Red flags during ordering process

[startingtowonder]

New to the forum, wanted to see if my experience is common.

I placed an order for a new Air Touring, and everything seemed to be moving along smoothly. Then suddenly my lease price went up by over $300. I asked my sales person, who said it was because the EV tax incentive went away. Well, fine, except in our first conversation they told me the car wouldn't be delivered in time for the EV tax credit to apply. So everybody involved knew the tax credit wouldn't happen, yet they factored it into my lease price anyway? Seems like a bait and switch.

Tax credit aside, when I use the price calculator on Lucid's website, it still gives me a lease price substantially lower than my new quote. My sales person was incapable of providing a coherent explanation (they seem clueless in general). I emailed the finance people and have had no response.

This car is terrific, but I'm starting to see a lot of red flags. Is this what I can expect when I need maintenance? I'm thinking about bailing, can someone talk me off the ledge?

 

[borski]

New to the forum, wanted to see if my experience is common.

I placed an order for a new Air Touring, and everything seemed to be moving along smoothly. Then suddenly my lease price went up by over $300. I asked my sales person, who said it was because the EV tax incentive went away. Well, fine, except in our first conversation they told me the car wouldn't be delivered in time for the EV tax credit to apply. So everybody involved knew the tax credit wouldn't happen, yet they factored it into my lease price anyway? Seems like a bait and switch.

Tax credit aside, when I use the price calculator on Lucid's website, it still gives me a lease price substantially lower than my new quote. My sales person was incapable of providing a coherent explanation (they seem clueless in general). I emailed the finance people and have had no response.

This car is terrific, but I'm starting to see a lot of red flags. Is this what I can expect when I need maintenance? I'm thinking about bailing, can someone talk me off the ledge?

Sales and service are not the same. Service is exceptional, sales is... of varying quality. Some are fantastic, and some are... not.

I would ask for another SA, or perhaps someone here who has more recently gone through the purchase/lease of an Air can help you out, if they've had a better experience.

But no, even if sales isn't always great, service is not the same.

 

[DeaneG]

...This car is terrific, but I'm starting to see a lot of red flags. Is this what I can expect when I need maintenance? I'm thinking about bailing, can someone talk me off the ledge?

I've had no problems at all with service, though my so far I've only taken my car in for its two annual maintenance visits. Have to set up its third annual visit for next month.

 

[L-Dude]

When I leased, I wasn't given access to the details of the lease. I was only provided with a monthly payment, which I could approve or reject. That's not the best way to present that information, but the numbers seemed ok and I went ahead with the deal. There is a lack of access to the nuts and bolts of the financing arrangement, but in the end it was all acceptable to me.

 

[knewman]

My own experience with service has been exceptional, but from what I've read around here YMMV based on your location.

That being said, I wouldn't move forward with any large purchase without being able to account for such a variance. Tell them you're walking.

 

[HC_79]

When I leased, I wasn't given access to the details of the lease. I was only provided with a monthly payment, which I could approve or reject. That's not the best way to present that information, but the numbers seemed ok and I went ahead with the deal. There is a lack of access to the nuts and bolts of the financing arrangement, but in the end it was all acceptable to me.

This isn't specific to Lucid. Most car companies try and hide the backend calculations so you can't find out where they're adding extra meat. I read an article many years back about the tactics played when it comes to car sales and leases, it was a very interesting read. There's an art to how it's all done and it's very deliberate to hide information or throw so many numbers at you that you get so confused, you end up thinking you're getting a good deal when you actually didn't.

 

[coupedncal]

This isn't specific to Lucid. Most car companies try and hide the backend calculations so you can't find out where they're adding extra meat. I read an article many years back about the tactics played when it comes to car sales and leases, it was a very interesting read. There's an art to how it's all done and it's very deliberate to hide information or throw so many numbers at you that you get so confused, you end up thinking you're getting a good deal when you actually didn't.

I respectfully do not agree with this statement. The lease calculation is no different than a regular purchase calculation. The only difference is the rent charge is calculated on the average of Cap Cost and the Residual. I asked chatGPT why this was the case as it smells of a double charge and I got a very detailed response on this.
You simply have to make a simple spreadsheet and list the following.

1. MSRP with options.
2. Discounts
3. Net Cap Cost
4. Residual
5. Money Factor to calculate the rent charge.
6. Sales tax percentage

Based on this, you can calculate your own payments and make sure you are not being overcharged. It is highly unlikely for Lucid to fudge the numbers.

 

[illopp00]

There is a calculator on the design portal that can be exported to PDF with all the details, hopefully the actual paperwork matches it closely with exception of regional delivery and tax rates.

 

[Steveinarizona]

There is a calculator on the design portal that can be exported to PDF with all the details, hopefully the actual paperwork matches it closely with exception of regional delivery and tax rates.

The OP said he used that calculator and it produced a lower number.

 

[startingtowonder]

Thanks to all who replied. Update - the lease issues were resolved once a senior finance associate got involved. My SA seemed quite inexperienced. I'm loving the car so far.