To all those waiting and on lists for a new Prius...

[AdamKPL]

Feel free to disagree with me but the situation with waiting lists is out of hand.

I put down 1K for a Prius beginning of May, promised delivery of a touring ed. by mid June. Unfortunately I couldn't wait that long and was doing alot of research on the side - calling every dealer within 500+ miles with no luck. Finally, I called CarsDirect again. Told the guy I wanted a touring and he did tell me he wouldn't be able to get one for about 6 months. He was able to tell me though exactly where they currently had touring in stock - found 1 @ Manhattan Toyota which I called and reserved. You could also try and get information from other dealers or maybe get in touch with a regional sales rep who would know stock and availability.

Here is the kicker, I went back to the original Toyota dealer where I put my deposit down (credit card of course) threatening to dispute the charge - got the money back btw, and was told no tourings had arrived since and currently there is a 3500 premium over msrp on all Prii. However my contract stated they had 90 days after promised delivery to get the car - remember you can't dispute charges after that long.

I realized the demand for these amazing cars has gone up in the last month. However, word of advice if you want to get one don't assume your dealer is being completely honest with you despite your measly 500 deposit. Think about it - you are on a list for a silver or black package 2-4. A blue one comes in, that same second YOUR sales person sees someone checking it out and says I want it NOW....Whose gonna get that Prius if your sales person has one guaranteed sale and one that is most likely gonna happen if he sees another Prius? Probably the person there ready to buy.

In conclusion, if your on a waiting list DON'T STOP SEARCHING. CALL everywhere and don't be lazy. 99.9% you will get your deposit back - unless your sales person is your father, they most likely aren't as nice as they come off to be. At the end of the day it's about quarterly sales and not about long term retention.

Good luck to you all

[turboboy]

i just got off the phone with carsdirect.com---- they do not offer anymore quotes on prius due to limited availability.

i agree with you that some of the dealers i contacted who wanted me to go on their list i got the impression i would probably never see a car from them.

good score on the car!!

[Captain Fantastic]

While I agree with your statements about dealers being shady, my dealer has been in constant contact with me.

I am now #1 on the list and the next allocated Prius is mine, no matter if they have to trade to get my color. I have done business with them before and they are straight forward, and personable.

[AdamKPL]

Originally Posted by Captain Fantastic

While I agree with your statements about dealers being shady, my dealer has been in constant contact with me.

I am now #1 on the list and the next allocated Prius is mine, no matter if they have to trade to get my color. I have done business with them before and they are straight forward, and personable.

Again I can't judge every single dealer in the country. I happen to know a few Nissan dealers who make well into 6-figures, follow-up sales with holiday greetings, and will go out of their way to say hello to old customers and help them out with any kinds of service/parts needs. This is why they make 6-figures.

In terms of your situation, well my dealer also told me I was #1 on the list from the start, I was also told the next allocated Prius is mine even if they have to swap...6 weeks later I have a Prius from somewhere else and my dealer tells me no Tourings until 09 and people are selling them for $40 grand...I also have done business with them before Best of luck to you

[Marlin]

I bought both of my Priuses in 2005, during the one of the periods of 6+ month wait lists. I bought one in April and one in November. Both times, I walked in and drove off with a Prius several hours later. My father, in Massachusetts bought one in January 2006, he too walked in and drove off with a new Prius.

I believe that when you sign up on a wait list, you basically tell them that you are willing to wait. When a new car shows up on the lot and someone walks in before they've offered it to someone on the waiting list, I think they will happily sell it to the walk-in. After all, you're still on their waiting list, while the walk-in might go off and buy from someone else.

[AdamKPL]

Originally Posted by Marlin

I bought both of my Priuses in 2005, during the one of the periods of 6+ month wait lists. I bought one in April and one in November. Both times, I walked in and drove off with a Prius several hours later. My father, in Massachusetts bought one in January 2006, he too walked in and drove off with a new Prius.

I believe that when you sign up on a wait list, you basically tell them that you are willing to wait. When a new car shows up on the lot and someone walks in before they've offered it to someone on the waiting list, I think they will happily sell it to the walk-in. After all, you're still on their waiting list, while the walk-in might go off and buy from someone else.

100% agree with you, of course with the exception of cars that you can special order in which case it's not really a waiting list (walk in say i want a purple car with pink leather and no navi and the dealer has it specifically made for you)...something toyota does not do.

[pdhenry]

Originally Posted by Marlin

When a new car shows up on the lot and someone walks in before they've offered it to someone on the waiting list...

You're assuming a car shows up on the lot before it has been matched against the waiting list. My dealer allocates the allocation (so to speak) while the cars are still on the boat. Or so I've been told by two dealers.

[AdamKPL]

Originally Posted by pdhenry

You're assuming a car shows up on the lot before it has been matched against the waiting list. My dealer allocates the allocation (so to speak) while the cars are still on the boat. Or so I've been told by two dealers.

You are correct, but that is not really a waiting list. I walked into Middletown Toyota in Connecticut and he had a printed list of VIN numbers you could put a deposit on. Again this isn't a waiting list, here you are actually paying for a vin number you know the dealer is getting. A waiting list is oh heres 1000 call me when a prius comes in - yah right

[pdhenry]

That still isn't what I'm seeing.

I'm on the "call me when you get a Prius" list. So are 6-10 others (at another dealer it's 30). When the dealer gets his allocation (the list of VINs you allude to) the first thing that happens is the match against the waiting list. Only when a car comes up with no match does it become available for walk-ins. But I don't think it gets that far. My dealer has no unsold Priuses in his allocation.

I called my guy yesterday to tell him that as an alternative to a #6 I'd take a #5 and look into aftermarket leather (I'll also take a #2 but I suspect they aren't getting many of those). He said he hoped to call me next week with news about the June allocation.

Maybe I'm being strung along but I believe in taking things at face value. I'm willing to wait (within reason) rather than pay above MSRP.

[AdamKPL]

Originally Posted by pdhenry

That still isn't what I'm seeing.

I'm on the "call me when you get a Prius" list. So are 6-10 others (at another dealer it's 30). When the dealer gets his allocation (the list of VINs you allude to) the first thing that happens is the match against the waiting list. Only when a car comes up with no match does it become available for walk-ins. But I don't think it gets that far. My dealer has no unsold Priuses in his allocation.

I called my guy yesterday to tell him that as an alternative to a #6 I'd take a #5 and look into aftermarket leather (I'll also take a #2 but I suspect they aren't getting many of those). He said he hoped to call me next week with news about the June allocation.

Maybe I'm being strung along but I believe in taking things at face value. I'm willing to wait (within reason) rather than pay above MSRP.

Woah, I don't think anyone mentioned anything about paying above MSRP. All I'm saying is if you find yourself in a situation such as the one I was in where I sold my car and was bumming rides with coworkers/friends/the Mrs. than in addition to being on the "list" you should call around (or not so around) and see who has one NOW. Your dealer won't be stuck with a Prius since its in demand and you should get your money back. Just my $0.02