Toyota Prius question

[GreyPilgrim]

Hey Y'all (esp. Prius owners),

I'm planning on getting a Toyota Prius in the next month or two, and I was wondering if you were able to get all the options you wanted on your vehicle, or if they are selling so fast you just had to take what they had...? Did you have to wait long for your car, and if so, how long? I'm also guessing there's not much negotiation room since it is such a popular selling car.

What are your thoughts on the car? I test drove one a week ago, and I was pretty impressed at the amount of room it had. I expected something much smaller.

Any input you might have would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[Orsino]

1. I had to take what came along...

...but I got it four days after placing an order (Atlanta area, a year ago), because someone turned it down. I had to settle for a different color.

I'm very happy with it. I've never loved a car before.

[Taverner]

2. I took what came along

Luckily it was exactly what I wanted - no options, just the car. Oh they did have the keyless drive thingy, but that wasn't too much over sticker.

[dpbrown]

3. You can have either

The wait is seven months or so for exactly what you want. You can have other cars as they come into the dealerships. I've already been offered upgrades to what I requested (for more money, of course), since I put in my order a few months ago.

[salin]

6. when did you put in your order?

I put mine in late October, and had the car in early December - very close to what I had wanted (except had to go for a 2006 instead of 2005...) - I write below an explanation I have heard as to the difference in the amount of time it takes for dealerships to get in the ordered cars - just wondering if we were on a similar time frame - or maybe not and the theory is just hooey ;-)

[dpbrown]

7. I think I ordered in late October or early November

I was told seven months, but I've already been called twice and offered more car than I ordered (the latest was an upgrade to heated leather and running lights in the same color I had asked for). I decided to wait for the 2006, anyway, since I want whatever improvements are in the new model, and I want to wait to start my financing until this spring.

[salin]

8. I didn't get the top model

and ended up paying a tad bit more for the 06 than I would have for the 05 - but they have pushed down some of the former "top" features and now I have more than I had expected... and absolutely love it. As I am sure you will do as well when you get yours. Thanks for the response... sorta confirms why I travelled home to buy per the volume and thus quicker ability to get what I wanted in the car (that is, they get more allotted so are more quickly able to trade cars with other dealers before they are delivered.) Was going to hope that your car gets here quickly - but sounds like the delay works in your favor. :thumbsup:

[Bamboo]

4. The left brain connected to the right brain.

Why would Toyota build an under optioned Prius when everything they make sells.If a stripped Prius came to my dealership I would go to the parts department and add stuff.I read that two thirds of new car purchases sell at full sticker price so the customer is just standing in the prop wash.

I think navigation systems are dangerous because you should keep your eye on the road.And to save gas hybrids require looking out for opportunities to coast not reading the CDs to find a good song.

I believe dedicated hybrid models like the Prius will not be around for the long term.They will compete with regular cars with a hybrid option.Customers who pay the premium for a hybrid also want to feel that new car high when they touch the interior and do the intersection posedown.The first generation Prius was minimalist,taking away ego nutrition to feed the hybrid bun in the oven.

Middle America wants it high and tight with gangster styling and elite America wants haute couture.Environmentalists want to reduce fuel consumption which means managing public relations,you cannot shame people into a purchase,put a hybrid into an ego gratifying shell and everyone will be happy.

Perhaps the Prius will become a hydrogen car and the cycle will start all over again,grasshopper.

[salin]

5. just got one

it was just over a month or so from ordering it, to getting it - but I got the one I wanted, the right color and the options I wanted. From what I understand, regarding the time it takes to get depends upon the volume (of Prius's) your Dealer sells. The one in my (college town) home town has been selling several a month for years - and thus gets a decent allotment from each shipment heading to the Midwest region. When they know they have a car (or in this case, several) coming - they can work to "trade" allotted cars with other dealerships in order to get the one that the local buyer wants. They can't guarantee that they can get it - and you go onto a list. Each time they know a shipment is coming (several weeks in advance) they start calling the list offering the car to the person at the top of the list, first. I knew I wanted a certain color, and was willing to wait. I was called several times about different cars during the time I had expressed interest - but before I actually put down a payment (as in - I was already on the "interest" list.)

Ironically while I live most of the time in a 'big city' which has three toyota dealerships - I kept hearing about folks who went to my hometown to buy them (that they could get them more quickly and the service was better.) That is the advice I followed (buying the car an hour away from where I live/work). This dealership has apparently sold cars to buyers several states away - again because of their volume of Prius sales from the time the car went on the market, which keeps the dealership with a fairly steady stream of shipments.

Have had the car less than a month... and I absolutely LOVE it.

[kick-ass-bob]

9. My dad got one that he wanted, but he had to wait for it to

sail across the Pacific Ocean. I would think that it would be worth the wait (a few weeks) to get what you really want.

[Stockholm]

10. How is Prius second-hand value in the US?

Over here it is amazingly high and it won´t go down after Stockholm lauched congestion charges for non-environmental friendly cars this monday.