Non-Premium $29,995 models... Where are they?

Haven't seen one. Without the moonroof, I would think most average-height individuals would feel claustrophobic. It's probably spec'd out so they can market the car as starting under $30k. Base models probably only represent an extremely small fraction of prospective sales.

rise&demise said:

Haven't seen one. Without the moonroof, I would think most average-height individuals would feel claustrophobic. It's probably spec'd out so they can market the car as starting under $30k. Base models probably only represent an extremely small fraction of prospective sales.

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Usually cars without a sunroof will have another 1-2" of headroom since all the mechanicals to make the sunroof work are no longer needed.

Might be able to find the headroom specs online.

lexus site

Base Vs Premium

Headroom 37.8/37.0 (960/940 mm) (front/rear w/out moonroof) 37.8/37.0 (960/940 mm) (front/rear w/out moonroof)

looks like they only list without the moonroof.

I didn't see any. When I got mine the dealer had I think 5, two with nav and leather but no adaptive crusie control, 1 with nav and nuluxe and 2 premium at the lower end. I don't hit up dealers a lot but I don't think I ever see base models on the lot

rise&demise said:

It's probably spec'd out so they can market the car as starting under $30k. Base models probably only represent an extremely small fraction of prospective sales.

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If Lexus wants to get entry level buyers, they need to have these on the lots. In my experience, other than "limited edition" models, its the minimum-spec models that sell first on lots.

[email protected] said:

Usually cars without a sunroof will have another 1-2" of headroom since all the mechanicals to make the sunroof work are no longer needed.

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On a typical sunroof-equipped car, the sunroof slides INTO the roof. For some reason, several recent models have the sunroof opening above the existing roof, including the CT.

I doubt this approach takes up any extra headroom.

Anyhow, the one bare-bones model exists on a dock somewhere. They only need to build one to be able to advertise that base price.

The dealership in Wichita (Kansas) had a white base model when I was there the first week of March. They recieved two cars, one premium and one base model. I have no idea if it is still there. I am picking mine up (premium) Tuesday, I'll have to see if they still have it.

....was at dealer today buying my CT and asked same question. Answer: by policy they are to remain at the dock until dealer gets a firm order for, due to such small demand for.

stumpie said:

....was at dealer today buying my CT and asked same question. Answer: by policy they are to remain at the dock until dealer gets a firm order for, due to such small demand for.

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Thats the same thing I was told.

Can anyone else confirm this?

IMO, its pretty shady for a car company to have a model like this, but not actually ship it to any dealers to sell.

Kostamojen said:

Thats the same thing I was told.

Can anyone else confirm this?

IMO, its pretty shady for a car company to have a model like this, but not actually ship it to any dealers to sell.

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what's so shady? it's marketing. if not having the car there is persuading you to not purchase, well ur the dummy .. just look at the premium, minus out the heated seats, moon roof .. and all other options and you have ur base model

Kostamojen said:

Thats the same thing I was told.

Can anyone else confirm this?

IMO, its pretty shady for a car company to have a model like this, but not actually ship it to any dealers to sell.

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jasyn said:

what's so shady? it's marketing. if not having the car there is persuading you to not purchase, well ur the dummy .. just look at the premium, minus out the heated seats, moon roof .. and all other options and you have ur base model

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These cars are available, however no dealer wants a car that is going to be sitting on there lot if they have a choice to have a car that will sell quickly. That's just basic knowledge and being a smart business.

If you want a base, I'm sure any dealership will be happy to help you obtain one. In the 30 plus orders we have taken, not 1 has asked for a base...

There is a white base model sitting in the Anchorage, AK Lexus show room. So they do exist.

LexusGuy said:

These cars are available, however no dealer wants a car that is going to be sitting on there lot if they have a choice to have a car that will sell quickly. That's just basic knowledge and being a smart business.

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I'm getting the impression that the sales reps didn't even offer dealers the base model cars in the first allotment, only sent out premium models.

Its hard to sell what you don't have, but like I said, in my experience the less-expensive the model, the faster its off the lots. Manual transmission cars (depending on the brand) might sit around longer, but the ones that end up sitting around the longest are the more expensive, higher-option models, and the ones that end up requiring a discount to get off the lots before the new model year are the "premium" spec'd models that dealers order far too many of.

jasyn said:

what's so shady? it's marketing. if not having the car there is persuading you to not purchase, well ur the dummy .. just look at the premium, minus out the heated seats, moon roof .. and all other options and you have ur base model

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I bet what Lexus is going to do is next model year they will say, "Oh, we didn't sell enough of the entry level models, so lets just not even make those this model year", even though they didn't even offer them to dealers in the first place...

Kostamojen said:

I'm getting the impression that the sales reps didn't even offer dealers the base model cars in the first allotment, only sent out premium models.

Its hard to sell what you don't have, but like I said, in my experience the less-expensive the model, the faster its off the lots. Manual transmission cars (depending on the brand) might sit around longer, but the ones that end up sitting around the longest are the more expensive, higher-option models, and the ones that end up requiring a discount to get off the lots before the new model year are the "premium" spec'd models that dealers order far too many of.

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Dealers have a choice on what they get on allocation. And speaking for my store, we sell "higher option" vehicle's twice as fast as we do a lower optioned vehicle.

There are a number of base models in my area, but they are not totally devoid of options. They list in the area of $32,500-$33,500, so they would be base plus a few accessories or maybe one package. I would think that most people would be buying that sort of thing. Almost everyone wants SOME accessory, whether it be wheel locks or premium mats or whatever, don't you think? And if the model has the mats or locks, it's easy enough just to remove those from the car for the customer to buy sans accessories.

I was considering buying a used car, and when looking for higher end Prii or other types of cars, it was difficult finding the loaded ones. I'm guessing that's because far more base and mid-level models are sold than premium ones. There seem to be a lot of premium RX models, though. Maybe because that vehicle is used a lot for corporate lease and things like that? Anyway, a customer can get a base model CT200h here, it seems. Maybe not in the color s/he wants, though.

Accessories (cargo mat, bumper protector, tinted windows), yes.

Options, not really.

Moonroof, heated seats, nav system, LED headlights (actually those I would spring for if you could get those separate), upgrade leather... Who needs 'em? Thats a lot of money for not much, this car has a LOT of standard features and the seat/steering wheel were what really sold me personally, and thats the same in any model.

I've seen a few at some dealerships in my area. They were the test drive mules.


Matt

Interesting, my dealer had nothing but the bare bones CT. I was lucky to get the one with leather and premium sound.

Matt_Tom said:

I've seen a few at some dealerships in my area. They were the test drive mules.

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I was curious if they wound up as test-drivers, I saw a video on youtube of a review and it didn't have the moonroof, but still had a NAV system.

The dealer I went to had a fully loaded yellow one as a "factory demo" and it already had like 1500 miles on it.

VBGR8 said:

Interesting, my dealer had nothing but the bare bones CT. I was lucky to get the one with leather and premium sound.

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Did they have moonroofs?