Don't Believe the Dealers - Plenty of 2010s Available

[BH1973]

Dealers may tell you that this is a hard car to get, they're all pre-sold, etc etc. Whatever. Every dealer I've spoken to has one, and now they're even willing to take off the doc fee to close the sale. I actually think there's even more negotiation room on these. In short, 2010s are relatively plentiful, even if they're selling well. Don't let a dealer try to sock you for a $400 "doc" fee (a markup and nothing else) - tell him you'll go elsewhere. In fact, try to get a couple hundred off or some floor mats thrown in or something.

[DianneWhitmire]

Having "one" and having enough cars for the demand are two truly different things.
In Southern CA, we do have cars coming in unsold, but that is short lived, I fear. Many folks were awaiting the car's arrival and now that they are finally here and there are some to drive, what was readily available are some II's and some IVs with NAV at my store. They all sold in 1 day - Saturday. Every single Prius we had "laying around" for a day is gone now.
The idea is to have a few around all the time so folks can drive them and make their color and package decisions and leave deposits for the harder to get cars.

I'm glad we have a few here and there unsold. I had some clients drop by yesterday morning with a car that was not doing well for them in their current job positions (an older domestic commute car, really a gas hog) as he had a new long commute to keep employed when his company downsized and moved father away ... anyway, they were able to pop in and get a Prius immediately from me. That's a great thing because they needed one immediately. And, later in the day, I had a super nice Priuschat family drop by and visit with my fleet associate Jane to sit in few cars and check interior colors to see what their own ordered car should have for interior... and in the meantime, these cars are all being sold hourly.

I agree that junk fees are - when excessive - inconvenient and infuriating. But, you vote with your wallet. And, sometimes, that means waiting for the right car, and at the right price for you. If you check with every single dealership in SoCal to get a price or terms and no one can help you, then you're in need of a re-think. If you find someone who will help you at the terms or pricing you need, get your commitment in writing. email's OK but it's certainly not binding Or, find someone with integrity to deal with. Someone who cares about what YOU want and will advise you as a client they want to have for always, not just a one-car-stand (LOL)....
Dianne

[Bica2go]

I don't know where in the country you are, that's not the case in the Northeast. Yes, they're starting arrive and a dealer may have a few II's and III's that are not presold when they land on their lot, but they don't stay that way for very long. IV's and V's are next to impossible to find (I found one IV without Nav). I was at 4 area dealerships yesterday (2 large and 2 midsized) and talked on the phone to 2 others. The good news is that they aren't adding all sorts of POI packages, usually it's just the floor mats.

[BH1973]

I'm in North Carolina, and there are plenty. I also called a dealer in Connecticut for my father, and he said he'd have one in a week for me - basically no waiting. It's a popular car, but there are plenty to be had, and thus no reason to pay a "doc" or any other dealer fee (all dealer markups with other names).

[Jabber]

That may be true in your area, but not in mine. I currently have 0 on the ground, and out of 32 total cars coming in, 3 don't have names. But they will within 7 days. Those are the cars that will be here at the end of July. In addition to those 32 cars, I currently have a 19 person deep waiting list.

Since there are roughly 1,500 dealers in the US, and you called maybe 3 in your area and 1 in CT, are you sure that your assessment of the supply/demand chain is accurate?

[ceric]

And yet in Sunnyvale, CA, there are 27 sitting in the lot waiting for buyers.
Sunnyvale Toyota is offering $150-$350 (depending on packages) off MSRP on newspaper.
Wait a couple months if you can. With gas price at $3 and no HOV stickers, I don't see Prius selling like hot cake again. It will be a top seller, no doubt, but not like fighting for one.

[djasonw]

Take into consideration that the car is relatively new to the market. Within two months the dealers will NOT be such obnoxious whores with respect to pricing. I prefer dealing with dealers out of the metro areas. The difference is night and day. I live in NYC and bought my Prius up near my old country house in the Poconos (120 miles NW in PA). What a pleasure!! No pressure, no strong arm tactics etc.

[BH1973]

I have called 10 dealers in North Carolina, a couple in Virginia, one in South Carolina, two in NY, and one in CT. They all have them. Visited a local dealer today - three on the lot without buyers, probably because they're bringing them in heavy with Toyoguard and Pirelli mag wheels.

Sorry, I stand by what I said - these cars are available, selling well, but anyone can have one in a week or less if they want one, and for MSRP without an insulting "doc" or other dealer "fee" for the privilege of buying a car from them.

[fred garvin]

Originally Posted by ceric

And yet in Sunnyvale, CA, there are 27 sitting in the lot waiting for buyers.
Sunnyvale Toyota is offering $150-$350 (depending on packages) off MSRP on newspaper.
Wait a couple months if you can. With gas price at $3 and no HOV stickers, I don't see Prius selling like hot cake again. It will be a top seller, no doubt, but not like fighting for one.

i thought the add for sunnyvale claiming 27 cars was about cars on the way in or even at multiple dealerships. do they really have 27 ON THE GROUND at the that dealership. That doesn't sound right.

[equake]

Originally Posted by fred garvin

i thought the add for sunnyvale claiming 27 cars was about cars on the way in or even at multiple dealerships. do they really have 27 ON THE GROUND at the that dealership. That doesn't sound right.

Both Ncal and Scal are large metro regions with a lot of demand and supply with the nations largest ports ie Long Beach carrying the precious cargo. Also there are a large number of Dealers in the LA and SF areas.

If Sunnyvale is as large as Longo the number of Prius mentioned in the ad is actually small.

Just my 2 cents