Do they want us to think there is a shortage?

DaveinOlyWA · 01-02-2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Springtime@Jan 2 2006, 10:46 AM
I don't think there is a shortage of cars on the East coast if this sat on some dealer's lot for two months!

[snapback]183020[/snapback]

oops

Marlin · 01-03-2006, 10:30 AM

While Harrisburg is the state capital, it's not exactly a huge population center. Certainly not if you compare it to Philly or Pittsburg. It would not surprise me that there would be many Priuses sititng on dealer lots in more rural areas where the demand is not high.

justincmd · 01-03-2006, 11:24 AM

I would have to agree with the starter of this post that in the south east there are lots of Prii to be had. I posted a comment on here about 2 months ago on how I was so excited to buy a Prius, but when I got to the dealer the salesmen would not negotiate with me and told me if I did not want to pay $2500 over sticker that I should just leave. I am very disappointed with the dealerships and their price gouging. The same dealership that I went to 2 months ago to buy a Prius has 8 of them sitting on the lot now and had 5 sitting there when I went to buy mine. There is a strong demand in some regions of the country - I will agree to that, but here in the south east the "good ole boys" like their trucks and moms like their suburbans. I was ready to buy 2 months ago, but the salesmen turned me away. Well long story short I went to a Mazda dealership and bought an RX8 for invoice and got $2500 off in incentives. I LOVE MY RX8! I wanted a unique car and when Gene Reed Toyota said no and they would not even work with me, I went with Mazda and the RX8 (it is also very unique). I will never pay over MSRP (it is supposed to be the highest dollar amount you should have to pay for a vehicle), no matter if it is hot or not.

Gene Reed Toyota - http://www.genereedtoyota.com/New-Inventory.aspx
North Charleston, SC - Rude salesmen, I guess they were just doing their job?

Congratulations if you got one for less than MSRP; you are a very privileged few. If you are looking for a unique car check out the RX8 - Yea I know it is a 1.3L gas guzzler, but I have had alot more fun in it than I would have ever had in a prius

- Justin

frederic Berger · 01-05-2006, 09:25 PM

Maybe I was just lucky, but I selected mine one day and had it the next day!
Here's how I got my 2006 Red Barcelona this week:

1. Logged into Costco.com on Monday 1/2/2006. Selected the Prius
2. Got an e-mail from Costco with confirmation number, salesman name and dealership
3. Drove to dealership (5 minutes), asked for my Costco price ($500 below MSRP)
4. Picked a car, made a downpayment to reserve it.
5. On Tuesday the dealership called and said they had found an identical car locally so the deal could be closed during Toyota fiscal 05. By the end of the day the car was mine.

So I did not have to wait more than a day, got $500 off MSRP and exactly the car I wanted with package #6 and red exterior.

I love this car

cooljw · 01-06-2006, 12:41 AM

Yes it is in a dealer's nature to make us think there is scarcity of Prius supply. Based on my recent observations, I think the supply-demand equation is quickly levelling out, and soon Prius will be selling below MSRP like other cars.

I'm in San Diego, some dealerships are still running a waiting list here, while others are not. To me that's the first signal that supply is catching up to demand. Also, my local dealer had 2005s going at $2k below MSRP in November, and had a few unsold 2006s on the lot just before Christmas.

I have also seen tons of Prius on the roads here lately. Excess demand for Prius is not infinite, eventually it will be met. I'm sure the new Civic Hybrid has also detracted some demand from the Prius.

DaveinOlyWA · 01-06-2006, 01:06 AM

now that the tax credit is in full swing, i think you will be wrong. besides, right now, only a few selected areas of the country has anything remotely resembling a semi-adequate supply.

TidelandTravis · 01-06-2006, 01:16 AM

My dealer (Thousand Oaks Toyota, Nirmal was my salesperson and he's great) tried to charge $3000 over msrp.. I basically told them to "make love to themselves" in short order and offered to pay "manufacturer MSRP". I wrote the check for that amount and drove home. Frankly, I feel that they put the mark-up on the car because there are enough a**holes out there who will pay it.

Jack 06 · 01-06-2006, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by frederic Berger@Jan 5 2006, 07:25 PM
Maybe I was just lucky, but I selected mine one day and had it the next day!
Here's how I got my 2006 Red Barcelona this week:

1. Logged into Costco.com on Monday 1/2/2006. Selected the Prius
2. Got an e-mail from Costco with confirmation number, salesman name and dealership
3. Drove to dealership (5 minutes), asked for my Costco price ($500 below MSRP)
4. Picked a car, made a downpayment to reserve it.
5. On Tuesday the dealership called and said they had found an identical car locally so the deal could be closed during Toyota fiscal 05. By the end of the day the car was mine.

So I did not have to wait more than a day, got $500 off MSRP and exactly the car I wanted with package #6 and red exterior.

I love this car

[snapback]184517[/snapback]

Unbelievable, frederic. Congratulations!

That's the best single Prius buying experience (because of walking into the Costco discount as well as getting exactly what you want instantly) I've heard in five years of hearing these stories.

flynz4 · 01-10-2006, 12:05 PM

I do not think there is a significant shortage of Prii. They are not in abundance either... but there are plenty around. I suspect that demand still somewhat attenuated because of the slightly limited supply... so even as production numbers increase... that there will still not be a lot on the lots. However, I think that you can get pretty much anything you want in a couple of weeks... at least here in the PNW.

I bought one off the lot on 12/15/05 ('06, Drifwood, pkg 8) as a gift to my daughter. I had the car home that night. The next day I called and told them that I wanted a 2nd for myself... but that I wanted to wait until Jan... and that I was only interested in a Silver pkg 8. It arrived yesterday 1/9/06. Three weeks for my first (and only) choice request.

I was travelling out at the Oregon coast... and I stopped in at a Dealer who had 2 in stock ready to sell... and offered to get me anything that I wanted by exchanging with other dealers in "a couple of days". I don't know for sure if he could really deliver... but I would not be surprised.

In any case... I agree with the original poster that supply is not as constrained as we are led to believe.

/Jim

01-05-2006, 09:25 PM	#14
frederic Berger Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Posts: 6 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Maybe I was just lucky, but I selected mine one day and had it the next day! Here's how I got my 2006 Red Barcelona this week: 1. Logged into Costco.com on Monday 1/2/2006. Selected the Prius 2. Got an e-mail from Costco with confirmation number, salesman name and dealership 3. Drove to dealership (5 minutes), asked for my Costco price ($500 below MSRP) 4. Picked a car, made a downpayment to reserve it. 5. On Tuesday the dealership called and said they had found an identical car locally so the deal could be closed during Toyota fiscal 05. By the end of the day the car was mine. So I did not have to wait more than a day, got $500 off MSRP and exactly the car I wanted with package #6 and red exterior. I love this car __________________ http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage...4/signature.png

01-06-2006, 12:41 AM	#15
cooljw Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 42 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Yes it is in a dealer's nature to make us think there is scarcity of Prius supply. Based on my recent observations, I think the supply-demand equation is quickly levelling out, and soon Prius will be selling below MSRP like other cars. I'm in San Diego, some dealerships are still running a waiting list here, while others are not. To me that's the first signal that supply is catching up to demand. Also, my local dealer had 2005s going at $2k below MSRP in November, and had a few unsold 2006s on the lot just before Christmas. I have also seen tons of Prius on the roads here lately. Excess demand for Prius is not infinite, eventually it will be met. I'm sure the new Civic Hybrid has also detracted some demand from the Prius. __________________

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01-03-2006, 10:30 AM	#12
Marlin Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 1,408 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	While Harrisburg is the state capital, it's not exactly a huge population center. Certainly not if you compare it to Philly or Pittsburg. It would not surprise me that there would be many Priuses sititng on dealer lots in more rural areas where the demand is not high.

01-03-2006, 11:24 AM	#13
justincmd Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I would have to agree with the starter of this post that in the south east there are lots of Prii to be had. I posted a comment on here about 2 months ago on how I was so excited to buy a Prius, but when I got to the dealer the salesmen would not negotiate with me and told me if I did not want to pay $2500 over sticker that I should just leave. I am very disappointed with the dealerships and their price gouging. The same dealership that I went to 2 months ago to buy a Prius has 8 of them sitting on the lot now and had 5 sitting there when I went to buy mine. There is a strong demand in some regions of the country - I will agree to that, but here in the south east the "good ole boys" like their trucks and moms like their suburbans. I was ready to buy 2 months ago, but the salesmen turned me away. Well long story short I went to a Mazda dealership and bought an RX8 for invoice and got $2500 off in incentives. I LOVE MY RX8! I wanted a unique car and when Gene Reed Toyota said no and they would not even work with me, I went with Mazda and the RX8 (it is also very unique). I will never pay over MSRP (it is supposed to be the highest dollar amount you should have to pay for a vehicle), no matter if it is hot or not. Gene Reed Toyota - http://www.genereedtoyota.com/New-Inventory.aspx North Charleston, SC - Rude salesmen, I guess they were just doing their job? Congratulations if you got one for less than MSRP; you are a very privileged few. If you are looking for a unique car check out the RX8 - Yea I know it is a 1.3L gas guzzler, but I have had alot more fun in it than I would have ever had in a prius - Justin

01-06-2006, 01:06 AM	#16
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,378 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	now that the tax credit is in full swing, i think you will be wrong. besides, right now, only a few selected areas of the country has anything remotely resembling a semi-adequate supply.

01-06-2006, 01:16 AM	#17
TidelandTravis Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA (Thousand Oaks) Posts: 58 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	My dealer (Thousand Oaks Toyota, Nirmal was my salesperson and he's great) tried to charge $3000 over msrp.. I basically told them to "make love to themselves" in short order and offered to pay "manufacturer MSRP". I wrote the check for that amount and drove home. Frankly, I feel that they put the mark-up on the car because there are enough a**holes out there who will pay it.

01-10-2006, 12:05 PM	#19
flynz4 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 263 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I do not think there is a significant shortage of Prii. They are not in abundance either... but there are plenty around. I suspect that demand still somewhat attenuated because of the slightly limited supply... so even as production numbers increase... that there will still not be a lot on the lots. However, I think that you can get pretty much anything you want in a couple of weeks... at least here in the PNW. I bought one off the lot on 12/15/05 ('06, Drifwood, pkg 8) as a gift to my daughter. I had the car home that night. The next day I called and told them that I wanted a 2nd for myself... but that I wanted to wait until Jan... and that I was only interested in a Silver pkg 8. It arrived yesterday 1/9/06. Three weeks for my first (and only) choice request. I was travelling out at the Oregon coast... and I stopped in at a Dealer who had 2 in stock ready to sell... and offered to get me anything that I wanted by exchanging with other dealers in "a couple of days". I don't know for sure if he could really deliver... but I would not be surprised. In any case... I agree with the original poster that supply is not as constrained as we are led to believe. /Jim