first post, shopping for a Prius

[JerseyJen]

Hello All,

I just wanted to post to introduce myself and thank everyone for contributing to such a helpful resource as I start shopping for my next car, likely a Prius.

I presently drive an 03 Rav4 and owing to some lifestyle and job changes find myself driving a lot more now and looking for improved fuel economy as key in my next vehicle. I'm one of a family of "green minded" surfers so interior storage space for a 9'6" longboard and reduced emissions also rank high!

I was going to hold out for the "great leap forward" in electric cars in 2012 but it looks like they're all limited to a 100 mile range. I commute ~84 miles a day a few times a week s that's cutting it a little close...especially since I hit some hairy traffic on Fridays.
Fortunately for this loyal Toyota repeat customer the Prius looks to be a good candidate,so why wait 2 more years!

I am going to test drive a Prius this weekend and looking forward to arming myself with all the info you folks have provided on this forum. I'd appreciate any additional tips or tricks to look for, inquire about, etc.

thanks!

Jen

[Rae Vynn]

Hi there!

Thanks for your kind words about our nice little forum

Hope to hear what you decided to get

[Mark57]

Welcome Jen. Let us know who it goes. There's a thread here about what people have managed to fit inside their Gen 3's and I seem to remember one was a surf board. Check it out.

[goldenhelpdesk]

Jen, I have a way with auto dealers. Most dealers are bags of crap. Every once in a while you find one that is honest with you. Finding an HONEST auto dealer that gives you a good price? nearly impossible.

What you need to do is e-mail all the dealers in your area. Ask them for a quote. They will likely ask you to come in to test drive. Tell them you are not coming in until you have a price agreed on. Otherwise you will find yourself there for HOURS and playing their little game.

Be ready to walk out immediately if anything goes wrong when you go to pick up your car.

Treat them with respect as they treat you with respect.

There's a long list on another forum I am on.. Just google "car buying tips" and you should get lots of good feedback. My experience? I saw an awesome deal, used AmEx to call in a down payment. Went in, everything was great. Financing they added an extra $2,000 and I wrote on a piece of paper to my wife "Ready to leave?" she said not to... She's an attorney so I listened because I didnt want to be responsible for $$$ owed, etc... anyway, it worked out very well. Love the car.

[richard schumacher]

As with any car:
Shop by phone, email, and fax. Tell them what you want, collect their out-the-door price offers in writing, then take the combo of offer and dealer that you like best. The only need to actually go to a dealer is for a test drive and to take delivery. Just Say No to extended warranties, fabric/paint protectant, "battery savers", and any other dealer applied junk.

And definitely let us know if you can get a longboard inside!

[Mark57]

Originally Posted by Mark57

Welcome Jen. Let us know who it goes. There's a thread here about what people have managed to fit inside their Gen 3's and I seem to remember one was a surf board. Check it out.

PS, I found the 9' 6" surf board pics that show it fitting completely inside a Prius. See golffushu's album here.

[JerseyJen]

A guy I surf with fits a 10'2" longboard in his prius so I should be golden.

...and I have a deposit on a Winter Grey Prius III with bluetooth/JBL pkg, going tonight
to work out the details!

Thanks to the folks on this forum I secured a great finance rate from penfed and will def delay my warranty purchase and shop around. Doubtless you folks have saved me so much $$ that it makes up for my paying sticker on the car.

stay tuned for pictures if everything goes well!

[jdcollins5]

JerseyJen,

I hope you will love your car as much as I do mine.

I picked up my Winter Grey Prius III with Nav about two months ago. After two months and 3000 miles, I am still in as much awe with this car as the day I drove it off the lot. I really love the Winter Grey color, especially after a good wash job.

I live on the coast in Wilmington, NC and see several Prius (Prii?)around with longboards inside.

Good luck,

Dwight

[philobeddoe]

here's my two cents

if you're getting a car allowance from work, lease a new prius,
if you're buying a car, get certified pre-owned (warranty) or buy it used for cash, and never look back