Anyone having trouble getting a Prius?

[Orsino]

http://www.toyota.com/prius/index.html

A year ago, my local dealership couldn't even get us one to test drive; we had to borrow a used one from their service department, and could only ride. They wouldn't let me behind the wheel unless I rented it! At the time, the salesman said they could get one in about eight weeks.

Last week, their news wasn't any better. They had two new ones on the lot, but they were pre-sold to folks who'd been waiting since September! The very nice fellow let me test-drive their remaining Prius, an '04 with 22k miles on it--for which they still wanted MSRP. Yeesh! It's a nice experience, though, so we put down a deposit, with an estimate of six months to get one.

Although the Toyota site lets you "build" one to your specs, this nifty little feature is pure fiction. It's not hooked up to any ordering system, and the word is that dealers *can't* get exactly what you want. You go on a waiting list, and get the chance to buy whatever has come in when your turn comes.

However, morillon dropped by a different dealership today, and they have one coming in today that we can have. It's not the color I really wanted, but it's fully loaded (that was my first choice--navigation system and Bluetooth) and we can have it now. I'm inclined to jump on it.

But wait! As I was typing this, my local dealer just called morillon to let us know that one of the "pre-sold" cars is now available. It's also fully loaded, and in what may be my second choice of colors. That puppy's going home with us. Six months, my @$$.

It seems that some of the horror stories of waiting lists have been exaggerated.

[Blue_Tires]

1. yeah, this year, supply is starting to meet demand

but demand is still high, depending on what state you live in, it's VERY high

[HamstersFromHell]

2. Sounds like the way Harleys were in the mid 90's

You paid your deposit on a particular model, they put you on the list for the model. When your number came up, you either took what color it was or you went to the bottom of the list.

This led to the prices going nuts, since the factory allocated bikes by past sales and everyone's sales were booming.

For the longest, speculators with money kept themselves on the list (since it was up to a year's wait for some models), buying a lof of bikes up and immediately reselling them for outrageous amounts. (1994 Electra Glides were about $14,000 MSRP with freight, but you couldn't touch one for less than $20,000 and often they sold for as much as $25,000)

Since dealers aren't allowed to gouge on pricing them (I think Audi and several other car manufacturers now forbid it as well), dealers get around it by not floorplanning them, they buy them outright and self-title them, then with a quick few minutes with a drill on the speedomoter cable, run up a few hundred miles on the new bike, then they can ask any price they want because it's technically "used".

This same thing has happened with a lot of "new" high demand cars. The new Beetle, the PT Cruiser, the Miata and the Honda S2000 were much the same way when they were first introduced.

In that case, you pay for a new "used" car to break line so to speak.

Glad to see the supply is catching up to demand...I hate seeing dealers making insane profits just because something is popular.

[Orsino]

3. 52.6 mpg!

Since I started driving a bit more like a stereotypical grannie, that is. Was getting about forty-four to the gallon, zipping about on the highways (death in the family meant lots of high-speed band forth to another town last week).

Since I've settled into my commute, more sedately, the economy is much better. I keep to the right lanes, and 60-63 mph. It's not bad at all--just an odd adjustment, and one I still have to think about as I drive.

This thing rocks.

[Nite Owl]

4. I've been on the list for

four months. Dealer called yesterday and they have one in. Going to test drive it in an hour. Any chance of bargaining on them at all, at least for the trade in or should I just take whatever the price is if I like it?

[Orsino]

5. Are you on the list at any other dealers?

That could be a bargaining point. I'm hearing of people getting below MSRP--check http://www.priuschat.com for lots more info--but I don't have a sense of how likely that is.

They're making more Prii these days, but with all the recent TV covereage, I imagine the demand has really picked up, too. I'm not sure where this leaves the individual consumer. Typically, if you don't want to pay their price, they'll call the next person on their list.

I would find it hard to wait. I only waited four days, and I'm not sure that has anything to do with having dealt with two different dealers (both offered cars on the same day).

It's worth it, though: 55.4 mpg, 200 miles into the current tank, with less than 4,500 miles on the odo.

[Nite Owl]

6. Well I had a chance to drive one

but it was one that was pretty much stripped. I want the navi and stuff. Not fussy about the color. I liked it alot. Quite peppy. The price is the price and that's it. I'm third on the list, the first two rejected this Prius too, they want the navi too so if they get two next month and they get them, maybe June! We have three other dealers, guess I should get on their lists too. I'll check out that site. Thanks.

The dealer said in three years all models would be available in hybrid! I would love a Rav4. I'm in snow country and the AWD would be great with the hybrid.

[Beaverhausen]

7. Check out Priuschat.com

lots of info on that website.

Here in California it's pretty easy to get a prius these days. I got one last thursday. Paid MSRP. The only list I was on was the one for the salesman to call whenever he got new prius' in stock.

Good luck!

[Orsino]

8. Already there.

It's a great site, indeed.

[Orsino]

9. Getting 55+ Reliably...

...after nearly 6k miles. Today's image below shows that, having burned less than half a tank, I've gone 268 miles averaging 55.6 mpg. I expect the average to creep up and tank gets emptier, and if I keep driving carefully I'll average 56.5 or better before I need to fill up.

Color me satisfied.

[Orsino]

10. Best tank EVAR (57 mpg)

Warmer weather now in Atlanta, and at 6,800 miles I seem to have left the break-in period. I've been driving like a stereotypical granny to see what the car can do, mileage-wise, and I'm elated.

372.2 miles before topping off with 5.952 gallons this morning, for 62.5 mpg, though the computer calls it 57. Typically, the computer gives much higher mpg figures than what I calculate via the pump/odometer, but I guess this shows that it evens out eventually. As I understand it, there's a bladder in the gas tank which causes variable readings on the pump when refilling.

[Pert_UK]

11. I'm not sure about the Prius......

One of our car shows (Top Gear) mentioned a couple of months ago that they'd driven London - Edinburgh - London in a 1.9 Audi A3 diesel and a Prius, and the Audi got better gas (diesel) mileage.....

What's your opinion?

[Orsino]

12. I doubt it, frankly.

Depending upon how one drives, I believe that the Prius will always be able to beat an Audi. I took a trip across town today after gassing up, and when I got home, found I'd beaten EPA by a good margin:



That's 62.6 mpg after 59 miles.

[Klimmer]

13. Prius PHEV getting 100+mpg now with off the shelf technology . . .

Just rode in a Prius this last weekend for the first time, but what got me to the dealer was an article in the local paper that I read on how some engineer/physics Prius owners are modifying their Prius to do more in the EV mode. This is very exciting stuff. And this isn't a maybe, they are doing this now for about $3,000 more. Here is another great article to read . . .

http://www.calcars.org/runningonempty-latimes.pdf
http://www.calcars.org/

If you use solar energy PV on your home roof-top to recharge the batteries to go approx. 20 miles or so on EV mode, then you can boost your gas mileage even further, 500+mpg or so.

We all need to be doing this like yesterday.