2006, silver, #6, 01/18/06, Davis, CA

[darelldd]

Date Ordered: Jan 18, 2006
Dealer Ordered From (Incl. City/State): Hanlees, Davis, CA
Timeframe given for delivery: 3-8 weeks
Color: silver
Option Package: 6
Your # on Dealer's Waiting List: Not relevant. There are 31 people on the list, but I'm the only one that wants this particular package.

[janrn]

Hi darelldd,

Just FYI, we got our 2006 Prius off the lot on 12/26/05 at Elk Grove Toyota. I don't know if they still have a supply on the lot or not. We went there "just looking", and came home with a Prius . They had maybe 8 or so at that time...

[darelldd]

OK.. so the plot thickens. I was just called by Roseville toyota, and they have a silver #6 coming into Benicia on Feb 11. Expected on the lot by Feb 20. All good news, right? Just 30 minutes away. BUT...

The car will cost me $1000 more that my local dealer (Hanlees) because I won't get the Costco discount, and I will have to buy the floor mats at full retail (about $200).

I have NO idea when Hanlees (much smaller dealer) will get one in for me, so I guess I'd better take the Roseville one if I've heard nothing from my local dealer by then. Grrr.

In other news, Hanlees is expected to hear about their allocation on the 7th. So I guess that'll tell me everything I need to know.

[darelldd]

At the risk of talking to myself (thanks for the Elk Grove tip, Janern - no love from them this time) I'll update the situation.

1. I apparently still have the silver (first choice) #6 coming into Roseville Toyota on about the 20th of Feb.
2. I was just called regarding a white (second choice) #6 coming into Hanlees (my local dealer) on about the 23rd of Feb. This car would cost me $1000 less than the other one.

I think I'm OK with the white... but I forgot to ask about the interior (was easy with silver since there was no choice). I really don't want the lighter bisque, so that may be a deal breaker for the "cheap" car.

But either way, it would appear that I have *some* car at *some* price coming my way in just about two more weeks. Save an HOV sticker for me!

[darelldd]

Yay! First choice color is in at the cheap dealer! Screwed up order (sales guy wrote "silver pine" instead of Pine Mica, or whatever it is. A silver came in and was being sold to the nice lady... until she realized it was SILVER and not PINE. I just happened to be on the phone with the guy when all this was happening, and he said the silver is mine.

Yay.

Stand by for me being even MORE obnoxious.

[jpeachman]

Originally posted by darelldd@Feb 14 2006, 02:40 PM
Yay! First choice color is in at the cheap dealer! Screwed up order (sales guy wrote "silver pine" instead of Pine Mica, or whatever it is. A silver came in and was being sold to the nice lady... until she realized it was SILVER and not PINE. I just happened to be on the phone with the guy when all this was happening, and he said the silver is mine.

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Hey, that's great! So, does "in" mean they actually have it for you to pick up, or does it mean they'll have it in some ill-defined but hopefully short time frame? I'm in the latter situation myself (at least I hope so!). I've been told my car is coming, but they don't have a VIN or an exact date yet. Maybe I'll run into you at Hanlees (well, not literally, I hope ).

Joe

[darelldd]

Originally posted by jpeachman@Feb 14 2006, 08:32 PM
Hey, that's great! So, does "in" mean they actually have it for you to pick up, or does it mean they'll have it in some ill-defined but hopefully short time frame? I'm in the latter situation myself (at least I hope so!). I've been told my car is coming, but they don't have a VIN or an exact date yet. Maybe I'll run into you at Hanlees (well, not literally, I hope  ).

Joe

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Hey Joe -

In means IN. Been sitting on the lot for four days, apparently. Confusion on the color for the previous buyer. Buyer wanted "Pine Mica" and sales guy (Phil) wrote down Silver Pine. A Silver one came in, and Phil thought they would go for either Silver or Pine when he looked at his notes again. Buyers came to pay, and found it wasn't the color they wanted. Since I was on the phone bitching when this all happened, I was offered the car.

What combo are you looking for, and what are they telling you? Phil is no longer handling the Prius orders now. John Thompson is the guy now. All kinds of cloak-and-dagger as to why that's happening. As far as I'm concerned, sales guys are sales guys. I haven't been shown differently yet.

Each time I go to buy a new car, I spend an hour with Google, and know WAY more about the vehicle than any of the sales people. They don't even know the color combinations. Yesterday I was asked if I wanted tan, oak, sand, beige. And what they all meant was "bisque." Since the whole confusion on what is now my car was regarding color nomenclature, you'd think they could maybe use the official Toyota terms???

I'm getting a good deal, which is the ONLY reason I'm buying here. This will be over $70k that I've spent at this dealer now, and they treat me like any other bum off the street. I can go to any out-of-state dealer to save 50% on any accessories. You'd think they didn't really want my business. I'm offered the same "full MSRP" as anybody who is NOT a customer. Way to keep me loyal! Not.

Oops. Sorry about the rant.

[espoafd]

Darell,

I am happy for you, though jealous as I am still waiting for my car. I have started inquiring around the SW and hopefully will have my car soon.

I also wanted to thank you for your posts on EV's. I knew nothing about them and because of your posts and website I have become very excited about them. I have gotten excited about them and tell other people about them. Hopefully we can convince other people and the auto companies to start producing them.

If you are ever around Albuquerque please look me up. I would love to talk about EV's with you.

Scott

[darelldd]

Awesome, Scott. Makes my day when I hear somebody say that they've learned something from my site. I know all too well what info the public is spoon-fed from the car makers and the media. The public is told that there was no "market" for EVs. Well surprise! They were never marketed, now where they?

EVs are obviously not the perfect choice for every driver. But then neither are sports cars, pickups, motorcycles, etc. And yet we still keep selling those vehicles, don't we? For a commute car, there is simply nothing better than an EV. And commute miles comprise MOST of the miles driven in the US.

Ah... but I'll try not to get on that rant here. Enough info on my site.

Good luck with your search. After almost a month of being "on the list" I just sort of fell into this car today. Still haven't seen it though! No idea how many miles are on it, or what shape it is in. Supposed to be "new." But then they let me drive somebody else's "new" car for my test drive.

[jpeachman]

Originally posted by darelldd@Feb 14 2006, 08:54 PM
In means IN. Been sitting on the lot for four days, apparently. Confusion on the color for the previous buyer. Buyer wanted "Pine Mica" and sales guy (Phil) wrote down Silver Pine. A Silver one came in, and Phil thought they would go for either Silver or Pine when he looked at his notes again. Buyers came to pay, and found it wasn't the color they wanted. Since I was on the phone bitching when this all happened, I was offered the car. 

What combo are you looking for, and what are they telling you? Phil is no longer handling the Prius orders now. John Thompson is the guy now. All kinds of cloak-and-dagger as to why that's happening. As far as I'm concerned, sales guys are sales guys. I haven't been shown differently yet.

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Well, I trust you're picking it up ASAP--especially if there's cloak-and-dagger mystery going on! I spoke with Phil as recently as Saturday, when he told me he should have a VIN on a Barcelona Red #3 for me around the 16th, and the car probably sometime next week. I know John worked with Phil, and covered on Phil's days off, but you're sure Phil is now out of the picture? Wow! In fact, double-wow--a woman from Hanlees called me today to verify my info in their computer, and when I mentioned about expecting to hear from Phil in a couple of days, she said I would still be hearing from him (and mentioned him by name). I have to say, there's little about this situation to inspire much confidence! Get yours while you can!!

Joe