Should I replace my Accord with a Prius

[Truffles]

I did this last week.

I had a 2003 Honda Accord EX Coupe w/Nav that I traded in. I've always found the Accord noisy inside.

I'm very happy with my desicion. Priuis is nice and quiet inside.

[onerpm]

Originally posted by Truffles@Dec 21 2005, 04:03 PM
I did this last week.

I had a 2003 Honda Accord EX Coupe w/Nav that I traded in.  I've always found the Accord noisy inside.

I'm very happy with my desicion. Priuis is nice and quiet inside.

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If you don't mind, what'd you get in trade for your Honda (and what were the options and mileage)? And did you pay MSRP for the Prius?

My wife's probably going to trade her 2004 Accord EX-L 4cyl. sedan in when her Prius arrives in a coupla months.

rpm

[cdavid]

Well, I just called my wife and told her I was going to have the dealer get me the Prius. She gave me a very cool, "Oh, I see".

I calculate that after selling my Accord, the fuel saving over 4 years, etc. (may not benefit from the tax credit due to AMT) it will only cost me about $9000 for a new car with the options I want (package 8).

The dealer wants $1000 non refundable deposit to try to preference the car (SE Toyota). I'm wondering, if they can't get it in a reasonable time, is that legal?

They are agreeing to sell it at MSRP, plus their $399 doc fee padding.

I'm waiting for their fax now, and their expecting my credit card number soon thereafter.

[ScottY]

Originally posted by cdavid@Dec 21 2005, 06:24 PM
Well, I just called my wife and told her I was going to have the dealer get me the Prius.  She gave me a very cool, "Oh, I see".

I calculate that after selling my Accord, the fuel saving over 4 years, etc. (may not benefit from the tax credit due to AMT) it will only cost me about $9000 for a new car with the options I want (package 8).

The dealer wants $1000 non refundable deposit to try to preference the car (SE Toyota).  I'm wondering, if they can't get it in a reasonable time, is that legal?

They are agreeing to sell it at MSRP, plus their $399 doc fee padding.

I'm waiting for their fax now, and their expecting my credit card number soon thereafter.

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I can't comment on the trade-in, coz I did not. But I think they can do better with the $399 doc fee. My dealer charged $45.

If you are using your credit card for deposit, it is refundable eventho dealer said it's not. When you need to get it refunded, just called up ur cc company when dealer refuse to. Let the cc company do the work. Even better, call up Toyota if they refuse to refund (that's what I had to do with one dealer, refunded right away).

Good luck!

[Venturer]

I think you had your mind made up before your first post. Having bought an 05 Prius last April and trading it back in for a Sienna Limited 2 weeks ago, I can say that the Prius is over priced for what you get and the overall ride and quality is not worth what they want for them. There are many cars that, although they won't get as good mpg, are a better value. A Civic could run for 100,000 miles before it used enough gas to equal the cost difference of the Prius. That is if you don't figure any interest on the $7000+ difference in cost and the gas was free for the Prius.
My dealer now has 4 new Pri and my 05 on his lot. Some will always be fasinated and in love with their Prius, but I am running into more people that don't think it is worth the premium over a standard economical mid-sized car. I am probably the odd ball on this site. It is just a hunk of steel, plastic,rubber and high tech parts that is overpriced. (But most cars are)


Doug

P.S. No way would I get rid of a paid for 3 year old Accord for a Prius.

[IsrAmeriPrius]

Originally posted by cdavid@Dec 21 2005, 02:24 PM
The dealer wants $1000 non refundable deposit to try to preference the car (SE Toyota).  I'm wondering, if they can't get it in a reasonable time, is that legal?

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A non-refundable deposit is a form of liquidated damages, which most courts will not enforce.

What are liquidated damages?

Sometimes business contracts contain a "liquidated damages" provision, providing for payment of a certain fixed amount in the event of a breach. These provisions typically are upheld if the actual damages would have been extremely difficult to ascertain and the amount of the liquidated damages is reasonable. Courts generally do not enforce liquidated damages that are intended to serve as a penalty or are far in excess of the amount of damages the parties may reasonably forecast.

FreeAdvice

In plain English, unless the dealership suffers a financial loss if you back out of the purchase agreement (such as by selling the car to someone else for less than you have agreed to pay), they cannot profit at your expense.

[cdavid]

I was worried that if they couldn't come up with the vehicle in a reasonable period of time, I want to be able to try another source. A dealership in Virginia sells at MSRP and "I am on the list, number 8 for a package 8). They told me to expect the car around the first of March.

A $1000 up front would more or less tie my hands with them, unless I used the above advice and tactics. I believe that SE Toyota only releases lists of available vehicles every two weeks. I can't imagine them being out of pocket anything unless they brought the vehicle in, and they're supposed to contact me before they do that.


Venturer gives the most firm opinion on this matter. We also have an 06 Limited Sienna and our out the door price was only about $8K more that what the package 8 Prius will be. Its not hybrid, but has much more luxury, amenities, and alot of technology. He is right on a dollars and sense basis. The Accord is 2.5 yrs old and has 29K miles.

Since I haven't given the deposit as of yet, I am going to take the advice of many others on this board and go and rent one for a few days. I'll soon determine if the emotion fades or grows.

As I said before, if I needed a new car, it would be an easy decision. I think the tax incentives have pushed me to make the decision now. Since they will be available for at least 6 months, why should I be rushing?

[Jack 06]

SE Region is something else.

[Truffles]

Originally posted by onerpm@Dec 21 2005, 03:16 PM
If you don't mind, what'd you get in trade for your Honda (and what were the options and mileage)?  And did you pay MSRP for the Prius?

My wife's probably going to trade her 2004 Accord EX-L 4cyl. sedan in when her Prius arrives in a coupla months.

rpm

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It had 41,000 miles, leather, power seats, DVD NAV. I got $14,500 for it as a trade in. I paid MRSP and waited 2 months with a $500 deposit.

[windstrings]

Originally posted by cdavid@Dec 20 2005, 07:37 PM
I've been eying a Prius for the last year, but I have a 2003 Honda Accord EX V6, leather, but no Nav.  I drive mostly highway to work and back, about 25 miles each way.

The Honda is a nice car, and I average about 26mpg.  My wife says to forget the Prius, but I keep eying that package 8 which the dealer will sell at MSRP, and is awaiting my $1000 non refundable deposit.  They are reputable and we recently got a Sienna from them.  I used to be an engineer, and love tech items, but I'm also very practical and find it hard to abandon a perfectly good, reasonably efficient, and paid for vehicle.

Then there's the color decision--but that's being ahead of myself.

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You know your wife better than me... but most women don't hear much of the logistics and techno reasons why its better..... they need to "feel" it baby!

I'll tell you what clinched it for me.... when I got my wife in the prius and took her for a drive... she didn't even drive!.... and she was sold!... Let the prius talk for itself!