New Member Lots of Questions

[Kryptokat]

I have followed this forum for a while. I am defecting from my other forum www.e60.net also a very high qaulity forum dedicated to the BMW 5 series 2004 model year and up.

I drive a 2005 BMW 545i and am now trading it in for a Hybrid Highlander. I am sorry fellow members for being such an ignorant gas hog and eco destroyer .

To redeem myself I really wanted the Prius so much because I now cannot live without bluetooth and Navigation. But I just cannot see myself getting into a small car. Especially with all the Monstrosities that the American ego calls "Consumer vehicles" these days. I fear that I would be in a side end collison with one of those Monstors.

I have always hated the SUV image. The compact and midsize SUVs are less objectionable. If it were me I would ban them from the streets unless they were being used to tow / haul a large load. I would still have to deal with the Monstor Trucks the Dodge Rams and The F350s. My commute here in North Philadephia puts me in close encounters with these sorts of vehicles everyday. So I felt more comfortable getting the Highlander. I feel less guilty though because it is a Hybrid. I will have to explain to all the ingnorant people at work why after years of slandering SUVs I bought one myself? Not many people realize that my Hybrid SUV is more ecofreindly than thier gas only midsize cars.

I commute 100% city and < 200 miles highway driving a year. So I hope to get good use out of the car. I have visited HiHychat.com but not a lot of folks seem to be around there. So this will have to be my main forum.

Now to the Questions.

1. I will be taking delivery ot the car on Nov 18th. Do you think I should pay the dealer $500 to keep it garaged for the next month and take delivery in January? I should be able to get a $600 credit this year.

2. Is the tax credit I get a one in a lifetime credit of can I get one for another Hybrid I buy next year? Alternatively If my wife gets a Hybrid but we file a joint tax return do you think we can qualify for another tax credit or is it only one per family?

Thanks everybody.

[Kiloran]

Originally posted by Kryptokat@Nov 7 2005, 11:09 AM
I have followed this forum for a while. I am defecting from my other forum www.e60.net also a very high qaulity forum dedicated to the BMW 5 series 2004 model year and up.

I drive a 2005 BMW 545i and am now trading it in for a Hybrid Highlander. I am sorry fellow members for being such an ignorant gas hog and eco destroyer .

To redeem myself I really wanted the Prius so much because I now cannot live without bluetooth and Navigation. But I just cannot see myself getting into a small car. Especially with all the Monstrosities that the American ego calls "Consumer vehicles" these days. I fear that I would be in a side end collison with one of those Monstors.

I have always hated the SUV image. The compact and midsize SUVs are less objectionable. If it were me I would ban them from the streets unless they were being used to tow / haul a large load. I would still have to deal with the Monstor Trucks the Dodge Rams and The F350s. My commute here in North Philadephia puts me in close encounters with these sorts of vehicles everyday. So I felt more comfortable getting the Highlander. I feel less guilty though because it is a Hybrid. I will have to explain to all the ingnorant people at work why after years of slandering SUVs I bought one myself? Not many people realize that my Hybrid SUV is more ecofreindly than thier gas only midsize cars.

I commute 100% city and < 200 miles highway driving a year. So I hope to get good use out of the car. I have visited HiHychat.com but not a lot of folks seem to be around there. So this will have to be my main forum.

Now to the Questions.

1. I will be taking delivery ot the car on Nov 18th. Do you think I should pay the dealer $500 to keep it garaged for the next month and take delivery in January? I should be able to get a $600 credit this year.

2. Is the tax credit I get a one in a lifetime credit of can I get one for another Hybrid I buy next year? Alternatively If my wife gets a Hybrid but we file a joint tax return do you think we can qualify for another tax credit or is it only one per family?

Thnaks everybody.

[snapback]151908[/snapback]

1. $500 seems a bit steep for 1 month storage but, if that's the best deal you can get, you'll still be ahead ($3150 2006 tax credit - $500 storage - $560 2005 tax deduction = $2090).
2. You can get credit for each hybrid you buy, however, the full tax credit applies to the first 60k of all cars produced by manufacturer. It would be unimaginable that you would be able to buy a Toyota next year and get the full credit unless the credit were extended by an act of Congress.

[Charles Suitt]

<_< Your 2006 Tax Credit is based on when you "take delivery" (Prius sale is completed and titled in your name) - so I believe "taking delivery" in November and "storing" the car would not qualify you for the tax credit. Seems you would need to make a deal to have an "legal option" on the car which you could exercise on or after January 1, 2006. How about a legal Contract providing for purchase of a specific Prius (VIN) on a specific date (January 2nd or later) including specific payment provisions.

My take: The Dealer's $500 "storage fee" is most inappropriate... just no way it could cost the Dealer that much to simply "hold" the Prius.

Another thought: Online snooping can virtually always find Prii in many states and regions with a variety of options and colors. $500 would more than pay for a one-way flight and drive back home.

[efusco]

Originally posted by Charles Suitt@Nov 7 2005, 11:39 AM
My take: The Dealer's $500 "storage fee" is most inappropriate... just no way it could cost the Dealer that much to simply "hold" the Prius.

I was actually thinking that I thought sounded like a fair enough deal. Not only are they storing the car, but they're delaying the actual sale. Since dealer allocations are, in part, based upon the number of vehicles sold in a given month this could prevent them from getting additional cars to sell in the coming months and also prevents them from being able to sell that to another customer.

And, when was the last time you were on a dealer's lot? Space is always at a premium!

So, if I could be assured of getting one of the first '06s and not have to risk not getting one under the Tax Credit cut-off deadline (which could easily become an issue...has everyone already forgotten the fiasco of the '04 Model Year delays?) it would probably be worth $500 to me. Also, this affords the dealership some protection. If a buyer were to back out after they had a vehicle sitting on the lot for 2 months that clearly costs them.

[maggieddd]

Originally posted by Kryptokat@Nov 7 2005, 10:09 AM
I have followed this forum for a while. I am defecting from my other forum www.e60.net also a very high qaulity forum dedicated to the BMW 5 series 2004 model year and up.

I drive a 2005 BMW 545i and am now trading it in for a Hybrid Highlander. I am sorry fellow members for being such an ignorant gas hog and eco destroyer .

To redeem myself I really wanted the Prius so much because I now cannot live without bluetooth and Navigation. But I just cannot see myself getting into a small car. Especially with all the Monstrosities that the American ego calls "Consumer vehicles" these days. I fear that I would be in a side end collison with one of those Monstors.

I have always hated the SUV image. The compact and midsize SUVs are less objectionable. If it were me I would ban them from the streets unless they were being used to tow / haul a large load. I would still have to deal with the Monstor Trucks the Dodge Rams and The F350s. My commute here in North Philadephia puts me in close encounters with these sorts of vehicles everyday. So I felt more comfortable getting the Highlander. I feel less guilty though because it is a Hybrid. I will have to explain to all the ingnorant people at work why after years of slandering SUVs I bought one myself? Not many people realize that my Hybrid SUV is more ecofreindly than thier gas only midsize cars.

I commute 100% city and < 200 miles highway driving a year. So I hope to get good use out of the car. I have visited HiHychat.com but not a lot of folks seem to be around there. So this will have to be my main forum.

Now to the Questions.

1. I will be taking delivery ot the car on Nov 18th. Do you think I should pay the dealer $500 to keep it garaged for the next month and take delivery in January? I should be able to get a $600 credit this year.

2. Is the tax credit I get a one in a lifetime credit of can I get one for another Hybrid I buy next year? Alternatively If my wife gets a Hybrid but we file a joint tax return do you think we can qualify for another tax credit or is it only one per family?

Thanks everybody.

[snapback]151908[/snapback]

Did I undersatnd it correctly, you are getting a Highlinder because you are afraid of being in a sedan due to the high probably of colliding with a bigger vehicle?? Is that right?

[Maytrix]

Originally posted by Kryptokat@Nov 7 2005, 10:09 AM
To redeem myself I really wanted the Prius so much because I now cannot live without bluetooth and Navigation. But I just cannot see myself getting into a small car. Especially with all the Monstrosities that the American ego calls "Consumer vehicles" these days. I fear that I would be in a side end collison with one of those Monstors.

[snapback]151908[/snapback]

I traded in my Jeep for my Prius (and I actually made use of it - I towed with it in the winter). All I had ever drive was SUV's (1 Chevy Blazer followed by 3 Jeep Grand Cherokees). While I do sometimes feel small out on the highways next to 18 wheelers and such, I don't feel as small as I thought I would have. And the Prius has more safety features than anything I've ever owned. It's not as small as one might think.

I would have loved the highlander, but wasn't willing to pay quite that much for it, when I could get a fully loaded Prius for under $30k.

Anyway, I agree with Charles. If you actually "take delivery" on Nov 18th and finalize the sale, then you won't get the tax deduction for next year. You would actually have to postpone the sale until next year to get the new tax break.

The big question - What could you be doing with the $500 over the next 16-18 months? Because that's how long it will be before you'd see any of your tax credit.

[Kiloran]

Originally posted by Maytrix@Nov 7 2005, 03:00 PM
The big question - What could you be doing with the $500 over the next 16-18 months?  Because that's how long it will be before you'd see any of your tax credit.

[snapback]152027[/snapback]

Not so, as long as you are careful, you can realize the credit at ~$800 per quarter by adjusting your withholding for 2006.
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showt...11&hl=strategy

[Kryptokat]

Originally posted by maggieddd@Nov 7 2005, 01:36 PM
Did I undersatnd it correctly, you are getting a Highlinder because you are afraid of being in a sedan due to the high probably of colliding with a bigger vehicle?? Is that right?

[snapback]152016[/snapback]

Yes! It may sound silly, but I just don't believe that the occupants of a samller vehicle will suffer less damage than the occupants of a larger vehicle. (provided that they are both similarly equipped with saftey features. )

[Rancid13]

Originally posted by Kiloran@Nov 7 2005, 08:19 AM
1. $500 seems a bit steep for 1 month storage but, if that's the best deal you can get, you'll still be ahead ($3150 2006 tax credit - $500 storage - $560 2005 tax deduction = $2090).
2. You can get credit for each hybrid you buy, however, the full tax credit applies to the first 60k of all cars produced by manufacturer.  It would be unimaginable that you would be able to buy a Toyota next year and get the full credit unless the credit were extended by an act of Congress.

[snapback]151911[/snapback]

I believe you are quoting the tax credit of $3,150 for the Prius. From the OP, it sounds like they're looking to get a Highander Hybrid. I'm not sure what the tax credit would be for one, but I am sure that it's a lot less than $3,150.

[tumbleweed]

Originally posted by Kryptokat@Nov 8 2005, 03:52 PM
Yes! It may sound silly, but I just don't believe that the occupants of a samller vehicle will suffer less damage than the occupants of a larger vehicle.

[snapback]152728[/snapback]

The occupants of the more massive vehicle will fair better in an accident all other things being equal, but they seldom are. The smaller vehicle may be more capable of avoiding an accident to start with. Smaller lighter vehicles usually have better handling and shorter stopping distances. So why stop with a Highlander? You might be even safer in a Suburban, or a cement truck.

Edit: Actually my previous comment may have been a little hasty when applied to the Highlander, according to Consumer Reports it has a slightly shorter stopping distance than the Prius. 137 feet vs 143 feet from 60 mph. The Prius wins the slalom however, 48.5 mph for the Highlander compared to 50.5 for the Prius.