 

[GMB]

4 hours ago, ColinBarber said:

Given that Lexus has only sold 2 in the UK all year I would say no 😉

Wait until they are over 3 years old and you will be able to pick one up for £29K.  Bargain!

[BigBoomer]

15 hours ago, GMB said:

Wait until they are over 3 years old and you will be able to pick one up for £29K.  Bargain!

The oldest LS500 are now 6 years old and still going for £35k+.

As for the increase in prices, that is across the board for everything.
I paid £4400 for a 91k miles 04 in Jan 2018 and similar cars are now £6k+

What is a little weird is that LS460/600 with similar mileage are cheaper and many seem to have had a lot of previous owners (4+).
I'm guessing that the cost of ownership/repair is the cause there.

Malc (and others) will be pleased to see that LS400s are now appreciating considerably.

[scythe]

On 9/23/2024 at 12:06 PM, SH20 said:

The list price of the highest spec 2024 LS500h AWD referred to by Lexus Dealers as  the Pleat Trim level is £128,260 incl first year road tax and £23,000 more expensive than it was in December 2017.  

How reasonable the original price of £105,260 being increased depends (slightly) on which measure of inflation you use.

If you use retail price index (RPI) then £105,260 is equivalent to £ 147,708  in July.

If you use consumer price index (CPI) it's worth £147570 in August.

So, less than we might expect.  But I still definitely think that over £100k is too much for the car it is.

: o )

[mikejt]

On 9/23/2024 at 12:50 PM, GMB said:

Sounds like money for old rope to me, but, hey I am just a (once) working class grotty old northern pensioner who likes fish and chips and pies from Wigan. I am currently saving up for some fish and chips at the end of the month. If we hit target I may go for broke and get some peas as well.

I fondly remember my old 60s MG and some other sports cars with a crinkled black painted dashboard. Door cards? there weren't any!  I Think it was the Crapumi edition with Shih-Tzumi trim. It must have cost the manufacturers all of £3 to produce.

We hardly had the price of a cup tea.....

[ambermarine]

The price of the latest Lexus LS is approx 2.5 x what my 98 ls400 cost 26 years ago so I do not think the price is unjustified.The inflation will contribute most of that increase and techno improvements costs( R&D) will add a fair bit .The depreciation will not be as considerable as in the age of the LS400 because there are less being made so a smaller used buyers market.

I was fortunate to get my car for less than 4k when it was 12 years old with 20k on the clock I believe it is worth a bit more than that now and I could afford a brand new all up LS but I do not see the point in that as I everything I need in the one I own. Cars are part of our lives and I have owned some real classics frog eyed sprite, sunbeam rapier ,Hillman californian, minivan, triumph herald, and a austin a40 farina the first hatchback.

If I still owned those they would be worth a fortune but life dictates what we keep and what was happening at the time and those cars I mentioned were just modes of transport at the price I could just about afford they were not bought for any other reason and to that end nothing as changed I have now found the right car at the right price to keep.

[RONNIE W HODGEKINSON]

On 9/23/2024 at 12:50 PM, GMB said:

Sounds like money for old rope to me, but, hey I am just a (once) working class grotty old northern pensioner who likes fish and chips and pies from Wigan. I am currently saving up for some fish and chips at the end of the month. If we hit target I may go for broke and get some peas as well.

I fondly remember my old 60s MG and some other sports cars with a crinkled black painted dashboard. Door cards? there weren't any!  I Think it was the Crapumi edition with Shih-Tzumi trim. It must have cost the manufacturers all of £3 to produce.

Grey Push The Gravy Boat Out And get Yourself Some Curry Sauce Too.. You Only Live Twice..!!!

[GMB]

52 minutes ago, RONNIE W HODGEKINSON said:

Grey Push The Gravy Boat Out And get Yourself Some Curry Sauce Too.. You Only Live Twice..!!!

Now you're talking. Yes please!  If I can just last another few days on my pension this month🤤.........

 

[RONNIE W HODGEKINSON]

17 minutes ago, GMB said:

Now you're talking. Yes please!  If I can just last another few days on my pension this month🤤.........

 

Gosh..I Was Speaking to this Patient In Hospital Who Said He Just Wanted a Pie Supper On A Roll..Felt so Sorry for Him So I had Better not let him See This Video..!!!!! His BMI was Through the Roof....!!!!