Video: It's Not Easy Buying Green

[Rybold]

Originally Posted by JimN

One can't just flip a switch & expect good quality parts built to your specification instantly. IMO what keeps Toyota's quality high is that it PARTNERS with suppliers so everyone is on the same page. I would not want my Toyota built from outsourced parts. GM & Ford think the same way you do. Look where it got them.

I understand your point, and I appreciate that Toyota does this. I tell everyone I know that my Toyota, regardless of price, is a very high quality product. Somehow, Toyota needs to do something. There is a very large number of people standing here in the U.S. with their wallets open ready to hand Toyota their money. I am a scientist, but I know enough about business to know that you do anything you can to do additional business.

[ldxcrunr]

no offense to any one here but i would gladly sell my 2008 prius for 28000 i only paid 22000. thats alot of money i could use. dont get me wrong id miss the car but not the payments

[jackal454]

I figured this would happen, Man was I lucky to get mine. We scored the only demo the dealer had, with a $2k incentive, pkg 6 etc...3 weeks ago for 27,900 out the door.

I love the car but dont know if I have the stomach to wait 4 months or whatever it is going to take

[clooch]

Originally Posted by boulder_bum

On a side note, I'm glad I bought when I did! I managed to pay below invoice.

Same here. I feel for those on the lists as I had a short wait (2 weeks)

lots of luck to those on lists

[zeeman]

Originally Posted by miscrms

---Doubt there will be any relief until either gas goes back to $3.99 and everyone starts buying SUVs again, or until the '09s roll in in August. The battery supply situation probably didn't help, but I'm not it had too much to do with it. I think they just underestimated demand. Not that they had any way to know, still I bet they're kicking themselves.

--

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i do not think that people would go back to SUVs even if gas was $ 3.00 per gallon.

unless i am underestimating the stupidity of people.

[Ichabod]

People are kinda dumb, but I think high gas prices have opened a lot of eyes. I mean this guy who bought a Prius to replace his Hummer thinks he's saving the ozone layer. That's kinda dumb and he's still smart enough to buy a Prius! (p.s. if you're that guy from the video, welcome to PriusChat! )

I'm pretty concerned about how that reporter was driving and narrating her report at the same time though. I mean, she probably did 5 or 6 takes of that, and the whole time, she's staring over at her camera crew?! That's irresponsible journalism.

[Presto]

Originally Posted by zeeman

unless i am underestimating the stupidity of people.

People have short memories, and you give too much credit to the intelligence of the general populace.

[FL_Prius_Driver]

Originally Posted by Rybold

I understand your point, and I appreciate that Toyota does this. I tell everyone I know that my Toyota, regardless of price, is a very high quality product. Somehow, Toyota needs to do something. There is a very large number of people standing here in the U.S. with their wallets open ready to hand Toyota their money. I am a scientist, but I know enough about business to know that you do anything you can to do additional business.

The missing factor is the production time needed to react. (Toyota orders more batteries, Battery Maker orders more nickel, Nickel refineries ramp up production....takes a little while to get more batteries when dealing with tons of Nickel). Toyota has continually ramped up production of the Prius. Now in a single month, the demand skyrocketed and caught Toyota in a changeover. Give them a couple of months and the Prius Pipeline will be flowing (Prius to US, $$$ to Japan).