Downpayments on Prius

Neal Tolchin · 05-07-2004, 07:02 AM

My Toyota dealer is asking for a 1,000$ downpayment on the Prius and it has a two year waiting list. How much are the downpayments that other dealers are asking for?

windsurfdog · 05-07-2004, 07:16 AM

The dealer I bought mine from isn't even taking any more deposits--just putting people on the list. Last I heard, it was 45 long. I put down $500 when I ordered mine in Dec. $1000.00 is unreasonable.....find another dealer.......

dianacs · 05-07-2004, 08:12 AM

Mine isn't taking deposits either.

jasond · 05-07-2004, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Neal Tolchin
My Toyota dealer is asking for a 1,000$ downpayment on the Prius and it has a two year waiting list. How much are the downpayments that other dealers are asking for?

I'd worry more about the length of the list than the size of the downpayment, unless you simply can't swing the $1000. Find another dealer with a shorter list. There's really no such thing as a TWO YEAR waiting list at this point (they'll be shipping 2006 Priuses at that point, and who knows how much production they'll have?), so the dealer is really saying "don't hold your breath, because we can't predict."

But people on this board have found short lists (or even available vehicles) by calling dozens of dealers.

paulisme · 05-07-2004, 09:09 AM

Two years??? Screw that. Sounds like they want to take your deposit and hope that you'll forget about it in two years.

DaveinOlyWA · 05-07-2004, 09:18 AM

two years???
I seriously doubt that Toyota will be this short on cars that far into the future unless they are severely restricted by import quotas. If Bush is re-elected i see that as a very strong possibility :-(

My dealer didnt set a deposit price per se. so i just gave him $200. I think that dealer you have may have experienced to many people losing patience with the wait resulting in him asking for the higher deposit. And i dont blame him, if the wait is even 6 months, i would be hesistant also. Plus i seriously doubt his overall enthusiasm for the car

peart75 · 05-07-2004, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Neal Tolchin
My Toyota dealer is asking for a 1,000$ downpayment on the Prius and it has a two year waiting list. How much are the downpayments that other dealers are asking for?

first dealer was no deposit, just put me on the list. second dealer is $500 and i gave him a CC# but no transaction was ran on it. just a formality i guess.

-drew

Larry Page · 05-07-2004, 09:45 AM

No downpayment was required from my dealer, (Kolosso Toyota in Appleton, WI) however I have been a loyal customer of his dealership for over 35 years so they kbow me well. Also my salesman (Bill Kolosso) was one of the owners and not a member of the regular sales staff. He is very knowledgable about the Prius; his wife drives one.

ifftster · 05-07-2004, 03:54 PM

dealer required a $500 deposit, waited 40 days. sounds like they want the interest from your 2 grand over 2 yrs!

daniel · 05-07-2004, 04:17 PM

I paid $500 deposit and waited 2 months. Most people are reporting a $500 deposit. A few dealers are holding a check without cashing it, but those are the exception, I think. The two year quote is probably just to cover himself; you probably won't have to wait that long, but the $1,000 is excessive for a car with no delivery date in sight.

05-07-2004, 07:02 AM	#1
Neal Tolchin Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Princeton, NJ Posts: 14 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Downpayments on Prius My Toyota dealer is asking for a 1,000$ downpayment on the Prius and it has a two year waiting list. How much are the downpayments that other dealers are asking for?

05-07-2004, 09:18 AM	#6
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,812 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 38 Thanked 187 Times in 160 Posts Friends: 12	two years??? I seriously doubt that Toyota will be this short on cars that far into the future unless they are severely restricted by import quotas. If Bush is re-elected i see that as a very strong possibility :-( My dealer didnt set a deposit price per se. so i just gave him $200. I think that dealer you have may have experienced to many people losing patience with the wait resulting in him asking for the higher deposit. And i dont blame him, if the wait is even 6 months, i would be hesistant also. Plus i seriously doubt his overall enthusiasm for the car __________________ My Blue 2010 : Last tank 548.4 @ 50.48 pump (56.5 MFD) 5.74 CPM, 23 MPH, Lifetime:8102.4 miles MPG pump. 53.75 (59.49 MFD) 5.04 CPM. Summer MPG 57.4 Winter: 48.98 My 2006 SPM: Last tank 456.3 @46.9 pump (47.3 MFD) 6.23 cpm winter mpg 49.29 summer mpg 53.41 lifetime: 44,804.8 miles 51.18 mpg pump (52.34 mpg MFD) 5.54 cpm My 2007 Zenn total "fuel cost" $168.25 on "about" 9659.7 miles. 1.74 cents per mile (granted i plug in for free at work!!) My Plate: DUALPWR (Dual Power)

05-07-2004, 07:16 AM	#2
windsurfdog Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Northern Gulf Coast of Florida Posts: 67 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	The dealer I bought mine from isn't even taking any more deposits--just putting people on the list. Last I heard, it was 45 long. I put down $500 when I ordered mine in Dec. $1000.00 is unreasonable.....find another dealer.......

05-07-2004, 08:12 AM	#3
dianacs Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 10 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Mine isn't taking deposits either.

05-07-2004, 09:09 AM	#5
paulisme Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 177 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Two years??? Screw that. Sounds like they want to take your deposit and hope that you'll forget about it in two years.

05-07-2004, 09:45 AM	#8
Larry Page Join Date: May 2004 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin USA Posts: 30 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	No downpayment was required from my dealer, (Kolosso Toyota in Appleton, WI) however I have been a loyal customer of his dealership for over 35 years so they kbow me well. Also my salesman (Bill Kolosso) was one of the owners and not a member of the regular sales staff. He is very knowledgable about the Prius; his wife drives one.

05-07-2004, 03:54 PM	#9
ifftster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 77 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	dealer required a $500 deposit, waited 40 days. sounds like they want the interest from your 2 grand over 2 yrs!

05-07-2004, 04:17 PM	#10
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 11,728 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 76 Thanked 280 Times in 174 Posts Friends: 0	I paid $500 deposit and waited 2 months. Most people are reporting a $500 deposit. A few dealers are holding a check without cashing it, but those are the exception, I think. The two year quote is probably just to cover himself; you probably won't have to wait that long, but the $1,000 is excessive for a car with no delivery date in sight.