Is paying MSRP or more the ONLY way to get a Prius?

[a priori]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(msirach @ Aug 21 2007, 06:08 PM) [snapback]499991[/snapback]</div>

I assume you are aware of the $1000 rebate from the Illinois State Treasurer???[/i]
[/b]

Remember, the rebate only occurs if you finance your purchase (after July 15, 2007 and until the money runs out) through one of the State-approved banks. I made all of the arrangements in advance with one of the (very few) approved banks. When I went to purchase, the dealer took care of all of the administrative parts of the loan. The best part? Not only did I not have to drive to the next county to sign the application and the letter to the State, the dealer had the application fee waived by the bank. I took out a $5,000 loan, and I'll pay it off before the first payment is due.

I'm still waiting on my $1,000 rebate check (one week since my purchase).


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(msirach @ Aug 21 2007, 06:08 PM) [snapback]499991[/snapback]</div>

Our 05 is going to be for sale next week. It has 36000 miles with package #4.
[/b]

And your asking price is? When do you plan to sell?

[JenGwen323]

Yikes, I never had any intentions of paying MSRP. I guess we are spoiled in SoCal. There are plenty on the lots.

One route I checked out was the Costco price. I was quoted $500 over invoice (not MSRP) at the dealer Costco told me to go to. I'm confident they gave me the correct price. I have no clue what it would be for you, but it would be worth looking into. At the dealership where I bought the car, they told me the costco price was $500 under MSRP. There is a big difference between the two. I know they were full of crap, as the price list had expired, luckily they had a sale 2 weeks later. So you may want to double check.

I ended up getting my 2007 package 6 for $24,500. I was happy.

[msirach]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(a priori @ Aug 21 2007, 10:37 PM) [snapback]500099[/snapback]</div>

And your asking price is? When do you plan to sell?
[/b]

I am going to list it next week. We are taking our son back to UVA this weekend and we will have a spare car for my wife to drive.

$18,900

[Jeannie]

My daughter-in-law bought a 2007 Prius last week in Massachusetts at 'the only dealer that had some in stock', but still paid less than MSRP and got a good price on their trade-in. So it's definitely possible to get them for less than MSRP. The supply in the northeast US is slim at the moment because it's the model-year changeover, but I'm sure that will change in the next 2-4 weeks.

[Elephanthead]

Supplies are getting tight, I would wait for the 2008 to start ariving in quantity, then make a deal. You don't get the dealers best price until you test drive it, try to make a deal, tell them no, have them get their managers aproval 3 or 4 times, leave, then wait for them to call. Make sure you bring a book to read or something to do cause they are under the impresion that you are excited to get ripped off, don't be, it is the rush they use to get you to overpay, you can get a good deal, but you need to be patient, and remember the dealer has to make some money or else their kids don't eat, but feed them hot dogs not caviar.

[twilsonchicago]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(carolbrady @ Aug 21 2007, 12:53 PM) [snapback]499818[/snapback]</div>

Should I resign myself to the fact you HAVE to pay MSRP or above to get a 2007 or 2008 Prius?
[/b]

I'm in Chicago and have an '08 on order, at MSRP. I ordered it about a week ago after a pretty exhaustive month-long search of inventories and inbounds, via internet requests to dealers as far away as (clockwise) Milwaukee, Ft. Wayne, Indianapolis, and St Louis. I was looking for a specific color and package (gray 6) and though one would pop up every now and then, it was always spoken for. (Early on, I had a chance at one, via phone call from a dealer, and hesitated. I called back 15 minutes later: Gone.)

When demand exceeds supply, supply sets the price. I'm happy paying MSRP, because I know that the dealers know they can sell these cars at that price to someone else, without waiting very long. And in the big picture, it's good that the Prius is so popular. When Toyota makes money designing and building a minimum emissions vehicle, and when dealers make money selling them, then the industry takes notice, and that's a good thing.


Tim
Chicago

[patsparks]

I got a used on, looks just like a new one to the untrained eye and I saves $12,000 or about 1/3 off the new price. But if you want a new one that's cool, it's nice to have a new car. Good luck with it, I hope you find just the car you want at the best price ever. Some great bargaining tips on this thread.

[subarutoo]

Fly to the west coast, get the car, and drive it home. What's the big deal? I saw at least a dozen on a Toyota lot in San Jose this weekend. Do an online search on carsdirect.com, using a west coast zip code, or just call the dealers direct. I don't know what the big deal of saving a few dollars on initial cost is all about. Over the life of the car, a few hundred saved is very little per year. If the price is such a big deal, maybe you should be looking at cheaper transportation, though initial cost isn't the biggest cost of ownership. I paid sticker + $500 dealer added value (profit) package (pinstripes, door moldiongs, etc.), and never looked back. That was 1 1/2 years and 40,000 happy miles ago.

[07seaside]

I'm from Missouri and am expecting my 07 Seaside to be in on 9/4. Originally, I was going to pay MSRP because I checked with 2 or 3 local dealers and they're all selling an 07 with package #02 for MSRP.

I resigned myself to that before I even started looking. With a vehicle as in demand as the Prius is, I'm not sure you'll find a dealer willing to dicker. My dealer took a deposit with the understanding that if I didn't like it when it arrived, I got the deposit back. That's because he knows that someone will walk in 5 minutes later and buy it.
Since talking to the dealer, I discovered the Costco discount. I'm not sure how much it is but I'll take it. I did talk to the salesperson who said we would re-write the deal to include the Costco discount.

I'm also getting my financing through the Costco discount - a better rate than I can find anywhere else.

I'm going to get an extended warranty. I usually don't but with a car as technological as this one is, it seems stupid not to. One computer component goes out and the cost is covered.

So, if you have a Costco in your area and aren't already a member, it might be worth the $45 - you can always cancel it when it comes up for renewal

Does anyone have any words of wisdom for a soon to be Prion?

[msirach]

I never recommend an extended warranty for Honda or Toyota! But if you do want to buy one, you can get the
same warranty from the Prius Store on this website for less than $1000.