What's the real story on solar roofs (or lack of)?

[PriusRos]

Originally Posted by RodJo

My theory is that the dealers expect there will be a wait for solar roof cars if ordered now, so they probably want to make their money faster by selling you what they have (whether 2009 or 2010) or what they can get fairly quick. They know that if a customer has to wait too long, they may find what they want somewhere else. In other words, I think they would prefer a sure sale now rather than a possible sale later and they will say whatever it takes to get that done. If you really want a solar roof, I suggest holding out for one.

Good luck.

You are probably right. I am not in any hurry anyway so I am definitely going to wait until I've seen all the color variations and at least one with the solar roof. I don't want to be dropping $500 deposits at every dealer I visit just to get a place on the waiting lists. What is kind of amusing is all the different stories that the dealers come up with.

"Nobody in the United States has received a car with a solar roof"
"Toyota hasn't started making any Prius 2010 yet"
"Toyota hasn't made any with solar roofs yet"
"There's a government restriction on how many cars Toyota is allowed to make with a solar roof because of the weight limitation"

If the shortage is because they didn't anticipate the demand for the solar roof or advanced tech package, Toyota hasn't done their marketing research very well. Of course, there would be a higher demand for the basic, least expensive packages, but for many existing Prius owners or owners of other brands of more upscale cars, one of the main reasons to buy a 2010 would be for the new higher-end options that it is offering.

[PriusRos]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Well if you look in the tyre thread, most of the Prius IV w/ Solar Roofs are in the Pac NW lol.

Well, we all know that Pacific NW and California are not part of the United States.

[PriusRos]

Originally Posted by Midpack

I'm near Chicago and I have now seen 7 Prius (3-III, 2-IV, 1-V), only 1 had the Solar roof so far.

Wow, that one you saw with the solar roof must have been an illegal immigrant from another country, or maybe the West Coast.

[Randall Rash]

Originally Posted by taftjr

Nobody on the East Coast? I guess MA is not on the East Coast because I got mine 8 days ago!
Attachment 15563

And it is my wallpaper until I get mine in Texas.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by PriusRos

Well, we all know that Pacific NW and California are not part of the United States.