Buying your first-choice Prius or "settling"

[Jack 06]

This is intended mostly as an "aid" (and perhaps a caution, depending on how it comes out) to first-time Prius-waiters. Sorry it's so "dense", but I didn't dare try just a regular thread.

Your info will help others...

[aaf709]

I got on one list (no deposit) September '04 and was told the wait was 1 1/2 years! I did start getting calls from them (4 in all) in January, but they didn't have what I wanted.

I wanted a #5 package, but then learned that wasn't available in So Cal. I then contacted a dealer in Nevada who said they could get me one. I requested a choice of 3 colors (Seaside, Driftwood and Tideland, leaning toward Seaside). The day I mailed the deposit they called and said they wouldn't be getting any #5s, just #6s (I asked for the deposit back, which I got). Since I could get a #6 in So Cal, after I hung up I called a dealer who had a Seaside Pearl #6 in stock at MSRP (this was back in April).

In short, I had to "settle" with the package, but there are no regrets.

[jeromep]

Ok Jack, I voted under #2 even though it doesn't quite fit my situation. I actually insisted upon and got the exact color and package I wanted and it took about 2.5 weeks to get the car. I have a package 5 and the official line is that package is not available in the PNW region. However, it isn't available as standard lot stock allocation. However, all packages are available to all dealers if they want to go out there and find them and do an allocation swap with another dealer. They may even have to work with their region representative to get a particular package, but it is possible.

Dealers who are taking lists and just calling folks as cars come on the lot are doing a huge disservice to their customers and to Toyota corporate. Not only are they not finding and getting specific colors and packages to buyers, but they are making it much harder to get the cars in the market quickly and without hassel.

I urge all buyers, insist on package and color details you want and do not back down. Mention that you understand their allocation process, know they can trade with other dealers and that they can get you your car choice if they jump through just a few limited hoops.

[Wayne]

Where is "exactly the combo desired, but had to wait 2 mo. or less"?

6 weeks for me.

[Seaside Harry]

There wasn't a choice that fit my exact situation. We got exactly the combo desired, with no wait--the dealer had exactly what we wanted when we walked onto the lot...but not by luck.

I shotgunned an email out to more than a dozen dealerships within a 150-mile radius, detailing exactly what we wanted and inviting price quotes. None of our local Virginia dealers would even give us a price (Mid-Atlantic Region doesn't offer the package we wanted), and most North Carolina dealers just regurgitated the same info I already had from checking their inventory on the web. Only one dealer made the effort to provide a quote exactly tailored to the specs we provided...and they happened to have the right color & package on their lot...and they offered us a price that was under MSRP. This was back in July '05 and we still have no regrets driving 140 miles to Henderson, NC to buy our Prius at Henderson Toyota.

[Jack 06]

Originally posted by Seaside Harry@Nov 18 2005, 02:04 PM
There wasn't a choice that fit my exact situation.  We got exactly the combo desired, with no wait--the dealer had exactly what we wanted when we walked onto the lot...but not by luck.

I shotgunned an email out to more than a dozen dealerships .

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I suspected there were situations like this---but that's a limitation of the parameters afforded by the poll. I'd count that as "an enlightened walk-in".

[Jack 06]

Originally posted by Wayne@Nov 18 2005, 01:42 PM
Where is "exactly the combo desired, but had to wait 2 mo. or less"?

6 weeks for me. 

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I was afraid of splitting hairs (though 6 weeks isn't a hair) by cluttering it up with too many choices---wanted to choose between 2 and 3 mo as breakpoint.

One reason I wanted to do it as a thread, but afraid of not enough response.

[Kiloran]

I ordered for January delivery back in August.
My salesman has committed to getting me exactly the car I ordered and at the price I ordered (relative to MSRP which was not known at the time).
Whenever we've touched base since then, he's been very consistent on this.

So far, I'm very happy with him.
Since I placed the order before gas prices spiked and because I brought him two other buyers at the same time, we all got $500 off MSRP.
Although he's been clear that he wouldn't be making a similar deal now, he has expressed his commitment to the deal.
Since the packages have changed, he's willing to get me whatever package I choose with the same discount.
I'm getting a #2 in B.Red but indicated that, if there's any way to get a #4 or #3 in this region that I would prefer one of them, respectively.
If the deal closes as planned, I'll be writing a long letter of praise on this site and sending as many potential buyers to him as I can.

[Jack 06]

Smart on you.

Smart on Mr. Dealer.

Smart, smart, smart.

Er, have you checked on Mr. Salesman's employment status with that dealer?

[tideland_raj]

Originally posted by Seaside Harry@Nov 18 2005, 05:04 PM
I shotgunned an email out to more than a dozen dealerships within a 150-mile radius, detailing exactly what we wanted and inviting price quotes. 

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Harry,
Any idea of how you got the emails for those dealerships? I've heard about fax-blasting for vehicle quotes, but I've had difficulty getting the fax/email ids to do this. What approach did you take in getting the emails, and if you don't mind, what was the content of your email?

Thanx!