Why is availability of Priuses so uncertain?

[DianneWhitmire]

I have some thoughts... and have expressed these over the past few weeks with folks frustrated with the delays in getting their cars.

Imagine, if you can, the Prius being this great big giant pie.
There are 4 different models, II III IV and V. They are not built in an even ratio in each region of the country either.

Those pie chunks have to further be split into package combinations. Then, those have to be split into quite a number of color combinations with both interior and exterior colors being quite a variety.

II - no package.
III - EJ, NAV, or sunroof/Nav.
IV - NAV or sunroof/NAV
V - NAV or AT package

and then, colors:

white (3) white with tan, white with light gray, white with dark gray
silver (2) silver with light gray, silver with dark gray
gold (1) sandy beach with tan
blue (2) blue with tan, blue with dark gray
gray (2) winter gray with light gray, winter gray with dark gray
red (2) red with dark gray, red with tan
black (2) black with light gray, black with dark gray

The sheer variety and possiblity gets further complicated when you have a client who wants ONLY one of those many combinations with 1 exterior, 1 interior, 1 specific package -- and that package is built in small ratio already... as well as the color combination being rare too.

YOU are the author of your own fate. Flexible? Faster car! Inflexible? Could be a wait, and sometimes, a long one! The more pieces of that pie you are open to, the better.

Di

[bamazon]

I'm looking for a Barcelona Red Prius III or IV with solar and dark gray leather. Working with the dealerships in my neck of the woods is very frustrating. I understand the supply vs demand. I'm just sick of them trying to talk me out of the Prius and into a Camry. I spent an hour trying to convince the salesman that I don't NEED Toyoguard. I can't believe he actually told me that I need Toyoguard. He was busy telling me about all the extras I need, but he couldn't answer any specific questions about the features. What is Plasma cluster? I never got a real answer. He gave up. I was disgusted.

I understand that I might have to pay MSRP. But do I need to pay dealer fees and MSRP? I'm sick of SET and all Georgia and Alabama dealerships in general.

[vela]

Hey Bama, I just posted on the pricing thread in this forum. There might be some useful info there for you. If dealers know you are shopping (and mine did) they may well come down on those fees for you, though they won't likely volunteer that right up front. Also, about those SET fees, I believe Tennessee dealers may not have those fees, but I could be wrong. And then again, they may have other fees!

I did a lot of shopping by email, contacting dealers through their web site or through the links at the top of the Prius Chat pages, where I could see a list of inventory and get dealer email addresses. Of course I still had to shop on the lot, but narrowing things down by email helped. And when I got a quote that was favorable, I showed it to my local dealer. He knew I was ready to travel for the right deal, and that I was shopping around, but that I preferred to buy locally if they made it worth my time.

I empathize with your shopping frustration. Shop a few more states, especially online, get info by phone, email, and/or in person, and be open to the possibility of taking an overnight trip or long weekend if you can. If I see a car similar to what you described, I will be sure to let you know.

[toddsonofodin]

I'm in a similar position. I'm looking to buy now, but am particular about the option package. Either a III w/ SR or II with no options, white or blue.

The closest dealer in NJ basically laughed at me and didn't offer to help find one in any way. The mumbled something about preferencing, but didnt bother explaining.

Anyone have any luck finding a specific package in this area?

[Grateful11]

I don't know about other areas but my dealer just east of Charlotte, don't know if I can mention a name or not, has plenty of Prius's. When I dropped off the extra keys from our trade Tues. or Wed. they had 4 whites and a gold sitting togethe and had a V sitting nearby that look like it had just come in. I will never, ever pay a Market Adjustment, MSRP yes but no upcharge,.