How I got my Prius in 55 days.

[driverx]

Yes, I know. What I did was a terrible thing. I probably caused the long artificial waiting list for Prius. So please don't send me any nasty comments. I just couldn't trust those car dealers and I really wanted my Prius right away without paying premium.

Late March, I decided to purchase Prius after I saw a cable TV car show featuring Prius. Plus, I decided to change my job which requires 100mile commute. So I visited a few dealers in Sacramento area and placed orders for Prius. Each dealer told me that I must wait minimum 6 month. Some even told me a year. :cussing: I decided to go outside of the Sacramento area and focused on rural area dealers. One dealership, actually took down the exact specification and told me that they will send an order and I should be getting one in about three month. I think I visited more than seven dealers total. A few weeks later, I received a Prius key chain from Toyota with thanking me for placing an order. A few days later, I received a letter from Toyota, stating that I shouldn't be placing multiple Prius orders. I got little nervous if Toyota was going to cancel all my orders. :crazyeyes:

Last week, Stockton dealership called me and told me that my car is at the Oakland dock but it's being delayed due to the truck driver strike because of high gas price. How ironic. Anyways, I got the car on Monday. Exactly the one I ordered. White/Gray #9 w floor mats. 55 days later.

I very happy with my Prius, especially whenever I hear the news on high gas prices. I love that smart start. Only thing that I am disappointed is the navigation. Same navigation as my in-law's 04 Lexus LS. It just cannot find my home or work. It misses them by a block. Difficult to use. No wonder it won't let you program while driving. Often it gives me the wrong directions. I find it almost useless and unreliable. Especially when I compare it to My wife's Acura navi, which is way more advance, accurate and simple to use. Now I know, why Honda/Acura navi is the best in the market. I really hope Toyota would come out with the fix soon.

Anyways, those who are on the waiting list, don't give up. You just need to find the right dealer.

[seth1974]

did you are the grandfather ? your surmame sounds like Reina or Gotti ?
Man , i have 8 monts waiting to own my Prius ! it0s not right !
:guns: :guns:

[bookrats]

Hey, you've basically done what many others on this board have done, or recommended: check around at multiple dealers. Go to rural dealers and place orders there. Etc.

Enjoy your Prius! It'll take me somewhat longer to get mine -- but I didn't put the effort you did into searching for one. Seems to me that those who put the elbow grease into the search, should reap the rewards.

(Though I still think Toyota has a screwed-up allocation system.)

[siai]

Driverx, maybe you should have someone check out the navigation system to see if it is working correctly. I have had nav in both a classic and my '04 and never had any of the problems you are talking about. Always right on. Just a thought---enjoy your new car!

[DonDNH]

Only thing that I am disappointed is the navigation. It misses them by a block.

The underlying maps used by many nav systems are based on the US Census Bureau's TIGER map data base or the USGS's DLGs. These aren't updated nearly as frequently as they need to be for accurate navagation software. For example, your software determines that you must travel 3.165 miles east on the road your traveling and then turn onto the next right hand turn. A new street is opened in a developent. You turn onto the wrong street.

Of course, the software should know that your not at a valid point on your route after giving you a wrong turn, and should modify your next turn point. Alas, that is beyond the capability of many software packages.

An added variable is the accuracy of the GPS used to determine where you are at any given moment. The number of satellites used to calulate your locatation and any rounding during the calculation determines the accuracy of the position. GPS receivers in use today use anywhere from 5 to 12 satellites. The more used, the more the GPS device costs and usually, the more precise the calculation.

[bruceha_2000]

GPS receivers in use today use anywhere from 5 to 12 satellites. The more used, the more the GPS device costs and usually, the more precise the calculation.

And I expect the nav is useless in places with a lot of high rises, like NYC, since you have no direct view of the satellites. Maybe they attempt to do dead reckoning nav when they can't fix at least 3 sats.

[DonDNH]

And I expect the nav is useless in places with a lot of high rises, like NYC, since you have no direct view of the satellites. Maybe they attempt to do dead reckoning nav when they can't fix at least 3 sats.

Yes, that is true.

If you can't see the constellation of satellites, you won't get a valid location from the device. Also in city canyons, accuracy can be affected by echoes of the signal.