Price Comparison On Is250s Around The World - Also Where Is The Is350

[Rap03]

Hi all.

I have been looking at updating and looking at pricing and wondered why we are paying so much for our IS range (and maybe other Lexus cars) in Australia.

Looking at the base model and it is listed around $57k+, where when you look at the US and UK, it works out, after conversions to low-mid $40k.

Example - IS250 bottom of range, in US it is $33kUS (Auto) which then becomes $41Aus (80 cents in $). In Uk, it is 23k Pounds (with VAT) which is around $46K Aus (50c in the pound).

To try and put in some perspective I looked at the Camery to equate things but UK doesn't have a Camery or like it. Looked at the Yaris, but UK don't have the same models with engine size, but just the low end prices equate to (in Aus $s) Aus $16k, US $15k, UK $19k (1.0 litre model).

Looking at BMW, and maybe they feel even more cheated. The price of a 335i model (again converted to AUS $s) in Aus $107k, in US $50k, and UK $64k. Extras still to be added and on roads, etc.

So, it seems that luxory car manufacturers in Aust are ripping the public off left right and centre. And before everyone says it's the government or transport costs, etc, I believe the Government charges 10% import duty and then we pay our 10% GST, not that much extra if the base price is right. Transport costs, well, people will tell you that the transport to Aust should be less than going to the UK (from Japan) and maybe US is going to be a little cheaper again, but in all, it is only in the region of $1 or $2k per car.

So, where does all the higher costs for Aust come into it? Right hand drive, I here you say. Hmmm....last time I looked the UK was right hand drive, production of left hand drive cheaper than production of right hand drive? Hmmm....same materials and time to make in both. Less import duties in the US than Aust, hmmmm.....what about UK.

So, I think we need a Senate inquiry into this, after all, we have to keep those Senators up with that extra money they get from being on an inquirey.

Another issue I have is why aren't we getting the IS350 in Aust. I think the UK people are dirty on that as well. After all, it is already make for Japan's right hand drive and Japan usually have higher emissions controls, etc, than the Aust standards, so, shouldn't need to be any mods needed for Aust.

But, I suppose, if they did bring them in, it would be another $20k on top of the IS250. Gee, that's a lot for a bigger capacity engine that would cost 2 tenths of bugg@r all extra to produce. What other bits and pieces would you get over the IS250 Sports luxury, pobably nothing.

So, that draws to a close on my rant. I do feel better.

We need a way to tell these car companies we have had enough of being ripped off!

[illusivedreams]

Hi all.

I have been looking at updating and looking at pricing and wondered why we are paying so much for our IS range (and maybe other Lexus cars) in Australia.

Looking at the base model and it is listed around $57k+, where when you look at the US and UK, it works out, after conversions to low-mid $40k.

Example - IS250 bottom of range, in US it is $33kUS (Auto) which then becomes $41Aus (80 cents in $). In Uk, it is 23k Pounds (with VAT) which is around $46K Aus (50c in the pound).

To try and put in some perspective I looked at the Camery to equate things but UK doesn't have a Camery or like it. Looked at the Yaris, but UK don't have the same models with engine size, but just the low end prices equate to (in Aus $s) Aus $16k, US $15k, UK $19k (1.0 litre model).

Looking at BMW, and maybe they feel even more cheated. The price of a 335i model (again converted to AUS $s) in Aus $107k, in US $50k, and UK $64k. Extras still to be added and on roads, etc.

So, it seems that luxory car manufacturers in Aust are ripping the public off left right and centre. And before everyone says it's the government or transport costs, etc, I believe the Government charges 10% import duty and then we pay our 10% GST, not that much extra if the base price is right. Transport costs, well, people will tell you that the transport to Aust should be less than going to the UK (from Japan) and maybe US is going to be a little cheaper again, but in all, it is only in the region of $1 or $2k per car.

So, where does all the higher costs for Aust come into it? Right hand drive, I here you say. Hmmm....last time I looked the UK was right hand drive, production of left hand drive cheaper than production of right hand drive? Hmmm....same materials and time to make in both. Less import duties in the US than Aust, hmmmm.....what about UK.

So, I think we need a Senate inquiry into this, after all, we have to keep those Senators up with that extra money they get from being on an inquirey.

Another issue I have is why aren't we getting the IS350 in Aust. I think the UK people are dirty on that as well. After all, it is already make for Japan's right hand drive and Japan usually have higher emissions controls, etc, than the Aust standards, so, shouldn't need to be any mods needed for Aust.

But, I suppose, if they did bring them in, it would be another $20k on top of the IS250. Gee, that's a lot for a bigger capacity engine that would cost 2 tenths of bugg@r all extra to produce. What other bits and pieces would you get over the IS250 Sports luxury, pobably nothing.

So, that draws to a close on my rant. I do feel better.

We need a way to tell these car companies we have had enough of being ripped off!

Blame Kevind Rudd,

Bloody Labour

The Government will increase the luxury car tax rate from 25 per cent to 33 per cent from 1 July 2008. There will be no changes to the luxury car tax threshold (currently $57,123).

Since 1979, successive Australian Governments have taxed 'luxury' vehicles more heavily than other vehicles.

The luxury car tax was introduced in 2000 when the goods and services tax (GST) was introduced and the wholesale sales tax abolished. Since that time there has been no change to the luxury car tax rate.

The Government now considers an increase in the luxury car tax rate to be appropriate. The Government believes that Australians who can afford luxury vehicles have the capacity to contribute to revenue at a higher rate than other car buyers. This is part of the Rudd Government's plans to make the tax system fairer.

The measure is expected to raise $555 million over four years and to contribute to the necessary task of ensuring that the Budget relieves pressure on inflation.

The luxury car tax applies to both domestically produced and imported vehicles.

The tax change will result in a car with a current price of $100,000 (inclusive of goods and services tax and luxury car tax) being subject to an additional $2,541 in luxury car tax.

Extracted from :http://www.alp.org.au/media/0508/mstres131.php on the 15th of September

[DANSLEX]

Beats me why they wouldn't sell IS350 here in Oz... makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. If I had a choice I'd choose the 350 over the 250. I think I read somewhere that Lexus Australia believes introducing the 350 would take a bit of shine away from the IS-F, which I reckon is just bollocks! There is a massive gap between the 250 and the F. Look at BMW, they have their crappy 320i, their M3, and the 335i in between. If you can't afford the M3, you can still get a good performance out of the 335i. What do IS buyers get? Not much unless you go all the way and buy the IS-F, which unfortuantely is not within the reach of many people. Lexus Australia are shooting themselves in the foot I reckon! Stuff the ghey IS250C... bring the IS350 Lexus Australia!!!!!!

[chappy]

Beats me why they wouldn't sell IS350 here in Oz... makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. If I had a choice I'd choose the 350 over the 250. I think I read somewhere that Lexus Australia believes introducing the 350 would take a bit of shine away from the IS-F, which I reckon is just bollocks! There is a massive gap between the 250 and the F. Look at BMW, they have their crappy 320i, their M3, and the 335i in between. If you can't afford the M3, you can still get a good performance out of the 335i. What do IS buyers get? Not much unless you go all the way and buy the IS-F, which unfortuantely is not within the reach of many people. Lexus Australia are shooting themselves in the foot I reckon! Stuff the ghey IS250C... bring the IS350 Lexus Australia!!!!!!

Yes i know want your going through where to go from the is250 isf i drove last year just to dear and too rough ride and yes no 350 gave me no choice but to jump ship to bmw and i bought a 335 m sport coupe last december fits perfect actually has more room in the back than the lexus and plenty of power and tuning.

Most likely would bought the is350 but thats lexus loss as there was 2 more people trading in there is250 for 335 at the time.

And what a beast.The new audi S4 is a beast also.

Best of luck.

[DANSLEX]

Yep, stupid Lexus Australia is definately losing sales as a result. If it wasn't for the fact that I've had enough play with powerful cars in the past, I probably wouldn't have bought the 250. I had a friend of mine almost convinced to buy one, it ticked boxes everywhere, other than power output. He went for a 335i instead.

[Rap03]

illusivedreams. I would agree with you on the lux tax, but looking at the base model, there is no lux tax, so comparing these to OS pricing is realistic.

Also, the lux tax is only calculated on the the price over the 57k mark. That is ($cost - $57k) x lux tax% = Lux Tax amt. So, this does add a fair bit when you get to the higher priced cars, e.g. $97k car becomes about $$114k car. Yipped off again.

Back to the IS350, my local dealership service guys said that the sales guys have heard something about it may be coming.

I think all the IS250 (and probably a lot of other model owners) owners ought to go down to their local dealership and tell them they want one. Only speaking out to the dealers and giving them this feedback will convince them to tell Lexus Japan to send them.

Maybe we should start a list on who would buy one (given price is reasonable) and then let lexus Australia know how many they would be likely to sell.

Well, I had better go and take my medicine and have a lie down. ;)

[Atlantis]

My dealer (Sutherland) said there is no way we're getting the IS350 over here. It's been out ages elsewhere, but not coming here. The reason the IS300 came out here is apparently it was released after the IS200 to fill a gap, but now the gap has been filled by the IS-F.

I still see a huge gap, and would have opted for the IS350 without blinking an eye if it was available.

[DANSLEX]

My dealer (Sutherland) said there is no way we're getting the IS350 over here. It's been out ages elsewhere, but not coming here. The reason the IS300 came out here is apparently it was released after the IS200 to fill a gap, but now the gap has been filled by the IS-F.

I still see a huge gap, and would have opted for the IS350 without blinking an eye if it was available.

Are they on drugs???

Firstly IS-F does not equal IS300, nowhere near! IS300 = IS250. I owned(d) both, and they both are roughly the same in terms of performance. There is nothing in the IS lineup at the moment to equal IS200, that was an embarassingly slow car, good riddance! Crikey, sounds like they're talking themselves out of making some extra money... the gap is HUGE! Might have to think of a petition or something haha. Having said that, the IS300 could have come with turbos, as it has essentially the same engine as the Supra. Then I would agree with their IS300 = IS-F comment. But Lexus Australia still needs to grow some balls I think!

Then again, the current shape IS is due for an update in two years time, so most likely they just won't bother with the 350 at all. Here's hoping the next model will have this gap filled.

[Atlantis]

They didn't imply the IS300 was the IS-F equivalent... but something along the lines of after the IS200 was released, they realised it was a slow arse piece of crap and decided to offer the IS300 part way through the IS lifespan.

Each time I ask them, the answer is still the same... no IS350 in AU :(

[Rap03]

Latest on IS350.

Have been told that end of 2010 will see the IS350 in Oz.

Price, only a guess, around the $100k mark, but that is speculation from my source on the inside.

Maybe a second hand ISF is a better deal, if you can afford the car and the petrol.

[Atlantis]

Which dealer is telling you this?

Might give me a bit more ammo the next time I talk to mine.

[Sapphire Cam]

Hearing the same things Rap03 - heard that the is350 will most likely come out here in late 2010, priced in the high 90's. It could be a way of helping with the current shape IS model run-out - this was what my dealer told me a while back, that Lexus Australia were expecting that the IS350 will eventually be 'specced' for Australasia to help run out the current shape in time for the all new IS (from my understanding due out mid 2012). Lexus stuffed up the runout of the old RX350 (the new RX was released when there were still 3 months worth of superceded-model RXs needing to be sold!) - probably needing to avoid the same mistake this time with the IS (when the time comes).

[kinjiru]

Hearing the same things Rap03 - heard that the is350 will most likely come out here in late 2010, priced in the high 90's. It could be a way of helping with the current shape IS model run-out - this was what my dealer told me a while back, that Lexus Australia were expecting that the IS350 will eventually be 'specced' for Australasia to help run out the current shape in time for the all new IS (from my understanding due out mid 2012). Lexus stuffed up the runout of the old RX350 (the new RX was released when there were still 3 months worth of superceded-model RXs needing to be sold!) - probably needing to avoid the same mistake this time with the IS (when the time comes).

Chatswood (NSW) lexus seemed to not know anything about the IS350. What I've heard more than once, is :

1) we are at the mercy of what ships to the UK, and since the UK don't get an IS350, neither do we.

2) It is a very expensive exercise to go through the certification (I can't remember the term for this) for a new car. Hence they need to be able to move a certain volume to justify bringing in a particular model.

Having said all of that, I think Lexus Australia are off their rocker. I mean, how many IS300's do you see out there? I think it has been generally acknowledged that the IS300 is a very good car, but it didn't sell. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that interest in the model died as time went by and Lexus Oz brought it out too late. I think they are doing the same with the IS350. Why would you buy one knowing that an all new model IS will come out the following year? Would you spend $100K knowing that...because I sure wouldn't.

I think Lexus Australia's strategy is deeply flawed. Also the way they have packaged the IS250 (Prestige vs Luxury Sports) means that they need to be very careful pricing the IS350. Luxury Sports typically go for around $85000 so they need to ensure that there is a price premium on top of that for an IS350, yet they don't want to break the $100K mark because it is a psychological threshold.

[Rap03]

kinjiru

Yep. There is always the certification to go through. As for the UK get it we'll get it, don't know about that. The UK got the desiel models, but not Australia. Then again, everywhere in Europe get desiel models, and considering they don't drive that far, you have to wonder why.

All.

If you are looking for the more power in the IS and are happy to pay around the $100k mark or a little more, I believe Lexus of Brisbane were going to have 2 demos come available (may already gone as was told this a week ago) that were going to be reasonably priced.

Having just said that, you have to wonder, that a car that would be less than a year old (I imagine), would drop from $140k to around $110k (or maybe even less). That's vey bad depreciation, but then again, could be seen as a great buy.

[Art_76]

Heard an interesting rumour from a well placed source that Australia will be getting the IS350 and the F-Sport equipped IS250 sometime in 2010.

[Rap03]

Does anybody know what duties and other taxes are slapped on by the government when cars arrive here.

That is before the dealers pay the 10% GST and any luxury taxes.

Also, there was a 10% tarrif on cars and is to go down to 5%. Does anybody know when that is happening (not that the car manufacturers will pass it on, they will have some excuss to keep the prices the same).